6 1999 - 2005 Mazda Miata | The Perfect Roadster
By Jean Jennings
The magical Miata roadster arrived in the States in 1989 as a 1990 model. There was nothing like it on the road. It was, for all intents, a Lotus Elan that didn't break or hemorrhage bodily fluids in your driveway - modern, sophisticated, simple, and pure joy to drive. We were so crazy about the Miata that we created the very first Automobile of the Year award in its honor.
Since then, the Miata has won more than 150 awards, has been an Automobile Magazine All-Star a whopping twelve times in the ensuing twenty years, and shows up on virtually every list of cars we think you should love as much as we do. More than 800,000 have been sold, making it the best-selling two-seat roadster in the world.
The second-generation Miata - with more horsepower (up to 140 hp from the original car's 116), a stiffer unibody, fixed headlamps, and a glass rear window - is the one to own. We borrowed a 1999 model for a one-year Four Seasons test, and it finished with a very rare rating of four and a half (out of five) stars, with scheduled services during 30,254 miles totaling only $319.39. Dead-nuts reliability and low repair costs are hallmarks of the Miata.
Every year in this seven-year run saw special editions and/or custom paint jobs. A limited edition of 7500 sapphire blue mica 10th Anniversary Miatas were made in 1999, with (among other goodies) a six-speed manual transmission, a sport suspension, a Nardi steering wheel and shift knob, and leather and Alcantara seats. The popular British Racing Green Special Edition arrived in 2001, along with an across-the-board bump in horsepower to 142 and an extra 6 lb-ft of torque. There are beaucoup aftermarket parts and tuners ready to twist up the Miata's juice, plus a number of Miata clubs like the Houston Miata Club that enjoy tweaking and twanging the whee out of their cars.
But the hottest Miata from the factory is the 2004-05 Mazdaspeed Miata. Ask the woman who owns one. Mine is titanium gray over a beautiful saddle brown leather interior and Nardi steering wheel, both lifted from a 2001 special edition. Turbocharging boosts the 1.8-liter engine's output 25 percent, to 178 hp; the suspension is tuned accordingly; and steering response is much quicker. One complaint is the lack of cruise control, and forums suggest an aftermarket fix. But if you're driving the Miata for maximum pleasure, no cruise control is necessary.
Price Then $22,388 (2004)
Price Now $12,000
> Awards
All-Star ('99, '00, '01, '02)
> Watch Out For
Potential rough engine idle ('99, '00) from plugged EGR valve passages, an inexpensive fix. Otherwise, five-star reliability.
> Fun Fact
Largest single-model car club in the world.
> Certified Pre-Owned
7-yr/100,000-total-mile powertrain warranty; 3-month/3000-mile-from-purchase supplemental warranty
> Web Sites
mazdas247.com, mazda-speed.com,specmiata.com, miata.net
> Specs
- 1.8L I-4, 140/142 hp, 119/125 lb-ft; 1.8L turbocharged I-4, 178 hp, 166 lb-ft
- 5- or 6-speed manual, 4-speed automatic
- Rear-wheel drive ...next page >>