1990 Mazda MX-5 Miata Reviews, Pricing & Specs

A true world car. One of the finest magical, most exhilarating driving automotive roadster not dragster creations ever on planet earth. A stock convertible for those without a need to burn rubber at every/any red light nor seeking a police chases like astunt drivers in the fast and furious franchise. Something that actually looks timelessly good, reliably works & gives some of the greatest joy ,fun, & stress management possible at a bargain price. A four wheeled friend that can often make daily challenges/ pressures melt away with more smiles per mile it creates on a drivers face Something truly memorable in life for those smart enough to recognize rare automotive magic when they experience it in life. Imagine a beautiful day & a curvy country/mountain drive with its smooth as silk stick shift of the gen 1 & those future generations that would follow. Being a kid again every time you crank up with handling thrills/ excitement potential of a 10 year old on a go cart race track for the first time. Jul 19, 2021

The Miata is such a fun car, we could not help but love it. The way it drives, the way you feel when you drive it. Ours was very reliable with very little that didn't hold up. The canvas top lasts about 5 years, depending on how you care for it, but there are many replacements available. We had the fiberglass hard top which makes the body even stiffer than with the top down. It is already pretty good, though. We drove ours at Roebling Road race track in Georgia. What fun!! Love it, Love it!!!Nov 04, 2010

Right now she's a little rough looking, but shes going to be beautiful when shes complete. As of right now, the only parts that are on her. Are a stronger drivetrain: 97 Torsen LSD diff/axles/drive shaft, with a aftermarket clutch I got off my friend. I believe is an ACT stage 2 Clutch, with Pressure Plate. Suspension: Tokico Struts/Swift Springs (springs unknown, but they're stiff as hell. Along with some Flyin' Miata Swaybars. Cooling: Mishimoto 37mm radiator. Appearance wise, like I said shes rough, but shes a work in progress. Right now, all I have installed are a set of BSP Low-Profile Headlights (Instead of her old bug eyes) Soon to come: Raceland Coilovers, Diamond Racing 15x8 (rear) 15x7.5 (front) wheels. Hardcore Harddog Roll bar, Used (but WAY better condition) Softtop with plastic window. Then eventually, a 1.8l swap w/begi turbo kit.Oct 09, 2010

Its a fun lil car, just to mess around in. Its no porshe or anything, with only a 1.6L, you wont be blowing anybodys doors off. It has great acceleration from 0-65, but levels off after you go any faster. Its a fairly cheap car for what you get out of it though. For around 2,500 - 3,000 is what you'll end up paying though. It gets good gas mileage, but only has a ten gallon tank. What can you expect from a car like that though. But overall its a pretty sound car.May 10, 2009

Its an open convertible like oldtimers as the Lotus Elite, MGA, Morgan and so on but at the same time its a Mazda. Therefore it always start and its never out of order. Being almost 20 years old I just have had to change brakes and exhaust system. At the same time its just fun to drive especially on a curly road in the spring on a sunny day in a forrest. It reacts like a gocart and look forward to a trip in my MiataNov 23, 2008

Although some minivan's could blow my doors off at a traffic light, this wasn't built for straight-line performance - it weighs in at a startling 2200lbs, has a super low CG, double wishbone suspension front and rear, and is rear wheel drive, making it scream through corners as if there were no corners to sweat. Effortless. I found out that I can push this car into corners about 15-20mph faster than I initially thought I could, which is always at LEAST twice the "curve speed limit". A lot of people still tote this to be a girl's car, but I've found that people that say that often tend to look at it differently after taking a tour around it, hearing it, seeing it move. I don't hear many jokes from them after a while - instead, I get asked for a ride or even to borrow the keys! The top is manual, requires only two latches to be unfastened, and can be folded back with one hand from the driver's seat. The engine loves to rev, and winds to a sweet sounding 7200rpm quickly. Gas mileage is generally in the low to high 20's, depending on how often your foot is in the pedal. xD These cars are very simply built; very minimalistic - but very solid. Repairs are limited to those that just tend to be needed after a while on any car - tires, timing belt, tune-up stuff. I've been very pleased with the reliability. All in all, this is one of those cars that if I HAD to sell it, I'd be impatiently waiting for another chance to own one down the road.Sep 02, 2008

What can be said about the world's best selling sports car of all time? The miata is the benchmark for the entry level sports car market. The miata offers great balance and handling for a low price. I've gotten more looks of encouragement and thumbs up in this car then any other. Huge smiles per Gallon. The only downside is that I can't drive it all the time. Those who mock the miata as a gay car or women's car obviously are clueless and don't understand sports cars. No other cars are nearly as capable for the money. Aug 07, 2008

Best fun driving car for less than € 5000!! Mine was very early euro spec Mx5: with no power steering,but with a good torsen lsd. Fun,Fun,Fun for more or less 200000kms, with only clutch, gearbox(was only noisy...), and hood replaced. She was always perfect, in summer,or winter,in city center,or on autobahn at 200km/h. If you are young, and love to drive, buy one like mine: 116 ps first series and you'll love her forever!!! My next step is a Lotus Elise s2, just bought 2 months agoJul 30, 2008

There are only a few roadsters on the market, the miata, Z3/4, S2000, Solstice and Sky to name most of em. The miata is definitely not the most powerful, nor the best out of the factory, but that isnt going to bother people daily driving it, and its just a finger snap away from being completely redoable. With its tiny body, and the 1.6L engine powering it, the miata is perfect on the street. Modifying it costs virtually nothing, a turbo kit and coilovers is a perfect start and in no time, it will be happy taking corners on a track or in a canyon.Jun 18, 2008

The early Miatas truly embodied the "jinba ittai" design philosophy that the engineers had in mind. It melds horse and rider as one. It also has the styling of a Lotus Elan and the light tossability of an MGB with the reliability of a Civic. As the Miata progressed through the years it became less roadster and more sports car, and this first Miata wasn't much of a speed demon. It's a roadster at heart, and it performs that function admirably. 116 hp demands driver involvement to keep forward motion at an entertaining level. Fortunately the ultralight curb weight of around 2200 pounds helps get the most from the 1.6 liter inline four. Handling is very solid, weight balance is 50/50, and the brakes are perfectly sufficient with fade only in the most extreme situations. The joy to drive factor is about as high as it gets.Feb 06, 2008

That's a hell of a car. Although it's HP number is low, it feels quite fast because of the Close-ratio transmission. But when it comes to cornering, nothing beats it. Or almost nothing. The chassis is really stiff, in fact, the whole car is stiff despite the fact that it's a convertible. On this perticular car, the stock suspension was replaced by KYB AGX adjustable shock and Flyin' Miata spings. Some small frame reinforcement was added with a rear rollbar. The engine was replaced by a BP-4W from a totaled '99 Miata. The brakes are up-sized '97 stock brakes. The power steering was removed along with the A/C. Other than that, the car is bone stock and it feels like a race car! Awesome!Feb 04, 2008