1999 Mazda MX-5 Miata

Why Back Roads Were Really Created...

By Ryan Scott, MBA2

rscottz@umich.edu

Last week we covered the Audi A4, perhaps the ideal post-MBA ride. Upright, sporty: the neighbors would approve, so would potential recruiters. Now we turn to your other, more private side: the little secret that we all keep in our closet and far off our resumes. Now we drive the really fun stuff.

The 1999 Mazda Miata is trouble. My driver's license got nervous every time I got into the little two seater, which has been totally redesigned for this year. So much fun. So much more fun than the last version. Bigger motor, better suspension, a little more room, better moves. Speed limits seem to become rules meant for others as you dart through traffic on the streets, searching for that elusive stretch of open road.

When the Miata first reached our shores back in 1989, the sports car purists cried foul, while the rest of US quickly gobbled up every one Mazda could make. The purists all said, "its just a knock-off of what the British gave us 20 years ago." In a certain sense they were right. The original Miata was a lot of fun to drive, but it did not provide performance any better than the best roadsters from the UK from the early Seventies.

One thing none of the purist-snobs could argue on was reliability. When, if ever, you see classic British stuff on the road, they travel in packs, because someone is going to break down. I know, I used to be one of them, my 1975 Triumph TR6 was better than any Miata, or so my delusions led me to believe.

The Species Evolves

The new Miata is bigger, faster, stronger, more comfortable, and more confident. Surprisingly, though virtually every part of the car is new, the Miata roadster tips the scale at an identical 2300 pounds. The new roadster still seats only two and the styling giveaway for the new car is the disappearance of the bug-eyed headlights of the first Miata that made so many purists think Lotus Elan. In their place are two sneering fixed headlights that are lighter (no pun intended) and better than the old model's retracting headlights. The car is generally more muscular; sinuous fender flares and the like mark the new model's styling over the old cars more plain flanks.

Under the hood is a revised 1.8 liter twin cam four cylinder that now whips out a gleeful 140 hp at 6500 rpm (up 7 from last year) and 119 lb ft of torque at 5000 rpm. These numbers mean lots of zing under the hood. It is just impossible to shift below 4000, the engine is too much fun as it makes its way irrepressibly to 7000 rpm or so, then you can reluctantly shift and watch it all happen again. 0-60 wisks by in around 8.0 seconds with the absolutely fab 5-speed manual transmission that has been further improved in the new car.

Take on the Twisties

Driving this car is a constant adrenaline rush. With the top down, and the wind in the hair, there is no better way to forget about whatever it was at work that had you so bothered. Wait, where do you work again? Don't you just drive all day? Oh well.

The revised transmission snicks its lovely way from gear to gear and heel and toe shifting is a snap once you adjust to offset brake pedal.

Our car was equipped with the base suspension. The 185/60-R14 Toyo tires combined with revised suspension geometry and wider rear track to yield handling that just will not quit. Steering is quick and precise, with very little body roll. The rear will come out when coaxed, but is predictable and lot of fun to countersteer your way through.

This car loves to be tossed. Go out on Huron River Drive north of town and just have fun. No need to drive too fast, just put the top back and drive. The view along the river is awesome and you can stop at any number of places along the way to rent a canoe. This is what the Miata is made for. Soak it up: enjoy it before winter swoops in.

There is a Sport suspension package available on this car. Skip it unless you are about to go auto-crossing in your new Miata. The package is fun, but it raises the limits of the car beyond what you are likely to be able to safely experience on public roads. Instead, spend the money on the cool Bose stereo that lets the music be heard, even on the highway.

Braking in the Miata is child's play. Four wheel disks grab well, and though ABS is a $550 option, stops from 60 can be had in 125 feet.

Cowl shake was a noted problem on the last Miata. Mazda worked hard to stiffen the chassis on the car and it shows. You never forget that the car does not have a roof, but it is certainly never ill-behaved, even on the mean streets of Ann Arbor. 99-MAZDA-MIATA_4

A Little Interior Tour

If you know the old Miata's interior, than you know the new one. While changes were made, it is all familiar territory. An optional genuine Nardi steering wheel can be had (part of the options on our car). It is nice to hold and the perfect finish to the great steering the car offers. Seats are very comfortable and controls fall readily to hand. The quirky cruise control, which operates by rotating the wiper stalk, is annoying, but can be overcome.

The new Miata has good storage inside. Both the glove box and the center console provide lots of room with separate locks to keep top-slitting thieves at bay. Notably, the new Miata now has a glass rear window with defroster, replacing the plastic window and oneupping the likes of the BMW Z3.

And Its Value Priced

Our silver test car was equipped with the optional "Popular Equipment Package" which included power and cruise as well as the nice Torsen limited slip differential. This package weighs in at $2,330 and along with the $900 air conditioner brought our car up from $19,770 to its as tested price of $23,530 with transportation.

Before you balk, remember that this is almost $10,000 below another four-cylinder powered roadster from a company that begins with B and ends with W. The kicker is that the Miata is a better car in every way than the base Z3. No discussion. Even though those purists would argue that the Z3 has better pedigree (it does) than the Miata, it is anemic off the line and never terribly exciting after that. Plus fit and finish is well below what the Mazda brings to the plate.

You have to like a car that can provide this much fun, reliability, and well yes, Virginia, value. Sure it is a lot of money for what can be argued to be a toy, but you must compare apples to apples. Do not compare to a Taurus, compare to a Z3, and spend the $10,000 you saved on a hardtop ($1500) and on something nice for your significant other. That way he/she will not be so mad at you when you are not around as much as you used to be.

The 1999 Mazda Miata: caught taking a brief nap during our testing.