My 92 Miata
After admiring them for 15 years, I picked up a Mazda Miata this past March. It's an old bugger, a 1992, but one of the BEST first generation Miata's built (because mechanical problems of the first few years were resolved with resounding success!).
After a few years of getting to know each other, I can say that I really love the little car. I hope it's not too bothered by my presence because I have been spending a lot of time with my butt plastered in that dang driver seat!
A few years back I had a 1980 MGB and when I drove the Miata I was instantly amused by the familiar feel, except in a more refined (read: reliable) nature. Don't get me wrong, the old Miata still bumps and shudders over rough pavement and railroad tracks, but it has a distinctly "connected" feeling while driving. The car is elemental and mechanically simple which lends itself to the similarities to my old MGB. Not to mention the gauges, replete with the old familiar green gauge lights, harkens back to the little British beast.
Driving this car makes me feel like I am in a little ski boat speeding across the water, except of course, I am on land :-) It's a really cool feeling to have that top down and the breezes against your face, especially on a nice clear night of driving. If you have never experienced driving a little convertible roadster, definitely try to put that on your "list" of things to do in life if you can, you won't regret it. I know that crusing along on a back country road is on my short list of FAVORITE sensory experiences in life!
Go cruising and have fun :-)
