How many of you recognize the name Mazda miata MX-5? This is japanese almost 30 years old roadster which became most popular two seater cabrio in the world. Every real petrolhead know it. It has tag of being most enjoyable car to drive in the world. Even Jeremy Clarkson said “The truth is, if you want to have sports car. MX5 is great choice. Nothing will give you so much fun and satisfaction. The only reason why i give this car 5 stars is because i can’t give 14”.
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| MX-5 NA |
Its production started in 1989 when everyone thought that roadsters are dead. 10 years earlier we had MG B, Triumph spitfire, Fiat spider etc. Then in late 1980s last one left was Alfa Romeo. And then on 10th of february 1989 on Auto Show in chicago Mazda have presented MX-5 NA.Instantly it became huge success as in the same year they earned award for “Car of the year”, “Best car of 90’s” later on and “One of 10 best sport cars ever” by Sport Car International. First edition (NA) came from Hiroshima with two engines 1.6L with 116hp and 1.8L 140hp. To make it as afordable as it was, mx-5 had almost no extra features in basic configuration. No power steering, no electric windows, no heated seats or even radio.
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| MX-5 NB |
Lacking so much in equipment, everyone liked it and after 9 years mazda came with its second generation called NB . What surprised everyone, not many things changed . Most noticeable were headlights and interior which were borrowed from very successful RX7. Luckly 50-50 mass ratio and suspension stayed the same so steering was still perfect and enjoyable. Prices didn't change much too. After a year we received 10th anniversary edition which had everything original miata lacked. Even air condition! After NB, just 2 years later, came its older brother NBFL which stands for NB face lift. Again not much have changed, Only headlights and front bumper. Couple things in interior and that's all. We got some special editions like trilogy or sportive but nothing really important but for MX-5 MazdaSpeed. This was something special, 1.8L engine with stock Mazdas turbocharger which provided almost 190hp from factory. Also it had every possible option in standard. It was very expensive back in the days. Even now, nice examples can cost around 45-50k PLN what is so much for second generation mazda that is 15 years old while 10th anniversary you can buy for 20k.
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| MX-5 NBFL |
After that everything settled and in 2005 we got first MX-5 NC, 3rd generation. Many people thinks of it as a ugly duckling of MX-5 family. For first time we could get bigger 2.0L engines, electrical hardtops and the truth is that, if you want most practical MX then NC is way to go. It got a facelift later on but it was still not as pretty as older generations.
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| MX-5 NC |
Lastly in 2015 after almost 10 years Mazda gave us its 4th and for now last generation. Right now its still new car so can’t say much but for fact it's looking good, driving even better, is not as impractical as you might think after you see there is no glove box in front. Also be careful for 1st production year as its gearboxes are really fragile.
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| MX-5 ND |
After all MX-5 are superior roadsters. Affordable, enjoyable, reliable if you make sure to take care of rust in first 3 generations up to 2007. This red disease is horrible so be careful. But for that i can’t complain. In fact i even closed its trunk with my friend in it and i even didn’t have to take out spare tire! Also, very important to me is community. And after i drove some other cars i’m so surprised with fact how great people in MX5 areAnd after all, if you have any passion that connects to cars. What can be better than taking every corner on very twisted mountain road with wind in your hair (as higher people can not fit in this car. That is why it is called hairdressers car as you always have to correct your hair after a ride.
Questions:
1. What do you think about cabrio being daily driver.
2. Have you ever driven Miata.
3. What is your favourite car.
Comments
No, I didn’t, but I really want to try.
My favorite car is Mercedes A 45 amg. It small, have aggressive design and it has the most powerful serial four-cylinder engine in the world.
2. No, unfortunately.
3. My favorite car is the Volkswagen Golf.
Unfortunately I have never driven this car, but I would really like to. Few years ago it was one of my favorite cars, and still is but now I definitely prefer almost polish classic car, VW Polo 1.9L TDI. It’s small, fast and driving is really enjoyable.
I think it all depends on a climate. In places where the weather is usually very hot I think cabrio can be daily driven but for example in Poland where we have cold winters with snow it is not a very good idea.
2. Have you ever driven Miata.
I haven't and maybe thats why I can not imagine driving cabrio in winter even with closed roof. Maybe it is not that bad as I am thinking.
3. What is your favourite car.
My favourite car is ford mustang from 1967.
I never have had a chance to drive Miata and first time I have heard about this car in this article.
