Buy an NB2 if you want the classic Miata done right, or an NC/ND if you want to drive it daily without worrying about rust. Those two answers cover most buyers.
Breaking it down by priority:
- Purest vintage feel, lowest budget: NA 1.8 with a Torsen diff. Analog, light, characterful - but you must inspect for rust obsessively and accept modest power.
- Best classic all-rounder: NB2 (2001-2005), ideally the six-speed. VVT power, better brakes, the same lightweight charm, fewer electronic gremlins. The enthusiast default.
- Most car for the money: NC. Cheap, quick, reliable, rust-resistant, and the only one with an optional folding metal roof. Undervalued right now.
- Best to drive, no compromises: ND2 (2019+). The sharpest chassis, strongest engine, standard LSD, and modern safety - at a modern price.
- Collectible / investment: Mazdaspeed NB or a clean NA M Edition.
Do not over-think power. Even the slowest Miata is quick enough to be joyful because it is light and communicative. The real decision is rust tolerance and budget: pre-2006 cars demand structural inspection; NC and ND largely do not.
My pick for the widest audience is a clean, unmodified NB2 six-speed - it captures 90 percent of what makes a Miata special for the least money, provided the frame rails are solid.