11 Causes Why The 4th-Gen Mazda MX-5 Miata Is Nonetheless Essential, Even At 10 Years Previous

The Mazda MX-5 Miata seems to be at an odd level in its life. It isn’t as profitable because it was, shedding gross sales to the Toyota GR86. This can be a symptom of its age, however there are some issues to stay up for on the horizon. The Miata is celebrating its thirty fifth birthday this 12 months, and the Japanese automaker is engaged on a particular version to have a good time. However the most effective information of all is the upcoming Mazda Spirit Racing Miata, which can successfully be a alternative for the turbocharged MazdaSpeed Miata, although it won’t be turbocharged.

Regardless of the Miata going by a little bit of a stoop, we thought we might record 10 explanation why it nonetheless issues, regardless of the ND era being 10 years previous.

It Hasn’t Grown (A lot)

There’s this unstated (and silly) rule within the automotive business that each new mannequin must be larger than the final. The brand new BMW M5 is larger than the 2008 7 Collection, and it weighs virtually as a lot as an armored Lucid Air Sapphire. As you’ll be able to see within the spec field above, Mazda caught carefully to the footprint of the unique Miata, and for good purpose. Mazda’s well-known roadster is the right measurement, and there is nothing to be gained from making it larger. This offers us a pleasant segue to our subsequent purpose why it nonetheless issues.

The Miata Is Nonetheless Skinny

Together with the fixed progress of every new era of no matter mannequin comes extra weight. As soon as once more, we will use the M5 for instance. The primary-generation M5 weighs 3,109 kilos, whereas the brand new mannequin ideas the scales at 5,368 lbs.

Now let’s evaluate the primary and newest era Miata. The NA weighs 2,210 lbs and 35 years later it has solely swelled to 2,341 lbs. That is a exceptional feat contemplating all the posh and expertise Mazda has added to the automobile over time.

You Can (Nonetheless) Afford It

A brand-new 2024 Mazda MX-5 Miata begins at $28,985, however the mannequin you really need is the $32,485 Membership, for causes we have highlighted earlier than. Even if you cannot afford to purchase a brand new one, you will get a good used instance for roughly half the worth of a Membership. In keeping with Autotempest, $15,000 is an efficient deal for a 2016 model-year Miata Membership. One other factor to contemplate is that the Miata will not break the financial institution in terms of repairs and repairs.

Everybody Can Drive It

Due to its tiny dimensions and nice visibility, driving a Miata is definitely a lot simpler than driving a Toyota Corolla. Whether or not you are younger or previous, you’ll be able to take pleasure in a Miata. It could be a little bit of a battle entering into the low-slung automobile, however when you’re in there, it is all good.

And regardless that it is a kind of automobiles that simply is smart with a guide gearbox, you’ll be able to order it with an automated transmission if in case you have no different alternative. In the event you’re 75 and that clutch foot does not work in addition to it used to, concern not. There’s additionally the RF in the event you desire a extra inflexible and soundproof drop-top. Principally, the Miata caters to a wider viewers than simply monitor rats.

You Can (Nearly) At all times Drive It With The Roof Down

As a former Miata proprietor, I do know there’s just one option to drive it, and that is with the roof down. The one purpose to place the roof up is when it is raining or snowing. However even when the bottom is roofed in snow and ice, otherwise you’re driving down a well-kept gravel street, that roof must be down. Some Miata homeowners do not keep on with this rule. We can’t title any names, however we do know of a sure Managing Editor whose title begins with “R” and ends with “Oger Biermann.” He owns an impressive low-mileage NA and has by no means taken the hardtop roof off. Not just like the legend within the video beneath. [The aforementioned Managing Editor also owns an NB that spends 99% of its life with the roof down. -Editor]

It is Half Of A Dying Breed

The Miata does not have any apparent rivals left in its section. And by its ‘section,’ we imply two-seater drop-tops constructed solely for enjoyable. The GR86 does not drop its prime, and the BMW Z4 and Porsche Boxster are far more costly. The closest rival is the Mustang EcoBoost Convertible, however it prices simply over $40k and is extra of a poser automobile. Truly, that is a bit harsh. The brand new Mustang is sportier than earlier than, however one thing its measurement won’t ever be as razor-sharp because the Miata.

America is falling out of affection with the sports activities automobile, so now can be a very good time to get one earlier than they finally die out.

It is Naturally Aspirated

That is going to upset lots of people, however there’s nothing fairly just like the immediacy of a naturally aspirated automobile. Sadly, they’re dying out as automakers proceed to chase larger outputs and decrease emissions utilizing turbocharging. There’s simply one thing so pure about stepping on the throttle and getting a response inside an period of time that your mind cannot comprehend. No want to attend for a turbo to spool, or an EV motor to kick in. Mazda is aware of this, and it is adamant it does not need to turbocharger the ND Miata.

It is A Nice Automotive To Study With

The Miata is the right sports activities automobile to start with, particularly in the event you begin with a contemporary model with some digital nannies. It has 50:50 weight distribution, a pointy entrance finish, and rear-wheel drive. It does not snap and is extraordinarily forgiving. That makes it the right automobile to learn to push the boundaries. One of the best ways is to ease into it with all of the nannies switched on, and as you progress, you’ll be able to strive a couple of issues with out the security internet on a monitor. The Miata will train you about understeer and oversteer and how one can management each, which implies you will be completely geared up while you improve to a roadster with a bit extra juice.

The Miata Is The Good Egocentric Automotive

Your trustworthy correspondent used to personal an NA and I cherished it as a result of it was mine. It did not take children to highschool and was by no means used for something extra sensible than commuting to work. The Miata is a egocentric automobile, and you may see it even within the format of the inside. Every part is positioned inside simple attain of the motive force, and the passenger seat simply kind of exists in its personal little ambiance.

After all, you’ll be able to take a passenger for a trip, however in our expertise, a Miata is greatest skilled in solitary confinement, on the best way to nowhere specifically.

Whereas being egocentric is just not a noble trait, you can even name it self-care. Some individuals go to remedy. Others go on an evening drive in a Miata.

You Can Preserve It Without end

In the event you take a look at used automobile web sites, you will be blown away by what number of used Miatas there are. From the primary to the present era, there are 1000’s to select from, which is smart contemplating it is the best-selling roadster of all time – greater than 1.2 million automobiles have been offered finally depend. Like most Japanese manufacturers, Mazda is understood for constructing dependable automobiles, and even when a Miata goes fallacious, it is low-cost to repair. There is a huge assortment of aftermarket equipment for all 4 generations, and the automobile does not take up a lot area. Even in the event you finally need to improve to one thing family-sized, you’ll be able to afford to maintain the Miata tucked away within the storage for these odd events, and someday you’ll be able to move it on to your children to allow them to use it for all of the issues talked about all through this text.

It could be a Japanese automobile, however it was constructed particularly for the American market and is as ingrained in our tradition because the muscle automobile. For all of those causes, the Miata nonetheless deserves your love and affection.

There’s Extra To Come From The ND Technology

We have left this until final as a result of it is a large one: the ND era Miata platform nonetheless has life in it. It is undergone two revisions/facelifts that honed its dealing with, gave it slightly extra energy and some extra revs, however there’s nonetheless extra that may be extracted. Mazda beforehand likened the Miata’s improvement to that of the Porsche 911, referring to the fixed honing of a platform fairly than creating one thing new each seven years. The NA and NB generations shared a platform, however the NB was ostensibly higher to drive after revisions to the suspension, and Miata Car Improvement Engineer Dave Coleman suggests the ND platform might be the premise of an analogous evolution.