For an automobile enthusiast, driving the Mazda Roadster is said to be like letting loose of sorrows. The 13-foot-long two-seat beauty is not only smartly styled but also excellently efficient in design so that it can quickly dash down roads in a sprightly and lighthearted manner. The car doesn’t leave much room for extra baggage, and since it weighs less than 2,600 pounds, it’s the perfect pick for speed enthusiasts.
The Miata not only lets the driver throw heavy thoughts and responsibilities out the window, but also provides the perfect 50-50 front-to-rear weight balance that makes it seem as if you’re driving a car on rails. Pull down its top roof (which comes as either a hard- or a soft-top) and you’ll have the drive of a lifetime, with sun, energy and warmth.
It’s actually not surprising that the MX-5 Miata with its rear-wheel drive has made the Guinness World Records as the world’s best-selling two-seat roadster. More than 900,000 cars were built in the United States, however, U.S. models come from Mazda’s Hiroshima auto manufacturing complex.
And if you’re thinking that the MX-5 Miata is just a record holder or some sort of therapy for automobile enthusiasts, you’re mistaken. The Mazda Roadster is actually extremely practical. It’s also a recommended buy of Consumer Reports, which rate its reliability at average. According to the federal government, its combined city/highway fuel mileage reaches 28 miles per gallon for the 2015 Miata with manual transmission, which averaged 27 mpg in city/highway travel.
The price for this record-breaking beauty? According to the suggested retail price, which includes destination charges, the 2015 Miata Sport with soft top and manual transmission costs $24,765, making it one of the most affordable 2015 convertibles in the United States. In fact, only the Smart fortwo Passion Cabriolet comes at a lower price (a $18,680 starting retail price, including destination charges).
There are other options that customers may choose to add: for instance, the six-speed automatic transmission, which comes at a retail price of $27,025.
Miata’s soft tops operate manually and are easily maneuvered because of their light weight as well as small size. You can always go for the power-operated hard top, though, which starts at a retail price of $29,460.
The Miata’s engine is a 2-liter four-cylinder engine, rated at 167 horsepower (with manual transmission) or 158 horsepower (with automatic). The manufacturer recommends premium gasoline for maximum engine power.
Its standard equipment includes air conditioning, power windows, adjustable driver seat, glass rear window, lockable glovebox, a manually raising mesh wind blocker for when the soft top is down, 16 or 17-inch tires, carpeted floor mats, AM/FM/CD/MP3 player and more.