Is the Mazda MX-5 Any Good? - /CHRIS HARRIS ON CARS

Chris Harris has been known to not like the Mazda MX-5, even calling it dirty words in an article a few years back. Now he gets to support his point by swapping his Ferrari 599 with Cameraman and Editor Neil Carey's NA Mazda MX-5. Was Chris wrong a few years ago?

[@ruskeee]

Is the Mazda MX-5 any good? Depends on your perspective. If you own a Ferrari 599, it's probably not that special to you. If you're a student looking for an affordable, reliable, simple sports car, it is a gift from God.

[@Che1seabluesdrogba11]

You do know he has a 2CV right ?

[@R0XYF0X]

​@@Che1seabluesdrogba11 So what is your point? The 2CV isn't a sports car. And the video was about him saying the MX-5 isn't what he considers a sports car. But for most other people it is. Plus for most people who own one, it's also their daily driver.

[@Che1seabluesdrogba11]

@@R0XYF0X because op is trying to say that someone who has a 599 or is wealthy couldn't possibly see what's "so great" about an mx5. It's just Miata circle jerk.

[@56squadron]

Perspective - If you want a new boat a rubber dinghy doesn't look so hot. However if your yacht is sinking in the middle of the Atlantic, that rubber dinghy becomes the most beautiful sight in the world.

[@recruitmentch]

It isn't a sports car, fella!

[@bleensteen9331]

The colour grading on this video is bleak and empty feeling, much like the souls of people who don't like mx5s

[@crate2819]

So true, lol

[@yellowbusguy]

It's a great car for the rest of us who can't own exotics.

[@MIZKable]

+yellowbusguy He also likes non exotics such as the MR2. Remember he said to CT's Alex, "My question is why didn't you get the MR2?"

[@arricammarques1955]

+yellowbusguy The 550 Porsche Spyder replica a close second! :)

[@MIZKable]

***** hahaha trueeee dangerous for most

[@SpudEater]

Ratchet Strapped That snap over-steer though haha

[@tirekickers6632]

And also great for people who can own exotics but want something on the side to drive the hell out of like they would their mistress.

[@MrTshoff]

Cant trust a man who doesnt like miatas.

[@BollocksUtwat]

Can't trust a man who just repeats the dogma that the Miata is good just because a million people own one and can't afford a better enough car to know that its pretty much alright.

[@MrTshoff]

BollocksUtwat Cool because im speaking from experience not just repeating internet bs. You wont find another car as fun and trackable as an na miata for the 3k they cost besides maybe a crx. Im far from only being able to afford that and still give the miata its due. Even brand new ones can be had for mid 20s and id rather have that than the twins.

[@craigfreger7958]

You have no idea who the MX-5 buyer is. Spend some time on a Miata forum or at a Miata club event and you will find the majority are enthusiasts who can afford much more expensive cars, and many own their Miata in addition to other, more expensive cars. There are plenty who have owned or continue to own Corvette, Porsche, Mercedes, BMW, Lotus, etc. and either prefer driving their MX-5 or like it equally well. These are successful people with nothing to prove and no need to impress anyone; they just love to drive. I traded my BMW for an ND; some of my prior cars: Mercedes 190E 2.6, Acura Legend, VW Jetta VR6 and a vintage MGB. The ND matches or surpasses all of those modern cars for quality, and beats them all for driving enjoyment.

[@lucas-kanemutti6963]

Exactly

[@Che1seabluesdrogba11]

They're shit

[@lejink]

Well Chris, I can appreciate why YOU wouldn't be very impressed with the Mazda.. To us mere mortals who haven't had the chance to drive a Ferrari or Porsche though, the MX-5 is a great car..

[@MrTimnus3]

Dee Jay ive had the pleasure of driving my mom's 09 911 and I still appreciate the MX-5. Its a great car because it lets you toss it around and its still cheap. That the thing that so great its a great car for the money. If ou could have any car in the world it wouldnt be an MX-5 tho

[@lejink]

Razvan J The fact that it's cheap is what makes it great.. No point in comparing it to a much higher priced Lotus

[@yourefromdownsouth9728]

Dee Jay You're overly simplifying it. The bottom line is what Chris says at 9:38 --> for the same money, he would take a used GTI.

[@harold-sweat-head8111]

If you roll cars over on the road, I suggest you buy something like a Citroen 2CV or a Nissan Micra. netter still take the bus.

[@harold-sweat-head8111]

If he says he'd take a used Gti it shows what an idiot he is because a Gti is a completely different experience to an MX5. I suggest most people wanting the MX5 experience wouldn't even consider a hot hatch with a tin lid. It's like saying to someone 'don't buy that chocolate, buy that red onion instead'.

[@westfieldwednesday8714]

I own a stock MX-5 (2001 NB w/ torsen diff). I've been paying my way through college for the past couple years. I was able to buy this once I had some extra money. Every time I get in it (and I drive it in winter) it makes me significantly happier. I don't care that its not the fastest or the best looking but god damn I find myself having so much fun with it. To someone that has driven Ferrari's etc its probably not remotely enjoyable. But for me its like a trusty steed that I can explore the world with. I've commuted thousands of miles, had crazy experiences, autocrossed it, and fixed it when it was broken. There is no other vehicle I could have realistically purchased that would allow me to have these experiences. I dunno sports car or not its something that can bring a smile to your face every time you drive it. /just my experience

[@bradlyfan]

i have a non vtec 2000 acura integra, the only thing ive put on it is koni yellows/ ground control coilovers :), best car for college. after college swapping for the b18b5 :)

[@mikelamay7875]

Hunter Ling U my friend describe it perfect!

[@jackweasel12]

I agree with that I own a 2004 ls miata and previously had a turbo charged Toyota matrix with 300 horsepower and I'm way happier with the miata it just as you said "makes a person happy"

[@bartvanriel6767]

I know the feeling, 2 months ago I bought my first car, it's a z3 and I'm going on a roadtrip this summer, then tidy it up and sell it to buy a mrs and tune the hell out of it😈

[@mutatedfetus66]

Hunter Ling Proud owner of a 99 NB. Fuck all the haters and enjoy your ride. I know i love mine for damn sure.

[@nicksweden3277]

"rich man steps out of Ferrari and is mad that a cheap reliable sports car isn't as refined or quick"

[@JStankXPlays]

As soon as I moved to Japan bought a six speed 98 MX 5 and have owned it for about 6 months now. What can I say about this car. This car is like a nice girl who you can bring home to mother. She's sporty, agile, fun to drive, dependable and as easy on the wallet as she is on the eyes. I have received nothing but compliments. She is very low maintenance. She doesn't like to go shopping but enjoys long drives on secluded short windy roads by the beach on a nice sunny day. (She f*@& hates the rain) You're not going to be digging through to the bottom of your wallet just to keep her fulfilled and happy. She may not be as hot or as fast as the other girls but she gets the job done and she looks damn good with her top down!

[@peteremmett8332]

Oh I love that...She looks damn good with her top down..!!!

[@craigfreger2340]

This is gold!

[@TpdriverGaming]

Best summary of a miata tbh

[@PaullHutchh]

This comment aged like fine wine.

[@Tazka]

The miata should wear a paper bag for having Chris Harris in it.

[@andrewlangley9507]

😂

[@rcmakingtracks18]

Lol...

[@ThePuffin77]

All miatas have ever done is smile at you at car meets. What did they ever do to you?

[@ShadowFalcon]

+ThePuffin77 They weren't as fun, stock, as a French hothatch from the 1980s. That's what it did to me.

[@Ashcombeguy]

+ThePuffin77 The don't so much smile at you as they stare like they're on shrooms and are euphoric lol.

[@SpudEater]

Adam Pardoe Still adorable as fuck haha. I love Miatas, driving one made me fall in love.

[@dragospahontu]

If it was like that then we would all but mx5s

[@YegoYTP]

@@ShadowFalcon try getting a 205 GTI now for anywhere near the price of an MX-5 lmao

[@s3ries3]

Feeling ashamed of driving in an MX-5? Try being driven around in a convertible beetle with its top down.

[@autofiras]

LoL

[@ketchup5344]

Thanks for the perspective!!😁

[@aygwm]

Or a PT Cruiser.

[@Aristocrafied]

I've seen those, doesn't look too bad..

[@supershifter4836]

A purple beetle

[@rootsmanuva82]

Of course this old Miata feels boring when you're stepping out of a brand new Ferrari. That's not fair.

[@Johnnydelta]

would you like him to walk

[@nate_d376]

@@Johnnydelta so, let me get this... he either needs a new Ferrari or he walks, nothing in between?

[@Hoodratliker]

he likes hot hatches too you know.

[@dragospahontu]

The mx5 is too expensive

[@MyGoToUserName]

He likes regular cars; he praised the fun to drive characteristics of the FT86 twins. I'd be curious to hear his thoughts on the new gen MX5 as it's much more fun to drive than before.

