Miata's retractable hard top ideal for our climate

Miata's retractable hard top ideal for our climate

2008 Mazda MX-5 Miata
By: Jim Robinson

Summer just wouldn't be summer without a Mazda Miata.

For more than 15 years, getting my hands on a Miata is something I look forward to with anticipation.

Properly called the Mazda MX-5 these days, when the Miata bowed it was inexpensive to operate as well as drive and proved an instant hit.

Many of you will remember when the term "sports car" was synonymous with British makes like MG, Triumph and Austin Healey. Somewhere along the line, they lost the concept of quality and, with emissions laws, their hegemony simply petered out.

Then Mazda came up with the Miata, and by as early as 1990, it was well on its way to becoming the most popular and largest selling sportscar in history.

Wisely, Mazda has not strayed far from the core concept but has constantly kept refining and upgrading, much as Porsche has done with the 911.

But now Mazda has taken the MX-5 Miata to a 'hard place' with an optional power retractable metal top that goes up and down in a mere 13 seconds.

And while power hardtop/convertibles are starting to become more prevalent, the Miata version takes up zero trunk space and is offered on all three MX-5 models for an extra $2,195 over list.

What's also amazing is the rear deck is only 20 mm taller than the soft top's and the hardtop assembly adds just 36 kg in overall weight, thus having a negligible effect on performance.

Central to the Miata philosophy is a concept called "Jinba Ittai" or "Rider and Horse as One". It comes from the Japanese where an archer going into battle on his horse required both to function as one, with the archer controlling his steed so the arrow would hit the target on the move.

That was the concept used in the original design and it has not been changed even though there is no part carried over from the last generation Miata (in 2005) to the current third generation of the car.

At the same time, Mazda engineers used a "gram strategy" to keep the Miata as light as possible. An example is the rearview mirror that was reduced in weight by 84 grams. This gram strategy was applied to every part in the car.

The concept and execution of the Miata was, and is, simple. Use a central spine/chassis, place the engine in front, the drive in the rear and two seats in between and keep the whole package as light as possible for sharp handling. The shape of the Miata has not been trifled with in the 2007 generation.

The Miata is still a joy to drive and is as pointable as ever. The front and rear tracks however are wider than the 2005 and that translates into increased stability. The body stiffness is improved by 47 per cent and that means the suspension has to do the work, which you want in a roadster.

Motive power is a 2.0-litre DOHC inline four-cylinder putting out 166 hp and 140 lb/ft of torque on premium gasoline. For 2008, trim choices start with a five-speed manual transmission on the base GX model priced at $28,195. The $31,350 GS is the more sporting version while the $34,500 GT is more luxury equipped. Both the GS and GT offer a six-speed manual or optional six-speed automatic with sequential mode. If you opt for the autobox in the GT it comes with paddles for the up/down shifts. Both the GS and GT have 17-inch wheels, the GX being fitted with 16-inchers.

ABS is now standard on all models where the GS has a rear limited slip differential and performance Bilstein shocks with shock tower stress bar. Air conditioning and a detachable hardtop are options. The GT has air but stability control and the limited slip are part of the Performance Package. The GT seats are heated leather and a premium Bose sound system is acoustically mapped to the interior whether the top is up or down.

You have to park the soft and hardtop versions side-by-side to see the difference between the two. If you order the soft top and want the optional detachable hardtop, it's $1,900 extra and then you have to find some place to store it. For about $300 more, the power retractable hard top is a no-brainer, especially in our climate.

Besides being a blast to drive, the MX-5 Miata has always been quite civilized right from the start. Driving impressions are based on a late 2007 model with the 2008 being the same in every respect.

Anytime is a great to time to drive one, but I like to wait until past midnight in the summer. With the top down, the heater set low and some R&B on the box, you can head out into the night along roads that are mostly deserted. Passing along through wisps of ground fog is almost magical.

For my money, the GS is the one to buy because it's aimed more at sporting drivers, whereas the GT has tested here is now approaching being a luxury car with all the standard features and trim.

The retractable roof draws a bigger crowd than Pamela Anderson at a bikini contest. Pull into a parking lot and raise the top and people actually stop in their tracks.

The other thing that the MX-5 supplies is reliability. Most people today don't remember what it was like to struggle with a flimsy canvas top that had to be stretched over rickety frames and leaked like a sieve along with sliding plastic windows (windups not being available) that usually became opaque within a year. Don't let them talk about the glories of owning a mid-20th century British sports car.

The worst part was just trying to keep them running. It was not uncommon for people to have to adjust the carburetors and shim the valve springs on a weekly basis. And don't get me going about re-lacing wire wheels.

With the MX-5, you just turn the key and motor off. Besides keeping to the regular maintenance schedule, that's about it.

Regardless of which MX-5 you chose, it's a rewarding car you can fling around and enjoy because it's got just enough power to have fun, but not enough to get you into trouble.

And now with a retractable hardtop, it still offers the kind of fun you can have in any season.


MAZDA MX-5 MIATA RETRACTABLE HARDTOP 2008 AT A GLANCE

BODY STYLE: Two-seat roadster.

DRIVE METHOD: front-engine, rear-wheel-drive.

ENGINE: 2.0-litre DOHC inline four-cylinder (166 hp, 140 lb/ft)

FUEL ECONOMY: Five-speed manual, 9.5L/100 km city, 7.3L/100 km highway; six-speed manual 9.7l/7.2L city/highway; six-speed automatic, 10.5L/7.2L city/highway

PRICE: GX, $28,195; GS, $31,350; GT, $34,500; hardtop/convertible adds $2,195.

WEB: mazda.ca

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