Horsepower is a lie.
Okay, maybe not a total lie, but it’s definitely a distraction. We live in an era where family SUVs have 600 horsepower and can hit 60 mph faster than a 90s supercar. It’s impressive, sure. It’s also kinda boring. You mash a pedal, the electronics sort out the traction, and you’re doing illegal speeds before you’ve even blinked. There’s no soul in that. No effort. That is exactly why Mazda MX 5 sports cars have remained the benchmark for driving purity for over three decades.
The Miata—as everyone actually calls it—is slow. By modern standards, it’s almost hilariously underpowered. But speed isn't the point. The point is how you feel when you’re taking a 270-degree off-ramp and you can feel exactly what the front tires are doing through your fingertips. It’s about the fact that you can actually use 100% of the car on a public road without ending up in a jail cell.
The Jinba Ittai Obsession
Mazda engineers talk about "Jinba Ittai" a lot. It’s a Japanese phrase that basically translates to "horse and rider as one." Most car companies have marketing slogans that mean absolutely nothing, but this one is different. It’s a design philosophy that dictates everything from the placement of the shifter to the weight of the lug nuts.
Weight is the enemy of fun. Modern cars are heavy because they’re packed with sound deadening, massive touchscreens, and complex hybrid systems. The ND generation (the current one) actually managed to be lighter than the NB generation that came before it. That’s almost unheard of in the automotive world. When a car is light, it doesn’t need massive, stiff suspension to handle well. It doesn’t need giant, expensive brakes. It just works.
Honestly, the magic is in the simplicity. You’ve got a naturally aspirated engine—no turbos, no lag—connected to one of the best manual transmissions ever built. The throws are short. The clicks are mechanical. It feels like a bolt-action rifle. You aren't just a passenger in a computer-controlled capsule; you're the most important component in the machine.
What People Get Wrong About The Power
If you go on any car forum, you’ll see someone complaining that Mazda won't put a turbo in it. "Just give it 300 horsepower!" they yell into the digital void.
They’re wrong.
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If you give Mazda MX 5 sports cars 300 horsepower, you have to give them wider tires to handle the grip. Then you need bigger brakes to stop the car. Then you need a beefier subframe to handle the torque. Suddenly, you’ve added 400 pounds. You’ve killed the steering feel. You’ve turned a scalpel into a mallet.
The 2.0-liter SkyActiv-G engine in the current model produces about 181 horsepower. That sounds measly until you realize the car weighs about 2,400 pounds. For context, a modern BMW M4 weighs nearly 4,000 pounds. The Mazda doesn't need to fight physics because it isn't carrying any extra baggage. It’s lean.
Reliability and the "Real World" Cost
Let's talk about the practical side, because sports cars are usually a nightmare to own. Most "fun" cars are European money pits that require a specialized mechanic and a second mortgage to keep on the road.
The MX-5 is just a Mazda.
Underneath the sexy bodywork, it’s built with the same fundamental reliability as a CX-5 or a Mazda3. It’s a four-cylinder engine that wants to run forever. You can take it to a track on Saturday, beat the absolute snot out of it for eight hours, and then drive it to work on Monday without a single warning light on the dash. I've seen high-mileage NA models from the 90s with 250,000 miles still screaming along on original internals.
Maintenance is cheap. Tires are small, so they don't cost $400 each. Brakes are simple. It’s a sports car for people who actually like driving rather than just posing in a parking lot.
Soft Top vs. RF: The Great Debate
Choosing between the classic soft top and the RF (Retractable Fastback) is the biggest hurdle for new buyers. The soft top is the purist’s choice. You can drop it with one hand in about three seconds. It’s lighter. It’s noisier. It feels like a traditional roadster.
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The RF is gorgeous. It looks like a mini-supercar with the roof up. It’s quieter on the highway, which makes it a way better daily driver if you have a long commute. But, it adds weight—about 100 pounds—and it’s higher up, which technically changes the center of gravity. Most people won't notice that on the street, but if you're a track day regular, you'll feel the difference.
