1994 Mazda MX5 Miata M Edition 1.8L

Summary:

A solid, reliable, fun car

Faults:

Minor valve noise on start up on cold days at about 50,000 miles. Cleared up with an oil additive.

Alignment has gone out couple of times.

Had to replace the top at 75,000 miles.

General Comments:

A great car. What the MGB, Fiat Spider, and many other roadsters should have been: fun and reliable!

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 30th August, 2000

23rd Dec 2005, 16:43

A new top, a couple alignments, and a can of STP in over 80,000 miles, and you give it a 4 of 10 for cost? Pal, you need to drive an English or Italian car for a while to gain some perspective. Ross.

26th Feb 2006, 15:29

Oh my god, are you serious? The British and Italian cars have the worst reliability of any cars, period. Do some research or actually own one once! Ever seen a Triumph running without problems? NO! Because British Leyland cars and transmissions were terrible, AKA why they don't make them anymore.

BTW, the Miata is everything the Brits wished they could be; sexy and reliable.

1st Aug 2006, 06:20

To the person who commented 26/2/06, the owner was saying that the British and Italian sports cars should have been as good as the Mazda. If cars such as the MGB were of the same quality, then the UK may still have a proper car industry today.

17th Jul 2007, 07:31

Did you read the first comment? He is saying that Italian and British cars ARE unreliable, he is just stating that the 4 out of 10 rating was a poor one considering the little amount of maintanaince that was involved running the MX-5.

1994 Mazda MX5 Miata 1.8L

Summary:

The #1 sports car of the middle class

Faults:

Nothing!

General Comments:

The Mazda Miata is the best handling car I've ever owned. The ride is sportscar like (tight, stiff suspension). Handles like a slot car. Manual steering is tight and responsive. Motor is busy.. likes high rev's. Not a whole lot of power, but still pretty snappy. It's one of the few cars out there that are fun to drive even at the speed limit.

The Miata is one hell of a fun toy.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 15th May, 2000

1994 Mazda MX5 Miata 1.8 litre

Faults:

Soft top came loose from frame above seats in 1998. Electric antenna drive rod broke in 1997. Spark plug cables had to be replaced in 1997. Battery had to be replaced in 1998. These are the only problems I've ever had. I consider all of these items either minor or part of normal wear-and-tear. Compared to other cars I have or once owned, clearly the BEST of all.

General Comments:

Car handles beautifully and power is more than adequate for its size. Shifts smoothly and easily. Corners remarkably well. Easily upgraded w/ after-market equipment. Husband is 6'6" (and can't drive it), but travels comfortably in it. Club and fellow owners alone make car worth having. Dealer pushy in selling over-priced maintenance (average home mechanic can do most maintenance). Bought car in 1997 and have put 45,000 mi. on it. Would buy another one in a heartbeat!

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 7th February, 1999