1996 Mazda MX-5 Miata User Reviews

Fun In The Sun — Performance ~ stock 4 cylinder manual tranny with quick acceleration and braking Build Quality ~ Built to last Appearance ~ Not a big fan of the pop up lights, but several mods are available for this. Cost of Ownership ~ Averages 30mpg and requires little maintenance to run perfectly Fun Factor ~ Definitely!

Primary Use: Commuting to work

A Cheap Blast For Those Without Kids Or As A Third Car. — I bought this car a year before my first kid was born, and I really enjoyed it. I had the "R-package" which was made in limited numbers an intended for those who planned to track it (I did only once or twice). I even kept it a couple years after my first child was born. Since I had the mainatenance manual, it was easy enough (although a little nerve-wracking) to take out the passenger airbag and leave it in the basement, but it left a pretty ugly gaping hole on the dash. I'll describe the performance as sporty. Good handling and better acceleration than the femily sedan, but you'd have to tap into the huge aftermarket to make it a screamer or a slot-car handler. The reliability was typical Japanese - never an issue. And even out-of-the-box, it was a pretty good setup. I had an accident that damaged two wheels, and I took the opportunity to replace the 15-inch stock alloys with some 16-inch OZ Racing wheels that looked fantastic, and were nice and stiff, but I was amazed at how much more than the stock wheels they weighed, which did not do much for the unsprung weight. Appearance-wise, I liked it. I ordered it in black, as I always do, to avoid it looking too "cute" as Miata's from that era are prone to. The R-package added a lip spoiler and air dam, which also helped it look a little more aggressive (and I think it may have been a tad lower on the Bilsteins). With the OZ wheels and when it was clean, it did not look half bad, or girly. It was cheap to own and maintain. I was spoiled by the gas mileage that my later sports cars could not match (save the lightweight Elise). Looking back on it and forward to buying my teens cars in a couple years, I'm thinking a used Miata might be a good car for them. It's fun enough and would be good to teach them some performance driving, and with only one other seat, the peer pressure to do something stupid should be reduced.

Primary Use: Commuting to work

Its Fantastic - Very Girly — Pick it up on Monday - its immaculate and got it cheap it feel and sounds fantastic - new rear window and the hood is fantastic with a cover - windy windows and no power steering so will be fun = back to basics

Primary Use: Sport/fun (spirited driving, track racing, off-roading, etc.)

A Lot Of Fun For A Low Price! — The first generation Miata is considered by many to be one of the best production sports cars produced in the last 50 years. And it is certainly one of the most affordable. While it does not have an abundance of raw power, it certainly has enough in a power-to-weight ratio to make for an all-around enjoyable experience. Very responsive handling and convertible top, in a classically styled package make this car just what it was meant to be - FUN!

Primary Use: Commuting to work

Excellent Value For A Track Car, Modified Daily Driver. — The performance in my car has been modified and it runs quite well compared to stock. The build quality on the car is quite good and it makes for easy quick mods that can really spruce up the fun level that it provides. The cars appearance reminds some of early '60s British roadsters, but to me it looks like a really small 4cyl convertible. Cost of ownership is extremely low, and even a car like mine that has been pretty seriously modified still hasn't given me an extra expenses over standard random maintenance. All Miatas are quite fun to drive, and with another 100hp, they are even more fun.

Primary Use: Sport/fun (spirited driving, track racing, off-roading, etc.)