Crapwagon Outtake: The Greatest Car Ever

by Chris Tonn

Published: April 5th, 2015

Miata. The answer to everything.

Perfect commuter?

Ideal first car?

Autocrosser? Racer? Demo derby? Seriously, have you ever watched a regional level Spec Miata race?

But, with nearly a million built over twenty five years, will the Miata ever be a collectors’ item? Will your grandkids ever turn on Barrett-Jackson in twenty years to see the perfect Mazda Roadster cross the block, with Spanky Assiter screaming away?

Perhaps the limited edition cars–like the ’91 BRG, the ’94 R-package, or this, the Mazdaspeed. The first Miata to get any sort of performance bump under the hood, via turbo.

This one for sale on Autotrader, for example, looks well cared for, having lived in the sodium-free South for all eleven years and 68k. At $11,999, this MSM might be worth something someday. And if not, a couple clicks and a few bucks will bring another hundred horsepower in a shiny brown truck.

Meanwhile, my own Miata sits rusting under a cover in the garage, waiting for this interminable winter to end.

#CrapwagonOuttake #Mazda #Miata

Chris Tonn

Some enthusiasts say they were born with gasoline in their veins. Chris Tonn, on the other hand, had rust flakes in his eyes nearly since birth. Living in salty Ohio and being hopelessly addicted to vintage British and Japanese steel will do that to you. His work has appeared in eBay Motors, Hagerty, The Truth About Cars, Reader's Digest, AutoGuide, Family Handyman, and Jalopnik. He is a member of the Midwest Automotive Media Association, and he's currently looking for the safety glasses he just set down somewhere.

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8 of 116 comments

Big Al from Oz on Apr 06, 2015

After some consideration I do have two cars on my list; 1. As an affordable vehicle of it's time and great performance and driving pleasure the Datsun 510, 1600 comes to mind. It drove and handled as good as any Euro car of it's time (discounting exotics). I actually had the opportunity when I was 17 to sit in the navigators seat in a rally tuned Datsun 1600. What a blast on the dirt. 2. The first real muscle car that actually steered around curves. Yes they did exist. The Phase III, Ford Falcon GTHO. It was reputed to be better than Ferraris in it's time in history. HO stood for handling option. It would also have to be one of the cleanest and best looking muscle cars made as well. Here are some pix; The ever handsome GTHO, http://cms.traderclassifieds.com.au/Portals/0/ACP_MediaGallery/58925/9134.jpg Datsun 1600 Rally Car, http://datnut.dfrag.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/nlramsagoberon0319-700x466.jpg I would own anyone of them if I could. 3. If I could state would have to be the Datsun 240Z Fairlady. Now that also was a great vehicle. Great engine, with triple DCOE side draught Webbers and moderate engine work.

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- Bumpy ii on Apr 06, 2015
  
  Good pre-embargo choices. You could also try to hunt down a Fairlady Z432, with the DOHC six from the GT-R.
  
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S2k Chris on Apr 06, 2015

My problem with the Miata is that it's pretty one-dimensional; awesome on a narrow, twisty back road, but all but useless everywhere else. I know it's "not supposed to be a Mustang" but I still have a problem with something that slow in city/suburb/highway driving, it's just not fun for me. My S2000 is not a rocketship, but it's got enough power that if Joe SmallD tries to keep me from passing him on a back road I can usually do something about it, as long as he's not in a Corvette or V8 Pony Car. Try that in a Miata and you're going to be stuck behind him as long as he wants you to be.

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- LUNDQIK on Apr 06, 2015
  
  If the question was: "What's a fun, reliable, 2nd (key word here) car, with a droptop?", then "Miata" would be an excellent answer. While I appreciate these cars (and I have driven both the NA, NB, and NC) - I just couldn't bring myself to buy one. And I tried, I really did. I was asking that same question last fall and ended up with a Saab 9-3 convertible. The Miata was just too small and noisy for me. (I wanted a toy car that could be used as a commuter a couple days a week too - as getting out on the weekend - with young kids - is tough to do on your own.) Its just not meant for the highway. Its better with the hardtop - but I think the Germans and the Swedes do "all rounder" convertibles better. Truly, the universal answer is: Lincoln MKZ.
  
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- JuniperBug on Apr 06, 2015
  
  And what harm does being stuck behind a car that's going faster than you cause? If he's faster, he's not in your way. If you're going faster, the lack of power won't keep you from passing him. I occasionally share a race track with cars and drivers that are both slower, and much faster, than me. This in no way upsets me or keeps me from having fun on my drive. I'd submit that being worried about being able to outpower Joe SmallD implicates you as Chris SmallD. Drive what's fun, and for me, and many others, the Miata is fun. I know that minivans can outrun me in a straight line. I call it "getting through traffic in hard mode." If you need a powerful ride to feel powerful, you're not.
  
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- S2k Chris on Apr 06, 2015
  
  @JuniperBug "And what harm does being stuck behind a car that’s going faster than you cause? If he’s faster, he’s not in your way. If you’re going faster, the lack of power won’t keep you from passing him." You've never run across someone who wants to go 30 in a 35, UNLESS you try to pass him, and then he wants to go 50 in a 35? I see it all the time, rednecks and idiots who want to keep others from passing, and as soon as they do so, they slow back down to their original 5-under speed. Think opening scene of Christmas Vacation. In this case, a 116hp Miata has little opportunity to do anything but submit, but in a faster car, you can usually get around them. As for my D, well, I can tell you it gives 100% satisfaction to its #1 customer...me. :D
  
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Slow kills on Apr 06, 2015

I am very skeptical of this claim that a Miata is ideal for a demolition derby. If the Miata was available with a fixed roof, I'd surely own one. If I want wind noise, and weather protrusion, and messed-up hair, I have a motorcycle.

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BTEFan on Apr 06, 2015

This gay loves his Miata. My husband and I own a 1993 LE edition so it might be worth something someday. Right now it's a blast to drive, it handles like it's on rails due to the BBS wheels and Bilstein shocks it has. The Nardi shifter is in storage due to the lack of them used and the red leather is worn, but it's a car that we both love to drive and friends love to ride in. And thank goodness for the trendsetters, whatever their demographic, if it wasn't for them changing up their cars so often, the thrifty enthusiast wouldn't get the deals we do.

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