[@dabeardsmen3621]

I also hated the car and called it names until I drove one.3 years later I have a turbo miata.Stop worrying about how you look and feel about the damn car and enjoy it for what it is.Then and only then will you be able to understand.

[@spaycen]

Same lol now I love them all.

[@DwNecrid]

Just picked up a JDM '92 Miata the other day. All my buddies bug me about it, but man, its just one stupidly fun car to drive

[@victorramirez2891]

I'm actually in the market 4 one

[@str3614]

Wise words

[@theCinator]

@@Webjak4 ever driven one?

[@ronaldderooij1774]

Yep, a great roadster it was. And that is exactly what it was meant to be. It was never meant toe be a sportscar in the first place.

[@TassieLorenzo]

It IS a sportscar just as much as any Austin or MG!

[@ronaldderooij1774]

TassieLorenzo Yeah, well... Austin... MG... sportscars? Most of them not in my definition. But feel free to disagree.

[@satinsk8er]

TassieLorenzo no no its not lmfao

[@imVexedBruh]

Ronald de Rooij spot on

[@axiomist1076]

Ronald de Rooij I can't quite make out your age from your picture(if that's you) but apparently you never read the definition of a sports car. It is a small , quick (not necessarily fast), wind-in-the-face car, with a lovely exhaust roar and a hard (stiff) FUN ride. This definition comes from the era of the real sports cars. Now we have the new Corvettes, which are miniature Cadillacs , with all the amenities of home. Driving a 1936 MG or a 1956 Triumph or an Austin Healey (this one's getting up there in the fasties range - 150 HP in a less than 2000 lb. body), is a kick! There's nothing wrong with high powered cars. You could call them Sports Cars but they go beyond the original definition. =)

[@bretdouglas9407]

The Miata is definitely a sports car. I drove a 911 for years. Now I have an NC And I am quite certain that the Miata is a sports car full stop. The car is well set up out of the factory. The mods just take it further.

[@silver911100]

lol I had a 78 911 with 3.2 swap and a Miata at the same time……now I just have a Miata! I love these damn little cars

[@nicholaschip5820]

Too slow.

[@ncgroth]

It's like a movie critic giving the multi-million dollar box office hit one star while getting mad that no one saw the black and white subtitled independent film from Bangladesh. The fact that this car has made so many people happy for such a long period of time makes it special. It's just the perfect combination of fun, reliability, style, and cost.

[@1PITIFULDUDE]

Chris sneaks away, to an hidden storage building, to take his Miata out for a spin while wearing a stick on mustache and an ascot. Chris no fooling me, he loves the MeHotta.

[@austinr8501]

Many car enthusiasts will agree that this car is very very good to drive. I haven't driven one, but I have been in the other seat while going through twisting forest roads, and it was a joyous experience. The way it takes corners and feels, and how small the thing is, and how you can really use all the power and not speed too much

[@maz5miata269]

It's been 5 years, did you buy one?

[@austinr8501]

@@maz5miata269 yes in fact, I've had my 92 Miata since 2017

[@maz5miata269]

@@austinr8501 ayy, nice man! Glad to hear that

[@austinr8501]

update : rolled it down an embankment with hardtop on :(

[@catsaur]

@@austinr8501 :( hope you get to have another

[@JasonNomNom]

"I am not self conscious. I don't really care what i look like in my cars. I feel a bit ashamed in a mx5" Do you even know what self conscious means?...

[@BensCoffeeRants]

He thinks he's cool in a Ferrari :p

[@56squadron]

Agreed... that made no sense. By no metric is the Miata ugly or odd looking or even close to it and I will never understand this "it's a girls car" idiocy. Girls, generally speaking, don't buy convertibles or sports cars. And how exactly does a car look feminine anyway?

[@CJax749]

56squadron That’s quite a sexist statement you’ve made there; plenty of women buy sports cars - you can’t call Chris out for something and make a similar statement . Btw he’s saying that it’s the only car he’s ever felt ashamed in; maybe it’s you two who can’t understand his phrasing.

[@KomboAndy]

Most people want to compensate something with their cars. That's why the new ones are so aggressively styled.

[@chrissorreda4982]

The MX-5 are cheap, reliable, and easy to customize PLATFORMS. But stock, it's a soft sports car. The reason why everyone loves it is it was a doorway to where they are at right now. A tuned MX-5 is glorious, but a stock one is raw and fun at best.

[@darrendoody]

Exactly. Not fast, just pure fun, and a good base platform for tuning if you want more.

[@ilikegooses4107]

''sharp italian lines'' the 599 is designed by a japanese guy..

[@bt4670]

Haha, the irony

[@AndromedaDestination]

And mx-5 was designed in US :)

[@BollocksUtwat]

A Japanese guy who has a good sense of sharp Italian lines then.

[@ilikegooses4107]

BollocksUtwat Of course it was made to fit in with other Ferrari's

[@ROGUESPIRIT_]

@@AndromedaDestination By the Japanese.

[@bingoberra18]

Ive had a 1.6 NA before and now have a 1.8 NA and 1.8 NB. I love them both and i love the fact that the mx-5 is the underdog. I would really not mind if everyone hated it.

[@TEKKYTWO]

I know its been 7 years but out of the 3 which one do you prefer?

[@---vo7gc]

Which was your favorite

[@spraynpray]

Nobody has ever driven a ferrari. They ride around in them to the grocery store and the club. If somebody's idea of a great car is a ferrari, there's really no reason to listen. A miata is a car you can actually drive. I've never owned one, but every time somebody makes fun of the miata, I have the same response. "It's better than your car." Only an idiot in a FWD car or a rich ass in a porsche that still hasn't learned how to park would make fun of a miata. It's a real car that you can really drive and really crash.

[@noidentity458]

I agree with you most of the time, but it isn't true that nobody's ever driven a Ferrari. My uncle had a 430 Scuderia that he drove hard quite a bit. He sold it and didn't get too much money for it, though, probably because he drove it hard. Either way, he has a Mulsanne now.

[@spraynpray]

Oh the 360 and 430! I forgot about those. I beat the living hell out both of those... in dreams.

[@Zanpaa]

Nobody has ever driven a Ferrari? Do you even know who Harris is? He has a Testarossa. And he has been known to spank supercars around race tracks... For a living.

[@spraynpray]

Of course for a living. There's no other way to do it with such an unrealistically expensive and unreliable car.

[@richardhurr31]

Zanpa a 512TR to be more precise.

[@johnss2k434]

If you drive an mx-5 you shouldn't care what people think about the car. All that matters is that you enjoy it. I'm an S2000 guy, but I respect the miata. It's a fun car with a lot of potential. I like your reviews Chris, but you were a bit tough on the mx-5. We need fun affordable cars like this on the market. The 2016 miata looks great.

[@S2kTi]

John's S2K I'm both. I have a low mileage AP2 and an NA Miata. I daily the Miata. The s2000 is much more "serious" than the Miata. But for your casual drive to work or the grocery store, the Miata is great fun. They both have their place :)

[@Sideways_Singh]

He likes the new nd miata

[@wshtb]

Chris, the central issue is that you are reviewing the MX-5 as a serious sports car. It is not. I have owned fast GT car, a E60 M5 that will do 200mph unrestricted; I have owned sports car, a C7 Corvette with the Z51 handling package; and I have owned the NC-generation of MX-5, i.e. the worst MX-5 according to a lot of people. The MX-5 is neither the most comfortable nor fastest; the M5 wins highway cruise hands-down; the MX-5 is not the sharpest knife for canyon carving either; the C7 Corvette leaves it in dust. However the MX-5 is the car with most "fun". As much as I hate Harley as motorcycle, IMHO the MX-5 is the Harley of the car world: a life-style car. A Ferrari 250 GTO for the common, if you will. The MX-5 handles well enough that you can have a good time in the canyon. it is comfortable enough for a blast down the freeway; it is practical enough as grocery getter. And if you are manly enough, you can even drive top-down in an Ohio snow storm!

[@MichaelDavis-yr3cd]

You also have to remember that the mx-5 can be extremely cheap. I bought one for 3600 canadian

[@Lee-70ish]

Mark Wright I pay £ 247 sorry but if young drivers didn't keep crashing your insurance would be around the same.

[@Emoryyy123]

Bob Smithereens I've got a 2007 NC with stage one suspension from flyin miata and she's perfect. Btw I beat a 350z to 80 from a dig so they aren't slow...

[@gtb_greedy7208]

Mark Wright I’m 19 and passed my test a day ago and it’s 2k to insure my mx5

[@MrMercurybullet]

GTB_Greedy Good on you! Enjoy the new found freedom your first car brings.

[@ericlobdell1037]

No hurt ego here. He sums it up perfectly - the MX-5 is a great roadster. That's what it is to me, and for the price there's really nothing better. I have no illusions that my car is a super car or even a true sports car. But it makes me smile when I drive it and it costs me very little, which is enough for me to be a fan.

