Trading in a 2024 Corvette Z06 for a… Mazda Miata???

It may seem like a strange decision, but trading his 2024 Corvette Z06 for a Miata was the right choice for this particular person. And many in our forum were more than happy to congratulate him.

Though the numbers have certainly dwindled as of late, there are still plenty of enticing sports cars to choose from out there. Of course, the Corvette has long been a steady presence in that segment – one that offers buyers plenty of value – and the latest C8 generation might just be the performance bargain of our lifetimes thus far. However, the more hardcore 2024 Corvette Z06 might actually be a bit much for some folks, and for them, there are less powerful, more approachable vehicles like the Mazda MX-5 Miata, which itself has been around for a very long time. But would anyone actually trade their brand new 2024 Corvette Z06 for a Miata?

To many of us, that may seem improbable, but to CorvetteForum member tomhanaway, it makes perfect sense, as he outlined in this thread. He points out that he’s “been a Corvette guy” for most of his adult life, having already owned a C4, C5, C6, C8 Stingray, and most recently, a 2024 Corvette Z06. He also happens to live in a mountainous area with lots of twisty roads, which is perfect for something like a sports car that’s designed to handle well right out of the box. However, there was just one problem in this particular situation – the Z06 wasn’t quite what its owner expected.

“My reality is that I don’t really drive that fast and I definitely don’t track,” the Z06 owner said. “I decided to trade it in when my six month’s ownership was up (to allow warranty transfer). Having others say ‘what an awesome car’ isn’t particularly important to me at my age. But it did happen a lot. I love the sound of the engine and had a real joy just in owning such a beautiful, complex piece of machinery. But the frugal part of me was always conscious of depreciation if I was just driving on long straight roads (no such thoughts in the twisties). I think the main thing was the car just felt too big. It was a 3LT, HTC, so very luxurious, but I also felt somewhat disconnected from the driving experience. I think the same thing has happened to Porsche with the execution of the GT3 variant.”

Thus, he visited a dealer and managed to work out a trade for a Mazda MX-5 Club and a pretty significant check, given the difference in value between it and a basically brand new 2024 Corvette Z06. “I think it was the right decision FOR ME,” he noted. “The Mazda is zippy at legal speeds, I can work on it, make mods, etc. If it gets dirty or messy inside, I don’t care. It’s just a relatively inexpensive Mazda. More than half the trade in cash is going into a high rate savings account and I’m off to buy a travel trailer with the rest for weekend camping in the Smokey mountains and a possible midwest trip next year. So, lots of respect for the engineers at GM but the car, as heavy and complex as it is, just isn’t for me anymore.”

Though some (including the original poster) may have expected that this post would result in backlash, outrage, or extreme controversy, that somewhat surprisingly wasn’t the case at all. In fact, most of the OP’s fellow members supported the decision. “Lots of fun to be had in an MX-5. Glad you found something that fits your needs, good luck with it,” said z28lt1. “Congrats on the swap, if it makes you happy, that’s all that matters,” added Aku700. “I sold my 2018 Porsche GT3 because after 6 months of ownership because I realized I’m gonna end up in jail, every time I shift 2-3 times, your 100+, just can’t keep doing that.”

Plenty of fellow Z06 owners chime in to support the decision as well, with some noting that the car is undoubtedly amazing, but also, a bit high strung on the street. This is a car designed to perform at a high level on the track, and in that regard, it certainly won’t be for everyone – but then gain, that’s why alternatives exist!

Photos: Chevrolet

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