2002 Mazda MX-5 Miata Review

The Mazda Miata is the best selling two-seat roadster of all time, says the Guiness Book of World Records. More than 500,000 Miatas have been sold since this sports car was unveiled at the 1989 Chicago Auto Show, and more than half of them have been sold in North America. The lively, racy looking Miata hit showrooms in July 1989, when the auto market was rather dull. It almost single-handedly kicked off a roadster renaissance, prompting automakers from BMW to Toyota to introduce new sports cars.

The first Miata only cost $13,800. But Mazda dealers asked--and got--as much as $5,000 more than list price. Some buyers promptly turned around and sold the car for an even higher profit. The Miata has the traditional front-engine/rear-drive sports car layout. It's a blast to drive and often has been referred to as a modern version of British sports cars such as the 1960s mass market MG and Triumph. But it's actually a clever copy of the far more sophisticated, low-volume 1960s British Lotus Elan--right down to the appearance of the dual-overhead-camshaft four-cylinder engine. The Elan was rather unreliable, but the sturdy Miata was as reliable as sunrise. It combined British sports car soul with Japanese engineering.

That's partly why a 1989 model in good shape is valued at almost half its original base price. The original Miata was continually refined. The Elan-style pop-up headlights were replaced with fixed units in 1999 and changes last year included a more responsive engine, revised interior, restyled front end, bigger brakes and a stiffer structure. The 2002 model thus is virtually unchanged, although new items include slightly better brakes and an available in-dash six-disc CD changer. There's also a new mid-year Special Edition (SE) model that has a $25,755 base price. Paint is a big deal on a tiny sports car such as the Miata, and thus the SE comes in Titanium Gray Metallic and Blazing Yellow Mica paint, which really make it stand out. Surprisingly, the yellow version is the first Miata to have a black leather interior, which was common in old British sorts cars.

The other SE version has saddle brown leather. Both SE versions have special badging, six-speed manual gearbox, race-style chrome fuel filler door, custom 16-inch alloy wheels and the in-dash CD changer. Other items are a special Nardi steering wheel, shift knob and handbrake lever. There are white-face gauges with retro-style aluminum accent rings and aluminum door handles and pedals. Even the base $21,280 Miata is well-equipped. Its features include air conditioning, AM/FM/CD player, all-disc brakes, wide 50-series tires on 15-inch wheels and power windows and mirrors. There's even a power antenna and a defogger for the glass window in the convertible top, which is manually operated.

Most Miata buyers get the $24,080 LS version, which has leather upholstery, remote keyless entry, power door locks, Bose sound system with automatic speed-sensing volume control, limited-slip differential for better traction and wider 45-series tires on bigger 16-inch wheels for better handling and braking. The SE also has those features.Miata options include a sport suspension, anti-lock brakes for LS and SE models and a detachable hardtop. My test SE had the $295 rear spoiler and $450 appearance package, which contains small side sills and rear mud guards.

The $800 appearance package with a front spoiler and larger side sills would have made it look racier, but the base Miata looks swell and arguably provides the best value for the money. You can get the 16-inch wheels and wider tires for it. Mazda says few Miata buyers want the $900 four-speed automatic transmission because it seems inappropriate for a sports car. The five-speed manual gearbox in base and LS models shifts as slickly as the six-speed unit that's standard in the SE and $650 extra for the LS. The 1.8-liter, 142-horsepower engine provides lively acceleration, but needs high revs for the best performance; a driver thus must do a fair amount of shifting. The sixth gear allows more relaxed highway cruising, although the tachometer shows a rather high 3,300 rpm at 70 mph. Still, the Miata delivers an estimated 23 mpg in the city and 28 on highways with either transmission. Figures with the automatic are 22 and 28.

The Miata's fairly quiet cockpit is so snug that using the manual shifter sometimes caused my hand to hit the radio's "off" button. But there's adequate space for 6-footers. The bucket seats are supportive, gauges are easily read and controls are strategically positioned. There's a key-operated deactivation switch for the passenger air bag, and outside rearview mirrors are nicely sized. The small, usefully shaped trunk provides sufficient room for a fair amount of cargo. Quick power rack-and-pinion steering, razor-sharp handling and sure braking make the Miata a genuine kick to drive. The car has an ultrashort 89.2-inch wheelbase, but an all-independent double-wishbone suspension provides a remarkably supple ride. However, sharp bumps definitely can be felt and cause the cowl and steering wheel to shake a bit. The Miata remains the lowest-priced genuine sports car, and nothing can beat such an auto for pure driving fun.

MAZDA MIATA

Prices
$21,280-$25,755
Likes
Racy styling. Sharp handling. Reliable. Almost an icon.
Dislikes
Snug interior. Some steering wheel shake. No anti-lock brakes for base model.