The Miata is a great option for a number of reasons. It's well-made, efficient and is surprisingly affordable. Mazda have created one of the most popular roadsters of all time, and it's a formula that has worked for years, with others trying to imitate, but never quite capturing the magic created by the Miata.
Its simplistic, yet equally exciting nature, makes it a true driver's car and an absolute must-have for any car enthusiast. Below are some reasons why we love the original Mazda Miata sports car.
10 Good Price
A reason for the Miata's popularity has to be the great price. No matter whether you were buying a new one or looking to purchase from the used car market, the Miata was a great choice for cheap thrills.
Depending on year, spec and condition, the Miata is available used for anywhere between $3,000 to $18,000, depending on various factors, but it's still a great deal.
9 Its Simplicity
The beauty of the Miata is its sheer simplicity. Few cars offer the same driving experience without all the unnecessary baggage that comes along with it, which has led the car to becoming the classic we know today.
The Miata has always been known as a car for purist driving enthusiasts, and that is because it does the simplest things to perfection. All it needs is reasonable power, great handling, good looks and the ability to excite.
8 The Reliability
Buying used cars is often an unnerving experience for those unacquainted with the second hand market, and for good reason. Typically, used cars, and Japanese cars in particular, have a reputation for being unreliable.
Year after year, the Miata has proven that reliability and build quality don't always have to come at a premium. The great quality of the Miata has led to its popularity, especially for those looking for a good, classic roadster on a budget.
7 Handling And Weight Distribution
This is the one thing about the Miata that very few other cars regardless of price come close to. The shape and size of the Miata make it one of the best handling cars in the world.
The near perfect weight distribution as well as the narrow body width make it incredibly stable at speed, and the exceptional grip levels make it the perfect choice for those looking for a true driver's car for a low price.
6 The Styling
As one of the most instantly recognizable cars in the world, the Miata is almost perfectly designed, and that is especially true when it comes to the looks.
It's a perfect balance between cool and understated. The simplistic design shines throughout, and the popup headlights are a true reflection of the Miata's time. It's obvious the looks of the Miata are so revered because it's a design that is copied so often by other manufacturers in an attempt to capture the essence of the Miata in their own creations.
5 Customizability
Often, the truest sign of a Japanese car's status is found within the level of customizability and number of aftermarket parts available for the car. In the Miata's case, there's plenty.
A quick browse through any social media platform's car pages will reveal the sheer number of modified Miata's encapsulating its popularity. Everything from wide body kits to engine mods and even turbo conversions are available for the Miata, meaning if you are looking to enter the confusing and deep world of car customization, the Miata may be the perfect place to start — especially if you are on a budget. One of the best examples of this comes from Brodie Britain Racing who modify NA Miata's by creating turbo conversion kits for the 1990-1991 models. These are even covered by a full dealer warranty.
4 The Engine
The heart of any vehicle is undoubtably the engine, in the Miata's case, engines ranged from 1.6-liter Inline 4's to 1.8-liter variants. Despite being relatively small and low in power, they were the perfect fit for the Miata.
A smaller engine means lower weight and theses well-built engines ranged from 88 to 133 hp but gave the car a great power to weight ratio, further enhancing the overall feeling and handling. These were all paired with a 5-speed manual transmission throughout the whole Miata range.
3 Its Fuel Efficiency
Another great selling point of the Miata is its great fuel efficiency. It's uncommon to find a sports car with good fuel efficiency as often, fuel ratings are sacrificed in the name of performance.
Due to the Miata's lower powered and smaller capacity engine, the car achieves good levels of efficiency in its category. General mpg ratings for Miata's are around 25 mpg, and when compared to other sports cars, which are heavier and require more power, the Miata is in a league of its own.
2 Future Classics
Despite the lower price now, Miata's are becoming more valuable as time passes, making them a great investment.
Not only this, the Miata is a classic in its own right and the chance to own a classic for this price is a great opportunity for those who have the means. The steady price increase however means that if you'd like to own a Miata, now is the time to invest.
1 Special Variants
Quite possibly due to its immense popularity, the Miata also spawned a number of special variants, perhaps as a way to capitalize on everyone's love for the car at the time.
Either way, reason aside, the Miata saw over 15 special versions and these changes ranged from unique interior and color options all the way to larger performance modifications. One of the most unique was the M2-1028 Street Competition Roadster which came with upgraded pistons, camshafts and new 14-inch Eunos factory rims painted in a special gunmetal paint with polished lip. The lightweight side mirrors, MOMO race wheel, racing seats, centerless console and race tow hook made it much racier than the standard model too, hence the name.