Mazda MX-5 Miata (Mk1 1989-1997 & Mk2 1998-2001) – The Essential Buyer’s Guide by Carla Crook

The iconic Mazda Miata has been around for 22 years offering a true, top-down, sports car experience. With its 50/50 weight distribution, nimble handling, and simplistic approach to engineering, the Miata MX-5 is inexpensive, easy to maintain, and fun to drive.

Now available is the Essential Buyer’s Guide for the Mk1 (1989 – 1997) and Mk2 (1998 – 2001) generations of the Miata MX-5. The MX-5 is a true testament to itself as the ‘world’s best-selling sports car,’ and with the earlier MkI and MkII available for modest prices, it is the perfect choice as a fun and enjoyable daily driver, a weekend track car, or a project base for a kit car. This book will help you get the MX-5 of your dreams.

Key points about the book:

• Like having a real marque expert at your side – benefit from years of real ownership experience
• Coverage of the MX-5 (Miata/Eunos Roadster) 1989 – 2001 models including special, limited editions and desirable upgrades
• Where and how to buy an MX-5
• Advice on choosing the right model and condition, including those with modifications
• Key checks – how to spot a bad car quickly
• Comprehensive inspection guide with unique scoring system
• In-depth analysis of strengths and weaknesses
• Key technical specifications
• Photo illustrations of the important areas to check and foibles to be aware of
• Details of clubs, forums, suppliers and specialists dedicated to the MX-5
• MSRP $19.95

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sa-WEET! I love these little guys. Sure, a lot of people, men mostly, look at Miatas as being “girls cars”. They either don’t know the first thing about sports cars, have never ridden in the passenger seat of one when a competent driver is at the wheel, or are in the midst of some heavy Freudian psychology (e.g. compensation and denial).

If MG/Austin-Healey/TR had been making cars like this in the 70s, they’d still be in business … but alas, they did not, and for too many years, the affordable drop top was not seen on these shores (or anywhere else for that matter). In ’89 Mazda changed all that with the introduction of the Miata. It’s in its third generation by now (if you ignore a couple of half-gen updatings here & there), and no longer officially called the Miata. Now Mazda calls it the MX-5 here in the U.S., and in the home country it’s referred to as “The Roadster”.

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By Kurt Gensheimer

Blings:

• Telepathic, idiot proof performance
• More fun than your first go-kart
• Retractable hardtop is genius

Dings:

• Intrusive door panel cupholders
• Retractable hardtop still isn’t a true hardtop

Ruling: A legendary weekend sports car becomes a legendary every day sports car.
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