Just Another 2016 Miata Review

"Green Mountain Car Guy" (williamleedy) 05/06/2016 at 15:15 • Filed to: None

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Are you tired of all the gushing reviews of the 2016 Miata? Are you tired of the slow-car-fast mantra? Do you feel that Miata is NOT always the answer? Are you a cars-and-coffee-attending-curb-crushing-Mustang Owner who wants someone to tell the world the Miata is an underpowered hairdresser’s car that won’t do a proper burnout? Be prepared for disappointment. While it’s true that the Miata may not actually ALWAYS be the answer, it certainly can be in many cases. Assuming, of course, you’re not much taller or wider than the average horse jockey.

The only photo taken by me of the car I actually drove in a gas station parking lot. Ooh la la.

Consumers can be a funny sometimes. At least monthly someone will come in just to sit in the car and see if they can fit. Fortunately the folks that typically do this know their limitations and while they are disappointed they don’t fit, they aren’t surprised. Those people I get. The one that always gets me though, is “Ohh, it’s low!!” So, to those people, when I say “Yes, it is low! Keeping the center of gravity as low as possible helps to make the handling as good as it can be!” what I really mean is “No shit, it’s low. It’s a fucking sports car, what did you expect? Perhaps a Raptor would be more to your liking?”

It was mid-morning in Concord, NH when my journey began. The sun was up and there was nary a cloud in the sky. The perfect day to drive a convertible the 150 miles it takes to get back to Burlington, VT. The catch, however, is that it’s late April - and this means that while it looks perfect, the highest temperature I saw through the entire drive was 47 degrees. There was, as we New Englanders put it, a slight nip in the air. No matter, I was prepared for just such an occasion. When the top went down, the collar went up and a hand-knit hat courtesy of my Great Grandmother kept my head comfortable since I don’t have magical Trump hair. The majority of my drive was with the cruise varied between 65 and 70 mph and with the heater on a medium fan setting and the windows up, I was perfectly comfortable in the car for the entire trip. The airflow around me was perfectly manageable. I probably shouldn’t say perfectly any more, huh?

Let’s deal with the whiny parts first: Whoever approved putting a reflective chrome surface inside a convertible’s interior needs a quick slap to the back of the head, Gibbs style. Every time I rounded a left-hand corner, the sunlight was perfectly (whoops) reflected off the Mazda logo in the center of the steering wheel to my eyeball. Can we have a satin finish there, please? Next are the cupholders. There are two of these weird little cupholder pods that can either clip in between the seat rests where they will likely be in your way every time you change gear or one can go on the passenger side where the center stack and console meet in order to be exactly where your passenger would rest his or her knee. These seem odd to me. Speaking of knees...mine rests squarely where the center console and center stack meet. But, since it’s basically all hard plastic, it can get old after awhile. Perhaps just a little bit of padding there would be helpful, if it’s no trouble? Finally, the interior storage puts me in mind of a well-known Jalopnik writer’s experiences with an Alfa 4C. The door pockets aren’t substantial. The center armrest opens but is shaped in such a way that it would only be best at holding your sunglasses. Or, perhaps a random stick (provided it’s very small), or your pet pebble. For everything else, you have: The Box. Nestled between the seats and above the CD player, this cubby can hold many things - like a small bag of chips (assuming you open the bag and pour the chips in), the cupholder pods when they aren’t in use, or the owner’s manual. On the plus side, there are two other secret boxes! Hidden behind each seat are cubbies large enough for a hat and pair of gloves. Though, they’re only accessible by getting out of the car. The only other thing I’ll complain about is the area to the left of the tachometer. It’s just a little too busy. It constantly displays the following: engine temperature in “gauge” form, fuel level in “gauge” form, outside temperature, trip computer (cycles between avg. speed, fuel eco, current eco and range), and the odometer readings. I feel like this could be simplified greatly, especially given the rest of the instrument cluster’s cleanliness. Give me the fuel and the odo constantly, but, let me cycle between the rest of it. And you also have a engine cold and engine hot light on top of the gauge, so, how about the gauge only comes on when the car is in a problem area? Unless it’s either at “Ice block” or “Ferrari on a hot day” I’m not sure that I need to know about it. It’s a Mazda, not a Triumph...it’ll be fine more often than not. At least there’s a trunk release on the key fob.