[@pete3198]

+Eric Lobdell I think it's pretty fair to say it's a true sports car - the NA6 at least. Lightweight - check (the car weighs 950kg and feels extremely agile and quick on it's feet) Good motor - check (nice linear torque curve in the 1,6L, it loves to rev, and it had a great exhaust note and nice linear throttle response) Good brakes - check (no ABS, but my NA6 always stopped HARD when you stepped on the brakes, likely thanks to light weight) Good suspension - check (mine was 100% stock, and it was quite firm with quite minimal body roll) Good gear shift - check (the short throw shift has a spectacularly quick and mechanical shift fee that is brilliant) Good steering wheel - check (big on the big side, but the factory Momo wheel is otherwise pretty awesome) Good seats - check (seats are lightweight but are surprisingly comfortable on long drives, and give plenty of support under hard cornering) Good ergonomics - check (all controls are where they should be, and feel durable and easy to reach for) Good communication - check (the car gives you tons of 'information' and you can always feel when the rear is about to come out before it happens, so you can very easily correct for it) Good balance - check (car tends towards slight oversteer on the limit, but it's easily controllable and doesn't bite hard) To me, all of the above pretty much summarises everything that a proper sports car should be. The only criticisms I ever had about the MX-5 were: 1) I would have liked aircon, which mind did not have - this has no impact on it's validity as a 'sports car' though 2) Being an original NA6, mine had the zip-up plastic rear window which had no rear demister and honestly sucked. The zipper eventually failed (my dad busted it), and rear visibility became non existent when the plastic window got dirty or fogged up. You can however quite easily replace this with the NB soft top, which had the glass rear window that had a demister and no zipper. 3) Mine had quite firm suspension from the factory, and mid corner bumps could upset it some so you had to be mindful of that 4) No ABS, so while the car always stopped incredibly well, you did have to take care not to go too hard on the stoppers and lock up the disks 5) Practicality is obviously limited. There were times where I wanted to be able to give a couple of friends a lift home after night out, but couldn't. There were a couple of times where I needed to pick up reasonably bulky items (e.g. microwave) that would easily in your average coupe/hatch/sedan and had no hope of fitting in the MX-5. But that's going to be just as much of an issue in any roadster (including an s2000,. Elise, etc) so hardly a complain that's unique tot he MX-5. Still the fact is, you really can't keep it as an only car - you need a second car (or you need a friend/family member who can lend you one) on the odd occasion where you need something like that. Other than those things, I loved the car. I've gone through a number of cars since then - currently driving a twin turbo Subaru Liberty B4 (Legacy RSK as I believe they are known overseas) and the car is a joy in it's own right. Quite quick, and can be extremely fast in simple corners. But when I get any corners that require quick change of direction (chicanes, etc) you really feel the weight of the car as you turn one way and then the other - and you can really feel the inertia as you wait for the rear end to try to catch up to what the front end is telling it to do. The MX-5 never had that problem because it was so light and had such even weight balance - you could throw it around and it would just go. Mine was stock, so I can only imagine how good a lightly modified one would be to drive - with some nice Bilstein shocks and perhaps some aftermarket sway bars, it would be an incredible thing in the corners. Now to be fair I've only owned and had extensive experience with the NA6, which was the rawest and 'focussed' of all the models. I've read many comments on the NA8 (which had the bigger motor and power steering) and I've heard unanimous reports that it was a significantly less focussed car - the steering apparently was too light with little feel, the car was said to be more front heavy, and the motor apparently was a much less willing revver and not really noticably quicker than the NA6. I've briefly driven a few NB8A's, as I was looking to buy one at one point. I thought they were OK to drive - still handled fairly well. But I kinda felt that they lacked the charm and character of the original. A bit quiter inside, the engine wasn't as willing to rev and had a more dull and 'drone like' exhaust note, slightly softer suspension, not as much feel/communication, and just generally didn't feel as agile on it's feet. I also thought it felt more cramped inside, with the chunkier interior panels (door trims, etc) taking up valuable interior space. The NB8B (with variable cam timing motor, LSD, larger rims with lower profile tyres, extra body stiffening, etc) was apparently a far better car, but I have never had the opportunity to drive one. Given my disappointment with the NB8A, I've never even dreamt of trying an NC - a car that has been well documented to be far heavier and softer than the NB it replaced. The new ND however intrigues me. The 2L version is good for a 14.5 1/4 mile which is mighty impressive, and with the light weight (and well assembled interior) it looks to me like a PROPER successor to the original NA6. I swear I will test drive one in time!!!

[@ericlobdell1037]

I'm with you! Mine is an NA8 and I have driven the NA6 version. I didn't perceive a notable difference. Mine does not feel front heavy in the least, and I do have A/C. I should find a well-sorted one now that I'm more accustomed to driving mine on a regular basis. Maybe the differences will be more noticeable. Funny you mention having a Subaru. A buddy of mine (Scot living here in the states the last several years) is one of the reasons I finally got my MX-5 last summer. He now drives a Subaru wagon (manual, of course), but he had an NA years ago and told me that to this day he occasionally dreams about it. One of those "garage I never noticed before" kind of dreams where he discovers he still has it and is overjoyed. Any car you dream of having again is a car I want to own. I can easily see the ND in that category. I'm pretty sure my NA is the wife-convincer for a future ND. Problem is, I know I'll want to keep the NA.

[@pete3198]

+Eric Lobdell Haha funny, when i first bought the MX5 it was because i had a random dream that i was driving one, and loving it. only other car i ever seamed about was a Ferrari, so at that point i decided i needed to try one lol it really did make me as happy as i dreamed it would! Only three of the cars ive owner have made me truly happy - the MX5, the Alfa 147, and my current Subaru. ive loved all three, and i still think fondly back to the MX5 and Alfa all the time. Now, to get working on that Ferrari F355...lol

[@rubber-johnny4577]

I agree on all but one thing - the MX5 is very much a sports car. People are often confused between sports cars and performance cars. The MX5 follows the blueprint of the quintessential sports car. Cars like the Lotus Elan, the Triumph Spitfire, the Alfa Spider etc. a low-slung, zippy, fun, two seater. It may not be the quickest but the combination listed certainly makes it sporty.

[@ericlobdell1037]

+Rubber-Johnny I stand correct. You are 100% correct--"sports car" and "performance car" are not synonymous.

[@peteflynn3923]

So Harris has a 599? And he doesn't care for the Miata? OK, I get it. Maybe I'd feel the same way, but I can't afford any Ferrari. I can't even afford a Ferrari oil change. The Miata is a great car regardless of what this guy thinks.

[@ricardolourizela5961]

Of course we all know the true reason behind the paper-bag-over-the-head thing... But if Rogaine doesn't work you always have the surgical options, dude. No need to feel ashamed.

[@DethThrasher1]

+Ricardo Lourizela ricardo eh? perfect name for a hairdresser

[@ricardolourizela5961]

+barfyman362 Gastroenterologist, actually.

[@almason1632]

+Ricardo Lourizela ..good one Rick!

[@YagiDori]

The MX5 is like a... I don't know... But you either "get it", or you don't. If you don't "get it" I feel sorry for you. You are missing out immensely. For those who DO "get it", you know what I'm talking about, something just clicks, it's like a puppy... sort of... you just wan't it...

[@Benpsy]

Haha this is exactly how I would describe an mx-5. First time I test drove one, I was pretty disappointed. It didn't quite live up to the hype I expected... But a few months later, I traded for an mx-5 and for some reason that time, it clicked. It's one of those cars that you appreciate to be care-free. Rev high, corner hard, and it just doesn't fail you!

[@YagiDori]

Ben Park :D

[@kop4321]

Its not that the MX-5 is a piece of shit, its just not the same to people who've driven higher spec cars. Going from a regular car to an MX-5? Yes you will be amazed, going from a more capable sports car to the mx5? No, you will be disappointed. Can't beat it for the price though.

[@YagiDori]

kop4321 I will admit, the MX5 is underpowered, but it makes for an awesome first car :D

[@tonycox9169]

SeagullChips. I've had lots of sporty cars,but I've had my MK1 mx5 for 8 yrs now and I'd never sell it . I've got other cars as well but the mx5 is just fun to drive .😀

[@dsscats2198]

I would be willing to bet that 80% of people who say bad tons about the Miata have never driven one

[@freddarau]

I know I'm 7 years behind but it's like 95%

[@user-le2id8bf5q]

@@freddarau I know I’m 7 months behind but I’d say 99%

[@freddarau]

@@user-le2id8bf5q I know I'm 1 hour behind but I agree.

[@nicholaschip5820]

I have. I hate them. Too slow.

[@AprilleShepherd]

There are lots of things I love about the MX5 Miata but the one I appreciate most is I can relax when I am out. Eating lunch or at the mall I don't have to worry about looking out the window of the shop every 20 seconds to see if someone has stolen it. It goes as fast and as quick as I would ever care to go. It can drive coast to coast to coast, and back again without falling apart and it is fun to drive.

