Mazda MX-5 Cup - Track Only Car - Sport Coupe Comparison

The Mazda MX-5 Cup has a lot going for it, not the least of which is a relatively low amount of investment for a relatively large amount of overall lap speed (yes, we know it's possible to build a grassroots track car for much less, but $50,000 for the opportunity to campaign a factory-supported, production-based race car is still a great deal). And, surprisingly, the MX-5 is almost more entertaining than either the GT2 or the Viper, blessed as it is with a snarling exhaust note, blisteringly direct steering, and a stripped-out, raucous feel. In exchange, you give up any pretense of streetability - a stripped interior, no sound deadening, no roof, and a full roll cage see to that - so you're essentially buying a track-only toy.

A little bit of introspection here goes a long way. If you're thinking about heading to the track, it's worth it to consider just what you're looking for. For the price of two 911 Carrera S cabriolets, the 911 GT2 offers you a car that literally does everything well. At half the GT2's cost, the Viper ACR sacrifices some refinement for a hefty dose of high-speed voodoo and more manners than a boarding house full of prudes. And at half the cost of the ACR, the MX-5 Cup throws away real-world usability in exchange for grins and huge midcorner speed. Each car has its ups and downs, but all three offer remarkable speed, forgiveness, and out-of-the-box ease for the price. Can't run with the Trust Fund/Pueblo of the Month Club? Fear not: as with most things, money ain't everything.