1999 Mazda Miata

The Mazda Miata isn’t for everyone. The car is small with only two seats, It is noisy, rattles, the A/C just barely works, and everyone thinks it’s a hair dressers car. That being said I own two and planning on a third. These cars are ridiculously fun to drive and own, if you can deal with their inherent short comings. The best part about driving a Miata is that no other car can really compare for the price. They are super light cars which makes the fact that they only make a little power not such a big deal. They stick to the road like no other, and you will find you can double or triple sign-suggested road cornering speeds with ease. Acceleration and top speed aren’t amazing but livable, it really the handling that makes these cars such a big deal. I’ve driven many cars and these cars feel like no other, they feel closer to a go-kart than a car. The connection you feel between the steering wheel and road in unmatched. The cars get great gas mileage, super reliable (my 1999 hasn’t ever had a problem in 5 years), and even if they do break they are super easy to fix yourself. There are a ton of these cars on the road so replacement parts aren’t too hard to find. The aftermarket is huge with Miatas and you can get anything from a few cheap “dress-up” parts to 400hp turbo setups and wide body kits. Another great thing is that these cars are cheap! First generation NA Miatas (1990-1997) can be found in decent condition for around $2k. Second generation NB Miatas (1999-2005) vary in price but 1999s can be found around $5k for decent models. While the NA Miatas are fun, the NB are a little easier to deal with as a daily driver, which is what I use my NB for, while my NA stays my race car. Miatas are common as racecars. They can be found at many track days by the handful, they dominate autocross, and are even showing up as drift cars now and again. To get into racing one only needs a well cared for Miata and about 50 bucks. Find the closest autocross to you and start learning how to really drive a car. The Miata will make a perfect beginner car to learn how to race. Other cars to consider really don’t come close either price or performance. Nor do they offer the experience that a Miata does. The Honda S2000 would offer a similar experience with a bit more weight and a lot more price. It does have a good amount of power and is a blast to drive as well. The Toyota MR2 is similar but not the same “road-connected” feeling like a Miata. Also MR2s come with a list of their own short comings. Other convertibles and two seat cars are just too heavy or too expensive to compare a Miata to, like a Lotus or a Z3.

I would recommend a miata to anyone who can give up a few creature comforts (like a cushy ride or seat warmers) in order to enjoy a truly amazing car that will offer race car performance at discount prices.