I was driving with the top down early this morning in rural Amador County, California, when I realized...
I have probably driven more Mazda Miatas than any other car. I've been writing about cars for (part of) a living since 1997. The first 11 years were on TV and radio, and I didn't keep track, but since 2008, when I went online with the old TireKicker site, I've reviewed Miatas in 2009, 2010, 2011, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 (twice!), 2018, 2020, 2021, 2022 (twice!) and 2023.
Add in three of the 2017-2020 Fiat 124 Spiders (Miatas with different engines and some styling tweaks that added five inches to their overall length) and the one I'm driving today makes 18 that there's written documentation for. Include the years before I went online---I dunno---25, maybe?
Those who know me best know that running out of words is not usually a problem for me. And, even though you think you see what's coming next...
Nope.
All I need to do is slide behind the wheel, put the top down, press start and shift into first gear. The smile comes first, then the laugh, and then the words. I can't get to the keyboard quickly enough when the drive is over.
The secret to the Miata is that it is small (154 inches long), low (49 inches tall) and, light (in Club spec, 2,341 pounds). 181 horsepower and 151 lb-ft of torque aren't muscle car numbers, but 0-60 runs of 5.7 seconds feel quicker at the wheel of such a compact package.
Fuel mileage is just a bonus---an EPA-estimated 29 miles per gallon combined city/highway with the six-speed manual. You can get an automatic Miata, but....why? If you want this car and can't drive stick, learn.
The Club model is the purest driver's car in the Miata line. You get front ventilated disc brakes, rear solid disc brakes, a sport-tuned suspension with Bilstein shock absorbers, front and rear stabilizer bars, double-pinion electronic power assist steering, a front double wishbone suspension, rear multi-link suspension, an asymmetric limited-slip differential and a front shock tower brace standard. This is the only part---explaining how it all comes together---where I feel at risk of redundancy or cliche'. "Like it's on rails"? "Like a slot car"? "Like it's glued to the road?" "Like it's an extension of your brain?"
Yeah. That. Those. All of them.
Trunk space? 4.6 cubic feet. Even among sports cars, that's a tiny trunk. Fortunately, Mazda designed the top so that when it's down, it doesn't go there.
And it's a two-seater. Not even a vestigal back seat. No glove box in-dash, either (there's a lockable cubby in the rear of the cockpit between the seats).
This year, the Miata gets some (very) subtle styling tweaks, a bigger center screen (8.8 inches instead of 7.0), and a new limited-slip differential. If you do opt for an automatic, adaptive cruise control is available for the first time.
The base price of the 2024 Mazda MX-5 Miata Club is $33,650 including destination. Standard at that price are all the things we've already discussed as well as kinematic posture control, 17-inch alloy wheels, P205/45R17 high-performance tires, LED headlights, tail lights, and daytime running lights, dual powerr side mirrors, variable intermittent wipers, a glass rear window with defogger, dual exhaust with bright outlets, an aluminum hood and trunk lid, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, leather-wrapped shift knob and leather-wrapped parking brake handle, tilt and telescoping steering column, power automatic door locks, power windows, air conditioning, heated cloth-trimmed sport seats, keyless entry, Alexa digital assistant, a nine-speaker Bose audio system with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay as well as HD Radio and a three-month trial for SiriusXM Satellite Radio, two USB-C inputs, an 8.8-inch touchscreen, rearview camera, cruise control, anti-lock braking with electronic brakeforce distribution and brake assist, tire pressure monitoring, blind spot monitoring, dynamic stability control, traction control, front and side-impact air bags, secondary collision reduction and lane departure warning system.
A Club appearance package (front air dam, rear lip spoiler, rear bumper skirt and side sill extensions) is optional, but at no charge.
Our tester had a pair of extra-cost options, as well. $4,800 bought the Brembo BBS Recaro Package---Brembo front brakes with red front and rear calipers, BBS forged 17-inch dark alloy wheels, and heated Recaro sport seats. And $450 went to the Zircon Sand Metallic paint.
All told, the as-tested price of the 2024 Mazda MX-5 Miata Club was $38,900.
And yeah, seeing a Miata price tag creep that close to 40 grand (the Club RF, with a retractable hardtop actually starts a shade above $43,000) is more than a little disconcerting.
But drive it. You'll start justifying the price real quick.
