1997 Mazda Miata

What more can I say? All the gushing you've heard from every other auto writer, praising, the gearbox, the handling, the driving dynamics, it's all true. Compared to most cars today, it's underpowered if not slow, but the beauty of it is that you don't need to be doing illegal spees to have fun. Highway ramps have never been so much fun.

I took a fair amount of flak from my friends for getting this car. My sexuality was questioned, its performance capabilities ridiculed, but once they drive in it, they're converted. Low, loud and cramped cars are an anachronism today. One of my friends drive a 128i, which is a great car in its own right. He couldn't stop marveling at how it felt like a "real car." And it's true; everything else short of an Elise feels like you're playing Gran Turismo.

That's not to say this is the perfect automotible. It makes me sore after a few hours of driving, and my already bad knees like to flare up after a period of stop-and-go traffic. The soft top isn't great, and the plastic window is awful in in terms of visibility and durability. And winter is going to be chock full of discontent.

Before the Miata, I looked at fast Honda's, E30 BMWs, RX7s, 5.0 Mustangs and even the 240SX. Each had their merits, but they lacked that superlative quality that has captured the hearts and minds of so many drivers. I don't know what I'd want instead of this car. Maybe an S2000...