[@harold-sweat-head8111]

Good comment. For real roads in real conditions the MX5 (Miata) is perfect. All this nonsense about hanging the back end out and taking a car to its limit is nothing but the stuff of fragile egos. I don't know what backward countries these people live in but where I come from the highest speed limit is 70mph and there are speed cameras all over the place. There are also people, other cars, pot holes, traffic lights etc - you get the picture. The inference being, no one drives like a rally driver. So in reality (where I reside) the MX5 has enough power. When are people going to realise that driving for fun isn't about maximum speed or who is faster by 0.7 of a second, it's about having a good time, even if you're not going that fast and the MX5 is the perfect tool for the job. I guarantee you'll have more fun around a bend at 50mph in an MX5 than you will in some overpowered supercar. Driving some 160mph supercar on real roads is like using a chainsaw to cut a twig.

[@AprilleShepherd]

And a trunk that has just enough room for two carefully packed over-night bags and a passenger seat for one carefully chosen mate.

[@axiomist1076]

Harold-Sweat-Head Amen, brother. You said it perfectly. I drove an Austin Healey Sprite a while back and had so much fun I'd get home every nite at 3 a.m. because I couldn't stop driving. And it didn't even have 70 HP. But it had super fast steering and could do a U-turn from one lane to the next !, and with the top down, which you can do with one hand while driving, it was awesome.=)

[@axiomist1076]

Aprille Shepherd Everything you say is right. Like I say in my comment to Chris today, some people love driving and some love speeding. Driving, to me, is FUN. It's pure pleasure, no matter what I drive.A Miata would be just lovely to have.

[@AprilleShepherd]

Well, I know this because my Dad has a Porsche and my mom complains that all he does is worry about it while he is at dinner. They have to get a table by a window so he can watch it! And yes it is "sad" that people have to worry that their nice car will be keyed or stolen by some asshole. My point is, when I drive my Miata and have it parked... I CAN relax ... which is NOT "sad". I also went on to give a list of other things I enjoyed most about my Miata.

[@LoadPast]

Of course an Elise is going to drive better than a Miata. It costs six times as much. The Miata gets so much praise not just because its fun to drive, but because its also cheap, efficient, reliable, easy to mod, and much more practical as a daily driver than most sports cars.

[@nicholaschip5820]

Didn't cost six times as much when it was new. If it does know it may reflect that one car is more desirable than the other.

[@pgtmr2713]

This car isn't meant for people who have Ferrari's, M3's, Cayman S's, GT3 RS's, etc. If you had a Z3/Z4 around parked next to a MX-5, keys to both, both in mint condition. Why would you ever take the MX-5? I'm not knocking the MX-5. Let's reverse this. MX-5 and MG B, keys to both, mint condition. If you're looking to get the best drive, not, carefree, leisurely, ride, with the top down, you're going to pick the MX-5. Put another way, If you have $2k you get a MX-5, $20k you get a used Boxster. If you're a driver, then you'll probably buy the most "driver's car" you can get for your money, which probably comes with a fixed roof.

[@WTGRacing]

well, i love the mx5 but i would take an mgb over it. mgb's are way UNDERrated

[@pgtmr2713]

Would you expect it to win a race against an MX-5? Actually asking

[@WTGRacing]

PGTMR2 no, the mgb (faster early models) has 95hp and weighs around 850-900 kilogrammes. which, in respect, made for quite a peppy little GT/sports car in the 60s. the miata weighs a bit more, but has 115hp, which the mg cant quite compete. and although the mg's handling was quite good for its day, the miata is much stiffer and refined.

[@pgtmr2713]

My comparison was a bit of a stretch too. There's plenty of people that would choose an MG or even a Kharmann Ghia convertible over a Miata. I could see where type A personalities, race car drivers wouldn't go for the leisurely drive kind of thing. My MK1 MR2 had plenty of go with 117hp, (well whatever it had left with 200k+ miles on it,) It was absolutely not a sluggish car at all. So I know what you mean, it was old but still a hoot.

[@nautaki]

PGTMR2 just out of curiosity, why compare the mx-5 with mg b and not the F/TF ?

[@covkiddownunder]

You guys who are talking about the MX being underpowered and talking about dropping V8s in it are totally missing the point. It was never designed to be a fire-breathing monster, it was following the British tradition of open top roadsters (look at MG, triumph Spitfire, Lotus Elan etc. Small, light, tight handling 50/50 weight distribution and most of all, "smile inducing." I owned an '89 NA 1.6 for a couple of years and only sold it when I left the country. Had I stayed I would still be using it as my daily driver, I loved it. Anyone who calls it a hairdresser's car clearly needs to compensate for something and your car is an extension of your manhood. And don't start saying I'm a girly type, I'm 6'2" and look like a bouncer but I actually like the paradox in that. The best aspects of this car is that it's a lot of fun, cheap to own and run, reliable and on B roads (its spiritual home) it comes totally to life. Bang for buck, it's the best you can get.

[@dragoncivicnola]

you are absolutely right but right there with that British motoring tradition is the tradition of dropping a bigger engine into a car it wasn't meant to go into. Triumph did it with the Stag, MG with the MGB GT, the original AC Ace (best known for what happened when Carroll Shelby got ahold of it) and Sunbeam with the Tiger. They all had larger engines than probably would have been considered sane wrapped up in the packages of classic British sports cars. sure they rarely ran properly but neither did the four and six-cylinder versions of the same cars. That's part of car culture. Some people take something as it is and some don't. So long as you don't stance a Subaru, nobody has to die.

[@TheWierdFish]

No one ever said, originally, that the MX5 was some kind of magical thing. It's always been the best CHEAP sports car around. No, not like an Elise, because that's more mid range, and no, not like a Boxster, because that's approaching the top of the market, really. BUT, for the money, it's an good enough car. The big selling point for most, though, is that it was, and still is one of a very few cars that is just that. Simple, engine at the front, manual in the middle, drive at the rear, squishy human and nothing else. It was a traditional British sports car, like an MGB, but you don't have to have a 40 year old car to have that, you can have a 10 year old car. The reputation is overinflated, but the cars are good. The 205GTi? That's a better drive, but they weren't as well built, and at the end of the day, they're FWD...

[@barebarekun161]

Elise is hideous it's too small for me and Boxster is too expensive and too much of a show off so MX-5 is for me. And for something like MX-5 I can easily overlooked its lack of horsepower because it's one of the best handling car on the road with the best bang for your buck! And you heard this from a guy who ranked the horsepower a number one priority!

[@TheWierdFish]

I never thought the Elise was hideous, but to each their own, I suppose. Beyond that, you've got the gist of it, the MX5 is for everyone who doesn't want a hardcore Elise, or can't quite stretch to a Porsche.

[@barebarekun161]

Elise is like a much harder car to live with especially if you're a bigger taller person and it sits so low to the ground that the safety of using it everyday is questionable. You really going to look hideous using Elise daily while MX-5 you can do that no problem. And I'm a Porsche fan too but I have to say their products despite being going more and more towards everyday usability,its price are still way out of reach for most people at least in my country with 400% tax added to luxury cars.

[@TheWierdFish]

The Elise isn't that bad, not like the Exige, and compared to cars of the 90s, they're not badly equipped. Sure, there's no fancy climate control or sat nav or what have you, but motorists survived a over century without such things! It's not so easy to enter or exit, but it's comfy enough once inside. And you get the sublime driving experience everywhere you go. Every corner is exciting. That's how I'd like to start my day if I were stuck in the drudgery of a 9-5 job! You have to be enthusiastic to use an Elise every day, but I know a chap who does, and he loves it. The MX-5 offers more normality, yes, but if you love driving, you're already abnormal. 400% tax is ridiculous.. lots of countries seem to tax cars madly, I can't understand it, transport promotes growth, surely that's what a country needs!?

[@homemadehonda4729]

the moment when you start to dislike Chris Harris.

[@pwareham61]

homemadeHonda with a passion

[@johnharris4893]

Agreed

[@dimdaisjimbo]

Totally agreed

[@redmr2na]

Also don't forget the type of cars the Miata was modeled after. When they started to develop the idea of the Miata, they used the Lotus Elan, and MGB and other british SPORTS CARS as their base for it. If Mr. Harris doesn't think the Miata is a sports car, what does he think of Britain's darling sports cars like Elans, Bs, Frogeyes, Midgets, TRs, and Healeys?

[@amancalledcraig]

Nice comment, this is totally on the money. And best of all it doesn't leak in the rain!

[@MrAronRobinson]

Yes it was modelled specifically after British 'sports cars', but from the 60's, and obviously cars, and how people define cars, have moved on a lot since then. The British didn't even use the word 'roadster' when cars like the E type Jag and Lotus Elan came out. He compares it with a modern but second hand Lotus Elise, a fair comparison for UK viewers, but unfortunately even a second hand Elise is probably way too expensive in the US for it to sound like a fair comparison and the Mazda would be way better value.

[@Miata822]

yawn. whatever. One driver in the world doesn't like the MX5. I'm shocked.

