Long-Term Road Tests

Earlier this week, I posted the first part of my semi-comparison test that pits our long-term 2006 Mazda MX-5 Miata against a first-generation 1997 Mazda Miata I happen to own. In Part Two, I'll follow up with driving impressions and even suggest that puting crappy tires on a car might be a good thing.

Steering: The steering racks are pretty similar in terms of quickness and ability to provide easy progress around parking lots. I did notice that the 2006 Miata's steering is more responsive when turned immediately off center but doesn't provide as much road feedback to the driver. It's possible that my '97 Miata's lack of initial steering bite could be due to its age and/or worn components.

Handling: The third-generation body structure is very stiff and is no doubt very beneficial in terms of handling. Our car, which is the Sport trim with a sport-tuned suspension with Bilstein dampers, responds more precisely to driver inputs and demonstrates less body roll during transient maneuvers. Both the '97 and '06 are still a lot of fun to drive on a canyon road and push towards their respective limits, however.

Grip: Our long-term Miata has a set of 205/45R17 Michelin Pilot Pilot Precedas as part of the Sport trim. As knowledgeable aftermarket tuners or weekend racers will tell you, putting more rubber on your car is pretty much the single best bang-for-the buck upgrade you can do to your car to improve handling. There's plenty of grip available from our 2006 Miata's tires, and it's pretty easy to learn their limits when cornering.

In comparison, my Miata's tires are shockingly bad. The car has a set of awful no-name 195/55R15 tires that have been on it since I bought it two years ago. Their adhesion limit is a lot lower, and they're so greasy in the wet that it's like walking on the wet edge of a swimming pool in flip-flops. So why, you might ask, haven't I replaced them? Well, I've found that they are so bad that they actually make my '97 Miata quite fun to drive around town. With lowered adhesion limits, it's pretty easy to get the car drifting or engaged in power oversteer during simple, city street cornering.

Acceleration: Here are the offical specs: 2006 Mazda MX-5 Miata: 170 horsepower, 140 pound-feet of torque and an approximate 2,500-pound curb weight. 1997 Mazda MX-5 Miata: 133 hp, 114 lb-ft of torque and about 2,300 pounds of curb weight. The 2006 Miata is quicker and faster, and there's not much more to say than that. From its stock exhaust, it produces a nice little snarl from about 3,000 to 4,000 rpm. In comparison, our 2006 Miata's soundtrack seems to drone on and certainly isn't anything that you'll want to excitedly point out to a passenger.

Braking: Another big difference here. Nine years of automotive progress have provided the 2006 Miata with standard ABS and binders that are stronger and more secure. Certainly, the new car is a lot safer because of this.

Wind and road noise: Our long-termer is quieter on the highway. I would attribute this to its six-speed transmission and – speculation on my part – more sound insulation. Because of its reduced noise, roomier cockpit and more comfortable seats, the 2006 Miata is a much better vehicle for long-distance driving.

Ride: Even in Sport trim, the 2006 car is more comfortable. My 1997 Miata has a tendency to crash over larger bumps and broken pavement. The newer Miata's more rigid body structure is certainly of benefit, and it might have more wheel travel, as well.

Final analysis: Basically, 16 years of progress has made the Miata quicker in accleration and deceleration, faster, safer, a better handler, more comfortable and more convenient. The only thing missing, in my opinion, is a sense of heritage. A 1997 Miata is certainly no old TR3 or Lotus roadster, but there's a little bit of magic going on with its classic styling and more relaxed driving experience. The new Miata doesn't have that. That said, it's very impressive and capable, and I'd probably buy one were I interested in replacing my Miata with a new roadster.