By Carol Traeger
Enquirer contributor
Mazda Miata
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The Mazdaspeed Miata comes in two colors: Velocity Red Mica or Titanium Gray Metallic. Sticker price: $25,500.
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Wheels rating: (out of 5)
The best Miata ever
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What I drove: 2004 Mazdaspeed MX-5 Miata, a two-door, two-passenger soft-top convertible
Base price: $25,500
Price as tested: $26,020 (includes delivery charge)
Options on test vehicle: None
Drivetrain layout: Front engine, rear-wheel drive
Engine: Turbocharged 1.8-liter in-line 4-cylinder generating 178 hp at 6,000 rpm and 166 lb-ft torque at 4,500 rpm
Transmission: 6-speed manual
Wheelbase: 89.2 inches
Weight: 2,529 pounds
EPA mpg, city/highway: 20/26
Warranty: Basic: 4 years/50,000 miles; drivetrain: 4 years/50,000 miles; roadside assist: 4 years/50,000 miles
Safety: Dual front air bags with passenger-side deactivation switch, seat belt pretensioners, antilock brakes, remote keyless entry.
Cool: Snappy acceleration, superb balance, precise handling, classic sports car styling
Uncool: Tight passenger compartment, scant storage space
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The Mazda Miata is the best-selling sports car of all time. It's also one of the winningest, amassing countless racing titles due to its superb balance and go-kart-like handling.
Since its introduction in 1989, the Miata has gained power - and weight. Many hardcore enthusiasts, claiming the Miata was underpowered, went horsepower shopping elsewhere.
Watch those critics come running back to the new MazdaSpeed Miata.
At the heart of the Mazda-Speed Miata is a turbocharged version of Miata's 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine. This generates 178 horsepower at 6,000 rpm and 166 pound-feet of torque at 4,500 rpm - 25 percent more horsepower and 33 percent more torque than the normally aspirated Miata.
Fitted with a short-throw six-speed manual (with shortened gears) and a limited-slip differential, the turbocharged Miata can march from zero to 60 mph in a respectable 6.6 seconds, and traverse the quarter-mile in 15.1 seconds, quicker than the Acura RSX and Mini Cooper S.
The already agile roadster's handling has been improved with a lowered and retuned suspension and 17-inch Racing Hart wheels fitted with Toyo 205/40 W-rated tires.
Much of the Miata's appeal has always come from its simple, unpretentious character. This drop-top has never been one to put on airs; its aim is to provide pure, unfiltered fun. Multiply the thrills by three and you've got the MazdaSpeed Miata.
Despite tipping the scales at 2,529 pounds - which is 89 pounds heavier than the non-turbo Miata - the MazdaSpeed Miata feels quick, nimble and light on its feet.
The engine feels perfectly matched to the suspension, the balance is superb, the steering is direct, and the shifts are short and swift. Four-wheel disc brakes effectively bring all the action to a stop. Take this car on curvy roads and you won't be able to restrain your goofy grin.
On the freeway, tire noise is pronounced, but the 225-watt Bose sound system's (standard) speed-sensing automatic volume control does a great job of covering up unwanted noise.
The Miata's manual drop-top is a cinch to operate; it opens and closes more quickly than a power roof, though affixing it requires getting out of the car.
My test car's cloth seats were the most comfortable I've ever sat in - for a sports car. The bottom cushion is ultra cushy, and the side bolsters provide staunch support during slalom-like maneuvers.
E-mail ctrigger@aol.com
