It was a big shift for me partly because I came from a near-base Miata to an almost-fully-loaded RX-8. That said, I love it. The cabin's a lot quieter (I had the soft-top), the sound system's great, the climate control is a lot beefier, the back seats are awesome, the trunk is bigger... It comes with added practicality and the creature comforts I was looking for, really. That said, it doesn't feel quite as man-and-machine as the Miata did. The steering isn't quite the same (which is a good thing, too, since I'd always be white-knuckling the wheel in my Miata), the back feels a little unsettled, it doesn't feel like it brakes quite as well. But I love it, and I'd make the same deal again in an instant. (But resale value also wasn't a worry for me, so... that might be a big deterrent for you.)