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Mazda MX-5 Miata (2005 and earlier)

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  • mikezoomzoommikezoomzoom Member Posts: 69
    AWESOME CAR!!! :surprise: NUFF SAID!!! ;) GO CHECK THEM OUT!!! :)
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    I'm waiting for my Mazda5 test drive invite. I registered for that BlockBuster offer.

    I guess I'll drive an MX-5 as well.

    -juice
  • pipefitterpipefitter Member Posts: 27
    This is the first roadster I have every driven, so to compare it to earlier model years, I can't. As far as leg room for 6-1/2 foot tall, I'd say try one on for size at your local dealer.
  • frank4carsfrank4cars Member Posts: 98
    Got a chance to really ring out the '06 yesterday at Pomona. The '06 is noticeably wider inside the cockpit and I saw a few other people at the event that were at least 6'4" get in and out fairly easily. If you're taller, go try it out for yourself. The handling is still razor sharp (I drove an '05 at the Rev-it-up event last year), the shifter and clutch are among the best out there (I've driven a lot of cars: BMW, Honda, Audi, Mitsubishi, Subaru, Ford...), the performance is closer to the Mazdaspeed turbo version than to the previous generation's normally aspirated engine, and the car looks very sophisticated inside and out. We were able to hit about 45 mph on the longest straight and the wind was never noticeable. This thing felt almost as quick as its bigger brother RX-8. Very good brakes and overall extremely well balanced. My only complaint is that hard plastics have replaced a lot of the vinyl or leather coverings on interior surfaces compared to the outgoing model. Great fun in a slightly less small package.
  • audia8qaudia8q Member Posts: 3,138
    we got a few in yesterday.....mmmmm wonder what I'll be driving this weekend... :P
  • nyccarguynyccarguy Member Posts: 17,510
    definitely let us know what you think. And how it compares to the MazdaSpeed Turbo Miata of '05.

    2001 Prelude Type SH, 2022 Highlander XLE AWD, 2025 Camry SE AWD

  • audia8qaudia8q Member Posts: 3,138
    I am biased so my review comes from the standpoint that car was great to begin with..lol But frank4cars and some of the others have pretty much nailed it.
    Mazda took a good thing and made it even better...I don't think to many folks will be disappointed and current Miata owners will be very happy. They enhanced the car without losing sight of the cars concept or mission statement.
    One thing I noticed right away was the overall ride. On rough roads the previous Miata jumped around a little due to the lightweight...the new car does not do this.
  • audia8qaudia8q Member Posts: 3,138
    well my plan to drive a new Miata this weekend has been kiboshed....we got in three early in the week and one last night. as of now they are all sold. Very exciting and encouraging for Mazda.
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Saw the C&D review. Hard to believe how badly it clobbers the Solistice and then they proceed to pick the Sol neeways. :confuse:

    8 mpg better, quicker, better brakes, better cornering limit, 400 lbs lighter, and they pick the Pontiac.

    -juice
  • blueguydotcomblueguydotcom Member Posts: 6,249
    It beats the Solstice and still loses somehow?!
  • PF_FlyerPF_Flyer Member Posts: 9,372
    Hope you can join us tonight for our weekly chat session! It's always great to meet "new faces" at the chats!

    PF Flyer
    Host
    News & Views, Wagons, & Hybrid Vehicles


    The weekly Mazda Club Chat is on tonight. The chat room opens at 8:45PM ET Hope to see YOU there! Check out the schedule
  • audia8qaudia8q Member Posts: 3,138
    Well, we all know those magazines are a little suspect. Wasn't C&D the magazine that named the Renault Alliance car of the year?? How can you have any credibility after that??? LOL

    They certainly wouldnt want to upset any of GM's ad dollars... ;)
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    I'm sure that had some influence...

    You can't even put the Solistice's top down from the driver's seat.

    -juice
  • nyccarguynyccarguy Member Posts: 17,510
    from other mags are great! I don't remember every magazine raving so much about a car since the E36 M3. I'm really excited to start seeing these things on the road.

    2001 Prelude Type SH, 2022 Highlander XLE AWD, 2025 Camry SE AWD

  • ryanrecryanrec Member Posts: 3
    I purchased a 06 MX-5 about a week ago. I have a Black Grand Touring 6 speed with the suspension package. It is an absolute blast to drive. The acceleration is about the same as the Mazdaspeed except you don't have to wait for a turbo to kick in. The handling is unbelievable and its not too rough even with the suspension package. I am 6 feet tall and I have no problem with visibility out the front window, which is a change from my 01 model. The car has a very similar feel to my 01 except its a little larger, better handling, brakes, and acceleration. The leather seats are comfortable. The only complaint I have is I am not too fond of all the hard plastic in the interior.
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Congrats, I think you're the first in the Town Hall to get one. I'm jealous!

