A mainstay at every Mazda dealer, the Miata is an affordable and incredibly fun-to-drive roadster that has been in production for around three decades.
It’s one of the lightest roadsters available with a 50/50 weight distribution. The Miata can be had in a removable hardtop or a convertible. It’s also one of the most affordable and fun ways to get into tuning.
Best-Selling Roadster of All Time
The Mazda Miata has always been fairly basic. The first generation models featured a 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine, and later models moved to a 1.8-liter before the 2.0-liter came out in 2006. The current Miata makes 181 horsepower with its 2.0-liter four-cylinder. A manual transmission is standard with an automatic available as an option.
That’s the basic Miata, and it starts around $30,000 brand new. However, it’s pretty easy to find much more reasonable prices on the used market. The affordable and athletic package that is the Mazda Miata makes it very attractive to tuners and modders. Some people add a larger engine to the Miata, but others tune the standard four-cylinder by adding bolt-on upgrades, new injectors, and/or installing a turbo. Getting over 300 horsepower isn’t out of reach.
Affordability is one of the main reasons the Miata makes a good tuner car. The other reason is that it has a ton of aftermarket support due to its popularity. As the best-selling roadster of all time, there are likely plenty of models at your local Mazda dealer.
Generation Breakdown
The first generation of Miata ran from 1990 to 1997. It’s the original Miata and some say the most playful. If it’s a bit rough around the edges, the prices can be pretty low on these cars, but well-preserved units are starting to go up in price. The next generation ran from 1999 to 2005. This one offered factory turbocharging for the first time. Sitting somewhere in the middle, this Miata is a performance bargain.
Next up is the 2006 through 2015 generation. It was co-developed with the RX-8 and some models offered a power folding hardtop. A little beefier and roomier than previous Miatas, it worked the best for taller drivers. The current generation began in 2016 and the Miata returned to its lightweight roots. Later models got an additional power boost.
In terms of what generation to choose, most tuners opt for the second. Finding a decent first-generation model can be difficult and you might have to pay a lot for it. The second-generation Miata is widely regarded as the best used Miata. However, the third generation’s reputation as being unloved might make it easier to find on the cheap.
Notable Issues
If you’re looking for a used Miata at a Mazda dealer, especially one from the earlier generations, it’s important to be aware of rust. If it’s been driven in winter conditions, it might have copious rust. Some rust issues can be repaired, but some can absolutely decimate the car. Early Miatas also had timing issues due to crankshaft problems. Beware of low-mileage first-generation Miatas.
Most Miata models are pretty reliable, but because it’s such an affordable car, you might run into deferred maintenance issues. It’s always good to check suspension components as these can wear out pretty badly.
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