Out and about shooting todays ride with the Canon and the smartphone. As you can tell by the pics and description below, it is a bit unusual for CleanMPG but noteworthy nonetheless. When I say noteworthy, it is a no holds barred Best-Selling Two-Seat Roadster in the world with an almost 50:50 weight distribution providing sports car like stick sans a big hp engine. Meaning it is a really fun to drive small car with a top down experience you cannot get from much else this side of the 1960s! The last time I was in a Miata was quite literally decade(s) ago. It just never was in my wheelhouse. Marians, yes, mine, no. That said, I have always liked its small car look and feel and its extremely lightweight chassis. The 2014 Mazda MX-5 Miata allowed us to drive is the Club version with a 167 hp and 140 lb-ft. of torque 2.0L I4 mated to a very short throw close ratio 6-speed stick. When I say close ratio, I mean 6 shifts by the time you hit 30 if you want to save fuel. A bit notchy yet Mazda precise. At least in the 3-miles I have driven it so far? It also has a unique lower pitched rumble at just above idle to about 2k. Have not been over that driving around locally yet. Not for the open air faint of heart but it certainly is unique when rowing the handshaker. The press kit said 2,600 pounds but it feels way lighter than this. This 21/28 mpgUS city/highway rated 2014 Mazda Miata Club with the 6-speed MT arrived with the Power Retractable Hard Top (PRHT) that takes just 12 seconds from release to stowed. Pretty cool although you do have to push a release button and pull the release catch lever before hitting the top down button. It lists at $28,665 + $795 D&H. and there are no other options. It feels sparse given the price yet perfect for its intention. Std. with the Club trim includes a shock tower brace, black 17 alloys with summer Bridgestone Potenza RE50s, an aluminum hood, discs all around, an honest to goodness double wishbone up front and multi-link out back, real glass rear window in the power retractable hard top, fogs, CC, A/C, PW w/ drivers one-touch-down, fob key - going the way of the Dodo soon - Steering-wheel-mounted audio and cruise controls, and red accent stitching in the black cloth seats. No NAVI, no side curtain or knee airbags, no proximity key, no power seat with heat and cooling functions, and the best part, no room for more than 2. Early impressions? It is not a daily driver yet as a weekend go have fun car, this thing is FUN!!! No telescopic wheel and it is confining. aFCD only updates about once per minute and the sun visors are cheap plastic POS. No USB port that I can find but it does have an Aux jack. Anyone use those anymore? A 12 V port is std. as well. No BT? Wheel thickness harkens back to the 70s and road feel is almost to good. There are a few cars that everyone should drive at least once in their lives and they include the Vette, a Porsche 911, a Jaguar XK, and low and behold, this Miata. Not sure about the FE part just yet but well figure something out soon enough with a 47 mpg first local city drive. And it does not roll worth a damn. Look at the pressure placard and tire make as to the reason why. :)
Posted on: Wed, 06 Aug 2014 00:35:39 +0000
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