More room, more power

Ah, the holidays: Children home from school, a turkey roasting in the oven, and a general state of confusion as friends come and go and telephones chirp endlessly. But this Thanksgiving was going to be special for me, for the local Mazda dealer had flagged me down in traffic a week earlier, shouting through his open window that the '06 Miata roadster had arrived É oops, sorry about that, I mean MX-5! The Miata is known in the rest of the world as the MX-5, and so I must be journalistically correct.

Sixteen years ago I lusted when the Miata was introduced, and now, 700,000 units later, the feisty little two-seater is in the Guinness's Book of Records -- it's the best-selling roadster of all time! It's no wonder. When I was growing up the automotive world seemed to be divided into three camps -- muscle cars, European sports cars, and boring family cars. Lucky was the guy who drove anything from the first two categories. But if you could afford a sexy little two-seater bearing the emblems of MG, Triumph, Austin Healey or the Holy Grail, Jaguar, you better have a raincoat and a good pair of walking shoes, because you were going to need them! Their tops leaked incessantly and they had a way of attracting all forms of mechanical mayhem and electrical bedlam. The Miata was the answer to a sports car enthusiast's prayer -- reliable, watertight, attractive, comfortable and inexpensive. It was an instant hit, with long lines of buyers willing to pay above window-sticker prices.

Last redesigned in 1998, Mazda felt that it was appropriate to give its highly acclaimed sports car a makeover, not just because it was time, but because of new competition coming this year from GM in the form of the Pontiac Solstice and Saturn Sky. This third-generation car has more room, more pizzazz and more power. Still instantly recognizable, it now has bulging fender flares and a more muscular stance. Think of a smaller RX-8 with a convertible top and you'll get the idea. A new 2.0-liter inline four-cylinder (up from the old 1.8-liter engine) makes 170 horsepower at 6,700 rpm and 140 pound-feet of torque at 5,000 rpm. Zero to 60-mph takes just 7.5 seconds when equipped with the six-speed manual.

A bewildering array of six trims and three transmissions are available, beginning with a low-cost model aimed at racing enthusiasts, the Club Spec. It offers a five-speed manual transmission, 16-inch alloy wheels, ABS, side airbags, tilt steering wheel, CD player, and power windows and mirrors. Next come the Base, Touring, Sport, Grand Touring and Limited.

I test-drove two MX-5s: a luxurious white Grand Touring model with saddle tan leather interior and automatic transmission, and an elegant black, six-speed manual transmission-equipped Sport model. I liked the Sport model because it had everything I need in a roadster, but the sales people tell me the automatic-equipped versions will be the best-sellers -- they have Mazda's nifty steering column-mounted shift paddles that give the driver manual control of the transmission. And what a transmission! Its near-magical ability to shift instantly, precisely and intelligently was impressive.

Physically, the MX-5 has grown in almost every dimension, with a 2.6-inch longer wheelbase, as well as a 3.0-inch wider front track and 2.1-inch wider rear track. Overall length and height are about the same, but the MX-5 is now 1.6 inches wider -- noticeable when sitting in the cabin. There's more leg room and shoulder room. But it's still cozy -- if you're taller than six feet you may not like it. The trunk is still on the small side, but the convertible top is arguably the best on the market. No plastic rear window to worry about. Release one overhead lever and the spring-assisted top can be tossed into the storage bin where it automatically locks in place. No clumsy tonneau cover is required, as the roof forms its own cover. You have to see it to appreciate it. It can be lifted back into place without getting out of the driver's seat.

The MX5 is still an uncompromised sports car with precise steering, a delightful short-throw gearshift, and glued-to-the-road handling thanks to its near-perfect 50/50 balance and agile suspension. Even the front stabilizer bar is hollow in an effort to control weight. The ride is not punishing like you might expect, but refined and supple, reminding me of a BMW Z-3. Air control with the top down is better than some roadsters offer, and when the top is up the ride is surprisingly quiet. While some roadsters offer you just one cup holder, the Miata gives you no less than four!

There are roomier roadsters, and there are quicker roadsters. But it's easy to see why this is the best selling roadster in the world. There's nothing else with two seats that gives you so much fun for the money.

Steve Robertson of Robertson's Creative Photography is a car enthusiast and former staff writer/photographer for the Southeast Missourian. Contact him at Steve@RobertsonsPhotography.com