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.
First Glance
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.In the Driver's Seat

2004 Miata interior: Roomier than it looks, but not by much
© Aaron Gold
On the Road
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.Journey's End

2004 Mazdaspeed MX-5 Miata. Pack light!
© Aaron Gold