[@voyager7793]

One driver too much.

[@rob5944]

Make that two.

[@silentracer911]

Having owned a Miata for several years and loved the hell out of it while beating the hell out of it at the same time, It is the budget sports car for anyone. I drove it daily for 4 years and loved every minute. Yes, the 2 seat thing became an issue at times in highschool but other than that it was lovely. For the price, if you put in another 2-3k into it, get poly bushings all around, add some power, and some brakes, and you can have so much fun for so little money. THAT is why the Miata is such an iconic car. Not everyone is privldged enough to afford a Ferrari or Porsche and a Miata has always been the entry point into sports car ownership.

[@jayjohnson1631]

It's hard for him to give the miata high praise because he's so used to his Ferrari and other expensive sports cars that are extremely refined machines which makes his expectations set way too high. The miata is a different seed. A good seed nonetheless...

[@erfansafaeian8906]

Fast forward a couple of years and everyone’s starting to really appreciate the NA mx5’s… values going up too.

[@tommarino69]

when you factor in the the build quality, the price, usability and most important of all reliability the NA generation mx5s are an unbeatable all round package. my uncle bought a 95 JDM eunos roadster for less than £1000 a few years back and has had plenty of fun out of it and for some time it was his daily driver, it starts first time every time and has NEVER broken down. Chris' comparison with a used Lotus elise is a bit silly really when you think that they will cost way more to buy and run and will breakdown everytime there's a week in the month. Get an NA now and you are guaranteed to have fun and when/if you come to sell it in years to come you will not lose money.

[@_Davepocalypse]

+NB (basically the same car but without the pop ups)

[@mx-drive3766]

I love my Miata. It's slow, but it's still a lot of fun to drive. You can drive the speed limit and be content in a Miata.

[@MyOpinionMatterss]

It may not be fast or look sexy but if you want to have a shitload of fun and can't afford a newer sports car then the Miata is the perfect car.

[@Mista_G]

I think the reason he is not impressed is because he has very high standards for what a car should feel like. You must keep in mind that this is a 20 year old car that can be bought for as cheap as 1,500$. When you consider the price of the car, it's absolutely unbeatable.

[@ARocketTaco]

And the rest of us are just as baffled by you guys who don't get it as you are by us. I have an 05 Mazdaspeed; I wasn't planning on getting it, I just had to kill some time until the 91 MR2 Turbo I was looking at showed up so I test drove it. I could not stop laughing the whole time, and chose it over the (perfect, 2/3 the price) MR2 I'd wanted for years. It really is that stunning. The only weakness it really has is being super squirrelly in the wet - mine at least isn't floppy and keeps up with S2Ks and 350Zs without trouble. Even without going into boost it's more than sprightly enough.

[@ItzHair389]

I've owned a 350z and have but just recently got a 2006 Miata NC which is stock. Although I did like the looks and the power of the 350z I would still take my little 4 cyl Miata over it any day. Its kinda like the whole Jeep Wrangler mentality for me. The car doesn't have to be perfect to be a great car. Its the experience it gives you. The 350z is all power and that's it (don't get me wrong it was a brilliant car and still like it) but it had never given me the same enjoyment of being able to whip around these back road Missouri drives that I could spend hours doing. I'm 21 years old and I know some may not like the looks of the NC, but I think it gives it a particular look that no other car has. I'm probably talking nonsense by now. But just wanted to say again like earlier... It doesn't have to be a perfect rocket of a car to be a good one. It may have its twerks n bugs, but that's what I love about it. You feel like you're driving a super car without having to go 200 mph.. I kindly agree to disagree on your point.. There will always be a Miata in my life.....

[@jochem1986]

I am on my second NA now, and it does drive with the precision of a boneless limb. However, the MX5, much like the Ford Mustang, is merely a platform on which one makes their own creation. Replace the bushings by PU, upgrade the sway bars, get a slightly firmer shock and spring combo, install a Hard Dog rollbar and side bars, and you've got a much more precise driving car. Yes, I know it didn't come like that from the factory, but at least it CAN be good. Many other so called sports cars that don't actually improve when you start modifying them..

[@geekgod420]

I have to agree that the stock MX-5 is not a sports car, but it can be modified to be close to a sports car for a lot less than say a RX7 or S2000. It's not going to beat a RX7 or S2000, but it'll be a fun little car that you can truly race without fear of scratching your precious sports car.

[@ruskeee]

A sports car is a certain type of car. Rear-wheel-drive, manual transmission, light weight, low center of gravity, perfect weight distribution, two-seater, etc. The MX-5 is certainly a sports car in stock form, just not a very fast one. Mods make it a more competitive sports car.

[@mrjdgibbs]

It's probably the most raced car in the world on any given Sunday. All three generations have one of the most sorted chassis at any price. It is the quintessential sports car.

[@Aeonikst8]

My Cousin races an mx-5 and for a lot less than an s2000 he is slaughtering Cobras and s2000s so it can definitely beat them. Just depends on what you do with it.

[@truthseeker3536]

​@@ruskeeeRWD is not a requirement for a sports car.

[@Hmonglauj89]

Theres a reason mazdas alone are used as race cars all over the world. The miata alone has one of the largest spec racing class. Not a lot of cars can stand by it from all aspects, price, quality, quantity, support, balance, drop top to even simple rwd. If you really dont like the car but yet are creeping at videos about it, then you sir is curious and want one yourself.

[@Dgannt]

I think it's something like Mustang and it's followers. The standard Mustang is not anything extraordinary. But first, it's a cheap car. Second, people can with just little, do a lot with the car and modify it to make it handle better, be faster and personalize it. MX5 was never a sports car but a cheap roaster. And just like Mustang people can with little money modify it a lot and personalize it, hence all the die hard followers that love it. It's a small and nimble car and there are many who like such a car. Cars like Elise are sports cars but also very expensive and already perfected at the factory.

[@KatManx2006]

I agree. The 87-93 Mustangs were abysmally poor handlers with mundane power - just enough to get you into serious trouble in the rain. Add decent suspension, brakes, body stiffening, and an extra hundred horses to the rear wheels, they remain a bit problematic in the rain - but can be transformed into an amazing driver's car for the street that retains a decent ride quality and can be a long haul daily driver. The Miata, which starts life a bit soft yetl fun to drive, can be modded up, but in order to become a true sports car, creature comfort gets cast aside in favor of rock solid slammed suspension etc - still fun to drive, but a chore on long hauls...

[@cybertree]

bezor Ta I think you hit the nail on the head brother, let's be honest; *MOST STRUGGLE TO BUY A DECENT CAR PERIOD*. I know I do, it's cool to be able to buy something that CAN be fun eventually. It looks like a cool sports car "skeleton" to me, ready to add upgrades and other bits to once a few paychecks come in.

[@rubber-johnny4577]

It amuses me how so many people are brainwashed into thinking nothing matters apart from being the fastest. All this bluster and nonsense about one car being 0.03 of a second faster to 60mph or 1.23 seconds faster around Brands Hatch. Why do you all care so much? When you arrive that 0.03 of a second ahead of the other car, what does it mean to you? I live in a country where we have restrictions - speed limits, crowded roads, tight country lanes, blind bends, pedestrians etc. Having a car that boasts a top speed of 185mph and 0-60 in under 4 seconds is pointless. It's like having a machine gun to sharpen a pencil. It's all about having the right tool for the job. Me? I want to have fun. I want something that's nippy, sporty and a hoot to drive. I want a second car as a fun car, nothing more - a weekend play thing. I don't care who is slower than me or who is faster because it's all about me. In an MX5 I have fun at slow speeds. Travelling at 40mph around a nice sweeping bend feels great. So you can take it at 50mph? Well so what? It doesn't matter to me because I'm having fun at 30mph. I have bees between my teeth, a zippy engine, a lively steering wheel and a low-slung seating position. I also pay peanuts for the experience too. I don't claim to be Niki Lauda on a hot lap but I don't want to be either. I just tootle about in my little sports car and I enjoy it. So stop slagging MX5s off and telling us they're not as quick as this and that. We know and we don't care. We're in it for the laughs and the pizzazz not the bragging rights, and to me, that's the true essence of a real driver.

[@bt4670]

Wise words.

[@RIDERsxv]

Yeah but I think he proved Chris Harris right. They come from the factory ready for people like him that aren't going to dance on the limit with it. Not that there's anything wrong with that, but there are other options for the money that are happier to be exploited.

[@person43des]

I have raced both an 1998 Mx5 and a Boxer and i'd chose the mx5 every time, price aside. Sure the Porsche is faster in a straight line, but it blows chunks when it tried to corner. Why people rave on about the BRZ or FT86 I don't understand. Why pay $35K for a rear wheel drive, non turbo Subaru? Don't even have to buy an Mx5, an S15 Silvia would set you back 18K at most and is a bigger platform and has more than twice the performance. An mx5 is 1/10 the cost and the roof goes down, how is this even an argument?

