1. Overview
2. Gallery
   • Photo Gallery (13)
   • 360° View
   • Video
   • Web Videos (659)
3. Trims and Specs
   • Select a Trim (6)
4. More Resources
   • Related News (0)
   • Other Expert Reviews (2)
   • Consumer Opinions (8)
   • Car Tweets
   • Q&A (0)
5. Next Steps
   • Get Mazda Insurance Quotes
   • Get Mazda Financing Quotes
   • Check Local Classifieds
   • Find a local dealer

     Select State Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Washington West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming Select City
     

     See all Mazda dealers

November 7, 2008 http://www.thecarconnection.com/fullreview/mazda_mx-5-miata_2004

  TheCarConnection Team
 TheCarConnection Team

Mazda rolled out its turbocharged Mazdaspeed Miata to journalists in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, which is a fine location for testing the car’s beach-cruising capabilities, but a little tougher spot for exercising the car to its potential as a corner-straightening sports car.

To aid in its ability to attract attention while cruising, the Mazdaspeed Miata wears cool 17-inch Racing Hart wheels wrapped with P205/40R-17 Toyo Proxes high performance radials, an air dam under the front bumper, and a spoiler on the trunk lid. The turbo car is available in two colors, Velocity Mica Red and Titanium Gray Metallic. Tinted headlight covers complete the car’s serious appearance.

So, for the cruisers, we can confirm the Mazdaspeed Miata enjoys improved top-down pose potential at the beach scene. But the real news is for sports car nuts: Mazda has bolted on all of the go-fast aftermarket upgrades that you’d ever want on your new roadster and wrapped them up with a warranty, a great price, and new car financing.

Speedy purpose

If the purpose of your aftermarket tuner parts is to customize your ride, then this probably won’t be the way to go, since all the other turbo Miatas will be pretty nearly identical. If your purpose is to get the maximum Miata for the minimum outlay, you will never be able to beat the Mazdaspeed Miata and its MSRP of $25,500. Another $700 gets you the leather seats instead of fabric and fabric top instead of vinyl.

Add the optional six-speed manual and anti-lock brakes to a Miata LS, and the price is higher than the Mazdaspeed Miata, which includes both of those items, plus the aforementioned Racing Hart wheels, which would cost plenty if bought separately.

But the Mazdaspeed Miata’s most significant addition is the IHI single-scroll ball-bearing turbocharger, which pumps up the Miata’s 1.8-liter DOHC motor to 178 horsepower from 142 horsepower. The blower breathes through a Denso air-to-air intercooler that mounts just ahead of the larger radiator. So yes, the turbo Miata is quicker than the non-turbo, helping Mazda fortify its position against the likes of the BMW Z4, Honda S2000, and new Mercedes SLK320.

Mazda rolled out its turbocharged Mazdaspeed Miata to journalists in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, which is a fine location for testing the car’s beach-cruising capabilities, but a little tougher spot for exercising the car to its potential as a corner-straightening sports car. To aid in its ability to attract attention while cruising, the Mazdaspeed Miata wears cool 17-inch Racing Hart wheels wrapped with P205/40R-17 Toyo Proxes high performance radials, an air dam under the front bumper, and a spoiler on the trunk lid. The turbo car is available in two colors, Velocity Mica Red and Titanium Gray Metallic. Tinted headlight covers complete the car’s serious appearance. So, for the cruisers, we can confirm the Mazdaspeed Miata enjoys improved top-down pose potential at the beach scene. But the real news is for sports car nuts: Mazda has bolted on all of the go-fast aftermarket upgrades that you’d ever want on your new roadster and wrapped them up with a warranty, a great price, and new car financing. Speedy purpose If the purpose of your aftermarket tuner parts is to customize your ride, then this probably won’t be the way to go, since all the other turbo Miatas will be pretty nearly identical. If your purpose is to get the maximum Miata for the minimum outlay, you will never be able to beat the Mazdaspeed Miata and its MSRP of $25,500. Another $700 gets you the leather seats instead of fabric and fabric top instead of vinyl. Add the optional six-speed manual and anti-lock brakes to a Miata LS, and the price is higher than the Mazdaspeed Miata, which includes both of those items, plus the aforementioned Racing Hart wheels, which would cost plenty if bought separately. But the Mazdaspeed Miata’s most significant addition is the IHI single-scroll ball-bearing turbocharger, which pumps up the Miata’s 1.8-liter DOHC motor to 178 horsepower from 142 horsepower. The blower breathes through a Denso air-to-air intercooler that mounts just ahead of the larger radiator. So yes, the turbo Miata is quicker than the non-turbo, helping Mazda fortify its position against the likes of the BMW Z4, Honda S2000, and new Mercedes SLK320. Mazda rolled out its turbocharged Mazdaspeed Miata to journalists in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, which is a fine location for testing the car’s beach-cruising capabilities, but a little tougher spot for exercising the car to its potential as a corner-straightening sports car. To aid in its ...