The Mazda Miata is 20 years old?

Danny Tse

I was reading an article in "Road & Track" on future classics. One of the cars the magazine selected as such was the Mazda Miata, in production since 1989 (!!) I suppose since the car's exterior styling has changed much since it was introduced gives a false impression that the model is relative new. But, really, has it been 20 years already? :eek:

TNRabbit

There it is, the 1989 Miata~the sticker is from a '95...

concealer404

And i still want one of the originals....

devani

at least the price hasn't changed much...

treitz3

Schoooo! I remember when they FIRST came out, they were about 12K loaded. As soon as Mazda figured out that they couldn't keep up with demand, the price changed dramatically. Within a couple of months [if not sooner], the price went up 6K to 18K. I see from that morony (sp?) sticker that [in at least '95] a loaded Miata was basically 24K.

That's double the original cost to purchase one.

mhardy6647

They came out when I was living in the Sillycon Valley in Northern CA (and they were quite popular there, too). As I recall, the Miata was originally available in three colors only -- red, white, and blue. It was basically the Japanese interpretation of the 1960s iconic Lotus Elan (i.e., like an Elan, but withouth "Mrs. Peel" and with quality engineering!).

zingo

The only Miata I would own would be a Monster Miata. This one has a Ford 351 in it along with a rear drive conversion and big brakes.

Willow

One of the only cars a man should not own or drive. I'm sorry they look like a women's car, too feminin

billbillw

10 time winner of Car and Driver's 10 Best award also. I have never understood why it has such a 'girly' reputation. They are simply great cars. No they are not super macho, 1/4 mile terrorizing, tire burning beasts. They are however, a "Driver's" car. For one who can appreciate a smooth manual gearbox, crisp steering, neutral handling, peppy engine, good brakes all in a nice looking car that can drop its top in less then 10 seconds.

I'd take one of the Mazdaspeed versions from about 2004...
almost 180HP in a car that weighs less than 2600 lbs. FUN!

audiobliss

zingo wrote: »

The only Miata I would own would be a Monster Miata. This one has a Ford 351 in it along with a rear drive conversion and big brakes.

Now that looks sick!

Jstas

zingo wrote: »

The only Miata I would own would be a Monster Miata. This one has a Ford 351 in it along with a rear drive conversion and big brakes.

Ummm...Miatas are rear wheel drive. Always have been.

bobman1235

Willow wrote: »

One of the only cars a man should not own or drive. I'm sorry they look like a women's car, too feminin

Sorry, but if you think your car says anything about your sexuality (with a few very rare exceptions, like a pink VW New Beetle or something), chances are it has nothing to do wtih the car.

Jstas

Willow wrote: »

One of the only cars a man should not own or drive. I'm sorry they look like a women's car, too feminin

Sorry dude, this:




does NOT look like a "chicks car".

It's a 2009 Mazda Miata.

danger boy

that's cool.. 20 yrs old..

but i always considered them a lesser car than the RX-7

The Mazda RX-7 was a classic in many ways.. back in the day when there were very few 2 seater roadsters.. there was the Rx-7. with it's unusual Wankel rotary engine.

danz1906

Sweet!

Ron-P

Nice cars, test drove one of these along with the RX-8 before I bought my Eclipse. If the Miata was able to seat 4, I would have bought it instead. What kept me away from the RX-8 was the rotary engine, no thanks.

Danny Tse

mhardy6647 wrote: »

It was basically the Japanese interpretation of the 1960s iconic Lotus Elan (i.e., like an Elan, but withouth "Mrs. Peel" and with quality engineering!).

I remember reading about Mazda trying to duplicate the exhaust tone of the Alfa Spyder for the original Miata.

PSOVLSK

Willow wrote: »

One of the only cars a man should not own or drive. I'm sorry they look like a women's car, too feminin

A friend of mine test drove one a couple of years ago and he really wanted it until his 23 year old daughter told him the same thing.:eek::D Too funny!!

