Used 1997 MAZDA MX-5 Miata

"Always surprising... and FUN"

"These reviews appear to apply to any age. I bought my '91 in 1997 with 70,000 mi. As a daily driver for nearly nearly 17 years, it has 231,000 mi. Easy to maintain. Easy to work on. Simple and reliable. Two clutches, two timing belts, one MAS and several sets of brakes and tires. That's it. Maintain one of these babies, and it will last to a half-million. Having owned MGAs and MGBs, I can attest to the fact that Mazda succeeded in reviving the British roadster tradition. Wind in your hair. Smile on your face."

"A Reliable Little Pony born in 1993"

"Like a steadfast road warrior this coupe continues to perform. Dont compare it to a contemporary vehicle--it doesnt have the gizmos and widgets. But Ive maintained it well inside and out, and it has not disappointed. Mine has a hard top with a rag underneath, which makes it unique and versatile. Had a technician at an oil change shop offer me 4,000 for it and I wasnt even thinking of selling. Expensive to get service for but not difficult to work on, i.e., tune ups, etc.--hard to change fuses because there isnt much room under the dash--bad idea to put the fuses there. Its a low, stiff ride, so I dont recommend it for us Gen Xers on long road trips, but for me, its a perfect little jitney to cruise around in when I dont have to haul a bunch of stuff (although with careful packing, it did well on a CostCo run), pull the top down and head to the beach on a hot day, and impress your friends that you still have the longing for adventure most everyone over 50 left in the back of their SUV."

"20 years and still smiling"

"My wife and I bought our red miata new in July 1990 and have enjoyed all 155000 miles. Still runs, rides and looks great. Had to replace the 1.6 engine at 146k because the shims were put in backwards at an earlier time when a timing belt was changed and wore out the cam. I had a 1.8 used engine rebuilt and installed. I liked the original 1.6 but the 1.8 really has noticebly more power but still delivers about 29-30 mpg. Last summer we decided to replace the soft top with a black sunbrella fabric top that had a glass window - very nice change. No rust and still has the original paint. Planning on upgrading orgin. headlights, audio, shocks and exhaust this summer. My guess is that they don't make them like this anymore or they might risk going out of business..."