Mazda MX-5: Affordable Fun Spices Up The Gloom of 2020

As gloomy as 2020 has been … in the car market emotion is still a major sales factor. Now more than ever — with nowhere to go — people need to get out and just enjoy the ride.

The three decade old Mazda MX-5 Miata Sport Manual Convertible … at $26,580 is still the fun-to-drive leader.

The MX-5 RF Club adds practical panache with a retractable hardtop and good old fashioned roadster handling starting at $33,000

The Mazda MX-5 is light at about 2,500 lbs, just reduced a few hundred pounds in the most recent redesign. And yet even with a modest 181 horsepower 2 liter 4 cylinder it’s always a thrill-ride very low and close to the road.

But thanks to classic rack and pinion steering … the double wishbone front suspension … updated with a sport tuning, Blitstein shocks and coil springs front and back, and speed sensitive steering … this car is crazy fun to drive.

The Miata is even cooler and more exclusive because it comes standard with a 6 speed short throw manual shift, only available as an automatic for an additional $600.