[Showdown] When an S2000 Owner Got Jealous of the NC Roadster and Got Brutally Put in His Place.

The Mazda Roadster (MX-5). Is there a car enthusiast in this world who doesn’t pay respect to that name? Recognized by Guinness as the “World’s Best-Selling Two-Seater Lightweight Open Sports Car,” it is a living legend. Among its generations, the third-gen “NC” is the outlier and the perfection—the only one gifted with a powerful 2.0-liter heart.

Look at those voluptuous, muscular fenders. Look at the stability it gained with that extra power, cutting through the highway like an arrow. Freed from the curse of “Lightness is Justice” that bound previous models, the NC gained adult composure and a suspension that tames any road surface. It’s no exaggeration to call it the “Utopia of Open Sports Cars.”

I’ll be honest. For anyone with a healthy spirit who wishes to “drive a convertible enjoyably, comfortably, and fast,” the NC Roadster is a 100-point—no, a 120-point—correct answer. The fuel economy isn’t bad, the ride is great, and above all, it doesn’t break. Mazda’s ultimate “Jinba-Ittai” (Unity of Horse and Rider) is right there.

…But. Facing such a “flawless honor student,” why do I—clutching my ear-splitting noise, spine-destroying vibrations, and an empty bank account—deliberately cling to my old S2000? Today, instead of the current ND model, I want to talk about the “Heaven” Mazda showed us and the “Hell” Honda shoved in our faces, both competing on the same 2-liter battlefield.

Note: These photos are of an NC my friend used to drive (he no longer does).

The “True Luxury” That the NC Taught Me

What surprises you when riding in the NC Roadster is its sheer depth of character. Even with the same 2-liter displacement as the S2000, torque overflows from low speeds. It has an obedience that accelerates smoothly even if you’re lazy with the shifting. And above all, those “supple legs.” The suspension tames bumps like magic, never giving the driver a hint of discomfort.

“Ah, so this is what a car was originally supposed to be like.”

When you open the top and cruise along the coastline, the breeze caresses your cheeks comfortably, and the music from the stereo is crystal clear. The NC is the ultimate stage that makes the driver the “Main Star.”

The Quality of “Reving Fun” is Just Too Different

However, the moment you look at the tachometer, our worlds split apart. The NC engine is a “premium tool” perfected for practical daily use. In contrast, the S2000’s F20C is a “crazed musical instrument” that burns out your reason the more you rev it.

While the NC smiles and says, “Let’s have some fun driving,” the S2000 holds a knife to your throat and asks, “Are you ready to floor it like you’re prepared to die?” That roar past 8,000 RPM… Once you know that, the NC’s refined engine feel sounds like “polite classical music.” What I’m looking for is ear-piercing heavy metal.

The “Venom” Lost in Exchange for Comfort

The NC is “just right” in everything: power, size, and handling. But for a flawed human like me, that “just right-ness” isn’t enough. The S2000 has that “tension of not knowing when it will bare its fangs” and the “thrill of feeling your life is in danger just by driving on a rainy day.” The NC has none of that unnecessary venom. Because it has no venom, you can drive it every day. Because you can drive it every day, normal people can be happy.

…But I wasn’t normal. That’s all there is to it.

If you ask me which convertible I recommend, I will definitely recommend the Roadster. Especially the current ND model; its lightness compensates for the lower power, creating the ultimate driving pleasure. It’s matured enough to be called the “meter standard” for cars and must be one of the best in the world. It’s the same type of car as the S2000, but with a completely different personality.

Japan is the best country for letting us buy such cars at that price. Thank you, Mazda. Thank you, Japan.

The Grass on the Other Side was Far Too Green

Let’s conclude. The NC Roadster is a “flawless masterpiece,” and the S2000 is “just a defective product.”

On that side, there is a refreshing breeze, a smiling passenger, and a happy wife. On this side, there is only ear-shattering noise, a shattered lower back, and a heartless message from the ATM saying, “Insufficient funds.”

If you have even a millimeter of sanity left, you should go to Mazda. But, if you carry a bottomless sin of choosing “stimulation over happiness” and “RPMs over savings”…

I won’t tell you to do something bad. Let’s live proudly together at the bottom of this dark swamp, ranked lower than the “killifish in the fish tank” in the family hierarchy. For that one moment when the VTEC pops, we can be the kings of this world. …Though, the time spent prostrating (Dogeza) to your wife afterward is not included in the “King’s package”!

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