Since I learned to drive at 16, I have owned over the years about 100 vehicles ( usually several at a time) but none longer than my 1994 Mazda MX-5. At the time of purchase, I bought the top model with leather, ABS, tonneau and removable hardtop. I got rid of the top after a couple of years as I never used it.
Bought new, this Miata has been stored for six months or more for Canadian Winters so I am at this point about 66,000 miles since new with nothing but tires, batteries and fluid changes since new. I have not had a more reliable vehicle. It continues to be a delight to drive in its 27th year.
The best diecast model of this car is the Kyoto 1/18 in the same British Racing Green. I will show this at some point in Forum 18. Ebbro of Japan makes Mazda MX-5 NA which are the best I have seen in 1/43 scale. They are actually called Miata Eunos in Japan and have right hand drive.
Here are two, one in white and one in black.
Under the base of each is a hardtop to add if wanted.
I know that other Members have Miata. Have you found them as much fun?
I used to own a 2000 Miata SE in "Mahogany Mist". A great car that I drove for almost 17 years. As a friend once said about his XKE, the best time to sell a car is while everything works. Could not find a 1:43 in my color, but Johnny Lightning made the exact car in a smaller scale.
I looked at that car in the showroom Garv and thought seriously about buying iy. The unique colour really caught my attention. In the end, I stayed with what I already had. Close though.
I have the Johnny Lightning still in the package also.
I was lucky enough to not get caught in snow but I did drive over it a couple of times going to my storage. Worse event was on a trip to Colorado when I get into an unexpected hailstorm on Goldmine Road near Victor, Colorado. I had the top down and actually did a couple of 360s before I got the Miata stopped. Had to shovel out piles of small hail and dry everything, but no damage thank goodness. Luckily the tonneau covered the passenger seat.
Here is the Miata and me, on one of the few times I used the hardtop. A little younger then.
I had a '92. As you and Harve know, it's an amazing car. Very light on the rear end and not soo good for slippery surfaces but an absolute blast all other times.
John, in the early days I put Yokohama racing tires on mine. These were basically a slick with wide rain grooves added. I really did well in slaloms and gymkhana events with very controlled skidding. Back to more conventional tires now as the Yokohamas are not available any more in Miata size.
@david-green, I had Bridgestone Potenzas, a few sets. They were great on the street and OK on the track. However, they were predictable and broke away smoothly allowing you to drift the rear end fairly easily.
After my Michelin Pilots wore out, I found they weren't making the exact tire anymore. I used to go through a set every 25K miles or so. Finally ended up with Kumhos - they had the best balance between longevity and ride quality for me.
I owned, loved and outgrew 4 Mazda Miatas. I had two 1999's, both in silver with the leather package; one a stick and one an automatic. Traded them in for 2 Crystal Blue 2002's, also with the leather package and also 6 sp stick and auto.
I got too large for the car and traded it on a new 50th anniversary Z06. It figures, I then lost 90 pounds!
Love that pale blue colour. Funny that you should mention having two. Our family had two for several years as we added a 1996 standard black cloth version in British racing green for my wife, also a manual car. It was a little confusing with two almost the same but fun for a while.
There is an interior shot of the 1996 below.
The fitting is marginal for larger bodies as a 6'3" friend would testify. He could get in the leather version well but not the cloth due to seat variations.
That C6 looks like great fun but you would have to go quite a bit faster than the Miata to get the same exhilaration.
One of the great attributes of the Miata has always been that you could drive it at eight tenths on a public road and have an incredibly satisfying time. I currently have Fiesta ST with a 6-speed manual. It's a close second to the Miata for the most engaging and fun cars I've had. At 195 HP, with a few mods, somewhere around 210-200 HP, it dances quite well for a front-drive machine. It's another one that you can fully integrate with on a twisty road at 8-9/10's of its potential.
Love that pale blue colour. Funny that you should mention having two. Our family had two for several years as we added a 1996 standard black cloth version in British racing green for my wife, also a manual car. It was a little confusing with two almost the same but fun for a while.
There is an interior shot of the 1996 below.
The fitting is marginal for larger bodies as a 6'3" friend would testify. He could get in the leather version well but not the cloth due to seat variations.
That C6 looks like great fun but you would have to go quite a bit faster than the Miata to get the same exhilaration.
Thanks for sharing.
You are SO right my friend! I was 6' 1.5" and 280 and had trouble driving with the top up! At 170 now, I have no problem in most any car. But on "The Tail of the Dragon", a world-known road in my home town, I could traverse the narrow road, up and down and side to side, flat out in the MX-5 but shift until the cows-came-home, in the Z06!!
The four Miata's always reminded me of period English sports cars and my Austin-Healy and MGB's!!
Outside of Asheville! I've been down there, with the Miata, just to drive the Tail of the Dragon! What an awesome road!! On the weekend, it was fairly busy but we stayed through Tuesday and had a great time.
I had an MGB, a TR6, and several Fiats; a 124 Spyder and two X1/9's. They were all great cars but that Miata blew them into the weeds AND...was dependable!
When I bought my first sports car, an MGB, I marveled that it had a tool kit in the trunk. Shortly after I got it, found out why! Still, all those smaller, stick-shift, well-balanced sports cars were an absolute blast to drive. I loved every one!