Photo: The busy gauge cluster. I know it doesn’t look so bad in this picture, but, compared to the simplistic design of the rest of the interior...

Pictured: The Box.

Photo: The secret box....which sounds like a dirty movie....

That’s pretty much all I have for things to complain about. The design is gorgeous. The aggressive angles and sharp nose will go a long way toward rectifying the image issues of previous iterations. The interior layout with it’s big tachometer right in front of you and radio pod/screen set gently atop the dash make me happy. Utilizing a new design with webbing instead of foam and springs,the seats are thinner and remarkably comfortable. The leather wrapped wheel fits nicely in your hand and the perfectly (there it is again) designed shifter feels top notch. The buttons all feel right and are pretty much where you’d expect them to be and most of it feels like it was put together with nice enough materials to ensure it’ll be a fun little sports car long after you’re gone.

The ergonomics are spot on. The pedals are perfectly (uggh) placed for the heel-toe enthusiast, the wheel is perfectly (really!?) weighted so you can place the car exactly where you want it to be and the shifter is perfectly (dammit.) designed to provide these great, short, satisfying shifts. It’s an absolute joy to control.

Photo: A Miata....

The handling comes through with a bit more body roll than one might expect, but, it feels, as they say, grounded to the ground. The quick steering rack and 50/50 weight distribution help it go around corners as sure-footed and planted as anyone would need on the public roads. While that body roll does show, it doesn’t detract from the driving experience and man does this thing ride nice. Like, it handles bumps about as well as my V50.

The 2.0L Skyactiv engine gives you 155hp to play with and while that doesn’t sound like much, especially when you consider the previous car had 167hp, it makes the best of it. Acceleration is quick and with that exhaust note and slick shifter, you’ll be spending lots of time doing just that with it. Power delivery is very linear, which means that there are no surprises. No lag, no jumps in speed, making it much easier to drive quickly. This car can be driven hard, almost immediately by nearly anyone, and it’s so free of bad traits that you’ll just push it more and more. While it may be the same engine as your Mazda3, it feels even more lively and responsive. I was able to muster 31mpg on a mostly uphill highway drive.

Photo: Is it an MX-5 or a Miata? We actually get asked that regularly...

This is a car that will egg you on. It starts up with the push of a button (take that Whiz Kahlifa) and immediately gives you a growling rev, eager to please and ready to make you smile. The Miata is and always has been about “accessible performance”. It’s cheap to own, cheap to run, and nothing in it say’s Lucas, so you know that when the mood strikes, it’ll start. But, it’s more than that. The limits of grip and power are relatively low. You can explore the limits of these things on normal roads in normal places at normal speeds. It can help you learn how a car handles, what happens when you reach the tires’ limits of adhesion, about weight transfer and throttle usage. It helps you hone those basic skills. Put that all together, and it increases your chances of being able to keep your cool when it happens in your buddy’s Mustang when the car show is over. It’s the marijuana of cars. It’s the gateway drug. It makes you high and it’s mostly harmless. Right up until your dealer comes to you and says, yeah, the Miata is great and all, but, you should try this 911. It’ll melt your mind!

Photo: The Pilot’s seat. This is a Club Miata on our lot rather than the Sport because I wasn’t smart enough to take more than one picture of the car.

So, obviously, you should buy one. But, the question begs, which one? If you spend any time at all with it on a track, there’s no contest - it has to be the Club. With its improved suspension, the added control of a limited slip rear differential and the optional Brembo stopping power up front, you’ll have everything you need but the rollbar for all your track-day needs. The Grand Touring is the one you get for cruising. The heated seats will keep your ass warm and it also includes the added safety of blind spot monitoring (for when the top is up obviously), lane departure warning and leather seating surfaces (for those extra sticky days). However, for most of us driving most of the time on twisty back roads - the Sport just about perfectly (last time, I swear!) fits the bill. All the same power, the same slick shifter, the center tachometer, the same cloth easy-as-pie-to-flop-down top, comfortable and supportive seats, bluetooth, a heater (for those cold days) and less distracting radio make it a great balance of fun and comfort. A car you can drive every day - unless you carry a lot of stuff.

Picture courtesy of the internet: This is the radio pod on a Sport model...rather than the screen pictured above.

I’ll take mine in red, please.

Photo: Red Club on our lot.

