BMW Z3 2.3 vs. Mazda Miata...continued
Mazda Miata
Hard to believe, but itās been eleven years since the Miata made itās debut, ushering in a new era of retro styling and top-down, two-seat motoring. The Miataās mission was to deliver the open-air bare-bones feel offered by
British sports cars of the 50s and 60s, without the mechanical headaches for
which these cars were famous.
The launch of the Miata triggered a renewed interest in the roadster, and weāve seen a host of variations on the theme from other manufacturers, including the BMW Z3. When the Miata came in for a redesign in 1999, Mazda
could have followed the followers and moved the car upmarket. Instead, they
chose to keep the Miata true to its original concept, a decision for which
we are eternally grateful. The biggest change was to the styling; the basic
shape is the same, but the car now sports the aggressive, muscular lines of
the late (and lamented) RX-7 sports car. The most controversial change was
the elimination of the Miataās pop-up headlights, which were replaced by
almond-shape lenses. Personally, I miss the old headlights, but I like the
Miataās new facade - viewed from the front, the bright red tester reminded
me of a baby Dodge Viper.
From behind the wheel, little has changed. The Miataās a tight squeeze - Iām 5ā6", but sitting behind the Miataās wheel made me feel like a six-footer. Once settled in, though, the position is fantastic. The
bulging hood stretches out before you, the three-spoke Nardi steering wheel
is well placed and looks great (the hub is so small, itās hard to believe
thereās an airbag in there), and the stubby shifter seems to place itself
right under your hand like a dog looking for a scratch behind the ears. The
top is incredibly simple to lower - flip two latches and toss it back. If
the weather is good, thereās no excuse not to flip the Miataās lid.
Once under way, the Miata presents a sharp contrast to the Z3. The Bimmer
coddles; the Miata aims to put as little as possible between the driver and
the road. The Bimmerās six sings; the Miataās 1.8 liter 4-cylinder engine
(itās output upped to 140HP last year) utters a raspy buzz reminiscent of
itās British forebears. The Bimmerās handling is out of sight; the Miataās
handling is super-responsive, safe and predictable, but a skilled driver can
explore itās limits with a comfortable margin of safety. It is said that a
truly great driverās car becomes an extension of the driver, but in the
Miata, the whole experience - the open top, the diminutive dimensions, the
razor-sharp steering, the subtle feedback thatās telegraphed from the road
to the driverās backside - gels to form a something unique: the driver
becomes an extension of the car. Back to Mulholland: The run through the
twisties didnāt go quite as fast as in the Bimmer, but it was a lot more
fun.
Our Miataās handling skills were improved by an optional Sport Package that
included a performance-enhanced suspension. The downside of this option is
that it firms up the Miataās ride to the point that some folks will find it
uncomfortable on long trips. If youāre considering a Miata, be sure to test
drive both versions -- even without the sport suspension, the Miata still
handles like a go-kart. New for 2000 is an LS version, which includes
leather seats, 15" alloy wheels, cruise control, and an upgraded stereo.
ABS is available, but only on the upscale LS. Weād like to see ABS
available on the base Miata, too.
Miatas start at $21,245, and our tester added the sports package, air
conditioning, fog lamps, and a few appearance items, for a grand total of
$24,815, including destination. Thatās not chump change, but itās still
$7,000 south of the Z3ās starting price.
Pros: Sharp, accessible handling, easy to lower top, least expensive
roadster you can buy
Cautions: Handling suspension makes for a bumpy ride
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