    -juice
  • ryanrecryanrec Member Posts: 3
    Thanks...a couple more observations. The AC works great (better than the 01 model. The 6 speed seems to require a little more effort though to shift than the 01 5 speed. I noticed that there is no hot/warm air coming up from the parking brake nor from the floorboard. Its hard to keep in under 80mph on the freeway. :)
  • m1miatam1miata Member Posts: 4,551
    On looks alone, the Miata will lose to the Solstice. The Miata may look OK, though I must say not as good as the original, but it is not really NEW looking. The Solstice has a more exotic / bold look, which is going to capture the eye more. When the coupe comes out, the sales will really soar. Why doesn't Mazda have a coupe out? At this point, Mazda/Ford better hope they side sticker those Pontiacs way too high, or GM has some gremlins in the product. Otherwise, folks you are looking at Solstice out selling MX-5 ( formerly called the Miata, which sounds better to me ), at a rate of at least 3:1, and perhaps 5:1 or higher. Panic should set in and MX-5 should shed around $3K to $4k off stickers in the $24K range. Look for $20K MX-5s or lower soon. That is IF the Pontiacs are not overpriced on side stickers. Both these cars are worth $20K or less. They are fun but all too pricey. $24K - $29K??? Why?

    Performance wise, the Miata may be better. It has air conditioning standard and a roll bar, yet it looks like a modified puffy sided 1990 Miata, and not as fresh as the Solstice For those going by the numbers, Miata may be the winner. For sales, it will not be the winner.

    Loren ( former '96 Miata owner )
  • blueguydotcomblueguydotcom Member Posts: 6,249
    On looks alone, the Miata will lose to the Solstice. The Miata may look OK, though I must say not as good as the original, but it is not really NEW looking. The Solstice has a more exotic / bold look, which is going to capture the eye more.

    totally subjective. in my eyes the miata is simple and classy. the solstice screams pontiac cheapness and bulbousness.

    Otherwise, folks you are looking at Solstice out selling MX-5 ( formerly called the Miata, which sounds better to me ), at a rate of at least 3:1, and perhaps 5:1 or higher.

    Uh, the solstice is not an every day driver given the lack of a trunk, bad gas mileage and lousy top mechanism.

    The mx-5 has 15 years of loyalty. It's akin to all the upstarts taking shots at the 3 series. nobody has put a dent in 3 series sales even with the tl andg35 getting 12k sales a month. It's hard to knock off the king when he has over a decade of loyal followers.

    Panic should set in and MX-5 should shed around $3K to $4k off stickers in the $24K range.

    A 26k mx-5 comes with options not even available on a solstice...like lined top, keyless start, xenons, etc. I'll gladly pay 1k extra alone for xenon lights...yes, they're that important to me as driving at night is my favorite time.

    Look for $20K MX-5s or lower soon.

    Already exists.

    That is IF the Pontiacs are not overpriced on side stickers. Both these cars are worth $20K or less. They are fun but all too pricey. $24K - $29K??? Why?

    both seem to have decent pricing. a fully loaded mx-5 is 27k...that means by next spring I should be able to get one off a lot for at the most 25k. Shrug...seems decent. The MSRP on my last car was 43k. 27k seems downright cheap!

    BTW, once word gets out about the solstice's mileage and trunk space sales will only go to hardcore people looking for an extra car. the kind of people who can afford extra or weekend cars rarely look at american products unless the nameplate is viper or vette. sorry the solstice after a year or two of success will turn into another mr2 spyder. decent lines but lack of everyday practicality limits the cars appeal to only a few in an already limited niche..
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Pontiac has a lot of dealers to help sell them, go ahead and add Saturn dealerships while you're at it. GM will have a hit with it, IMO. They priced it right, question is can GM make a profit at those prices?

    They already had production delays and top fit/finish issues so don't expect too much quality or reliability. I think people who usually buy imports will stick with the MX-5.

    -juice
  • audia8qaudia8q Member Posts: 3,138
    One big weak point for the Pontiac is the fact that the car was not designed and built from the ground up as a roadster like the Miata.. It's built with whatever spare parts GM had laying around. It has a GMC truck transmission with the same gear ratios, seats from some other GM car and a long list of other things.

