Of course, the true reason the Miata is so adept in the twisties is primarily owed to its light weight. In stock form it is an unoffensive buzz that eagerly rises with the revs, never sounding stressed or wound out. . For those with naughtier tendencies, the Torsen limited-slip differential makes stepping the tail out a reasonably trouble-free affair. The seats themselves are rather hard and the bolsters, possibly for reasons of the ever-growing median American, are too far apart to hold my lithe frame in place securely. The more complex special edition wheels give the roadster a more premium appearance that is muddied somewhat by the take-it-or-leave-it side cladding.
The level of noise through the top is no greater than a standard roof. Pop-up headlights are left behind in the 90s and replaced with fixed plastic units for pedestrian safety reasons. In a very notable improvement, not just for the Miata but for stick-shift sports cars in general, the cup holders are staggered so that the front one is closer to the passenger, allowing for drinks to occupy both cup holders without interfering with operation of the transmission. The facelift added some additional creases in the front bumper, as well as projector lowbeam headlights. The engine is smooth and loves to rev, never feeling stressed or overworked.
This version removed the variable length intake runners, instead adding restrictors for cold-start emissions purposes and adding intake-side variable valve timing. All touch surfaces feel surprisingly premium, with the illusion finished off with chrome rings around the gauges and the very nice brushed metal pedals. Bump steer was, I noticed, rather significant with the 205-width rubber wrapped around those gorgeous wheels, but the power steering made it easy to keep under control. The Arizona model has aluminium effect windbreaker bars, interior trim and scuff plates. As an aside, the engine is thus understressed compared to, say, the balls-to-the-wall 2-liter in the Honda S2000. Though it leans in corners a bit more than did earlier Miatas, the latest version rides marginally better.
For those looking for an inexpensive, reliable, purpose-built sports car with the engine in the front, drive wheels in back, truly spectacular handling, and can only have one car the Internet Meme Machine is quick to point out, the answer is always Miata. There is no rasp, no asthmatic wheezing, just a reassuring hum to remind you there is an engine present and accounted for. Appearance The second generation Miata eschews the soapbar styling of the original and instead adopts a most sculpted, muscular look. The chocolatey brown leather that adorns the seats and steering wheels is a lovely choice, with the theme continued onto accent panels on the door cards. Slight clutch judder when cold. Model year 2002 Year of manufacture 2002 First year of ownership 2005 Engine and transmission 1. General Comments: This car is outstanding.
Yes Review Date: 30th May, 2004. Dealer service is iffy - front desk service is good, but workshop knowledge of the car appears to be limited other than what is in their 'service instruction manuals'. The elephant in the room, of course, is the acceleration of the Miata. Most cars will beat it in acceleration, any number of high-end sports cars will out-handle it, and even a base model Mercedes will be nicer on the inside. The steering wheel, made by Italian auto firm Nardi, is perfectly sized for both spirited driving and lazily cruising along. This increases reliability, which keeps down operating costs, making the Miata a better value proposition.
The handling, balance, look and feel of it are worthy of the most luxurious purebred sports cars, for a fraction of the cost. Body roll is present but from the perspective of the driver is completely invisible as the car pivots around the seats carving joyous slice after slice out of the countryside as it bounds from corner to corner with aplomb. Boot space is remarkable when compared with similar cars in the class, and the standard alloys are excellent. Mazda will not identify faults that you have not pointed out which are repairable under warranty. Faults: Number plate light fell out. Fairly minor gripes for which your mileage may vary, but worth mention.
There is no low fuel light on this model, which may not seem like much, but you'd be surprised how helpful that little yellow light is. Because it is so good in almost every respect, the notchy 1st and second gears and clutch shudder when cold stand out more than they should. Seats are remarkably comfortable and the soft top can be released in literally 2 seconds. Don't Know Review Date: 10th July, 2005 Faults: Mazda changed the design of the clutch in 2002 I believe and it wears very quickly and creates 'high-spots'. I look forward to driving it all the time. Its twin-camshaft Four is willing and responsive, if not overly powerful, and the stubby manual shifter is a joy to use. Few cars stand unopposed in their market segment.
The interior is black leather with silver stitching, with matching sports steering wheel. Around back the theme of increased sculpting continues. Interior The Miata is not a luxury car. All is not perfect, however. Above all else the Miata is known for its handling. Look for signs of juddering through the clutch pedal and ensure that you point this out to the dealer on servicing.
Conclusion Finding faults with the Miata is difficult. The goal was to marry the look and feel of classic 1960s British sports cars with the quality and reliability of modern Japanese models--and this nimble, fun-to-drive roadster meets it admirably. This combination squeezes 142 horsepower out of the 1. It is a cheap roadster for the masses, and accessible way to get an excellent driving experience on a budget. .