2005 Mazdaspeed MX-5 Miata Test Drive

Ask me what my favorite car is, and I won't even hesitate: It's the Mazda Miata. I've driven two-seaters with more performance, more panache, and more prestige, and I'll take a Miata any ol' day. The new Mazdaspeed version brings the excitement of a turbocharger to the little roadster's razor-sharp handling. Does it get any better than this? No, unless you need to carry anything larger than a small duffel bag. $26,250, 4 year/50,000 mile warranty. Oh, and save a few bucks for speeding tickets.

Before there was a PT Cruiser or a New Beetle or a New Mini, before there was a Z3 or an S2000 or a Boxster, there was the Miata: the car that ushered in both the roadster and the retro-car eras. Fifteen years and one redesign later, the Miata hasn't changed much, and that's just fine with me. The basics are all here: A melodious four-cylinder engine; steering so precise you can swerve around a piece of chewing gum; rear-wheel-drive for a bit of tail-wagging fun; just enough room for you and a mate. Flip two latches and give the roof a shove, and FWAP! The roof drops back behind the seats, and the wind is in your hair. Turn the key, we're motoring, baby. The Miata is perfect for relaxed cruising. Feel like getting a little more aggressive? The Miata is a perfect trainer. Push and probe its limits of traction, and it pushes back gently. Hammer it, and you can swing the tail out in the curves like a seasoned rally driver. Whatever your idea of driving fun is, the Miata is the perfect companion. Every time I test drive a Miata (and believe you me, I do that as often as possible!), my love for the car grows.

If the Miata has one drawback, it's the cramped interior. You don't sit in a Miata; you wear it. I'm 5'6" and weigh 150 lbs (OK, OK... 160) and this car makes me feel like Shaquile O'Neil. It's comfortable for me; I just never saw how anyone bigger could fit inside. So I asked my friend Joe, who tops 6' and 300 lbs, to take a test-squeeze. Joe not only fit in the car, but he had plenty of room to drive comfortably. How does Mazda do that? Magic seats, I guess. (Perhaps the Miata should have a cameo in the next Harry Potter movie. "Interiorous roomus maximus!") The Miata's trunk space is vestigial; it's fine for two people taking a trip provided they aren't heavy packers. A week's worth of groceries is no problem. But if you like to go antiquing, either leave the passenger seat empty or take another car. The Miata's soft top is manually operated; it's easy to open from the driver's seat, but neither girlfriend Robin nor I had the upper-arm strength to close it from inside the car. Just another reason to leave it open all the time! Incidentally, our test car came with a vinyl boot cover to conceal the folded roof. I put it on once; it looked nice but created a ton of wind noise. After that, I left it in the trunk.

When it comes to road manners, everything works in the Miata's favor. A car this small and light is inherently nimble; the Miata's low stance and even front-to-rear weight distribution just make things better. Over the years, Mazda has offered several performance suspensions for the Miata; the one in the Mazdaspeed MX-5 is the best yet, thanks largely to the addition of high-performance Toyo Proxes R28 tires. (If you live where it snows, you will need another set of tires for winter.) But the big news is under the hood, where the Miata's 1.8 liter engine now sports a turbocharger that raises the output to 178 horsepower. (A turbocharger is an exhaust-driven turbine that pumps more air into the engine, enabling it to produce more power.) You have to rev the engine to get at the power. The turbo doesn't start doing it's thing until 4,500 RPM, and the rev limiter cuts the fun at 6,500 RPM. That 2,000 RPM isn't a very broad powerband, but the closely spaced gear ratios of the six-speed transmission (the Mazdaspeed MX-5 isn't available with an automatic) let you make the most of it. The shifter's precise, flick-of-the-wrist action makes rowing through the gears an absolute delight.

The only people who won't understand the appeal of the Miata are those that think of cars as A-to-B transportation and nothing more... though most of them would probably come around if you took them for a ride. If you don't enjoy driving the Miata, chances are you'll never enjoy driving. Base Miatas start out just above $22,500, a bargain considering all the performance and the sheer grin-factor this car offers. With all the go-faster goodies the Mazdaspeed version gives you for less than $4,000 more, it's an out-and-out steal. No matter which Miata you choose, or even if you buy a nice used one, you cannot go wrong. The Miata isn't for everyone, but if it suits your lifestyle, by all means you should consider purchasing one. And if you should happen to go out of town, somewhere far enough to fly, be sure to call me. I'll take really good care of your Miata while you're gone!