When Mick Jagger crooned “you can’t always get what you want,” he likely wasn’t talking about cars.
Or maybe he was, as apparently old Mick and the Rolling Stones did get some satisfaction from collecting them.
But most people don’t have that Rolling Stones catalog money. For the rest of us, I think there is one sports car that can get you what you want, at the right price (just over $35,000). And that’s the Mazda MX-5 Miata.
Car fanatics and legions of Mazda Miata fans will say that isn’t exactly breaking news. But outside of these insular groups, many view the Miata as a toy, a trifle, something of a non-serious car. And that’s the point of this review: To convince those non-believers to give this car a chance.
Because the new Miata is really good…and may not be here that much longer.
The MX-5 Miata basics
“Basic” is an appropriate word, because 2hen it comes down to it, the Miata is a pretty basic package — but it gives you just what you need as a driver.
Here’s the Miata formula: It’s one part British style roadster, plus Japanese technical know-how and reliability, add in a bulletproof naturally-aspirated 4-cylinder engine that wrings out as much power as it can muster — and include a frame that’s as light as possible.
The current-generation MX-5 Miata, internally given the ‘ND’ model designation, has been with us since 2015; however, it was given a much needed engine refresh for the 2019 model year. The 2.0 4-cylinder saw its horsepower rise to 181 (from 155 hp), with the torque climbing to 151 pounds per feet (from 148).
Yahoo Finance got to test the Miata RF, which came with a retractable hardtop, a variant that was introduced back in 2016. It gives the car some much needed utility for owners in cold-weather regions that would like a 4-seasons type of roadster, plus I believe the car looks better in the RF body style.
The tester also came in Grand Touring trim, meaning it had some extra interior niceties like automatic climate control and heated seats. Since this Miata RF tested here was the manual, this allowed us to have the uprated Bilstein shocks and a limited slip differential (these options are unavailable for automatic transmission Miatas).
Why the Miata is so great
The sensation of driving a Miata can only be described by experiencing it for yourself, because there’s nothing really like it.
When you first approach a Miata you really can’t believe how small it looks. “How can I, and a passenger no less, fit inside this thing?” Well you do, and it’s a tight fit, but that’s why its so great, and almost Go Kart-esque.
It’s intimate, it’s cozy, and everything is in the right spot. Because you’re basically surrounded by the car, and not enveloped in it, the steering wheel, pedals, and shifter (in this case a 6-speed manual transmission), all fall into hand (and foot).
Fire up the Miata, and you’re one with the car. Everything is buzzing a little bit in a good way, and throttle response is great — even though you’re not going to pin your head back into the seat. The handling is precise, with good steering feel.
You row through the gears and quickly discover the small gear ratios mean you’re upshifting and downshifting a lot, which is actually good thing because its so much fun. Get moving into 3rd and 4th gear and you really feel like you’re going fast, the car is so small, and you’re so low to the ground, it feels like you’re almost flying. But then you realize you’re still below the speed limit.
And that’s another reason why this car is so special. Turns out you don’t need to go stupid fast to really enjoy some spirited driving when you are so connected to the car, and the road. You get all the thrills, and you’re not breaking the law (or endangering yourself).
It’s the magic of the Miata, and one of things we lose out on in this world where monstrous horsepower and sub 3.0 second, 0 – 60 mph times are what impresses most people. What should really impress is how the damn car drives, period.
So my advice to you is: Go out and drive a Miata if you can. They’re great cars, and unfortunately Mazda doesn’t sell that many of them. Maybe you’ll like one so much you’ll buy one, before everything at your dealer’s lot is some variant of an SUV.
The 2020 Mazda MX-5 RF in grand touring trim with the 6-speed manual transmission costs $35,345, including delivery.
——
Pras Subramanian is a reporter for Yahoo Finance. You can follow him on Twitter here.
Related stories:
The new Corvette waves goodbye to the boomers
A new Porsche 911 is here, but don’t pass on the sporty Cayman GTS