    Here is a list of a few Miata advantages

    400lb lighter
    better power to weight ratio
    better fuel economy 25/30 vs 20/28
    one hand top operation
    more cargo space
    standard ABS and side airbags
    available 6 speed manual and auto with paddle shifters
    better turning radius 30.8 vs 35.1
    available run flat tires
    available advanced keyless system
    better leg room
    more shoulder room
    and the big one....a spectacular proven track record. and historical heritage.

    I'll come up with a few more once I have my morning coffee...
  • m1miatam1miata Member Posts: 4,551
    ... And you can add the Miata having a roll bar. Ooops, the MX-5 has a roll bar. The Miata name is gone. It is possible that all the hoopla about the new Solstice will result in people scanning the magazine looking for road tests to determine their choice of the latest convertible two seater. If this is the start of a new wave of roadster cars, perhaps Pontiacs success, will lift sales of the MX-5 as well. I will stay with my predictions of 3:1 or more sales over the MX-5 though. The better car doesn't always translate into better sales.

    As for parts cars, remember the greatest success story of all times for a car release, the Mustang, is a Falcon chassis.

    The MX-5 remains a great little car for sporting around in. The pie however is getting cut into so many pieces, it is hard to believe sales will skyrocket for the latest Miata. All though say a Mustang is not the same class as the MX-5, it's convertible sales will eat into MX-5 sales. To increase sales, I would think a hardtop version of the MX-5 would be in the cards. If Pontiac dealers get too greedy and overprice their cars, that would help Mazda. If it creates a frenzy to own roadster sports cars, the rising tide could raise all boats. One way or another, October sales numbers for these two cars should be interesting.

    Loren
  • blueguydotcomblueguydotcom Member Posts: 6,249
    Don't see it as competition in any way. Never even crossed my mind to look at a Mustang. Big, flabby, ungainly, ford engineering. no thanks.
  • m1miatam1miata Member Posts: 4,551
    " Don't see it as competition in any way. Never even crossed my mind to look at a Mustang. Big, flabby, ungainly, ford engineering. no thanks. "
    ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::END QUOTE:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

    First of all, it is competition to the Miata. All sporty convertibles have the potential to siphon sales from the MX-5. Second, someone else may never think to look at a smaller car like the Miata, but nonetheless it is taking a piece of the pie. The Mustang is looking a bit fatter these days, just like the jump from '68 to '69. It is not a whole lot bigger than say the '94, but yeah, it does look it. If they stop there - not too bad. Looks are great, but perhaps a little too close to the original of '69 and thus slightly too retro / replica car. But I do like it. Last and I guess lest to say, don't forget Ford owns a large chunk of Mazda. That 1.8 engine was also used in Escorts and other econo cars, like a Kia Sephia.

    Loren
  • blueguydotcomblueguydotcom Member Posts: 6,249
    First of all, it is competition to the Miata. All sporty convertibles have the potential to siphon sales from the MX-5.

    Totally different markets. People generally don't test drive 4000 lbs 4 seaters v6s/v8s against 2 seat 2500 lbs roadsters. Just like I can't think of anyone even comparing a z4 to the mx-5.

    The mx-5 is in its own niche - until the solstice.

    That 1.8 engine was also used in Escorts and other econo cars, like a Kia Sephia.

    What 1.8? The MX-5 has a 2.0.
  • davidg3davidg3 Member Posts: 16
    I am looking for a fun car to 'downsize' to from my Accord. I need something that I can live in commuting 110 miles a day 2/3 highway, so I was eager to hear about your Miata screaming on the freeway. Any thoughts about a Miata and long running comfort? And at 80 on the freeway, can you hear a blessed thing from the radio (with the top up)?
  • blueguydotcomblueguydotcom Member Posts: 6,249
    The miata is not a comfortable freeway car. I'd suggest the Civic, Corolla, or Mazda3. All get good gas mileage and have decent comfort.
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Actually, it first appeared in the 1990 Mazda Protoge. The '91 Ford Escort GT borrowed that platform, so that car ended up getting the same engine, which was a gem by the way. I owned one and drove it for 107k miles. The powertrain was great, but the body fell apart around it.

    The engine was also used in the Mercury Tracer LTS.

    Later on, the '94 Miata got the 1.8l engine, but it was tuned differently and laid out longitudinally. It made 128hp from the start, 125hp in the Pro and 127hp in the Escort. But the layout, trans, and drivetrain were all so different, it really only shared an engine block.