Perfectly. (couldn’t resist…)

Green Mountain Car Guy > Green Mountain Car Guy 05/06/2016 at 15:03

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I know, I know....everyone is sick of reading about the new Miata - but, it’s good for me to practice my writing “skills”!!

Invinciblejets > Green Mountain Car Guy 05/06/2016 at 15:22

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I don’t care I want one. End of story.

Green Mountain Car Guy > Invinciblejets 05/06/2016 at 15:26

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Yep - me too! The only things I could find to nit-pick about were too small to turn me off from it.

E90M3 > Green Mountain Car Guy 05/06/2016 at 15:35

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Maybe I’m the only one, but for some reason I’ve never wanted a Miata. It’s a lightweight, manual, rwd car, so as a car person I should love it, but i don’t. I still respect what it is, but I don’t want one. Maybe I shluld go drive one.

TylerJ > Green Mountain Car Guy 05/06/2016 at 15:38

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The tablet on the dash ruins the car for me. And also the 6.

Green Mountain Car Guy > E90M3 05/06/2016 at 15:39

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Well, I suspect an E90 M3 is an acceptable alternative.

misfitmascots > E90M3 05/06/2016 at 15:42

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I feel the same way, I respect it for what it is. It’s just not for me.

Green Mountain Car Guy > TylerJ 05/06/2016 at 15:43

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That’s probably the most polarizing design feature of any new Mazda! We hear comments on it all the time and it’s never in between. It’s either: “That’s cool” or “What’d they do, forget to put the radio in it?” There’s also a consistent surprised look when they learn it doesn’t go down.

Roadster Man > E90M3 05/06/2016 at 15:48

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Drive an NA Miata and you’ll understand

Jarrett - [BRZ Boi] > Green Mountain Car Guy 05/06/2016 at 15:55

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When I inevitably blow up my NB with my ineptness, I’m buying a club in red.

Green Mountain Car Guy > Jarrett - [BRZ Boi] 05/06/2016 at 15:59

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Well, it’s here on the lot! ...just gotta get to Vermont!

Jarrett - [BRZ Boi] > Green Mountain Car Guy 05/06/2016 at 16:05

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I wonder how hard it would be to get it back over the boarder...

avens > Green Mountain Car Guy 05/06/2016 at 16:06

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The problem is that even after four models, I still can outrun it and make better (engine) noises. I quite dislike the headlights as well (but mine’s aren’t any better, I think).

E90M3 > Roadster Man 05/06/2016 at 16:11

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Understand, yes. Want one, probably not. I do really want to drive one, see if it does live up to all hype, also interested in what an fr-s drives like.

avens > avens 05/06/2016 at 16:13

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But it has covered cupholders. I heard those things are luxurious.

Green Mountain Car Guy > avens 05/06/2016 at 16:49

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They are luxurious, however, they are not yuuuuge....

The covered ones are only on the NC though. These are the cupholder pod thingies that the ND has:

Green Mountain Car Guy > Jarrett - [BRZ Boi] 05/06/2016 at 16:52

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Assuming you mean our lovely neighbors to the north (or, what I refer to as “Where I’m moving to if Trump wins”).....I don’t think the process is too difficult for used cars - just can’t do it with new ones!

xyzabc > Green Mountain Car Guy 05/06/2016 at 18:05

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Info Nugget: Miata spelled backwards is “At Aim”.

Funktheduck > TylerJ 05/06/2016 at 18:11

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Have you seen it in person?

In photos it sticks out like a sore thumb. In person it blends in; unlike in the cla

Roadster Man > E90M3 05/06/2016 at 19:02

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That’s what I mean, sorry if i didn’t articulate myself. You might not want to own one, buy you’ll definitely understand why other people love them.

Green Mountain Car Guy > xyzabc 05/06/2016 at 20:32

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willblake > Green Mountain Car Guy 05/08/2016 at 00:17

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That sun glare is a problem in the NC, too. The sun hits the passenger seat belt buckle (the male part?) and reflects off the head unit. The alignment is just perfect, and it’s pretty brutal.

willblake > Green Mountain Car Guy 05/08/2016 at 00:28

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Oh, also,put the darn windows down. Top up, windows up. Top down, windows down. Is the ND so noisy with wind that you can’t manage a chilly day? The NC is great for top down in the coldest weather. Mine has heated seats which sure do help and I don’t think they’re an option on the ND?

