Peryn:
'i think of a BMW 8-series. i think of an slk500. i think of the Audi tt roadster quattro.'
The 'fine driving experience' to which I was referring has to do with balance and chuckability. This car is faithful like very few others. The models you cite are big, heavy cars on fat tyres; and with little sensation of speed. When any of those 3 lets go of the road, it's going to be all at once. The fun of the 'miata' comes in the utterly faithful communication you get from every control. It is balanced in a way the Merc could only dream of; chuckable/driftable like you'd never try in the beemer. The Audi looks okay, but is a golf underneath and consequently it is inert, sullen, clumsy.
None of the qualities I mention above are exclusively the realm of racing drivers. The Mazda is fun at 30 mph; for safe kicks at any speed in one of your grunty champions you'll have to be playing with the electric massage seats
ps. Do they really sell a 5.0 slk over there?!