Miata rides like a traditional sports car. It shudders over bumps like an old MG. When you run over ripples in the pavement, you feel them. But like the noise, it's all part of the experience.
The 5-speed manual transmission shifts smoothly. It features short throws from gear to gear. You only have to push the clutch in part way to change gears. Heck, if your timing is good, you don't have to push it in at all. It is excellent and a big part of the fun of driving the Miata. A 4-speed automatic is available as an option, though this erodes the sports car driving experience considerably.
Throttle response is instant. Acceleration is brisk, and the new exhaust note conjures up visions of Watkins Glen and roots of American sports car racing. In fact, Miatas have won a number of Sports Car Club of America national championships. And with its keenly honed reflexes, it should keep right on winning. Compared with the more expensive roadsters and some of the front-drive compact coupes, the Miata's little 1.8-liter engine does not provide a lot of torque. But it loves to rev and there's plenty of power to satisfy all but the hungriest sports car enthusiast.
The engine is basically the same 1.8-liter twin-cam 16-valve four-cylinder that propelled the 1997 Miata, but Mazda has coaxed 140 horsepower out of it along with 119 foot-pounds of torque and improved its mid-range response. More power and reduced curb weight (this model is 45 pounds lighter than pre-1999 models) add up to better acceleration. The exhaust system delivers a spirited tenor bark to go with the engine's increased bite. It's a high-tech echo of the '50s, and sounds exactly what sports cars are supposed to sound like. The Mazda engine isn't as smooth as a Honda, but its roughness somehow makes the Miata more endearing and adds to its sports appeal.
Our car did not come with the optional limited-slip rear differential and, as a result, I encountered rear wheel spin when accelerating hard out of tight corners. If you're a hard-driving enthusiast, opt for the limited-slip. If you're buying the Miata for its carefree open-air motoring, there's no need to spend the money on the limited-slip. Next Page