2002 Mazda MX5 review from North America

Emissions control unit went out at 34,500 miles. Replaced by dealer under warranty.

Has started to randomly "stutter" while driving. (RPM's drop, speed drops, then both come back to normal).

Car has nearly died three times while heater was on lowest setting.

Weak charging system.

Lower plastic trim piece under steering column has come loose. (Seems to be a common problem for Miatas)

Center console compartment latch broke but was replaced under warranty.

Hard to shift into reverse or 1st gear when cold. (This has even happened after several miles of driving).

Noisy valve train.

The Good: Aside from all the drawbacks of this car, it really does handle better than any car I've driven.

Its extreme light weight helps with this, although for real acceleration out of corners I think the motor could benefit from about 15 more horse power. The sheer size of the car makes getting in and out of tight spots quite easy.

The convertable top takes hardly any time to put up or down, and when it's down there are NO blind-spots.

With the right set of snow tires and an easy right-foot, this car does surprisingly well in winter conditions.

Great car for cruising or for spirited driving.

The Bad: If you drive the car like it WANTS to be driven, expect about 18-20 mpg around town and 26-28 mpg on the high-way.

Be warned, sport-tuned suspension and a rigid frame make for a jarring ride over anything but the smoothest of streets.

Clutches on these cars are not the most durable, so this is not an optimal vehicle for someone who is learning how to drive a manual.

Aftermarket parts for this generation and year are surprisingly expensive and quite hard to find.

Just doesn't have enough power.