2006 Mazda MX-5 Miata Test Drive

Sha-Zoom!

When the Mazda Miata first arrived in 1989, I was working at Motor Trend magazine, and I took our not-yet-on-sale press car to Venice Beach for the weekend to gauge public reaction. By the time I finished answering a zillion questions about the little red roadster, I knew, without a single doubt, that it was going to be a smashing success. With sales of over 700,000 units worldwide to date, my prediction was right. The 2006 MX-5 comes with a 4-year/50,000-mile warranty and roadside assistance.

First Glance

The Miata's success was partially due to its cute exterior styling. It took the idea of the British roadsters of the '50s and '60s and added Japanese style (and a healthy dose of Japanese quality). The "Coke bottle" shape of the original Miata was such a winning design that the biggest problem Mazda had was making sure any future exterior changes would still maintain the vehicle's overall appeal. Now we're on the third generation, and Mazda designers amazingly made all the right changes but still kept that original flavor. The wheel arches are more pronounced, the overall size has risen in small portions (2.5 inches longer on the wheelbase, 1.6 inches overall length, 1.6-inches wider, and a hair taller), but the overall proportions front to rear are still intact. The bottle shape is gone, replaced by a more rounded styling that is noticeable looking down the sides from the front or back of the MX-5. The rear taillights are still elliptical, but now have clear lenses that are more contemporary. It's still cute, but a touch more aggressive, which matches the increase in power and handling.

There are six trim levels of Miata: Club Spec, MX-5, Touring, Sport, and GT, including a 3rd-generation limited-edition model.

In the Driver's Seat

The new MX-5 interior has been improved nicely, with completely redesigned seats for better comfort and support, bottle holders in the doors, plenty of storage (even in this small a car), and some trick new features worthy of show and tell. First is the improvement in the roof operation. The top is now a Z-fold design, and has only one latch to lock in place. If you remember the old dual-latch design, we spent more time cursing it because it rarely latched correctly the first time. What a huge improvement. Plus, it's a one-handed operation to raise and lower. When you drop the roof, just push down on the top to lock it into place. No boot needed. Slick. The second cool feature is the Advance Key design that, unlike some of the bulkier keyless start systems, is the size and shape of a credit card, and easily fits in a pocket or purse. As long as the key is in proximity of the vehicle, just grab the ignition switch and turn on the MX-5. The shift knob remains compact and fits perfectly in the palm of your hand. This is one of those areas that Mazda designers attribute to their Kansei approach, where it's about how the car feels in your hands... it's a more emotional than strictly cold engineering level at which this car plays.

On the Road

What we love—and have always loved—about this car is it's perfect balance. Another concept followed by the MX-5 Miata's creators is Jinba Ittai, which translates as: the rider and horse as one. That's exactly how the new MX-5 feels. On the road it becomes an extension of the driver. You feel like a fighter pilot wearing a high-tech helmet that points the jet where you look. It's perfectly set up to take any corner without drama, no matter what the speed, and the shifts on the standard 5-speed manual are smooth, with direct, precise and short throws that never require more than a flick of your wrist to execute. (Two other transmissions are available: a 6-speed manual and a 6-speed automatic with paddle shifters.)

The 2.0-liter engine now makes 170 hp and 140 lb-ft of torque, both up from the second-generation version. These numbers won't peel asphalt, but that was never the intention of the Mazda engineers. It's more about creating that perfect balance of the driver and the car. Frankly, for those of us who are true enthusiasts, this kind of driving is more enjoyable than screaming down the highway in a sedan with obscene performance specs that work great in a straight line but make your hair change color in the turns.

Journey's End

When the Miata hit the showrooms in 1989 as a 1990 model, it caught all the other manufacturers off guard. Now, some 15 years later, there are little roadsters all over the place. The only one that Mazda's worried about is the new Solstice from Pontiac. But unless that car has the poise and driveability of the new MX-5, Mazda can stop fretting. The Club Spec, at $20,995, will make all those Mazda Club Spec racers happy as it comes without certain items like A/C to help reduce weight. The well-equipped Grand Touring (GT) model, with features like leather seats and trim, a six-speed manual tranny, and Bose audio system (which automatically adjusts the volume when the top is down — cool), is an affordable $24,995.

If you want to find out for yourself just how much fun the Miata is to drive, Mazda's gonna make it easy for you: The MX-5 soon will be a 10-city tour, where consumers can come drive the new roadster on a few cool test tracks along with all the other Mazda products. It's free, and it's fun. To find out if the Zoom-Zoom Live! tour is coming to your town, visit the website at zoomzoomlive.com and register online. Then let me know if you agree that the Miata still offers the best bang for the buck in the roadster segment.