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2006 Mazda MX-5 Miata
The Good
J
Fun Fun Fun. Zippy engine, Great steering feel, Great mix of old miata and
new 2006 car feel. Quick open and close top.
The Bad
L
Very small interior. Small luggage space. Price goes up fast. Lots of
hard plastic inside.
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Ever since Mazda
launched the roadster craze in 1989, millions of people have jumped on the
convertible band wagon. These hip cars have become the want it dream car of
millions even though they have not sold like a SUV. Truthfully there are
not many convertibles that can be had for a descent price and the Miata was
one of the few that was affordable. The MX-5 Miata has largely remained
unchanged over the years until now when Mazda has done a total redesign of
the vehicle while still retaining similar looks. The new MX-5 Miata is more
nimble, more sporty, more aggressive, and more fun, however not much more
roomy.
"The third-generation Mazda MX-5 Miata
builds on the formidable qualities of the previous generation cars, and sets
the standard for affordable roadsters for the 21st century," says Yasunari
Otachi, vehicle line manager for MX-5 Miata. Six versions of the new MX-5
Miata are offered: the Club Spec, standard MX-5, Touring, Sport, Grand
Touring and for the very first time from launch, Mazda also will offer 750
Limited special versions of the MX-5. "Our new model range also is the
broadest ever, catering from the great value Club Spec right up to the
Limited special version, which specifically celebrates the arrival of the
car that probably, more than any other, sums and celebrates Mazda's
Zoom-Zoom philosophy", said Otachi.
The
Club Spec is a new version, and represents the least expensive way of
getting into an MX-5 Miata at a base price of $20,995. As with the next
step-up MX-5, it gets a five-speed manual gearbox, 16-inch aluminum sports
wheels, power-assisted door mirrors, dual exhausts, power windows, cloth
upholstery, AM/FM/CD player with four speakers, dual front airbags and side
airbags. In addition, the 2nd level up MX-5 gets air
conditioning and a leather-covered steering wheel for a base price of
$21,995. The 3rd step up Miata Touring, adds to this fog lamps
in the lower bumper, cruise control, Advanced Keyless Entry with retractable
key and steering wheel-mounted cruise and audio controls, among other extra
features for a base price of $22,995. The new six-speed manual gearbox with
leather shift knob is standard on the 4th level up MX-5 Miata
Sport, as are bigger 17-inch alloy sports wheels, for a base price of
$23,495. The 5th level up Grand Touring gets leather seats, faux
leather door trim, cloth soft top, and a Bose audio system with seven
speakers. When upgrading to the Grand Touring with Premium Package, the
vehicle gets Mazda Advanced Keyless Entry & Start System. The Grand Touring
model is tested here which starts at a base price of $24,995. The top-range
3rd Generation Limited model adds exclusive Velocity Red paint
with Red or Black leather upholstery, chrome grille, windshield trim,
headlamp bezels, fog lamps bezels and door handles, chrome rings around the
gauges and vents, silver instrument panel finisher, stainless steel scuff
plates and unique-design 17-inch wheels with bright finish, among other
unique features.
The all-new exterior is
rounder and more substantial than the previous version. While remaining
distinctly Miata, after a few days in real life you begin to pull out Aston-Marton-like
front end traits, BMW-like side profiles, and the smoothness in the bumpers
as in a Boxster. Headlights sweep around the corners for a modern
appearance. Tail lamps are more traditional to the original Miata using a
clear design material however. A depression in the front hood panel is
similar to that found on the RX-8. Chrome latches on the rear deck provide
a strong feeling. A dual tipped rear exhaust finishes off the stylistic
changed. This third-generation car is 1.8 inches longer, 1.6 inches wider
and 0.7 inches taller. Wheelbase length is increased by 2.5 inches,
primarily to give more cockpit space than the previous version.
The new soft top is flatter up
top and has a long rear contour flowing onto the rear deck smoothly. The
top features a glass rearview windshield with heating element for quick
defrosting. While it is a manual top, it is very easy to use, just press a
lever and fold it back, remembering to either open both windows or doors
first. A hard push on the top locks it into place when folded. Opening
required us to twist our body and pull up on the top using one of the two
built in handles. Opening and closing from outside the car while standing
is much easier. Optional is a hard top which is very much like that of a
Boxster hard top widening out to the rear for more light and a aggressive
look.
The interior is modern, clean
and fresh with nothing bulging in your face. The flat T layout is not very
futuristic but quite easy to figure out. Everything is within easy reach in
this small cockpit. New items are a tilt steering wheel offering 1.3 inches
of adjustment and a new air deflector between the two seats which folds and
is perforated to slow down reverse air flow into the cabin. Also new is a
full 2 inches of increased seat adjustment although you still cannot stretch
your legs fully while seated in the passenger seat. Varied use of plastics
makes most parts different to look at and feel even though there is heavy
use of hard plastic.