    After that, Kia did make use of some of the Mazda engine designs because they didn't have the resources to build the engines by themselves.

    The Miata's 1.8l evolved, well beyond any of the others. Pro went to a 2.0l and Kia started using the Alpha engines made by Hyundai.

    So that's like saying the '05 SSR was a Corvette because it used the same block. Clearly it's not a Corvette, even with the extra power it gets for '06.

    -juice
  • logic1logic1 Member Posts: 2,433
    One big weak point for the Pontiac is the fact that the car was not designed and built from the ground up as a roadster like the Miata..

    In fact, the Kappa frame is a ground up Roadster frame.

    It's built with whatever spare parts GM had laying around.

    Almost all manufacturers share components among the cars they make.

    It has a GMC truck transmission with the same gear ratios

    Wrong. It uses an Aisin sport 5 speed manual that is not used on other GM vehicles. The Solstice does share the round back up lights with the Trailblazer.
  • audia8qaudia8q Member Posts: 3,138
    This is from the Pontiac Soltice forum...not from me.

    shared parts

    Front fog lamps: Grand Prix
    Rear Back-up Lamps: Envoy/Trailblazer
    Seats: Shared with Opel (maybe just the frame?)
    Outside Rear View Mirrors: Fiat Barchetta?
    Interior AC vents: 156/Fiat
    Brakes/Rotors: ION or Malibu Maxx?
    Engine: Chevy Cobalt (2.4l), Uplevel F/I unknown, Cobalt S/C possible
    Transmission: Aisin 5 spd manual, adapted from Chevy Colorado
    Differential: Cadillac CTS (from cars.com overview)
    Door Handles: Unknown but mentioned as shared
    Gage Cluster: Chevy Cobalt
    HVAC controls: Hummer H3

    they had additional lists but I didn't have time to read thru the entire forum....

    Despite this....why would somebody buy a Soltice over the proven Miata??
  • ryanrecryanrec Member Posts: 3
    I would say that 55 miles each way comute should be no problem regarding comfort. I don't know if I would want to drive the car for 4 hours straight, but 55 miles should not be a problem. The radio (7 speaker Bose)is so powerful that you could probably hear it at any speed.
  • logic1logic1 Member Posts: 2,433
    Transmission is wrong.

    Aisin engineered the Solstice transmission for the 2.4 litre engine. The Colorado uses a completely different engine, and the gearing ratios on the Colorado is different from the Solstice. Aisin, by the way, makes the manuals for Honda and Mazda.

    The rest means nothing for the Solstice's right to claim to be a Roadster.

    If you look at the Miata, you will find that it too shares many components with other Mazdas and probably vehicles manufactured by other companies in the Ford family as well.

    Some of the list are so meaningless as to garner a big so what. For instance, is there something about air conditioning vents or controls that are Roadster specific? Or gauge clusters? Are brakes any less brakes because they are shared with another vehicle? So, the fog lamps and brake lights are shared. They sure look pretty sharp on the Solstice. They certainly do not look forced or out of place.

    The 2.4 litre is shared with other GM vehicles. The version in the Solstice has a different torque and hp curve. Many manufacturers share engines. The question should be is whether the engine is right for the car and transmission. The answer to both appear to be yes with the Solstice.

    What makes the Solstice a Roadster is its Kappa frame, which was built from the scratch to base a convertible automobile. Given that every review of the Solstice praises the solid ride and immediate steering responsiveness of the car, it sounds as though the Kappa is a Roadster, through and true.
  • audia8qaudia8q Member Posts: 3,138
    ok...maybe the folks at the Pontiac Solstice forum are wrong, but I don't think so...but the real question is

    Why would somebody buy the unproven Solstice over the proven Miata?

    why take a gamble on an unproven car with GM's historical track record when something as proven and successful as the Miata is available??
  • logic1logic1 Member Posts: 2,433
    I had an NB Miata and was unhappy enough that I sold it, even though I do not have any other car (getting by with a bike and mass transit at present).

    I sort of want a new roadster. The Solstice appears to address some of the things I did not like in the Miata.

    Now the NC Mia... I mean MX-5 is much changed from the NB Miata. But that suggests a lot of unprovens as well.

    In any event, of the three major components for the Solstice, the engine, the transmission, the platform, the first is already on the market and proven, the second is from a well regarded company that makes many sporty manuals, and the third borrows many of its engineering cues from the very proven Corvette. I do not really see the Solstice as being a problem, except that I might have to wait a while to get one.
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    That's the main answer, Solistice does look good, and let's face it, American consumers are extremely superficial.

