Background: So the thought of owning a two-seat, open-top roadster is an appealing proposition. But the thought of dropping more than $30,000 on a Porsche or BMW doesn't float your boat. Why not look at the car that helped resurge the segment, Mazda's comparatively affordable Miata. While European automakers helped popularize the two-seat, flip-top market, Mazda's Miata made it fun and affordable for the general masses. Mazda officials boast Miata's the best-selling roadster in the world. Completely redesigned for the 1999 model year, Miata still provides open-air excitement, but with a bit more comfort, room and ergonomic tweaks. First introduced in 1989, the tiny, rear-wheel drive Miata is probably Mazda's most recognizable offering. This year's incarnation represents Miata's second generation, and the first major redesign in 10 years. Mazda was so anxious to debut the 1999 edition, no 1998 Miata was ever assembled. The Japanese-built Miata jumped from a 1997 roadster right into a 1999 offering. Miata appeals to an affluent audience. Of all the vehicles in Mazda's marketing mix, only the top-of-the-line, luxury-appointed Millenia reaches a higher income demographic. Miata appeals to younger singles, young married couples and empty nesters looking for two-seat excitement once the kids move out.
New for 1999. Upgrades for 1999 include a glass rear window with built-in rear- window defogger, a must for Chicagoland winters. Trunk volume is still small, but increases a bit. Flush-mounted, body-color pull-up door handles replace the push-button variety, pop-up headlights are no more and engine horsepower increases slightly.
Trim level: Miata comes in one MX-5 trim level with five option packages: Base, Sports, Touring, Popular Equipment Package and Leather. Mazda predicts 45 percent of sales will come from combined Touring and Popular Equipment Package sales.
Price: Miata has a manufacturer's suggested retail price of $19,770. Mazda provided the Daily Herald with two Miatas; a Touring Package and a Sports edition. Our Touring Package included a bottom line of $22,300 while the Sports edition, with 15-inch alloy wheels and rear spoiler, checked in at $23,400. Both prices include a $450 destination charge.
Safety equipment: Depowered front dual air bags come standard. Also included is the first-in-class passenger-side air bag deactivation switch. With the flip of the key-operated dial, the passenger-side air bag can be disabled when small adults or children are riding shotgun. Anti-lock brakes are optional in the Popular Equipment or Leather Packages. Traction control is not offered.
Engine: A 1.8-liter, four-cylinder, twin-cam 16-valve, engine powers Miata. It's similar to the first-generation engine, but horsepower increases to 140 this year, up slightly from last year. The growling powertrain might not be welcome in a $30,000 sedan, but is right at home in a roadster.
Standard equipment: Rack-and-pinion steering, AM/FM/Compact disc player, intermittent windshield wipers, four-wheel double wishbone suspension, five-speed manual transmission, and four-wheel disc brakes come standard.
Optional equipment: Most popular options are available in the five specially-ordered packages. Automatic transmission is available in every option package except the sports package. Mazda predicts only 10 percent of Miatas ordered will include automatic transmission. Air conditioning, cassette tape player and detachable hardtop are optional in all five option packages. The Base trim level includes power-assist steering. The Touring Package features power-assist steering, 14-inch aluminum alloy wheels, and power mirrors and windows. The Popular Equipment Package (PEP) includes cruise control, power antenna, and power door locks. The Leather Package features all PEP options plus tan leather seats and 15-inch aluminum wheels. The Sports package also includes 15-inch aluminum wheels, rear deck lid spoiler and sport suspension.
Interior: The tiny Miata includes three tiny round dials controlling the ventilation system and small stereo preset buttons placed above the temperature settings. Interior door handles are tiny too. The newly-designed, circular, half-shell instrument panel includes large, analog speedometer and tachometer dials easy to view at a glance. Digital odometer readouts display near the bottom. Four round, adjustable vents dispurse heat and air conditioning throughout the interior. The thick steering wheel has been updated to include a three-spoke design in most editions. Black, cloth upholstery comes standard and the seating position is low, low, low . A driver foot rest is also standard. The shallow, center, flip-top storage bin between the bucket seats, hinged on the right side, is home to the trunk and fuel door release levers. A dual beverage holder is also located inside the bin, creating an interesting challenge. When passengers need to utilize the cup holder, they must inconveniently reach up and over the open top to set or retrieve beverages. Miata's with power windows have controls positioned in front of the bin. Headlight functions are incorporated into the turn signal stalk while windshield wiper functions monitor from a right hand stalk. With the convertible top up, a functional storage shelf behind the seats is usable for storing such items as purses, briefcases or even a pet taxi. This storage area disappears and becomes the resting place of the convertible top with the roof retracted.
Exterior: Despite its low stature, Miata stands out in a crowd. With so many sport utilities and vans in malls and shopping centers, it's actually easy to spot because of its low stance and left fender's protruding radio antenna. I'm 6'1" and the top of convertible barely clears my waist. Mazda's relatively new circular "M logo" is found at the base of the front hood. Styling cues from the first-generation Miata still hold true, but with a slightly muscular update. Exposed "cat's eye" headlights wrap around side fenders and replace retractable, pop-up headlights. A large, oval grille opening is centrally located below the headlights. The circular, locking fuel tank door is located on top of the rear left fender. The convertible's rear window, now made from sturdy glass is far superior to flimsy, hard-to-see-through plastic. The manual convertible top, two pounds lighter this year, folds down easily once two sunvisor-area latches are unhooked. Fourteen-inch steel wheels with fourteen-inch tires are standard. Larger, 15-inch aluminum alloy wheels come with the optional sports package.
Dimensions: Wheelbase: 89.2 inches Overall length: 155.3 inches Overall height: 48.35 inches Overall width: 66 inches Weight: 2,299 pounds
Trunk: Miata's trunk grew 42 percent. Sounds impressive but its still a relatively small storage space. One average-size golf back fits in with room to spare in the 5.1 cubic foot area, up 3.6 cubic feet from last year. A temporary spare tire stores under the flat-floored trunk bottom. Fuel economy: With five-speed manual transmission, Miata reports 25 miles per gallon in city driving and 29 m.p.g. highway. With 5,000 odometer miles, our test-drive models averaged 27 m.p.g. in combined traveling. With an automatic transmission, figures dip slightly to 23 m.p.g. city and 28 m.p.g. highway. The tank holds 12.7 gallons of regular, 87-octane, unleaded gasoline.
Final thoughts: Miata's a great summertime automobile for the Chicagoland area. The roadster corners aggressively and its low profile provides an exhilarating sensation not found in sedans or coupes. This design keeps participants on a first-name basis with large bumps and other road imperfections. Although I've never test driven one in the winter, its relative light weight and rear-wheel design may provide some challenges once the snow hits. Standard compact disc player and glass rear window are nifty additions. Miata's price, even though its inched higher over the past decade, continues as one of its strong suits. It's comparatively affordable against import rivals including Porche's Boxter and the Mercedes-Benz SLK.
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