[@danielgaskell5490]

He has to mince words on 5 levels about a car that gets 95% of it right because he thinks too highly of his own opinion.

[@rob5944]

Sorry, but they don't do anything for me either.

[@jl8628]

Two positives about the MX5. One is the cost is low. Two is it's a project platform with lots of parts and mods available. Many of us like to customize our cars and wrench on things. It's fun.

[@phillipberk5767]

As some one who owns a 2014 Mustang Gt that makes Almost 500WHP, I just bought a 92 Miata NA6, I paid $1950 with 92k miles, I've put about $1000 into it so far, and I love it! Im planning to turbo it with a $800 budget, its just such an easy car to work on, and where with my mustang I'm lucky to 18MPG, Normal driving I can get 27-33 MPG in the Miata. Also I can take it to the track Because it has a Cage in it, and its a blast there too.

[@googleuser7771]

How can you turbo it with $800?

[@nicholaschip5820]

@@googleuser7771 full of shit.

[@Doug-tc2px]

I bought a 92 Miata a few years ago so my boys can experience the fun of driving and to learn how to drive a stick. The Miata is a fun,reliable,easy to work on and for "where I live" it works well. I like the fact I can use all 5 gears around town unlike most modern day sports cars. Notice I said where I live, that's because I live on a island and the only time I would get to really use something like a boxer is on road trips. A chick car for an 18 year old boy is a good thing!

[@craigfreger4642]

It's simple cultural chauvinism at work. The Japanese showed the British how to really build a proper lightweight affordable sports car, and poor Chris is all butthurt because of it.

[@xzst]

But its not a sports car, its a fun roadster, but not really a sport-dedicated vechile.

[@craigfreger2340]

The formula for a sports car is: small, low, lightweight, two-seats, designed for spirited performance and nimble handling, preferably with open top and RWD. If the MX-5 is not a sports car, then neither are any of these: MG TC, TD, TF; MGA; MGB; MGC; Mg Midget; Triumph TR2, TR3, TR3A, TR3B,Italia,TR4, TR4A, TR5, TR250, GTR4, TR6, TR7, TR8, Spitfire Mk I-IV, Spitfire 1500, GT6; Lotus Seven, Elan, Elite,Europa, Elise, TVR Grantura,Vixen; Austin-Healey Sprite, 3000; Jaguar XK120, E-Type, Datsun 1600, 2000 (Fairlady) Roadster; 240Z - 350Z; Toyota 2000GT; MR-2; Honda S600, S2000; Mazda RX-7; FIAT 800 Spider, 124 Spider, X1/9; Alfa Romeo 1900, Spider, 4C; etc.

[@BollocksUtwat]

Given how he's a serial German fan boy it seems and was giddy to drive the toyota GT86 when it launched I"m not so sure you can say its British cultural chauvinism.

[@craigfreger7958]

Missing the point. Read it again: " The Japanese showed the British how to really build a proper lightweight affordable sports car, and poor Chris is all butthurt because of it." The MX-5 is a painful reminder to the British of how they had the chance to show the world what a proper lightweight affordable sports car should be... and they blew it. The Toyota 86 and whatever German cars you are referring to have nothing in common with the classic British roadsters of the 1960's.

[@BollocksUtwat]

Craig Freger But Chris Harris isn't remotely motivated by this I don't think. He makes no references to suggest this is part of his consideration. Referring to chauvinism is then just an indulgent theory that's more to do with what you know than what Harris thinks.

[@appelpower1]

I don't understand what people are so mad about. I love the MX-5, I scavenge videos of it on KZbin, I search Auto Trader for them, longing for the day I shall own one myself. But in the end, it's just a car, nothing to get cross over. Chris is just stating his opinion here, and he's being perfectly reasonable. If he doesn't quite like the MX-5, that's his opinion and he is entitled to it, as much as you and I are entitled to our love for it.

[@jessesharma9239]

I think the MX5 is a nice nimble car out of the factory. I've driven them for only short times but they're very peppy and fun for the size and cost. I agree, as stock cars they're a little overrated. But their huge following comes from modifying them, which Chris says doesn't make them an MX5 anymore. But the car's chassis and mods to the engine make it whats so fun. I've driven a supercharged and track focused Miata and it felt like a small rocket. I don't see how this shouldn't contribute to the MX5's reputation. Modifying your car is the best part of having an automotive hobby. You get to personalize it and make it fit you. I also agree with PGTMR2, this car isn't for ppl who have ferrari's, m3s etc. Its a great sports car for the daily drive and a great a platform for a modified track car.

[@IdFightMyDad]

Perhaps Chris is a bit spoiled driving cars with monster horsepower. He may be expecting the tail to come out under power, but thats not how it works in the Miata. You've got to really drive it hard through a corner while keeping your foot in it. The back end will come around. It's not going to do huge power slides, but you can get it to move around in the dry, and it is going to do so in a nice controlled manner. Oh, and I disagree with JStank, my '09 is so much fun in the rain. I look forward to the wet because then it will drift under power.

[@mechmat12345]

You should watch his review of the Toyota FT86/Subaru BRZ. It only has 200hp and 150 lb/ft of torque and is no faster in a straight line than a (new) Miata and he loved it.

[@erickennedy1315]

mechmat12345 the brz has skinny tires in order to break the tires loose... probably why he liked it

[@evolicious]

*TRIGGERED*

[@dadoogie]

+EVOLICIOUS Need my cheap rwd convertible safe space where i can lay with my mr2 mk2 waifu pillow.

[@NukE30]

You can always get an E30 if you think the MX-5 is too girly. They're also much cheaper is some parts of Europe. Hell, it's YOUR car, it's important YOU enjoy it. I don't get the defensive attitude people have here. It's like screaming at someone because they don't like the way you dress. He shared his opinion, if you don't agree with it, that's fine. However, calling someone a snob simply because he does not conform with you is just plain stupid.

[@ozspencers]

I've owned two - NB & NC - and would agree with Chris overall. Whilst the MX5 is a loveable little car, it isn't a sports car in any way whatsoever. It's not powerful enough, nor is it rigid enough, though the NC was a significant step up in terms of scuttle shake over the NB. My principal disappointment though was the handling. Yes, it has plenty of outright grip, but I found both of them a bit nervous when pushed, especially on bumpy roads, and they didn't inspire confidence. That was disappointing because I believed the hype, which led me to expect the proverbial 'go kart for the road'. Having raced karts myself, I can only wonder why anybody would compare the two. In fact, a Mitsubishi Colt Ralliart I owned gave me more of the 'go kart' feeling. As a 'pretend sports car' that won't break the bank and won't need pampering, they're hard to beat. Just don't call it a real sports car.

[@kimianskimians9216]

I was 45 when I got my first MX5 Mk1 (NA) having always wanted a Lotus Elan. The Mazda obviously took many details of the Lotus and made huge improvements. Reliability being the main as well as being 'fire-proof' ! To drive an MX5, you had to observe two methods: Either you became the controller of the car and all of its charecteristics, or- you got to learn about the car and make do what you wanted it to do within its capabilities. Either way, if you did'nt have fun, then a Ford Focus is what you should be driving. (1.6 LX Hatchback of course)!

[@limpethead]

Good point. I have an audi. It transports me wherever l go. I might as well be sitting in the house on my sofa. Then l just bought another MX5. You can't turn off for a second. And l just remember now why l just want to get in a drive about aimlessly, with the radio on having a party on my own. Or with the mrs

[@nqobile571]

So many hurt egos on here, didn't know guys have become insecure about the cars they own just because someone doesn't like the same car they do. Some people like mx5's some don't get over it. And if Harris doesn't like it so be it. To the people discrediting him just because of difference of opinion, I'm 10000% sure if anyone was looking for car advice, I'd bet you anything they'd choose Chris's advice over some guy who commented on a KZbin video.

[@pete3198]

+Nqobile Masuku The fact that he says he is embarrassed to drive it because it's "girlie" kinda kills any credibility he had in this whole video. I was totally accepting of his whole analysis the whole time since it all seemed objective and reasonable - but the instant he pulled out that line it made his personal bias obvious, which in turn threw any perception of objectivity completely out the window. That comment makes it brutally obvious that he has a personal bias against the car (for the way it looks) long before he ever got in the drivers' seat, and it's perfectly fair to assume that such a bias is going to influence how he judges the car. If you drive a car wanting it to be bad, then you're probably going to come out convincing yourself that it's bad. He also admitted to having never driven one of the earlier models, and that he criticised the entire 'MX-5' name based one having only driven the newer cars. Again, that's admission of a personal bias. I've driven a handful of the MX-5's and IMHo the best one they ever made was the very first 1,6L model - one which (as far as I can see) he has probably still yet to drive. In this review he said the steering didn't have much feel, and the engine didn't rev too happily - both criticisms that were specific to the 1.8L model, since the 1.6L version had no power steering (hence tons of steering feel) and an engine that loved to rev. Again, his criticisms make it clear he's not driven the very MX-5, the one that started it all. It would be like saying that the Peugot 205 GTi is a shit car, because you've driven the 206 and 207 and they were shit cars. While the 206 and 207 GTI were both half reasonable cars to drive, neither is by any means amazing or standard setting. I've never driven a 205 GTi, but from all the things I've heard they were amazing cars - likely nothing like the ones that came after. If you want to understand the MX-5 then you have to drive (and I mean PROPERLY drive) a well maintained NA6 version. The later cars still abide by the general MX-5 formula and they were still pretty good cars, but all of the "Hype" about the car being such a good driver's car comes from the original car and the way that thing drove. It wasn't perfect by any means, and did have some flaws. But Mazda set out to build a car that gave you the driving enjoyment of a Lotus Elan with the build quality, reliability and running costs of a Toyota Corolla - and they hit their target to absolute perfection. That's why it is the highest selling sports car of all time, and why the car still gets so much praise.

