This is a great little car. I have had it for over 15 years now, and it is still running perfectly. The interior finishes (such as the leather seats and the covering on the steering wheel ) have not survived the years in pristine condition, but the cracks in them are likely due to my negligence rather than a design flaw or material defect. The soft top has seen better days, and although it is as easy to raise it has so many holes that there is really no point to having it up especially as visibility is so much better when it's down anyway. The back plastic window became very scratched and cloudy very quickly and is therefore not very functional. I would recommend replacing the top with one that has a glass window. It handles like a dream. The clutch is very forgiving, which makes it a good car to teach someone to drive a manual on. The turn radius is nice and tight, making u turns a breeze in any situation. There is a surprising amount of cargo space if you use both the area behind the seats and the trunk. It gets great gas mileage (over 31 mpg) and is very responsive. You feel very connected to the road (if a little intimidated by large trucks) when driving it. It is very reliable. The factory stereo no longer works, but is easy to replace if desired. Parts aren't too expensive so if something goes wrong you can get it fixed, although not much has gone wrong. It holds up well if another vehicle hits you. It's a good car for shorter drivers as they can easily reach the pedals, but tall drivers may not fit comfortably.
Wendy
Jefferson City, Missouri
5.0
Best car I ever had, I loved it.
The Miata was very cute, mine was a dark green, which I found a bit more luxurious looking than the more common red or black. It was very comfortable for me, but would probably be a bit cramped for a tall man or a very heavy person. It had enough trunk room for my purposes, but a road trip for two would mean traveling light.
There were no strange noises and visibility was good. I think it was in the shop for mechanical reasons once: for a new water pump. Not bad for a car that was four years old when I got it! Costs were reasonable, but do keep in mind that the plastic window in the back can get cloudy with age. I was able to find someone to fix it without replacing the whole soft top. I do with that it had come with a hard top for winter, both to save the ragtop, and for warmth. The heater works just fine, but I took this car to Alaska with me, and a hard top would have been better. You also need to get very good snow tires for winter driving, typical of any sports car.
The best thing about the Miata is that it is just plain fun to drive. It's quick and responsive, but not so powerful that you feel overwhelmed. Handling is wonderful, and braking firm and smooth. I felt very safe driving it, small as it was.
I would definitely recommend the Miata as a car that is both fun and reliable. It reminded me of my first car, an MG Midget, in its spirit and style, but without the constant repairs.
Jerry
Colorado Springs, Colorado
5.0
Fun and affordable convertible
This is a fun car at an affordable price. While other convertibles can run pretty expensive, this one is mostly pretty cheap, and the upkeep is on par with other vehicles.