I love my Miata! (Though I wish it had a true overdrive, etc.)
This is my second Miata. I think they are great cars overall; fun to drive (and truly a sports car), generally very reliable, relatively inexpensive for a sports car, and up through my year also stylish. I have the 6 speed, and I wish they would have geared it so that 6th was more economical on gas (while cruising on the freeway); they essentially simply jammed a gear between 1 & 5 from the original gearbox. I have other quibbles (like doing a poor redesign of the cover for the soft-top; the snaps get stuck), and they're quibbles. This is a great-handling sports car, incredibly fun to drive in the corners, and not so bad for around town either. It is small and impractical though; you can't be much over 6 feet and be comfortable (I'm 5'9"), and the trunk is tiny (I can get a carry-on suitcase and briefcase in the trunk, and that's about it). It's noisy; most people can't hear me on bluetooth headset or speakerphone on the freeway, and even w/the optional hard top it's still 'noisy.' You feel every little bump; that's the point of connection to the road and having a sports car. I bought the Miata because it's fun to drive!
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