Last year the Miata gained the retractable hardtop option. The gauges are clear and legible and the seats are comfortable and supportive. A six-speed automatic is an option. My last point is something I want to make a video of. When the hardtop is retracted and folded away, the Miata has 5. The engine makes 166 hp with the optional six-speed automatic. But what it lacks in outright grunt it more than makes up for with impeccable poise and balance that lets you exploit more of its modest power more of the time.
This is most obvious in the wheel well shape. In fact, almost nothing about the car is altered except for the added switches at the top of the center stack to raise and lower the top. All the old memories came rushing back as I drove away from the garage by my office and hit a few curves on the way home to pick up my wife. So what impact does that have on the signature Miata feel? If this is going to be your only mode of transport, you're not going to win many friends when it's your turn to drive the co-workers to lunch. And free is good, right? If you'd be so kind as to whitelist our site, we promise to keep bringing you great content. When I test drove one, the first thing I did was lower the top.
In open form, it's indistinguishable from the soft-top version. The Miata is just such a momentum racer. In hard top form with proper , this really is quite a capable all-weather car. When temps warmed up later in the week, the top was banished at every available opportunity. Fortunately, the wonderful 6-speed manual that sits behind the engine makes it easy to extract the most of what is available from the engine. Reach over the shoulder, pull up and latch. Dynamic Stability Control with Traction Control, the limited-slip differential, Smart Key and xenon headlamps can be had by ordering the Premium Package, which is available only on the Grand Touring trim level.
For anyone who enjoys top down motoring in a relatively light by modern standards tossable car, this is the machine for you. This version of the Miata comes in just 80 pounds heavier than the standard soft-top roadster, and the top takes just 12 seconds to fold away, so the effect on performance is minimal. The intake and exhaust acoustics have also been enhanced for a more engaging roof-down soundtrack. The Sport and Touring models add more standard features such as larger wheels, cruise control and power door locks. The convertible top is even easier to use than the original, capable of being operated from the driver's seat with just one arm, while the new retractable hardtop permits year-round driving without adding significant weight or cost.
It's easy: reach above the mirror, release the latch, and drop it over your shoulder. The upside is a very direct connection between the driver and the road. Our opinions and criticism remain our own — we do not accept sponsored editorial. One lesson that General Motors must learn when they rework the Solstice and Sky is that simple tops work best on roadsters. Little effort is required to move between gears and the direct linkage is amazingly precise. Bose has created an optional sound system that adjusts equalization settings depending upon whether the top is up or down. This mid-life facelift should be a useful sales pick-me-up.
Roboto than revived Lotus Elan. It felt tight, like the go-karts at your local Fun Zone. Is it worthy of the Miata name? The system even has different settings for leather versus cloth interior. The Miata is like a go-kart for the street, and it's even kind of practical. Bullet-proof reliability in a true sports car. The power hardtop extends its' use here in the northeast; great in any weather conditions except snow. Factor in compliant suspension, excellent body control, a wonderfully mechanical short-throw gearshift action and powerful brakes and you have a car that feels more alive at 30mph than most sports cars do at 100mph.
Normally, I consider these to be a nightmare. However, unlike the Elan and its compatriots, the Miata started every time you turned the key, didn't leave you drenched when it rained, and didn't leave puddles of oil on your garage floor. Read on after the jump to find out how the latest incarnation fares. The driver's-side foot well has been widened by running the exhaust down the right side of the transmission tunnel. In these conditions you don't need a lot of power, just the ability to carry momentum from one corner to the next. Fortunately the late snowfall that arrived the evening after the car was delivered didn't stick around for long, but while it was around, the that were still mounted on the car cooperated beautifully with the stability control that was part of the Grand Touring package.
Nearly unlimited customizations are possible to further enhance the driving. Dual front and side airbags, along with anti-lock brakes, are standard, but stability control is only available on the most expensive model. My thoughts on the 2008 Mazda Mx-5 with a 2. Unfortunately, a number of factors such as random intermittent windshield wipers, intermittent headlights, intermittent ignition, persistent oil leaks and predisposition for the bodies to convert to iron oxide soured the reputation of these and other car builders. Power and torque remain the same 160bhp and 130lb ft but fitting a forged crankshaft, floating pistons and new valvegear means peak power climbs from 6700rpm to 7000rpm and the redline jumps by 500rpm to 7500rpm.
A turn of the key demonstrates a noticeable reduction in vibration from the previous-generation Miata. All registered in England and Wales. Bullet-proof reliability in a true sports car. Accurate in steering, stable in cornering,; a true driver's car. With crisp highs and a thumping bass, the Bose system can easily defeat the most deafening wind noise. The soft tops include a vinyl version on base cars and a fabric one on midscale models. The Touring and Grand Touring add a six-speed manual transmission, while the Grand Touring trim adds a cloth rather than vinyl top, tan or black leather seats and Bose audio.