Special Edition Mazda reminds why MX-5 is beloved
Mazda Mx-5 Miata. Credit: MazdaUSA.com
What's new this year for the popular Mazda Miata, er, MX-5? Very little, save for this limited-production Special Edition that I tooled around in for a week recently.
And the Special Edition, really, is little more than a Grand Touring model with the Premium Package upgrade. Oh, it gets a more taut suspension. And standard Bluetooth and satellite radio. And some colors that aren't offered with the other versions.
But what the new Special Edition really does is give me a cheap excuse to remind roadster lovers that this little number is still one of the best values out there for a kick-butt fun ride that is reminiscent of the British Triumphs and MGs of the '60s and '70s.
And it's the "people's roadster," with a starting price around $23,000 and highway mileage that teases close to 30 mpg — if you behave. And no, that's not easy.
Before I go on, know that an all-new 2012 MX-5 is expected soon. But if you can't wait, loads of grins await with the 2011 MX-5 Special Edition.
I recall my younger days with my first new car: a little, white 1976 Triumph Spitfire with a high-revving engine that announced my arrival a block away from my then-girlfriend's (now wife of 35 years) house.
"I'm almost ready — I heard you coming," she'd say.
"Almost ready?" Maybe I should've removed the muffler, too.
The MX-5 is all that the Spit, TR-6 and MGB used to be — and so much more. It's quicker, more nimble and full of technology they hadn't even dreamed of in '76. And it doesn't overheat on a hundred-mile trip (you Spitfire folks know what I'm talking about).
Plenty of rear-drive pep with the 2.0-liter inline 4-cylinder engine, which puts out 167 horses and 140 foot-pounds of torque. Zero-to-60 can be done in less than 7 seconds, but straightaway speed is not why you buy a roadster like this.
Handling is what triggers the MX-5 grins. This traditional, two-seat roadster is nearly perfectly balanced in front-to-rear weight, and that makes it agile as a cougar chasing down a rabbit. Corners are flat and smooth with a wide track and low center of gravity. Electronic stability control comes standard.
EPA estimates mileage at 21 mpg, 28 on the highway.
Shifting through the six-speed gearbox is a breeze, too, requiring a flick of the wrist as it easily pops into your gear of choice. The clutch is springy enough but could cause some leg fatigue in a traffic mess.
The tighter suspension in the Special might offer even more road feel than you seek.
The Special Edition's retractable hard top offers a quieter ride and a greater sense of security. But, unless it's raining or too dang hot or cold, lose it with the push of a button above the audio controls. It folds away in seconds.
The wind flow with top down is bearable and the car still feels solid, without rattles or vibrations. A mesh wind blocker is situated behind the seats but it didn't seem to make much difference.
This third-generation Miata is bigger in most respects than its predecessors. But squeezing my 50-something year old, 6-foot-1 frame into this machine remains a delicate operation. I now relate to sardines. But there is just enough headroom and more than ample legroom — in fact I had to pull the seat up some to depress the clutch comfortably.
The Special Edition comes with nicely bolstered, leather seats. The dash and door panels have a rich feel, and gauges are big and easy to read and shaded well from the sunlight.
Plus, there are surprising good pockets of space inside, including a bin behind the center console. That's where you'll find, oddly, the gas cap release.
The 5.3 cubic-foot trunk can handle only a couple of soft bags. I didn't even risk a family supermarket run with it. The good news is that the trunk does not shrink when the hardtop comes down, like in some of the roadsters. It has its own storage compartment.
ABS and side airbags are standard safety features in the Special Edition as are door beams.
It's amazing to me that the Miata has been around for 22 years. It has gotten slightly bigger and better over three generations and we can look forward to what is in store for 2012.
But it's safe to say that Mazda will make sure that one thing will not change: That traditional, high-revving, wind-in-your-face roadster fun.
