Automotive Blogger

In 1989 the Mazda Miata revolutionized the world of 2-seater sports cars. I can already here the British car guys complaining, “the Miata just copied Lotus and MG”. Ok, so the first generation Mazda Miata looks dead on like a Lotus Elan, you got me there. But what the Miata did that was so revolutionary was to take a small two-seater like the Elan and make it reliable enough to drive every day, have a soft-top that is both easy to use and that actually keeps the rain out, and still be extremely fun to drive.

Sure the Lotus Elan is a blast to drive, and I’ve had plenty of fun in an MGB, but neither car comes anywhere close to the reliability of a Miata. And for anyone out there who has never driven an old British convertible in the rain, its like driving in a car with a shower head pointed at you; you get in perfectly dry and get out with a line of ducks swimming behind you. I don’t recommend it.

The First generation Miata was produced from 1989 all the way through 1997. At the time it was one of the only small rear-drive cars on the market, but even today it is still used as the yardstick by which to measure other sports cars. Power for the little roadster comes from a 1.6 liter four cylinder which put out roughly 116 horsepower and redlines near 7200 rpm. In 1994 this unit was replaced with a 1.8 liter four cylinder which is good for another 10-12 horsepower but is not quite as rev-happy. The chassis on the early Miata was pretty advanced for a car in its price range. The Mazda Power Plant Frame (PPF) is lightweight aluminum truss that connects the engine and gearbox to the rear differential. This adds a significant amount of rigidity without sacrificing much weight. The early Miatas also came standard with disc brakes at all four corners to provide ample stopping power.

The interior of the Miata is simple and stylish. With retro-looking air vents and a good gauge cluster it is easy to feel right at home in the cockpit. The Miata’s top is also quite amazing. It is extremely simple to put up and down. Two simple latches hold the top in place, and a single person can fold it back behind the seats in a matter of seconds. By sticking to a manually operated top the first-gen Miata was able to keep the weight down even more.

With four wheel independent suspension, a free-revving four cylinder engine, a tight five speed gearbox and a curb weight right around 2100 lbs; the Miata has all the right ingredients to be an incredibly fun vehicle. Get it out on the road and it is a blast to drive. It thrives on tight windy roads, and even if you don’t have the optional power steering the car is still easy to toss about. Add in an optional limited slip diff and let the drifting begin.

Elan on the left Miata on the right.
With timeless styling ripped straight off of the Lotus Elan of the 60’s it is surprising how cheap these early Miatas are. Total basket cases can be as cheap as $1000 while an excellent car will fetch closer to $7000. Browsing various classified ads recently I’ve uncovered several decent looking cars for around $2500. Cars with a removable hard top will fetch a premium as they are sought after by racers, but if you buy a hard top car you can often sell the top and recoup almost a 3rd of what you paid. This car may have the best dollar to fun ratio of any used car on the market.

For more information check out Miata.net.

-Bill Mertz

Mazda, Miata, Lotus Elan, affordable, fun, sports car