1990-1998 Mazda Miata: Road Test

The Miata is lively, agile, simple, and fun-to-drive. While off-the-line acceleration is not terrific (0-60 in about 8.3 seconds), it shows flashes of brilliance in 2nd and 3rd gear, and it gets great mileage, with 25-27 mpg possible on a regular basis. The Miata maneuvers beautifully, is easy to handle, and hugs the road snugly. The ride can be choppy at times, given the fact body flex is the bane of all convertibles. Extra bracing added for the 1994 model year seems to improve the situation, however. Though the prominent exhaust note isn't inappropriate given the Miata's mission, there are also above-average quantities of wind and road noise. The cozy cockpit has well-placed gauges and controls, plus enough space to give tall people adequate room, permitting full enjoyment of the car's attributes. This is true despite the lack of any steering-wheel adjustment. Leg room is not a problem, but head room is tight. One golf bag or a couple of gym bags and the tonneau cover are about all that will fit in the small trunk, which also holds the mini-spare. There's also usable storage behind the seats (perhaps as much as afforded by the trunk).

Value for the Money
The first-generation Miata still looks and feels as good as it did when it arrived in 1989. If you're looking for an affordable, fun-to-drive sports car, there's little need to search further.