I'd take the MX5 any day over the Mini, or the Fiat 124. The local Dodge dealer still has three 2017 124s that they've been trying to offload for the last couple of years. All autos. I think there was a reason they made so many of them with autos.
you know full well the reason they made them, and the dealerships ordered them with autos:
- FCA are idiots
- The reputation that North Americans dont want to drive stick, even in a car that was designed for it
Regardless, the regular 124 is a dud, it sucks compared to the MX-5. The Abarth is much better, but still misses IMO. It needs more power, more rawness, more sound like the 500 Abarth. At least that is what the Alfa Spider and 124 drivers in the local clubs tell me when I ask them "Why don't you want the new 124?"