The only thing wrong with the Miata is that the folks at Mazda keep trying to change the name to the MX-5, which sounds like the name for a laser printer. They can try, but purists will always call it the Miata. This little Japanese car has become a classic in its own lifetime, with a huge fan base feeding off Miata lore.
The Mazda Miata is the spiritual successor of the great British two-seaters like the Austin-Healey, Triumph Spitfire, and the Lotus Elan. The Elan is especially important in the Miata story because when Mazda engineers were designing the Miata, they reverse-engineered the Lotus as part of their research.
The classic British two-seater was born to be driven hard on the narrow, twisty country lanes on the island. Although some, like the Jaguar XK-120 and E-Type, were powerful, most two-seaters had smaller engines. Their design philosophy was driving pleasure, so the classic two-seater would be low-slung, lightweight, front-engined, with rear-wheel drive. The driver would sit close to the road, and usually exposed to the slipstream.
US servicemen returning from Britain after WWII brought back some of these cars, and they became popular in the States. With the demise of the British car industry, Mazda saw a gap in the market and created the Miata to fill this gap.
Mazda Miata Overview
The Mazda Miata has been around for over 35 years, and in that time, there have been four generations, starting with the launch model in 1990. Global sales numbers are difficult to track, but by 2016, sales passed the 1,000,000 mark.
There are several reasons for this popularity. The Miata was created to fill the gap in the small two-seater market, but instead of becoming a Japanese Triumph or Lotus, the Miata created its own niche.
Success At Launch
The launch model NA was an instant success. It was as good to drive as any of the classic British two-seaters, but it was better built and more reliable. It ticked all the boxes that made the OG models great, but eliminated the faults fans had learned to live with.
Mazda kept with the ethos of two-seater motoring. They would tinker and improve a generation over time, but without diminishing the characteristics that fans loved. The only slight wobble in this great car was the third-generation NC, which some purists consider too big and heavy for a Miata, but which brought a different dimension to the Miata that appealed to a specific set of fans.
Miata Prices
Because so many Miatas were made, used ones are not particularly expensive, although well-preserved ones will keep their value. There are some rare and very expensive Miatas, like the NB Coupe and NB Turbo, with limited production runs further disrupted by a factory fire in 2004, or the NA-R with performance components. The Spirit Racing Roadster 12-R of the current generation, with only 200 made, is impossible to buy.
Which Miata Is Right For You?
Most Miata fans will be more than happy with any of the four generations if the price/quality is right for them. Although there are differences between the generations, the essence of the Miata is a car with character, a two-seat, front-engine, rear-wheel-drive car that was well-made, has great handling, and good power.
The Miata is essentially a driver’s car. You can get an automatic transmission, but most are stick shift, as the gods of motoring decreed. It looks good, sounds great, and attracts friendly attention in a way that an overpriced, pretentious Ferrari cannot.
If you had to walk onto a sales floor where one of each gen Miata was for sale, which one should you choose? The answer probably lies with the buyer and what they would most like from a car like this. The only way to do this is to discuss the four generations, including their stronger and weaker points, and to let you make up your mind which will work for you.
Miata NA: 1990 To 1997
The Essential Two-seater
The first-generation Miata is the closest to the ideal of the British two-seater. They are simple in design and function, and very light as an homage to the Lotus ideal. This is the kind of car that makes the driver feel happy, not fast, not loud, but pure fun to drive. The old-school pop-up headlights add to the joy.
The early NA Miata came with a 1.6-liter I4 engine that made 116 horsepower, which sounds low in today’s terms, but good for the day, and plenty for such a light car. From ’94 to ’97, the engine was upgraded to a 1.8-liter that made 128 horsepower. Both engines are simple enough for home mechanics to work on. The 1.8-liter gives a little more zip, but not enough to make it the deciding factor in choosing an NA Miata.
Some Things To Consider
The very early models of the NA had a rather wobbly chassis, which saw several mods over the years to add braces. This stiffened the chassis, but added weight to a very light car. Rust can also be a problem, but it is usually fixable.
The ’90 and ’91 models had an issue with the crankshaft that could be expensive to repair, so it would be worth having this checked out before buying. You may find some cheap and nasty aftermarket suspension and brake components fitted, but this should not be a disqualifying factor, as there are loads of affordable, good-quality aftermarket parts available today.
Miata NB: 1999 To 2005
Making Good Better
There was no 1998 Miata in the US, thus the odd starting date for the NB. The NB Miata looks different from the NA model, with fixed headlights, a different cabin, and a more curvy body, but it is essentially the same car, improved.
The suspension was somewhat improved, the wobbly chassis issue had been resolved, and a new, more efficient cylinder head was added. The 1.8-liter engine now made 140 horsepower, which was upped to 142 horsepower in 2001. The gear ratios were tweaked as well, and all this added to the fun of driving this car. A very scarce variant of the NB is the turbocharged Mazdaspeed Miata with 178 horsepower.
Some Miata purists consider the NA as the only worthy model, but the NB was still very within the design philosophy that guided the creation of this car. The NB is also the last generation to keep to this ideal.
Things To Consider
As essentially the same car, except for the crankshaft issues of the very early NAs, the same rust and aftermarket niggles are worth looking out for. Collectors are also starting to focus more on the NB than before, so prices are going up.
Miata NC: 2006 To 2015
Bigger, Faster, Different
The NC Miata was initially derided by purists. It was bigger, heavier, and more powerful than the first two generations, and it even got a roof at one stage! The NC was designed from the ground up. It lost some of the qualities that made the Miata such a hit to start with, but added some sophisticated comfort that was lacking in the earlier hardcore cars.
The engine grew to 2.0-liter and 170 horsepower, while the wheelbase stretched by 2.5 inches and the width by 1.5 inches. This extra size not only allowed for a better ride, but also allowed taller drivers to stretch out a bit. Buyers had the option of a five or six-speed stick shift, or an automatic that sort of worked because of the extra power.
In 2007, the Power Retractable Hard Top roof became an option, with a hard roof that could fold into the boot at the touch of a button. This really got the hard-core soft-top crowd going, but proved to be a popular addition to the NC.
Things To Consider
Early models have fully depreciated and are gaining value as collectors’ cars, while more recent ones are still depreciating, which is a factor for buyers to include in the buying decision. As with any older car, rust can be an issue, but the main thing to check is that the folding mechanism on the versions with that roof works well.
Miata ND: 2016 To Present
Back To Basics
Despite the increasing love for the NC, someone at Mazda brought the hammer down and returned to the original concept. The ND weighed less, with a shorter wheelbase and overall length.
Most surprisingly, and almost unknown in generational change in cars, the ND’s engine made less horsepower than that of the NC. With 155 horsepower, it was 15 horsepower down on the previous models, but because it is lighter, performance did not suffer that much.
The ND returned to the roots of the earlier models, with startling body roll, great handling, and good, rather than great, power. One feature that it carried over from NC was the retractable roof option, now called the Retractable Fastback.
Things To Consider
The ND is on a different deprecation curve from the older models, so be aware of that. There have been reports of problems with the manual transmission, and this needs to be checked before buying. Paint chipping has easily become a topic, so look out for that, and when you buy an ND, consider adding a protective clear coat.