Ron-P

Willow wrote: »

One of the only cars a man should not own or drive. I'm sorry they look like a women's car, too feminin

...and what makes a car "look" like a women's car over any other car?

MillerLiteScott

I bought a blue one December 31, 1989. They had three, White, Red and Blue. They had to keep them behind the building due to the traffic problems on the road the dealership was on because so many people wanted to see them.

I have to say it was like our favorite SDA speakers. Not the best at anything but it good at everything and a blast to drive while putting a smile on your face.

mhardy6647

The Miata was on my short list when I bought my Focus ZX-3 in 2000. My criteria were cheap, economic, fun to drive (manual transmission). The Focus won out because the whole family would (barely) fit in it in a pinch (and the Ford dealer is all of 5 minutes away!). The Focus has almost 167k miles on it now...

billbillw

Keiko wrote: »

Sure it is John. That thing is a poontang magnet.

Any chick that is attracted to you because of your car is not worth the gas it takes to take them home at night. Might as well just kick 'um to the curb. Pure trash.

joeparaski

Ron-P wrote: »

...and what makes a car "look" like a women's car over any other car?

I don't know what it is, but I agree with Willow. It is a "woman" car in my eyes. And when I see a guy driving one, the thought "****" or "effeminate" pop up in my mind. Or the guy is driving to his manicure appointment or something.

It may be a coincidence, but at the shop, when I get a male customer with a Miata, he almost always knows absolutely nothing about mechanics, not even the extreme basics. And they always have that "manicured" look about them....if you know what I mean.

No offense, it's just my opinion. But some things just don't go good together. Man and Miata is one of them.


Joe

concealer404

I used to think that, then found out that Miatas are one of the most popular cars among racers.

billbillw

Joe, Willow,
So what kind of car do the "guy's" guys drive up there in Canada? Joe, like it or not, the people you describe also sound like people who are intelligent, have good sense of style, and like the finer things in life.

PSOVLSK wrote:

A friend of mine test drove one a couple of years ago and he really wanted it until his 23 year old daughter told him the same thing. Too funny!!

You know, many 23 year old girls like Mustang GT convertibles, Corvettes, or just about any 'cool' car out there. That says nothing.

There is only one car out right now that I think truly qualifies as a feminine car, and that's the VW Beetle. It comes with a flower holder on the dashboard for chrissake!

heiney9

My Dad used to race MG's and Austin Healey's in the early to mid 60's. About 6-7 years ago he bought a British racing green w/ black leather interior and toneau cover Mazda Miata.

He said it was the closest thing to the "old school" British roadsters any one made. He still has it and has a blast driving it around town. Balanced, simple, reliable, nice looking 2 seat roadster. He's 66 years old and he and my mom have fun taking long road trips on weekends in the summer. It goes in storage during the late fall and winter thru early spring. And this is from a guy who also raced some of the fastest '60's cars around (in the day) and owned the very first year Corvette Stingray and a stable of Mustangs.

H9

Ron-P

concealer404 wrote: »

I used to think that, then found out that Miatas are one of the most popular cars among racers.

Very true. I know a guy who owns several and one is a seriously trick out racer, and he races it a lot.

joeparaski

billbillw wrote: »

Joe, Willow,
So what kind of car do the "guy's" guys drive up there in Canada? Joe, like it or not, the people you describe also sound like people who are intelligent, have good sense of style, and like the finer things in life.



LOL....like I said, it's just "my" opinion. I mean come on, go and look at the picture in the second post....it is just .....wrong.

Joe

schwarcw

Chicks will tell you the Miata is a chick car.

PSOVLSK

billbillw wrote: »

You know, many 23 year old girls like Mustang GT convertibles, Corvettes, or just about any 'cool' car out there. That says nothing.

I just meant that I had never heard nor thought of it being a "womens" car until that happened and I hadn't heard it referred to in such a way since then until Willow's post.

bobman1235

Ron-P wrote: »

What kept me away from the RX-8 was the rotary engine, no thanks.

Yeah the Wenkel is one of those things taht's so cool in theory but they never quite mastered it enough to make it a viable product.