1999-2005 Mazda Miata

September 30, 2005 - By John LeBlanc

Hard to imagine now, but when the first Miata was introduced in 1989 it had the affordable roadster class all to itself. But not for long.

With bandwagon-jumpers coming from BMW and Honda stealing some of the Miata’s spotlight, Mazda redesigned its roadster for 1999. Sticking with the original concept (two seats, rag top, and the most fun you’ll have with your clothes on) the second-generation Miata’s measurements were marginally larger. Style wise, the retracting headlights gave way to conventional fixed types and the bodywork was subtly more aggressive.

Mounted longitudinally up front, and driving the rear wheels (as the road gods had intended), the 1999 Miata’s DOHC 1.8-litre 4-cylinder engine’s horsepower was boosted to 140—up seven from the previous model—and provided a respectable under eight second 0-100 km/h run. 2001 saw the predictable mid-term detail upgrades, but also had Mazda execs embarrassingly explaining a claimed horsepower boost to 155 that was actually, ahem, 142. Oops!

Horsepower, or lack thereof, is one of the reasons the Miata has been the choice of so many of the nice folks who style our hair, or happen have a full set of chromosomes. Proof that “bigger isn’t always better”, the petite roadster’s main appeal was to provide tactile, real-time driving responses allowing even novice Danica Patrick hopefuls to easily experience the car’s limits. Yes, the cockpit is tight enough that you “wear” a Miata. But like most physically satisfying activities, less worn the better.

Saving the best for last, in mid-2004 Mazda launched the much-anticipated Mazdaspeed Miata. Now with 178 turbocharged horsepower, your hands spent more time on the steering wheel and less on the shifter knob. The additional power elevated the whole car, and made passing maneuvers less like a Fear Factor challenge. All the better to chase much pricier BMW Z4s and Honda S2000s down your favourite switchback, too.

Fifteen years ago, Mazda rejuvenated the roadster segment with its MG-that-doesn’t-leak-oil-or-blow-fuses Miata. Others followed, but no other rear-drive sports car has ever matched the Miata’s cost-per-smile formula.

But then, there’s the new 2006 Miata…

- John LeBlanc, Publisher, www.straight-six.com

© National Post 2005. This article originally appeared in The National Post's Driver's Edge.