My favorite car that I has had a chance to test is Audi A8 and I has been impressed but my favorite car is Tesla model S and I want it.
If I lived in a place where the climate would allow me to use the cabriolet in everyday driving, I would use it. In general, it would be great to have several cars, and here's one of them is a cabriolet
2. Have you ever driven Miata.
No, unfortunately, was never driving a cabriolet.
3. What is your favourite car.
Honestly, I do not have such a car, which I would put in the first place. But the list of good cars I have is very big
I have never been driving Mazda, but I really like this car, I would like to take this car for the summer.
From the iconic cars - cabriolets, I like the Porsche 911 the most, I generally like the cars produced by the Porsche factory. But the old Porsche is probably a rare and very expensive car. But it worth his money!
Unfortunately, I did not have the pleasure of driving through Miata. I don't think I have a favourite car, because I don't have any at the moment and now I'm dreaming about any car :P
2. Nope. I have never had driven any Mazda. One of the rumors around their cars it that they quickly get rusty. I think they even addressed that problem directly in new versions.
3. Tesla. Just for pushing great ideas like emission free cities and auto pilot
My mom owns one and it's totally awesome. It's Mercedes SLK with 250CDI engine.
Of course it's able to be daily driver. It's hardtop cabrio and I think it's a big advantage.
It's very comfortable inside, and it's a pleasure to drive it. I love to open the roof on sunny days.
2. Have you ever driven Miata.
Yes, I have. It was the second car my mom was thinking about. I really liked this car, but it's too small for me. I mean, it has less space than mentioned SLK, but I really enjoyed driving it.
3. What is your favourite car.
I don't know, I'm car maniac :D. I have a log ot favorite cars. Personally I own Mercedes CL500 W215 and I'm totally in love with it, but I'm thinking about getting something more comfortable, because it's a coupé. I have Mercedes S-class W221 or BMW F10 on my mind.
When it comes to dream cars, for now Lamborghini Urus is the one. I just fell in love with it.
I have never driven Miata but I certainly would like to try it.
I am not an avid car fan but I would say that my favourite car is Porsche 911.
No unfortunately haven't had a chance to drive miata
I think right now my dream car would be alfa romeo giulia
Nope, I have never driven Miata. :(
My dreamed car is Lamborgini Galardo for a weekend fast car to go crazy and Mercedes C-class amg as a daily car.
I think a cabriolet can be a daily car for a whole year. Only need to buy a hardtop and care about your car, no more.
2. Have you ever driven Miata.
No, I have never driven the mx-5, but Miata is car of my dream.
3. What is your favourite car.
For start, I would like to buy Mazda MX-5 2/3 gen. while I'm still young. xD
In the future, I think it will be an electric car, like the Tesla-3.
Ive drove an heavily modified friends Miata once it was a blast.
My Fav car hmm. i think it would be Nissan GTR 35 but not far behind it one of the Ford Mustangs GTR's.
I have never driven Matia or another cabriolet. I used to drive only three cars in my life. That was soviet VAZ-2103, inconvenient Volkswagen Polo and brilliant and safe Volvo S80. I really like Volvo but my favorite car is Volkswagen Golf. I think that I would buy this car only for going to the shops or long trips because here in Warsaw own car is not necessary.
thank you for posting interesting article. Cabrio can be a daily driver, provided it is equipped with hard top, in the other case driving such a car in countries like Poland, where winters can be really cold, is really uncomfortable.
I have never driven Mazda MX-5, but it is definitely on my wishlist of cars I would like to drive one day because it is a real legend. Simplicity, RWD, legendary 50:50 weight ratio, great suspension and steering system are the building blocks of nearly perfect sport car of all times.
I hope that I will be able to afford Nissan GTR one day as its price is not high (0.5 million PLN) when you take performance into consideration or compare it to other premium cars.
2. I have never driven the Miata.
3. My favourite brand of car is BMW and I own one of them - BMW series 1 but I am thinking about buying BMW series 3 which is my favourite car. :)
No, I have never driven Miata. And I have never driven a car with a convertible roof yet.
I’m a big car fan, so I don’t have one favorite car. I love cars from ’The German Trinity’: Audi, BMW, Mercedes-Benz. I love Italian cars so much too. But If I need to choose only one model of car… Lamborghini Aventador SVJ
But only with the condition if you live in a warm country.
In Siberia, you will not be happy convertible.
My favorite car is Hamer. This is a car for any road. You will be happy to drive a car in any weather, and on any road.