A modern classic

When I first decided to drive the Miata, I wrongly had the preconceived notion that it's a limp, poseur of a sports car. A 'girly' car. In hindsight, I'm not sure why I felt so bigoted towards it. Perhaps it was the small size? Or the name. The irony is that the Miata has more athleticism in its Torsen LSD than my previous ride, a 1999 Integra LS, had in its entire chassis. At any rate, clearly that poseur label should be left for the VW Cabrio. ;-)

It was a sunny Summer day when, for whatever reason, I saw a red 99 Miata LS at the local Mazda dealer and decided to drive it. I don't know why. I don't like red. I already had it in my head that I didn't like Miatas. But for whatever reason, I decided to ask a salesperson for a test drive. That test drive changed my life. Driving the Miata was a revelation.

I now have a gorgeous 01 Miata LS in 'Midnight Blue Mica'. Or navy, as we civilians call it.

I can't believe how well the Miata handles. I've had the pleasure of driving many of my friends' higher end sports cars, and the Miata can corner with the best of them. A good Miata driver (not that I can call myself one yet) who drives smoothly and maintains momentum can be very, very quick in this car. Balance defines the car. It tracks very neutrally, which makes adjusting the cornering load with the brakes and throttle easy, rewarding, and a blast. The chassis feels quite stiff for a convertible, though it's no S2000. It feels very solid and well put together, much more so than the NA. Not only does the car feel crisper, it feels safer and more secure.

The engine is just peppy enough to get the job done. It revs willingly with satisfying acceleration when the revs come on. If you're not hitting the rev limiter, you're not driving it right. Mazda smartly engineered the car to feel faster than it really is, so driving is a pleasure. Even with merely adequate torque, the shifter and clutch are such a joy to operate that it simply gives me more excuses to row through the gears. The shifter easily rates as one of the best I've ever used, with short throws and a smooth action. It's right up there with Honda's best (NSX, RSX, S2000).

The interior in the LS is quite nice. It's classy with a look and feel of quality. I love the white faced gauges with chrome accents. I also find the center stack to be refreshingly straightforward to use. The driving position is great. Though the wheel isn't adjustable, it seems to be in perfect position for me. The car is just big enough for me to fit perfectly. I love how intimate the cockpit is, almost like a small plane mixed with a tailored suit. While I prefer cloth, the perforated leather seats are supportive and do a great job of holding me in place when tossing the car down twisty roads. I felt this was a weakness in pre 2001 Miatas with leather.

The LS comes with a standard Bose audio system, which includes a tweeter and woofer mounted in each door. The system sounds fine, although boomy at low speeds and with the top up. The amp seems to have plenty of headroom though, as it outputs plenty of volume at a relatively low setting. It seems that the stereo is optimized for top down driving at speed, as the ambient noise hides the boominess. It seems logical, but most of the time I'd much rather hear the car!

The Miata is a great looking car. Purists prefer the original NA Miata with its pop up air brakes, but I like the more sculpted look of the NB. The 16" wheels with low profile tires give the car an aggressive, modern stance. I love the flowing shapes along the hood, the subtle haunches above the rear wheels, and even the trunk hump. I only wish the headlights looked a little more aggressive. Also noteworthy is that the Miata is on the very short list of convertibles that looks great with the top down and up.

I haven't even gotten to the best part. Top down motoring. The top is so easy to just unlatch and toss behind you. It's also easy to raise with one hand without getting out of the car. The only negative is the fussy bulkhead cover. It's really not a huge pain, but I only bother using it for longer drives, and days when the whether isn't marginal. Driving on my favorite back roads is like therapy for me. The experience is exponentially better with the top down at dusk. Everything is amplified and the experience is much more visceral. Feeling the wind, hearing every mechanical and environmental noise, actually getting to smell the driving experience. I feel much more involved because I'm in such a responsive car and I'm not shielded from the elements. I can get used to this whole "oneness between horse and rider" thing.

Practicality is not why people buy Miatas, but I was pleasantly surprised. It's my daily driver, and it's hardly a chore. The NB has a fairly spacious trunk, now that the spare is buried under the cargo space. My wife and I can fit a week's worth of groceries. We've taken week long road trips and had the trunk stuffed with a large duffle, two briefcases, a garment bag, and a small cooler. My Miata has also survived its first Mid-Atlantic Winter. Granted, we hardly receive blizzard conditions here, but light snow can be handled with common sense and planning. The glass rear window with defroster is a great feature, and I'm stunned at how many premium roadsters forego this! The Miata also makes a fantastic city car, due to its point and shoot handling, and its tiny dimensions. It can be parked practically anywhere.

So clearly I'm in love. In order to balance this review, here are some negatives. The car is small. I'm a long legged 6' tall, and I need the seat tracked all the way to the rear. I prefer a more upright driving position to control the car, and that makes headroom a close shave (but only on rainy days!). Bigger drivers might not fit. The cockpit area is light on storage room, and makes a strong case for owning an iPod, vs lugging a large collection of CDs. The soft top is thin, and does a poor job of shielding wind and traffic noise. It doesn't bother me at all, but people who need to be coddled during their commutes might be turned off. (It's hardly a torture chamber. Live a little.) Again, the boot cover is sort of a pain, but a necessary evil.

Bottom line: The Miata somehow manages to be a serious, true sports car that's easy to drive hard and also easy to own. It's one of the best sports car values on the planet. It turned out to be exactly what I wanted. An affordable, lightweight, RWD car with world class handling. Any serious driving enthusiast owes it to himself to test drive a Miata. Even the macho types. Get over yourselves and give it a shot.

I don't know why I was player hating the Miata. I owe Mazda and all Miata owners a sincere apology. Feel free to shout "One of us! One of us!" whenever I drive by.

(edited 8 Mar 2005 to fix a typo)