The Community Factor
You aren't just buying a car; you're joining a cult. A very friendly, slightly obsessive cult.
Go to any local autocross event. Half the field will be Mazda MX 5 sports cars. Owners are generally the type of people who will spend two hours helping a stranger bleed their brakes in a parking lot. There is a massive aftermarket ecosystem, too. Whether you want to build a spec-racer, a slammed show car, or a comfortable grand tourer, someone has already figured out exactly which parts you need.
Companies like Flyin' Miata or Goodwin Racing have spent decades perfecting every nut and bolt for these cars. You can customize a Miata to fit your personality more than almost any other vehicle on the road.
Common Issues (Because Nothing Is Perfect)
No car is flawless. If you’re looking at a used one, there are things to watch out for.
On older models (NA and NB), rust is the killer. Check the rocker panels. If you see bubbles in the paint near the rear wheels, run away. The drainage tubes for the convertible top can get clogged with leaves, causing water to pool and rot the car from the inside out.
On the newer ND models, the early 2016-2017 manual transmissions had some durability issues under heavy load. Mazda mostly fixed this with "Version 2" and "Version 3" gearboxes in later years. Also, if you’re over 6’2”, you’re going to have a hard time. The cabin is tight. It’s not "cozy"—it’s cramped. You wear this car like a suit.
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Why It Matters Right Now
We are moving toward an electric, autonomous future. We're losing the tactile connection to driving. Manual transmissions are dying. Internal combustion is being phased out.
The MX-5 is a time capsule. It’s a reminder that driving can be a skill and a hobby, not just a chore. It’s one of the few cars left that doesn't try to do everything. It doesn't have a massive trunk. It can't carry four people. It won't win a drag race against a Tesla. It does one thing: it makes you smile on a twisty backroad.
In a world of over-engineered, heavy, digital appliances, that’s enough.
How to Get Started with an MX-5
If you're ready to stop reading and start driving, here is how you actually do it without getting burned.
- Test drive every generation. Don't just buy the newest one you can afford. Some people prefer the raw, hydraulic steering of the older NB models. Others want the modern safety and tech of the ND. They all feel different.
- Check the drains. If you buy a used one, the first thing you do is buy a trombone brush and clear out the soft-top drainage holes. It takes five minutes and saves the car from a slow, rusty death.
- Don't over-modify it immediately. Drive it stock for six months. Understand the balance Mazda spent millions of dollars perfecting before you go swapping out the suspension for rock-hard coilovers.
- Look for the Club trim. If you care about driving, look for the "Club" model (or the 2.0 Sport in some markets). It usually comes with the limited-slip differential and Bilstein shocks. It’s the "sweet spot" for enthusiasts.
- Join a local club. Find a Miata club in your area. These groups organize "scenic drives" which are really just an excuse to fly through mountain passes in a pack of twenty convertibles. It’s the most fun you can have with a driver's license.
Stop overthinking the horsepower numbers on a spec sheet. Go find a winding road, drop the top, and find out why this little car has outlived almost every other sports car on the market. It's not about the destination. It’s not even about the speed. It's about the connection between your brain, your hands, and the pavement.
Actionable Next Steps
- Locate a local owner's meet: Check platforms like MotorsportReg or local Facebook groups to see where the community gathers; seeing different builds in person helps you decide which generation (NA, NB, NC, or ND) fits your vibe.
- Verify your fit: If you are taller than average, visit a dealership and specifically test the "seat rail" travel and headroom with the top up—some owners perform a "foamectomy" (removing seat foam) to gain an extra inch of clearance, but you should know if you're comfortable before buying.
- Research the "VIN" history: For used models, use a service like Carfax to check for previous track-day accidents that might have been repaired off the insurance record, focusing specifically on frame alignment.