2016 Mazda Miata

[look 171]

Beside my trucks and SUV, I DD an S2000. The handling is razor sharp and so was my little NA Miata. The biggest complain about those little car is that they are under power. Now, why can't Mazda put a slightly more powerful engine in there? 200hp or a little more will really do the trick and put them in a different category. In places like Japan and England I understand power to overtake isn't that important, but here in the US, getting over the grade and passing a slower vehicle is a must with more power. I had to rev the piss out of third and keep it at red for a few seconds just to get around a van over the pass. No such issue with the S2000 and I never need to get near redline.

[KNS]

Originally Posted by Robert Adams

Think this new model may be a case where the old Miata name gives way to MX5. Some how the Miata name just doesn't do it for this car anymore; its to cutesy a name for such an aggressive design.

Interestingly, the Miata name is only used in the US, everywhere else it is the MX-5.

[onewhippedpuppy]

Richard Hammond seemed to love it on Top Gear. Even the slower UK version.

[Bill Douglas]

Man, I'd turn hair dresser for one of those!

[Porsche-O-Phile]

Originally Posted by fxeditor

I really like the style of the new car. Much better than the current generation Miata (sorry, MX5). Depending on what engines they decide to give us here in the states I may just have to get one and turn my trusty '92 into a track car!

+1 I really can't stand the Gen 3 look. It tries to be too many different things and fails at all of them.

I'd still take a Gen 1 or Gen 2 car first, with my preference being one of the limited-run 2004 "Mazdaspeed" turbo versions. Why they didn't continue to make those I have no idea.

[Kraftwerk]

Originally Posted by M.D. Holloway

They shoulda put the engine in the back...

They shoulda put the engine in the middle!

[lane912]

BBR Launches New Supercharger Conversions for Mazda MX-5 Mk3 Increasing Output Up To 258HP
---Supercharger Conversions for Mazda MX-5 Mk3 Increasing Output Up To 258HP----

[rammstein]

Originally Posted by lane912

BBR Launches New Supercharger Conversions for Mazda MX-5 Mk3 Increasing Output Up To 258HP
---Supercharger Conversions for Mazda MX-5 Mk3 Increasing Output Up To 258HP----

But those prices- sheesh.

[lane912]

now if Mazda offered it as a option at the time of purchase......

[Tobra]

Originally Posted by Porsche-O-Phile

I'd still take a Gen 1 or Gen 2 car first, with my preference being one of the limited-run 2004 "Mazdaspeed" turbo versions. Why they didn't continue to make those I have no idea.

They almost could not give those away, despite it being a pretty stellar deal. Then they had a fire at the factory where they were assembling them. Came at the end of the 2nd gen run too, car was on its way out. Turbo, upgraded transmission, rear end and suspension. They have bounced back and are really holding there value now. My current daily driver, it is a freakin' hoot.

I was surprised how many guys frequent both this forum and the big Miata forum

[oldE]

Originally Posted by Tobra

I was surprised how many guys frequent both this forum and the big Miata forum

No mystery. People who like light, well engineered great handling sports cars are drawn to both places.
When I sold the '69 E, I had been thinking old BMW R100, but a higher authority suggested I think about a toy with four wheels. A couple of weeks later I had a first year Miata which needed some TLC. It soon became my daily driver.
One thing I really like about the car is I don't mind winding it out to extract the performance. With the old E I was conscious of "using it up" and that dampened the enjoyment somewhat for me.

I like the looks of all the generations of the Miata with the second generation being my least favorite. A good friend has a chipped MazdaSpeed Turbo and has kept it even after getting matching Boxsters.

I'm looking forward to seeing the newest one on the road.
Best
Les

[masraum]

Originally Posted by KNS

Interestingly, the Miata name is only used in the US, everywhere else it is the MX-5.

And not even here any more. I think since the third gen, they've ONLY had the "MX-5" name on them.

Originally Posted by Porsche-O-Phile

I'd still take a Gen 1 or Gen 2 car first, with my preference being one of the limited-run 2004 "Mazdaspeed" turbo versions. Why they didn't continue to make those I have no idea.

I had a 2004 MSM. It was a blast and addressed much of what folks complained about in the earlier cars (I had a '97 which was 1st Gen, and the missus had a '99 which was a 2nd gen).

They stopped making them because no one bought them. They made 4000 in 2004 and had planned to make another 4000 in 2005, but when the factory burned down, they stopped at around 1500 or so because no one was buying the examples they had already made.

They are great little cars, but had a couple of very minor issues that are easily fixed. They lowered the redline from 7000 to 6500 and put in much lower gears which means that you do a lot of shifting. that extra 500 rpm would have been very nice. The redline shiftpoints are roughly 25, 45, 65, 85, 105 and top speed of 130. The shifter was OK, but not great. There's a short shifter out there that's fantastic.

[Tobra]

There are a LOT of things about the new one that I don't like. For example, they are offering it in red and 6 shades of grey. It would not be possible for me to buy one optioned they way I would want it. To get one the way I would want, I'd have to buy the base model, buy the factory braces they put on the mid level model, and buy a limited slip diff for it. Even then it would have a ton of crap on it I don't want and could not readily remove and would still be the wrong color

Originally Posted by masraum

The shifter was OK, but not great. There's a short shifter out there that's fantastic.

Yes it is, perhaps the best $300 I ever spent on a car