[@biggerbitcoin5126]

Difference is it's like speaking to a audiophile about HIFI separates. You can get a great set of HIFI separates which sounds great, has good detail and is fun or you can spent hundreds of thousand on a super incredible system where you can hear all the detail and is technically brilliant. Most people like myself would just enjoy the fun aspect and don't take life too seriously.

[@TrezenEN]

The fact is, you can buy an MX5, buy some decent coilovers, sway bars, brake lines, pads, roll bar, induction kit, exhaust, manifold, grippy tyres, fix the rust, and you have a sweet little classic... and once you have one you can't bring yourself to sell it.

[@yucannthahvitt251]

You were right about the MX-5 in the first place. It's overrated. Lightness and half-decent handling do not a great car make. It is slow, it is ugly, it is only available as a convertible. Much like a fox body mustang, to make an MX-5 any good at all you must modify it extensively. This pretty much precludes it from deserving all of the fanboy hype and praise it garners.

[@SupramanTRD]

the miata isn't overated, people buy it because its simple, very affordable, beautiful and reliable. Yes indeed from factory it is rather slow, so swap a 1uz from toyota or a ls1 from chevy into it and slaughter ferraris

[@sonnycool1471]

hhahahha ....... only one millions ++ sold .... not that much compare with others

[@MananaMan]

What do you define as ugly? The amazing headlights or the smile on its grill? Just because it doesn't have headlights that frown on you are razor sharp edges doesn't make it ugly.

[@cybertree]

I think it *TRICKS* alot of owners into believing it's on another level, and I feel mean saying that, because I know the feeling of your car "being the best thing on the planet". But c'mon, Chris Harris doesn't like it, and just from the video I can tell it's "just a convertible that handles ok." I mean the thing is flopping around corners at high speed.

[@rivolinho]

The MX5 (especially the Mk1) has it's iconic status because A) It's a cheap way into low slung open top, rear wheel drive motoring, and it does the basics very well B) It's very reliable, economical and modern compared to a myriad of other similar cars which it is based on, spitfires, elans, alfa spiders etc, C) Did I mention it's cheap.....!? That's really all it is. Out of the factory it's fine for anyone who wants a nimble, light little convertible to play with which wont break the bank on fuel, insurance, tax or repairs costs. Alternatively, it is an exceptional platform for a fantastic little track car. Heavily modded, the MX5 is a fantastic machine. See Car throttles recent vid on the mk1 with 3L V6 engine! I bought a Eunos last summer. Yes, it wont set any land speed records, but I don't do track days or drag race at 3am on empty public roads, so it really doesnt matter. Warm day, twisty B road, roof off, it's really good fun to just throw it around, even if a modern 1.2 fiesta passes you on the straight!

[@Charliediggy]

I'm picking up an Eunos next week! Upgrading from a 1.25 Fiesta haha, love the cars

[@rivolinho]

Charliediggy Nice one! Give me a toot of the horn as you overtake! :)

[@Aurora-sz1bc]

Chris Harris bagged on the MX-5, but loudly sung praises to the heavens about the BRZ/FRS/GT-86 which is nearly the same exact car and uses the same formula as the MX-5: light weight, low horsepower, front engine, rear wheel drive, outstanding manual gearbox, balanced handling, etc. In fact, most car journalists give the slight edge to the MX-5 over the BRZ, note how similar the two are, and some can't decide which is better. I've driven both cars myself, and they drive almost the same. Took forever for me to decide which to buy over the other. Given the huge disparity in Chris' reviews of these cars, something is very off. Anyone else notice this?

[@BlatentlyFakeName]

As someone who has owned a few sports cars (including an MX-5) and I also own an S2 Elise, I think the main problem with the MX-5 is it's aimed at the masses so it's quite "soft" by design. Most people who buy them aren't petrolheads, they just want a sporty convertable. It's fun but it's not a focused machine. You can't compare it to an Elise, the Elise is a crazy car and far less forgiving. The performance is also on another level entirely.

[@zzkeokizz]

I've ridden in one. It's a fun car. It's not a Porsche Boxter but you can enjoy yourself. It's a nice summertime car that's more reliable and cheaper to insure than the Boxter - and it doesn't cost $70,000. And I think the GTI is more of a driver's car but that's not what the Miata is aiming at.

[@Bensaves]

I don't see where people are manufacturing their anger from here. The bullet point of this video: *The miata is reliable, competent and good for 2000 pounds. *Later models are less good and don't compare favorably to other vehicles at their price point *The car doesn't deserve cult status What the hell is so disagreeable and unfair about that?

[@dragoncivicnola]

its more the fact that he gets out of a Ferrari and hops into the Miata and basically spends the whole video avoiding the fact that he personally doesn't like it. If you read between the lines and actually do the research some of the stuff he's come up with for not liking the car is sort of laughable (the thing about having long gears was absurd). He loses a TON of credibility with the "i don't want to be seen in it" remark too. There are people who restore and drive Edsels for god's sake and they're basically driving around with a chromed vag on the front bumper! All-in-all, the reason why people are butthurt is because he's taking his personal opinion, which is subjective and not objective, and trying to put it out as factual data. "Real Car Reviews" did a segment on the Miata and its MUCH better. Also, Jay Leno owns two...end of discussion.

[@Bensaves]

Taylor Scheinuk Sorry, this all sounds like fanboyism to me. What Leno owns is not my concern, and it doesn't make the car any more or less valid. You must realise two things. Firstly, this video is categorically not a review. Surely it's got enough hyperbole in it for people to see that. Secondly, reviews ARE opinions. Everything but the information on a car is a reviewer's opinion. The suggestion that a reviewer should not give their opinion is asinine. How in the hell does he lose credibility for not liking the styling? There are plenty of people that don't like the miata's body, I assure you. At any rate, what does it matter if his opinion is wrong in your eyes? It doesn't affect you in any tangible way.

[@stms4411]

I absolutely love Chris Harris…..this is the one take he has that I find absurd. The fact that he calls the gear shift “ok” is exhibit A of him being off the reservation. I also think that he expects it to sing at 10/10ths - and when it doesn’t he trashes it. Most of us aren’t race car drivers and 8 or 9 10ths is ample. The fact that he prefers a fwd Peugeot to this is also proof that everyone has their blind spots. This is most definitely his.

[@junjin18182028]

The miata cup series is the most raced series in motorsport. It's most raced because it's cheap and competitive. Some of you are forgetting why the miata is such a nice little car: -lightweight -good weight distribution -rwd The cost to race a miata is nearly the same to run a kart. Cost wise it doesn't get much better than this. If you like regularly track your car then you will appreciate what the miata brings to the grassroot community.

[@Cykoid]

i would only buy the mx-5 to mod the everliving shit out of it, people complained that the brz/86 was too underpowered but praised this car with almost 50hp less! and especially being in australia it is more expensive you could buy an evo with money to spare for the cost of a new mx-5

[@MichaelF1]

That. $1000-2000 buy in...$4000 in parts and your time=Monstrous little machine.

[@Cykoid]

A Shore doesn't explain why brz's deck them in straight lines

[@spraynpray]

Cykoid Displacement and torque curve explain it.

[@ruskeee]

Cykoid Motortrend tested a Miata Club versus a Scion FR-S, and the Miata was quicker to 60 and through the quarter. Not that 1/4 mile times are even relevant when talking about a roadster made for carving up twisty roads. People get too hung up on numbers and forget about the driving experience.

[@hjembrentkent6181]

The BRZ is over 250 kg heavier, that's like towing a small boat. MX-5 is still underpowered, only makes sense with a little turbo on it

[@pewdiepieschur-haig1483]

compares a Miata to an Elise... not everyone has the money for a fucking lotus lol

[@gmansplit]

Pewdiepie Schur-Haig Elise's aren't that expensive.

[@pewdiepieschur-haig1483]

gmansplit miata is $3000 Elise is $55,000

[@DerMaflon]

a used elise goes for 20-25k, so I agree it's much more expensive, still 55k is way too much

[@gmansplit]

+Pewdiepie Schur-Haig Used Elise's are 25k, new Miata's are 25k. That seems like a better comparison,

[@MR2SpyerJournal]

So get an MR2 Spyder and swap in the EXACT same motor. Comes very close to an Elise. You don't need money for a Lotus when you can get the same layout, with the same motor, for 1/6th the price.

