Space for two, and hold the frills. The Miata cockpit is attractive, well-finished,
and somewhat on the minimalist side, with simple controls, easy-to-read gauges, and
two comfortable seats (which could use a little more side support) dominating.
One caveat on the seats: While they're fine for short jaunts, they become a little
tiring when trips extend beyond, say, 100 miles or so. Cars like this aren't designed
for coast-to-coast blitzes; they invite short blasts on country backroads, punctuated
by respites at country inns and antique shops.
Even with the top up, the cozy Miata will carry two full-grown adults, depending on
just how full-grown they are. Individuals with personal dimensions that run north of 6
ft. are likely to find themselves a little short on leg room.
Appearance-wise, the Miata interior is decidedly retro. The instruments--a complete
array that includes speedometer, tachometer, fuel level, coolant temp., oil pressure
and voltmeter--look as if they'd been removed from a classic British sports car,
although they differ in one important respect: They work, consistently and accurately.
The cowled pod arching over the instruments softens the yesteryear appearance some,
but not too much. And if the steering wheel didn't have an airbag stuffed into its
hub, it too would probably continue the classic design theme. Which is all to the
good.
In base form, the Miata is better-equipped than almost any sports car from the past,
sporting a passenger side airbag (in addition to the driver's bag) plus an AM/FM
radio. Air conditioning is optional; lowering the top for fresh air is free.
The manual top, by the way, is a marvel of well-executed basic design, and far easier
to operate than the tops that covered Austin-Healeys and the like. When up, it keeps
the interior dry and draft-free; when stowed, it hides under a soft removable cover.
Raising and lowering is a matter of two simple latches and a flick of the wrists, a
task the driver can perform one-handed.
A removable plastic hard top is optional.
This is where the fun starts. The responsive 1.8-liter engine growls entertainingly
when used hard and delivers good performance. No wheel-spinning excess here, just
power that can be used, and more of it than ever before. The '96 Miata generates 133
peak horsepower, a 5-hp gain over the '95 edition. That may not sound like much, but
it makes a noticeable difference in a car that weighs less than 2300 lbs.
Respectable fuel economy is part of the deal as well. The 5-speed manual transmission
is perfectly matched to the engine, and has one of the most positive short-throw
shifters around. That's a good thing, because the Miata engine thrives on high rpm. We
suggest you ignore the optional automatic; it's simply out of place in this car.
Although the Miata will scoot to 60 mph in about eight seconds, acceleration isn't
really its strongest suit. Handling is. Simply stated, the little roadster begs to be
driven with brio on a winding road. Body roll is minimal, the steering is both light
and pinpoint-sharp, and the extra-cost limited-slip differential allows the driver to
make maximum use of the power available.
Of course there's a tradeoff, in that the low-speed ride is firm, though not harsh.
The brakes are very good, even without ABS, a $900 extra that's baked into one of two
option packages.
Unless you have to have the accoutrements that go with it, the power steering is an
unnecessary expense. Like the automatic transmission option, it's not bad, just
superfluous.
On the other hand, the stiffer shock absorbers that go with the R Package aren't so
stiff as to cause real discomfort, and do make a fine-handling chassis even better.
If there's any fault to find here, it's in the area of noise. Like most convertibles,
the soft top doesn't do much to damp out sound waves. Between wind noise and the sweet
but loud music of the engine, there's a fair amount of interior racket at highway
speeds.