When it comes to small, sporty roadsters, the Mazda Miata is usually the first vehicle most people think about. Its iconic, timeless design brought forth a revived passion for roadsters when the car was introduced in 1989. Since then, roadsters in all shapes, forms and price ranges have sprouted up everywhere from Pontiac to Porsche, while the Miata has stayed true to the small size and pure driving enjoyment that made it an instant classic.
To enthusiasts, the Miata ranks among the best when it comes to the level of pure enjoyment behind the wheel. To others, the Miata is a punch line to a joke that tends to insult one’s gender or orientation. To the latter group, I say: Don’t knock it ‘til you try it.
For 2006, Mazda completely redesigned the Miata and renamed it the MX-5. Ditching the cute, bubbly face of the first two generations, the 2008 MX-5 uses design cues similar to other popular Mazda cars, while keeping its small proportions and sporty attitude. Starting in 2007, a power retractable hard top option was added giving the Miata a quieter interior and a unique profile.
The overall experience of driving the MX-5 can only be compared that of a go-kart. Not since childhood has the feeling of sitting almost on the ground while zipping around corners and cutting through traffic felt so enjoyable. From the short-throw shifter to the rev-happy, peppy engine, once behind the wheel of the 2008 MX-5 it’s easy to see why these cars are still so popular.
With the optional suspension package, the MX-5 we tested took corners like it was on rails. On tight, curvy roads, the MX-5 handled confidently and easily. The brakes performed well going into turns with predictable stopping, while the almost-perfect (51/49) weight balance of the 2,575-pound roadster made the steering feel light – keeping the car perfectly centered in its lane. Exiting the turns, the engine and transmission setup made the next turn appear surprisingly fast.
Powering the MX-5 is Mazda’s 2.0-liter DOHC 16-valve four cylinder with variable valve timing and puts out 158 horsepower and 140 lb-ft of torque. An extra eight horses are available with the automatic transmissions (five- or six-speed automatics are available), but in a car this size, nothing beats the feeling of shifting through the six gears yourself. In stop-and-go traffic, however, shifts seemed to be more frequent due to a gear ratio more suited for an Autocross track.
Matching the MX-5’s driving characteristics, Mazda equipped its little roadster with a fun and sporty interior. In Grand Touring trim, our MX-5 was equipped with saddle tan colored seats and door inserts that gave an attractive contrast to the brushed aluminum accents on the steering wheel, instrument panel, doors and individual roll bars. With the top down, the bright aluminum from the roll bars and the dark tan interior looked good against the MX-5’s dark Highland Green exterior.
The small dimensions that make the MX-5 popular lead to a couple concerns inside. With the top up, the MX-5 offers almost no headroom (37.0 inches) for drivers over six-feet tall, but fortunately, legroom (41.3 inches) was ample. A major design flaw inside the MX-5 is the placement (or even the existence) of the cupholders. The cupholders prove to be pretty useless in the MX-5 when equipped with a manual transmission due to the fact that the drivers arm would have to reach over the cups or bottles being held just to shift the gears. For a car that feels more at home on a racetrack than rush-hour traffic, are cupholders really even necessary? If cupholders are a must, opt for an MX-5 model with an automatic transmission.
From the outside, the Miata’s looks have changed little since its inception although now it incorporates design cues from other Mazda vehicles such as the RX-8 and CX-7. Still present are the small, squinty headlights and large, oval lower air intake. The current body doesn’t look that much different from the original, but the 2008 MX-5 has grown in just about every dimension. The optional power retractable hard top accentuates the MX-5’s sporty profile and is easy to operate.
After disengaging the center latch, pressing a button above the stereo raises or lowers the top in just 14 seconds. Due to the top’s design, trunk space is not affected during open-air driving. Not saying that the MX-5’s trunk is cavernous, but the 5.3 cubic feet of space available is ample for its size and near the top among its competitors.
The 2008 MX-5 we tested had the Grand Touring package and the Power Retractable Hard Top with a base MSRP of $26,760 (just a $1,670 premium over a soft-top MX-5). After including all the options such as Sirius satellite radio ($430), sport-tuned suspension package ($500) and the interior trim package ($515), our MX-5 had a total MSRP of $28,800.
2008 Mazda MX-5 Pictures and Wallpapers
Review written by: Jeffrey N. Ross
All photos copyright Jeffrey N. Ross/Autotropolis.com © 2008