I have been tracking a 2023 BRZ and focusing heavily on learning car control—specifically catching oversteer, throttle steering, and managing slip angles on the skidpad. I have done multiple car control clinics and track days, few autocross. The car control clinics have full autocross course at the end, so I don't do autocross separately. I have improved a lot but not at pace I expected when I started. I'm 37 and slow learner.

I want to buy a new ND Miata, mainly to have a convertible on the street and I want the experience since I can't buy one in future when I return to home country. I plan to sell the BRZ soon after buying the Miata to avoid the cost of keeping two cars. My goal is to learn, I would be running tires like 615K+ and not something like super 200s. I do enjoy occasional therapy drives outside track, about once or twice a week. We have primary driver SUV.

I know the Miata has a shorter wheelbase and is snappier at the limit. Will switching to the ND right now make it too difficult to learn how to catch slides? Will the chassis dynamics hinder my learning curve compared to the more forgiving BRZ, or should I just make the switch and adapt?

​Appreciate any advice from people who have tracked both!

After yesterday's post on 401k investment, I did some digging and found few interesting things. I am going to list those with what I already knew. I am going to keep this specific to Indian tax laws. I am not a lawyer or tax advisor, confirm things before making any changes

1. If one qualifies for RNOR status and is non resident in US at withdrawal time, that person won't have to capital gains taxes on brokerage account
2. On 401k withdrawal you would pay the regular income tax and penalty but all money and gains were pre tax. No taxes in India under RNOR status as long you withdraw and transfer money the right way.

So I evaluated few scenarios with

1. 0% employer match
2. 10% employer match
3. 25% employer match
4. 50% employer match

Assuming 24% tax bracket currently, US 401(k) Exit Tax: ~30%. As an NRA, you lose the standard deduction. Your entire early withdrawal is taxed at progressive 1040-NR brackets (which will likely average an effective rate of ~20% depending on withdrawal size) plus the strict 10% early withdrawal penalty.

0% gains

The Baseline: The Regular Brokerage

• Gross Paycheck: $100
• Taxes Paid Today: -$24
• Amount Invested: $76
• US Exit Tax (NRA Cap Gains): 0%
• Net Cash to You: $76.00

This $76 is your "target to beat." If a 401(k) scenario yields less than $76, the brokerage was the mathematically superior choice.

Case 1: 0% Employer Match

• Amount Invested: $100 (Pre-tax)
• US Exit Tax (~30%): -$30
• Net Cash to You: ~$70.00
• The Verdict: Brokerage Wins. Without free money from your employer, the 10% IRS early withdrawal penalty and the loss of the US standard deduction as an NRA completely wipe out the benefits of tax-deferred growth.

Case 2: 10% Employer Match

• Amount Invested: $110 (Your $100 + $10 Match)
• US Exit Tax (~30%): -$33
• Net Cash to You: ~$77.00
• The Verdict: Dead Heat. A 10% employer match is the exact mathematical "inflection point." The $10 in free money from your employer perfectly pays off the 10% IRS early withdrawal penalty for you. You break even with the brokerage account, but you take on the headache of filing a 1040-NR.

Case 3: 25% Employer Match

• Amount Invested: $125 (Your $100 + $25 Match)
• US Exit Tax (~30%): -$37.50
• Net Cash to You: ~$87.50
• The Verdict: 401(k) Wins. At a 25% match, the free money eclipses the IRS penalties and tax friction. You walk away with roughly 15% more total cash in your pocket during your RNOR window than if you had bypassed the 401(k) and invested in a taxable brokerage.

Case 4: 50% Employer Match

• Amount Invested: $150 (Your $100 + $50 Match)
• US Exit Tax (~30%): -$45
• Net Cash to You: ~$105.00
• The Verdict: 401(k) Crushes. Even with the worst-case scenario of an NRA tax return and a strict 10% early withdrawal penalty, a 50% employer match mathematically guarantees a massive win. You end up with more net cash after all taxes and penalties than you even started with in gross income.

50% gains

New Baseline: Regular Brokerage (With 50% Growth)

• Amount Invested: $76 (After 24% tax today)
• 50% Growth (Capital Gains): +$38
• Total Portfolio Value: $114
• US Exit Tax on Capital Gains: $0 (Non-Resident Alien exemption)
• Net Cash in India: $114.00

This $114.00 is your new target to beat. Let's see how the 401(k) match scenarios stack up against it.

Case 1: The 401(k) with 0% Match (50% Gain)

• Amount Invested: $100 (Pre-tax)
• 50% Growth: +$50
• Total Portfolio Value: $150
• Estimated Exit Tax: ~30% (Assumes ~20% effective tax bracket + 10% penalty)
• Tax Owed: $150 × 30% = -$45.00
• Net Cash in India: $105.00
• The Verdict: Brokerage Wins (by $9.00)

Case 2: The 401(k) with 10% Match (50% Gain)

• Amount Invested: $110 (Your $100 + $10 Match)
• 50% Growth: +$55
• Total Portfolio Value: $165
• Estimated Exit Tax: ~30%
• Tax Owed: $165 × 30% = -$49.50
• Net Cash in India: $115.50
• The Verdict: 401(k) Wins Slightly (by $1.50)

Case 3: The 401(k) with 25% Match (50% Gain)

• Amount Invested: $125 (Your $100 + $25 Match)
• 50% Growth: +$62.50
• Total Portfolio Value: $187.50
• Estimated Exit Tax: ~30%
• Tax Owed: $187.50 × 30% = -$56.25
• Net Cash in India: $131.25
• The Verdict: 401(k) Wins Comfortably (by $17.25)

Case 4: The 401(k) with 50% Match (50% Gain)

• Amount Invested: $150 (Your $100 + $50 Match)
• 50% Growth: +$75
• Total Portfolio Value: $225
• Estimated Exit Tax: ~30%
• Tax Owed: $225 × 30% = -$67.50
• Net Cash in India: $157.50
• The Verdict: 401(k) Crushes (by $43.50)

PS: When you put money in 401k, you take money out from top bracket, not effective tax rate. When you pay taxes at withdrawal, you pay overall tax rate as that would be your only income.

Back in 2019, I was walking through the parking lot with some coworkers. Another guy from our office, Craig, happened to own two cars: a Mercedes C-Class for daily driving, and an absolute beauty of an Acura/Honda NSX. He was one of the people to pre-order it when it came out.

His NSX happened to be parked in the lot that day. Being a massive car fan, I pointed it out and said, "Look, that's Craig's cool car."

My coworkers looked at it, looked back at me, and completely dismissed it. "Craig drives a Mercedes," they said. "He doesn't drive that old car."

I just stood there laughing on the inside. To them, a standard C-Class was the ultimate status symbol, and Ayrton Senna's legendary mid-engine masterpiece was just some outdated beater.

Edit: The car was worth more than C class at the time, now it's in 6 figures. Just found it funny. No offense towards anyone, including my coworker.