Deusmortis

Within the next month or so, I plan to buy a new MX-5. At first, I was dead set on the GT version. I had mistakenly believed that the GT just added tech and comfort options to the Club edition. As it turns out, the Club adds performance boosts to the base version, while the GT adds tech and comfort to the base version.

This leaves me questioning which I should choose. I will, of course, put both through their paces in test drives before making any decisions. Before that, I'd like to get some opinions from the viewers here:

First off, here's a primer on the important differences:

Club:
Sport tuned suspension
Limited slip differential

GT:
Heated leather seats
Satnav
Blind spot warning, rear cross traffic alert, lane departure system

Second, here's my driving situation:
This will be my daily driver. I currently have an '04 RX-8, which I may or may not sell. I'm in a winter weather state, but have driven on snow my whole life without issue. I travel extensively for work, usually around 200 days per year. These trips are usually by air. When at the office, daily commute is ~3 miles each way. Trips to the airport are 33 miles, almost all highway. I doubt I will ever mod or go to the track. Some work destinations are driving distance, so I'll have occasional ~4 hour treks. The difference in cost between the models is not a factor.

Right now, I'm about 60/40 in favor of the Club. I've used phone based navs for years, so the GT's built in nav doesn't mean too much. Though, it would be nice to have an integrated nav instead of mounting my phone to the dash. I have factory equipped ears and eyes that have worked as warning and alert systems my whole life. Not sure if the automated versions are much better. As for the Club, I'm not sure if the sport suspension will make the ride less comfortable, or if the discomfort will not be apparent with my generally short drives. Does the limited slip diff make that much of a difference?

I appreciate any opinions on this that you'd like to share.

acroy

I'd highly recommend take a test drive in both and see which you prefer in terms of ride quality.

Bladecutter

If the MX-5 is going to be your Daily Driver, and you're planning on driving it in the snow, you would probably be best off getting the Club edition (with a manual) so that you get the limited slip differential.

Not much helps more in the snow than winter tires and a limited slip differential on a RWD vehicle.

BC.

NotAPreppie

If you aren't planning on formally racing it (autocross, PDX/HPDE, etc) then go with the GT.

Also, if you aren't planning on racing it... WHY THE HELL NOT!?!?!?!?!?!

Are-Ex-Eight

iTrader: (1)

It may serve you well to make your decision after March 23rd...