[@frshtrds]

Ummm, this is OFFICIALLY the best selling sports car of all time. Not opinion, simple fact. Those who dislike this car simply have not driven it or are to dense to appreciate it. Again I have the fact that it is the best selling sports car in the history of the automobile to back up my statement. But to each his own is what they say, thank god I know better

[@oscarelworthy]

He obviously hasn't driven it at all

[@VaunShiz]

Lol someone didn't even pass the 1st grade, sales numbers doesn't mean it's the best.. I guess Taylor Swift is the best artist because she sells more then anyone els rightnow lmao. Typical miata driver defense

[@AzNightmare]

matthew von In terms of money, why yes. She is one of the best. Anyhow, which car is the best? I'll love to hear your answer on this one.

[@allandodge4636]

AzNightmare The rx-7 is pretty dandy...

[@AzNightmare]

Allan Dodge Yes, but the point is, there is no number 1 best car, because the "best" is simply based on opinion. For example, just the fact RX-7 is a rotary engine gives it a lot of reason for people to dislike it.

[@Jmaltz9]

The MX-5 was designed to be the young cousin to the rx7. It was made to be not that fast but fun to drive which it is. After buying a '97 na I can tell you it is a fucking blast to drive. The car just makes you smile when you throw it around a corner and the back end comes out. No better feeling. No better car for the price.

[@elvenisar]

Not everybody can buy porsche or lambo.... Price is BIGDEAL to them. To them, mx-5 is BEST DRIVERS CAR ever produced in the world, definitely. Because they CAN buy that anyway, but porsche isn't.

[@magisterartium]

+Francisco Lee lol mx-5 best drivers car. What have you been driving before the mx5, a horse and carriage?

[@ShadowFalcon]

+Francisco Lee Please, do post the timestamp where Chris compared the MX5 against a Porsche, or a Lamborghini.

[@balls330]

I think your missing one huge thing on this car and that is its one of the few car your average person can still afford to take to the track and compete in events. It's cheap to buy cheap to repair and fits in a lot of different classes. That is why everyone is so fond of it... most people can't afford a lotus or Porsche, thank God for Mazda, if it where Not for them and the mx5 motorsports would like most fun things be reserved for rich trust fund kids in their typical type A prick cars with their shark skin gloves sitting inside their man purse..

[@heavychevy383]

gotta 71 chevy with 450 horses of stroker, built for the straight-line-go-fast, & a 98 formula firebird, ls1 v8, with a full-tilt-boogie auto-x ready suspension ...aaaannnd... then theres my wifes 99 miata... bone stock... 140 horses (when new) ...no aftermarket go-faster parts... 100% as it came off the line... with 120k on those stock parts... & i haveta admit, it is the most fun car to drive outta the lot! ...why is that u may ask? ...well, allow me to quote the great "Captian Slow" james may, by sayin; "its just more fun to drive a slow car fast, than to drive a fast car slow" ..i will however admit, that the "stock" aspect of the car WILL change... eventually... cause there is definitely room for improvement... but a fun little car that stole my heart, & not my wallet... enjoyed the video chris, thanx

[@jmpcrx]

I've owned a pug 205 1.6 gti, a UK mk2 Honda crx vtec, an r33 gtst 350bhp, and now a mk2 mx5 1.8 with a diff. I'm a driver by heart, and I love the mx5 as much as the others,,,, because it's a fantastic car, a bit slow, but loves to slide, lots and lost of fun, even if Chris disagrees..

[@harold-sweat-head8111]

It's all about having the correct tool for the job. A 500 horse power, ultra-wide, hi-tec supercar is probably glorious on airfields and race tracks but on real roads in real conditions they're hopeless. For the real world you need something appropriate and that's why the MX5 is a winner. It may not be the fastest there is but it feels fast enough and that's what counts. It doesn't matter if other cars are faster on paper, it's how fast a car feels that's important. The MX5 goes at 199 smiles per hour and that's why it's a great motor car.

[@BigLukeyBoi]

Actually in real conditions a modern supercar will still annihilate an MX5 both for fun and usability

[@BigLukeyBoi]

An F40 is from 1987, has three full seconds of turbo lag and is basically a street legal racecar. Nothing at all like a modern car. Our GT3 works perfectly in the city, just as usable as anything else. Not at home completely on the road, but still far more fun to drive than an MX5 ever could be . Actually more usable thanks to PDK and adjustable suspension.

[@maximusminimus1346]

***** have fun taking your supercar to the grocery store or through city traffic then tell us its just as practical

[@BigLukeyBoi]

Maximus Minimus Very fun actually , has enough storage space for groceries , the gearbox works wonderfully in the city and the suspension is very compliant

[@maximusminimus1346]

***** funny because the only supercars I ever see and I live in millionaire ville Seattle are parked at car shows or in the paper reported as stolen- ps viva REAL

[@kickassguitarist]

ha that is the first time ive heard anyone say the gearing is too big

[@JanMichaelFranklin]

When this was originally posted, I wasn't an MX-5 owner or even that much of a fan. Now I've owned a mildly modified (Suspension, roll bar, bolt-on's) for about a year, and I have to agree with Chris. The basic NA MX-5 isn't a great performance or sports car, but it is a great wind-in-your-hair fun little basic roadster. I believe this is why it has reached iconic status. However, there is a Jekyl to the stock MX-5 Hyde. There is an MX-5 lover like myself that loves the car for what it is once modified rather than what it is in stock form. Once you properly address the suspension, the MX-5 takes on a more aggressive and serious personality. Add boost to that equation and the MX-5 becomes a proper performance car. I would love to see Chris drive a properly modified example of the NA MX-5.

[@Dagr8soldjer]

being heavily modified is a valid defense because the mx5 is a car that is designed to be modified...the number of parts website's and companies that are licensed to produce mx5 upgrades is such that it is the soul embodiment of the car. It is a cheap car designed to be personalized and built as your own

[@ejcheck]

If you figure that you're talking about a car (the NA in this case) that costs $0.50-$2/lb., you can push as much as you want without the subsequent maintenance breaking the bank, and sure the car is slow off the line but it is just a hoot in the turns. Price and Smile Factor push the MX-5 to the head of the line

[@frederickspeller8117]

When you're this out of touch then it's no wonder you failed as the host of Top Gear.

[@ifrit35]

I was planning to buy an mx5 as my first sport car a few month ago because of the consensus that this is the best value for money. But this was until I drove one. I didn't find it appealing at all. I'm glad to see I'm not the only one that doesn't like this car. Not saying it is bad, but it didn't put a smile on my face.

[@autofiras]

What did you buy instead?

[@cloverhal2284]

How could you dislike so much a truly honest (personal) detailed review by someone willing to go back on what he said ? I had a boxster and what other people said couldn’t stop me from having fun and loving my car !

[@Bellizz0913]

This clown comparing the MX5 at $30K to a Lotus Elise at $100K? I've heard it all.

[@arenh2049]

If I could afford a Porsche GT3 I wouldn't want an mx-5 either.

[@AndreiNeacsu]

If the Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat (700 HP and 4500 lbs) is a sports car (it is not an exotic), then does this mean that a Lotus Elise (200 HP at 2000 lbs) is less of a sports car. This is the message I get when you keep saying that the MX5 lacks the power to be a sports car. I don't intend to get an MX5 and the Honda S2000 is long gone, but I won't bash on the MX5 at its price point and specs. The Miata, like the Subaru BRZ, Hyundai Genesis Coupe and a few others has the advantage of allowing the driver to use the whole car, or at least most of the car at any given time. Try to drive a Corvette, any model, at the limit outside of a track and it may send the driver to an early grave.

[@PhancyPants99]

I may not be a car "expert" but to me the Miata is a great car! Its fun to drive!! And anybody who's ashamed to be seen in a car has issues that go way beyond the car.

[@93SupaFly]

the Top Gear boys love MX5 though

[@trapbum3788]

I love my miata. i know a bunch of people who also find it very intriguing.. i get compliments on my NA all the time too. for the few people who seem to not like the car, sorry mazda cant please everybody. but they damn sure came close! :)

[@redfrederick85]

Commenting this after 10 years, so might be a bit late to share my thoughts. If you confront the Mx-5 to a modern car, it is not that powerful or that entertaining. However it gives you a level of engagement and connection with the road and the drive which nowadays cars do not give anymore.

[@jackweasel12]

to put this in perspective my friend has owned a honda s2000, a subaru brz, a 370z, and is currently looking to sell his z so he can buy porsche 911 or cayman s and I still have my miata. we both agree the miata will never have the looks, performance numbers, or street appeal of any of those cars. And we both agree there is a reason he's still looking for a car to keep and I'm happy with my miata... because that's what the miata does, it gives all you're ever going to need