What's the best enthusiast car you can buy today? If money is no object, many would probably mention the Porsche 911 or something exotic, but the thing is, money is usually an object. If you can afford to buy an enthusiast car at all, you're probably looking at something under $50,000, and in this arena, there are plenty of great options. However, when in doubt, the Mazda MX-5 Miata is always the answer, and the Miata you really want is the $33,930 Club trim.The sweet spot of the lineup combines everything you want in a small, lightweight roadster, and nothing you don't, allowing one of the best sports cars on sale today to really shine. But it's a big decision, and if you can't decide which trim to go for, let us help make the choice a little easier by diving into what makes the middle option the trim to beat. Understanding the Miata Lineup Mazda Relatively speaking, the Miata is a rather simple car, and Mazda emphasizes it with a simple lineup. You have three main trims to choose from in 2026: Sport, Club, and Grand Touring. Sport Ian Wright/CarBuzz/ValnetAt $30,430, the Sport is the entry point into Miata ownership, giving you the same fun package without any distractions. It features things like 16-inch alloy wheels, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, blind spot monitoring, and a six-speaker sound system.Your choice of colors is limited, as you can only pick between Jet Black Mica and Soul Crystal Metallic, and you only get a Jet Black interior. You can add a Sport Appearance Package to this trim that adds things like a spoiler and front lip. Club Ian Wright/CarBuzz/ValnetPriced at $33,930, we get to the sweet spot. The Club trim adds plenty of performance features we'll get to in the next section, but it also has other highlights like 17-inch Metallic Black alloy wheels, a nine-speaker Bose sound system, Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.It adds more colors to the ones mentioned, like Deep Crystal Blue Mica, Aero Gray, Snowflake White Pearl Mica, and you get Black cloth seats with suede inserts. There's an interesting BBS/Recaro seat package on this trim too, but the price is steep. Grand Touring Ian Wright/CarBuzz/ValnetAt $35,730, the Grand Touring is the most expensive of the regular trims, and it definitely leans a little more into comfort. It has everything the other trims do, plus additions like adaptive front lighting, heated leather-trimmed seats, and a limited-slip differential.The only new color you get is Machine Gray Metallic and you get a black leather interior. This car certainly has a nicer feel than others, but there is one kicker that we'll get to in a second that really sets it apart. The Enthusiast Upgrades That Matter Ian Wright/CarBuzz/Valnet But enough about those other trims, we're here to talk about the Club. The Club trim has been the performance-focused option from the beginning, and comes with a list of upgrades that transform the car into a more serious backroad and track weapon.Ian Wright/CarBuzz/Valnet A limited-slip differential (manual only) sharpens traction out of corners. Bilstein sport-tuned suspension gives the car better body control and sharper responses. A front shock tower brace stiffens the chassis. An available Brembo/BBS/Recaro package adds track-focused brakes, lightweight wheels, and the iconic racing seats. The limited-slip differential is an asymmetric one and was new for 2024. Other updates for the year included a new steering rack and a DSC-Track Mode that ensures that the car isn't cutting into your fun when you're pushing it hard.Of course, everyone wants the improved Brembo brakes, attractive BBS wheels, and Recaro seats, but enjoying those will cost you a steep $5,050, which will be too much to stomach for most. With this package added, it does make more sense to buy a Toyota GR86 with the optional performance pack. Even without them, the car still nails the perfect Miata formula, one that shines when you slide behind the wheel. How That Performance Translates To The Road Ian Wright/CarBuzz/Valnet Everything blends together perfectly in this car. The Bilstein suspension tightens up the body without making the ride too harsh, and noticeably helps body roll in the corners. You may not feel the extra bracing or limited-slip differential at first, but when you're pushing the car hard you start to realize just how planted it is, especially the steering.Ian Wright/CarBuzz/Valnet The improved rack makes itself known immediately, with less effort necessary to keep the car going in a straight line, and the same feedback shining through at all times.Ian Wright/CarBuzz/ValnetNo, the car isn't fast, but thanks to its low curb weight of 2,341 lbs and limited-slip differential, it'll only take you a little under 6.0 seconds to get to 60 mph. Like always, it's a bit of a momentum vehicle, but not nearly as much as it used to be. Fortunately, it's so much fun rowing through the slick 6-speed manual that you won't even care about getting there, you'll just be enjoying the ride.We adore the MX-5 in any generation, but the ND and ND3 are the current peak of the series, in our opinion. It's brisk off the line, the manual transmission is joyous to work the three-pedal-dance with, and the chassis is perfectly balanced to invite any driving style to have fun with. It's a classic sports car with modern design and engineering implemented damn near perfectly. – Ian Wright, Test Drive ExpertMazda When we tested the Club trim last year, we were impressed with how Mazda has been able to tune out the twitchiness of earlier models. Our tester had the optional Brembo/BBS/Recaro package, too, and it worked perfectly with the limited-slip differential and Bilstein suspension to inspire much more confidence in the curves than ever before.Understeer and oversteer are still there if you aren't careful (or want to coax the latter out), but it's remarkably composed on the limit, to the point where there really isn't anything at this price that drives like it does. Don't believe us? Well, then just listen to one of the greatest automotive minds alive espouse its virtues.