We liked the large thick leather
wrapped steering wheel. The main feature on the dash is the piano black
glossy trim used. The instrument cluster is rounded and simple but the hard
plastic lid on this area looks a bit cheap. Four circular air vents are
easy to control and offer push button closing. Four cup holders can be
found in the interior for all your heavy drinking needs. What is lacking is
space for your Ipod, or cell phone, which usually ends up in the cup
holders. The stereo system is good but not excellent and sometimes sounds
like it is not a true Bose system, the speakers should be improved. A
satellite and media key as well as CD changer can be found built into the
unit already. Climate control is manual not automatic temperature
controlled but functions well and is quiet. Aluminum look parts such as the
door handles and trim on the steering wheel looks like that of a car in this
price range but not something superb. At night interior lighting is a bit
low, with only one lamp near the rear view mirror. We would have liked more
ambient lighting in the trunk and in the floor. Headlights work well and
are quite bright for being basic halogen beams. Interior room is not very
good for those weighing over 160 pounds. Tall persons may have an equally
difficult time behind the wheel. Seats are comfortable for long journeys of
2 hours or more but you are sitting very low to the ground and that can get
tiring after this much time.
The
heart of the 2006 MX-5 is a highly-responsive MZR-series 2.0-liter four
cylinder engine. This light and compact engine features chain driven double
overhead camshafts, lightweight fly wheel, variable intake valve timing,
electronically controlled port fuel injection and coil-on-plug ignition. It
produces 170-horsepower at 6,700 rpm and 140 lb-ft of torque at 5,000 rpm
with 90 percent of torque being available from 2,500 rpm to 6,700 rpm
redline. While this much power may seem low in today's 300 horsepower car
market, it is very peppy and zips you to high speeds quickly in the
lightweight Miata. The Exhaust note is deep along with the high revving
engine but is not the sound of a very powerful car, more of a lightweight
fun car. We would have liked to see something with a Tubi exhaust note.
The
all-new MX-5 benefits from three transmission choices: five-speed manual,
six-speed manual and six-speed Sport A/T automatic with out test car having
the six-speed manual. The all-new six-speed manual transmission boasts
ultra-short throws, achieved by use of triple-cone synchros on the first
four gears. The shift gate is hard and not as smooth as say in a BMW 3
series but is definitely more fun this way for a two door sports car. Opt
for the automatic transmission and you have paddle mounted shift levers
behind the steering wheel to change gears yourself. We would prefer this
for city driving.
The
engine is mounted front mid ship for better handling and balance. Weight was
also reduced considerably throughout the development process. Mazda
utilized a ‘gram strategy' to weight the smallest parts and make a large
overall weight effect. The design of the rear-view mirror was simplified
trimming 84 grams. An aluminum hood and trunk lid and many suspension and
braking components are some weight saving measures. Overall weight has
increased by just 27 lbs over the second-generation car with a bigger car,
stronger body, and side airbags and ABS system.
With
the driver in place the Miata has 50:50 weight distribution. Bending
rigidity has been improved by 22-percent and torsional rigidity by
47-percent. A Z shaped frame made of aluminum rigidly links the rear of the
transmission to the front of the differential housing assuring better
conveyance of the drivers throttle inputs to the rear wheels and providing
more feel to the driver.
The
front suspension is a double wishbone setup as in higher end vehicles.
Aluminum anchor points are reinforced to provide the desired lateral
stiffness. Bilstein shocks are used in our upgraded suspension. The Miata
is comfortable to drive on bumps and is flat and stable in curves. It is
not overly stiff and not loose at all either. Steering is light and highly
touted to be accurate. The power-assisted rack and pinion system is lighter
and more precise than the second generation MX-5. We found it to be quite
accurate but not amazingly connected as we have felt in some other vehicles
which are much higher priced. Front disc brakes are 11.4 inches in diameter
and rear discs are 11.0 inches. Stopping performance is very good and solid
feeling.
Safety
features are also updated with new dual front air bags and side air bags
which go up to the level of your head. Dynamic Stability Control is
available along with the antilock brake system and run flat tires to help
you stay out of any possible bad situations. Structural bars behind the
headrests can support 2 and 2.7 times the vehicles weight each.
The new Mazda MX-5 Miata is a great small
convertible. It makes you want to go out and get a bottle of milk and then
go back out to get some eggs. It is a driver's car as most convertible's
are. Although it is small and fits a smaller and smaller group of the
American population each day (Americans are getting larger and larger) it
gives you connection to the road, wind in your hair, and a passion to drive
which is lacking in most offerings on the market. We would have liked the
Miata to be just a tad bigger and then perhaps it would be perfect for the
price it falls into. We still imagine this to be a girlish car, but we have
never seen a young girl driving a Miata where we live. So perhaps Mazda is
on the right track after all. |
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