Used Honda S2000 or new Mazda Miata?

Probably the S2000. Cheaper in the long run. Both fun cars.

For more power in the Miata, check this out:

But in all seriousness, I would choose the S2000 over the Miata based on my excellent track record with Honda Cars.

I'd pick the S2000, but if maintenance costs are an issue, I believe the S2000 uses relatively soft-compound tires with a correspondingly high wear rate. They're expensive to replace as well, and the rears are differently-sized than the fronts, so you can't extend their lifecycle via normal rotation. The independent shop I frequent claimed that having to replace the rears every 10,000 miles (or less) was not uncommon.

Dave

Unfortunately, this is true with just about ANY sports/performance car. I purchased my 2006 Mustang GT used after my 2007 Accord was totaled, and the prior owner's second set of tires were already on the way out at 28,000 miles. Here I sit at 31,000 miles and I am adding set number 3 to the car. Don't even think for a second that those softer compound tires are cheap nor should you think that you can just walk into any tire store and pick a set of four up.

I'll give you two guesses as to why I drive my 1997 Honda Civic WAY more than my 2006 Mustang GT.

Why not consider a Civic SI/

Because his little brother has one. BTW the SI not that good on gas - averaged about 18mpg, mostly in San Francisco but some freeway too. The GSR averaged 32mpg even at more than 100K miles on the odometer, mostly freeway with some city - stock engine!