    Besides that, there's always the home team advantage, often people will opt for the domestic vs. the import if they like both.

    Recycling parts is fine, it's not a bad idea actually to keep costs down. And it doesn't take away from the car at all. Though I wonder if that's partially to blame for the relatively high weight of the Solistice.

    -juice
  • davidg3davidg3 Member Posts: 16
    For those really excited about their MX-5 prospects, the attractiveness of the Solstice will bring those prices down... :shades:
  • m1miatam1miata Member Posts: 4,551
    Was trying to point out in prior post that it makes no difference that Pontiac uses parts from other cars, as Miata has done so in the past. Just used the 1.8 engine as a single example of a part shared by other cars. As far as Ford engineering being bad, so a Mustang is a poor car, well bring on the evidence. The Mustang sales in convertibles, and Soltice sales will in fact put a big dent in Miata MX-5 sales. There are scores of other cars, from the smallest, like the Mini Cooper all the way up to the larger convertibles which siphon sales.

    Making a new Miata body style perhaps would not have made a better performing car, but it would go a long way to improve sales. I am afraid that sale could slide to the point that Ford/Mazda gives up on the little road warrior.

    Loren
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    I believe Mazda will stick with the Miata even with low volumes. It's their halo car, and not a very costly halo car all things considered.

    Note how they use the Miata to advertise all the other cars in the lineup...

    If they dropped it they'd lose their identity. Sure, they have an RX-8, but most people don't know it exists. Everyone and their mother knows a Miata.

    -juice
  • davidg3davidg3 Member Posts: 16
    But would anyone be sane and buy one for a 110 mile commute each day, 5/week, 48 per year? :confuse:
  • m1miatam1miata Member Posts: 4,551
    A commuter car??? I would get a Civic HX, with its 44 MPG or more capability. Yeah, that's the ticket.

    Now back to MX-5..
    I saw an ad which called it the Miata. The name lives!!!
  • audia8qaudia8q Member Posts: 3,138
    If you have seen the new Miata commercial.......did you like it?
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    I like the one where he brushes his shoulder and the leaf falls off the front of the car. Very neat.

    Civic HX is gone for now, the 06 Civics are here. 30/40 mpg with an automatic, now 5 speed, there's your fuel miser for that kind of commute (long and straight).

    Buy a Miata if you take the curvy way to work.

    -juice
  • frank4carsfrank4cars Member Posts: 98
    Or a Hybrid.
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    For a long, straight, 100 mile commute, a hybrid would not help a whole lot. Hybrids are most helpful in city traffic, where regenerative braking comes into play.

    Maybe a diesel TDI for that type of drive would be best.

    -juice
  • m1miatam1miata Member Posts: 4,551
    " Or a Hybrid. "

    ::::::end quote:::::::

    Oh no, a car that takes two engines to run! Too costly short term, and long term.
    They can barely get more MPG than the old Honda Civic HX can. The good 'ol
    Civic is the commuter. It is reliable, cost under $15k, great resale, and only one
    battery to replace, if ya ever do. They are light weight and handle well.

    BTW, my '96 Miata got up to 30 MPG, which is not too bad. Even on those country
    roads, it seemed to get around 27 MPG. They are wound up all the time anyway.

    loren
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    HX is gone, though, plus it only came as a coupe. Find a leftover '05 while you still can if you want one.

    Still, I need a balance of fun and economy, and I think the Mazda3 balances those better, even in 2.0l guise. The HX has no torque.

    -juice
  • logic1logic1 Member Posts: 2,433
    BTW, my '96 Miata got up to 30 MPG, which is not too bad. Even on those country roads, it seemed to get around 27 MPG. They are wound up all the time anyway

    Were you driving with the top up?

    I almost never put the top up. I only rarely did better than 20 mpgs in mine.
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    My 1.6l average about 27-28mpg. Not bad considering it always, always has the top down. If it's raining or snowing I simply don't drive it at all, I take my Forester.

    -juice
  • frank4carsfrank4cars Member Posts: 98
    Sorry. Meant it tongue-in-cheek. As long as you are recommending something with no fun-to-drive quotient in exchange for mpg, you might as well go all the way. :)
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    True...I would only replace the Miata with another convertible of some sort, and yes it would have to be fun to drive.

    The new MX-5 looks plenty efficient, I'm impressed that it got 8mpg better than the Solistice did with C&D. That is a huge difference! And it was quicker.

    -juice
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