I’m really torn whether to buy an ND and commit my NC to autox, or baby my NC and buy and NA or NB for flogging and eventual track day buildup. FWIW I don’t have a garage or level driveway, and drive a Voyager minivan anytime I want to move my dogs or anything larger than a five gallon bucket.

Green Mountain Car Guy > willblake 05/09/2016 at 09:27

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Haha, sorry about the windows! When I took that picture it was 42 degrees. The hat is good, but, it’s still a knit hat. The windows down added just enough wind that it was chilly at 70mph and since the Sport doesn’t have heated seats (only the Grand Touring with it’s leather seats gets the heaters too) to compensate I decided I’d just leave the windows up.

The “which Miata do I get” question is age-old. The NA and NB are easy to setup for cheap auto-x and it’s usually not too hard to find one with limited slip so that would probably be the most cost-effective route. But, the ND is so nice on the road that I would probably end up buying the ND, selling the NC (especially if the mileage is good) and then find an NA/NB, give it a roll bar and a small turbo and auto-x the shit out of that thing.

In the several Miatas I’ve driven (new and old) I don’t think I’ve come across the seatbelt buckle reflection - but, that would be quite annoying! I’m hoping to “have to” go get another one for a customer that has the screen (club or GT) to see how that fares in direct sunlight.

TylerJ > Funktheduck 05/09/2016 at 13:01

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Yes. Maybe it’s because I’ve seen it in photos so much, but I sat in a 6 that someone at work owned and the “tablet” just kept drawing my eyes to it.

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > E90M3 05/18/2016 at 17:38

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You definitely should drive one. Coming from a fellow E90 M3 owner...

Want is very hard to nail down, though. As a car guy, I should love and want the new Camaro SS, but... I just can’t.

E90M3 > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com 05/18/2016 at 17:42

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Wait, you also have an E90 M3? That’s awesome, you got a pic? And I think I’ll drive a Miata soon.

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > E90M3 05/18/2016 at 20:57

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Here you go. ‘08 manual, loaded. How is yours spec-ed?

E90M3 > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com 05/19/2016 at 05:26

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Silverstone metallic? I like it. I’ve got a 2011 (October 2010 production) 6 speed in space gray metallic. Got leather and idrive, it took me like 2 months to find, I really wanted a white one, but it was difficult enough to find a manual sedan with leather and idrive, I wanted the premium sound system, but the one I got was immaculate, so I went for it.

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > E90M3 05/19/2016 at 08:46

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Yes, sir. Great get yourself! I love the idea of swapping out my ‘08 E90 for an ‘11 E90 manual ZCP eventually, but there are so few of those... I think I’ll enjoy the one I’ve got - hahaha

E90M3 > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com 05/19/2016 at 11:54

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When I graduated college, I never thought I’d be able to afford an E90, so an E39 M5 was the dream. That said, I really want some style 359s, but it was so hard to find an ‘11 with a stick, so I settled.

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > E90M3 05/19/2016 at 14:12

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I waited until I was 34 to get mine - ha! Definitely a dream car for me. Previous ride was an ‘05 Mazda 3s hatch, so a bit of an upgrade... I also considered E39 M5s for a while - I’ve always loved them - but decided to shoot for the more modern and more track-capable car.

I’m definitely planning on some 359s at some point in the future, too (even though the 220s are forged and lighter). Such a classic design.

E90M3 > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com 05/19/2016 at 14:19

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I got mine at 24 :P I never thought‘d be able to afford one at that age. I had a 1997 ford explorer sport before. The reason I didn’t get the M5 was it was 10+ years old and would have required 15k+ work to make it immaculate, so I went for the E90. I love it, it’s the best car I’ve ever owned. (it’s paid off so I can say that.)

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > E90M3 05/19/2016 at 14:50

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I had a similar feeling about buying an old, complex European car. I figured I’d be running into some big bills before long. I love mine as well, and it’s definitely worth the higher running costs (I paid mine off after two years). Hoping to keep it for a very long time.

Here I am at Motorsport Ranch outside of Fort Worth:

E90M3 > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com 05/19/2016 at 18:08

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That is a great color. Worth the higher running cost. You also in Texas?

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > E90M3 05/19/2016 at 18:13

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I love it - the way it changes character based on the ambient light is really cool. I’m in Tulsa - Hallett is my home track, but I went down to MSR-Cresson for a weekend with The Driver’s Edge a while back.