Jim Bray's Car & Tech rants - publishing online exclusively since 1995
Mazda's miniscule motoring masterpiece continues to amaze and delightBy Jim Bray If you're looking for a classic sporty drive, you can't go far wrong with Mazda's venerable MX-5. Now just called the MX-5, though it'll always be the Miata to me, Mazda's little two-seater hearkens back to the classic European sports cars of old, except that the Mazda is far less likely to leave you stranded on the side of the road than those Eurosports of days gone by would. I say that from experience. Three of the first cars I owned were MGB's (or is it MG's B?), of varying age and condition. My first was a 1963 that was on its last legs and which I couldn't afford to keep running. My second was a 1967 and I loved it dearly, except that it was a money pit and seemed to hate Toronto because that's usually where it stranded me as I passed through. I was young then, so I blamed Toronto… Then there was the one we bought brand new, a 1975.5. What a piece of junk that was! By then, parent company British Leyland was teetering, collision and "eco" standards meant the vehicle was gutless and had been jacked up higher so its horrid, big bumpers would meet the new standards. The result was a car that handled poorly, was about as fast as a pedestrian, and which still managed to strand me on the roadside seemingly every time it rained. The demise of such vehicles left a hole in the "classic sports car" market, with a few exceptions along the way. Then Mazda, in its wisdom, decided the world could use a little personal "Zoom-Zoom" again and created a new classic roadster that was reminiscent of (some might say ripped off from) the British sports car of old.
Anyway, that lovely Miata, now just the MX-5, first popped into the public consciousness in 1989 and ever since then it has put smiles on the faces of enthusiasts looking for a pure driving experience that won't break the bank. Now in its fourth generation, the car has grown in size and capabilities, but has never strayed from its roots very far. It has never been a really fast car (well, there was a Mazdaspeed turbo for a while), but it has always been nearly fast enough. Heck, it's a sports car, not a race car (though the MX-5 does very well there, too). And with this fourth generation it finally comes with enough power to make it not feel as if it's wanting even in the slightest. So it was that Mazda, undoubtedly coincidentally, decided that for my 72nd birthday I should be able to drive two new MX-5's, a lower end soft top and a higher end retractable hard top. It's the thing of automotive orgasm for someone like me, who loves to drive and who cut his automative teeth on just this type of car. And my two weeks in the MX-5 were the most fun I've had since my wife got me an iFly experience last Christmas. According to Mazda, new for 2024 on all MX-5's are:
Other than the nannies (which can be shut off and will never bother you again other than a couple of lights on the instrument panel – though as with all the new vehicles I've driven lately you still get the privilege of paying for them), this is pretty good stuff. First up in my "Miatathon" was the GS-P, the second from the bottom of the line, a vehicle whose sticker starts at $38,900 (as opposed to the base GS' $34,900) and which also featured $4700 in sporty options that enhanced the plucky little bugger even more. The GS-P's limited slip differential has been updated to an "Asymmetric Limited Slip Differential to improve stability and lightness", a new DSC-TRACK mode has been added, the inside mirror is now frameless (so it won't accuse you of a crime you didn't commit) and features auto dimming, and the outside mirrors now feature auto dimming as well. The second MX-5 was the GT RF, which featured a nice – though not necessary considering the car's inherent greatness – sport package with Brembo front brakes (opposed piston design/unique rotor), red calipers front and rear, 17-inch BBS forged alloy wheels (Gunmetal finish) and Recaro sport seats (Nappa leather and Alcantara trimmed). That one stickers for $49, 100, which is getting up there for a vehicle that's essentially a toy. Have no fear, though! The driving experience of the cheaper model was just as good as the GT RF's. Better, perhaps. That's because the current generation's retractable hard top pales in comparison to the one featured on the generation before it. That older one folded completely into the body (without compromising trunk space, magically), whereas this new one is more like a Targa top in that only the upper part really retracts, leaving a big, rollbar-like thing up top that leaves huge blind spots that aren't there when the roof is down completely. Oh, they're no worse than when the roof is up – hard or soft – but it sure is nice having that wide open view when the top goes down completely. I love the idea of the retractable hard top – the last one, anyway – but the roof on the soft top version is so darn easy to get up and down it's nearly unbelievable. Basically, you just unhook the latch above the rear-view mirror and lower the roof with one arm until it snaps into place behind you (the roof, not the arm!). Raising it is a tad harder – at least for a fat old man – because the latch is between the seats and you have to twist around to grab it. Once that's done, however, it's the same one-handed process (in reverse, of course) that it was to lower it. It's fantastic, so much so that I'd choose the soft top over this particular hard top any day. And it's cheaper! All MX-5's come with a two-litre inline four-cylinder engine, rear wheel drive, and most of them are only available with a smart and lovely six speed manual transmission that's an absolute joy to shift. You can order an automatic on the GS-P and the GT, but if you do, I'll seek you out and slap you silly. 
Horsepower of the MX-5 is rated at 181 @ 7,000 rpm, with torque of 151 lb.-ft. @ 4,000 rpm. This sounds pretty anemic, but the car is very light and it seems like a perfect match. In fact, as mentioned above, this is the first non-turboed MX-5 in which I didn't think the power was lacking. Another great thing about the Miata, er, MX-5, is its suspension, which features double wishbones up front and a multi-link rear. The handling thus created is the stuff of dreams – dare I say Porsche-like? – imparting the feeling that the car's responses are hard-wired into your brain. The brakes Mazda attaches to the 17-inch wheels are power-assisted discs all around, with dual diagonal hydraulic circuits and, of course, ABS etc. And while the car is, indeed, tight inside (especially if you're old, short and fat), once you're there you feel right at home. In fact, it feels as if you don't really sit in it; it's more as if you're wearing it, like your favourite pair of blue jeans (or whatever turns your sartorial crank). It's remarkable. One downside of the MX-5 is that Mazda recommends you fuel it with premium, which can be quite pricey these days. It's worth it, though, to keep this lovely little engine humming as it should. Mazda also rates its gas mileage (for the six-speed stick) at 9.0 l/100 km city, 7.0 highway and 8.1 combined. I didn't achieve that, but I rarely achieve the posted mileages in any vehicle (including my own) because for some reason my right foot seems quite a bit heavier than the left. I didn't care, anyway. Anyone who buys a car like this for its fuel mileage must be some kind of a nut. Some have said it's a girls' car, too, but I disagree strongly. It's a car meant for those who love the drive. Bottom line for me is that, if I had a spare spot in my garage big enough for what's in reality for someone of my age a toy, I'd be heading to the Mazda dealer today to get my GS-P, configured just like Mazda's sample was. But since I don't, I'd have to get rid of my beloved Sportwagon, a car that's not only fun but practical (and I love it in spite of its practicality). But if you do have that spot in your garage, and the Mazda MX-5 is calling to you, head right down to the dealer before you come to your senses. Copyright 2024 Jim Bray |
And it sold like hotcakes. And, being Japanese, it worked and worked well, and it lasted. Heck, my neighbour has had a first-generation Miata (in the rather cheeky British Racing Green) for many years and, though it's displaying signs of its age, she still loves it and it still drives wonderfully.