New 2006 miata

[Mosca]

Info on the '06 LE

[Tasty]

Don't like it, but then again really couldn't tell from the giant close ups of the cup holders and empty glove compartment.

[bet993]

While it is true that many people do not drive or see the miata for what type of car it is or can be, calling it a chick car is just not right.

There are very few (any??) small, lightweight, rear wheel drive cars, not to mention it is roadster. Take one to a track and drive the crap out of it. The handling is superb. Sure it lacks in overall horsepower, but it will expose a driver that is not smooth and doesn't know how to carry speed into and through a corner faster than anything.

Personally I think the 2nd gen Miata is better looking than the new one. However, I can't argue with the bump in HP and Mazada's attention to detail in keeping the weight down on the car. It would have been easy to just increase the HP and creature comforts and forget about the weight.

[7000RPM]

Originally posted by bet993

Personally I think the 2nd gen Miata is better looking than the new one.

I agree. I plan to be keeping my 2001 for quite awhile so that works for me. I've bonded with my car.

Aesthetically there's things about the new one I don't particularly care for but in some pics I find it more attractive then others. I'll be checking it out at the New York Auto Show this Saturday so I'll have a better handle on how it looks. Then comes the test drive and that'll determine how I really feel about it.

Something tells me Mazda did OK with it but I'm of the "less is more" mindset and prefer the concept of the earlier, lighterweight Miatas. The Miata has been slowly gaining weight over the past few years. IMO 2500+ lbs for the new one isn't horrible but it isn't great either. Mazda has yet to publish an official weight and that's somewhat puzzling in itself.

I'm not into bells and whistles when it comes to sports cars and I think the newer version may be leaning in that direction if only to grab more sales. My dream car right now is a Lotus Elise.

The person who said the current Mazdaspeed Miata is a great deal got it right. You can get one for around $20k..Less than what I paid for my 2001 four years ago! That's what I'd pick up if I were out shopping today.