why mazda miata so expensive

[01rangerxl]

Originally Posted By: d00df00d
What they said. Low volume + toy car + excellent dynamics = not cheap. Plus, it's a convertible.

Then again, compared to cars that are similarly fun to drive, the Miata is a bargain.


Agreed. It isn't cheap, but there also isn't anything else that offers the same driving experience for that price. For a low volume roadster it's really not a bad price. They are quality cars too.

My friend's mom has had a 2001 Miata since new. Back in high school when his parents would go out of town we would take the Miata out just to drive around. 130 MPH with the top down is fun.

 

[Spazdog]

Originally Posted By: SteveSRT8
I had a 65 TR-4 and a 72 MGB-GT. I have driven several Spitfires as well at events way back when.

Frankly the Spitfire was amazing for the way you could beat it around. My TR-4 would easily pull it in a straight line and run all the way to 120 mph, but when it came time to stop and turn, no contest. The GT would be a mile back wheezing to catch up.

But the Spit was a spindly little thing with no substance, absolutely a tin can. God help you in a crash, you'll need it.


With a full frame, it shouldn't be any worse in a crash than a unibody MG Midget. And the Midget eventually had the same 1500 engine as the Spitfire so reliability should be similar.

That 4.11:1 rear end did help the Spitfire move around better than it's miserable engine output should.

And the Spitfire had a few wins under it's belt:
SCCA Championship dash plaque

 

[Hermann]

Originally Posted By: kkreit01
I've never drive one, but have read all the rave. It wouldn't be the car for me. I prefer "torque + straight-line acceleration" vs. "canyon carving". Besides that, I get carsick if taking curves/hills too fast

.


Kkreit,

Try I-635 S exit, to I-35 S exit at 60 MPH, and discover what carving corners is all about. I can do it at 55 MPH no sweat in the skinny tired, softly sprung 2WD Tacoma.
Warning this ramp is ever so slightly off camber. Makes it real fun when the weight shifts slightly.

 

[KrisZ]

Why are SUV's so expensive, after all there is about $1500 extra worth of metal in them?
If you can answear this you will understand why things, not just Miata, are priced the way they are.

 

[Landrew]

Originally Posted By: kkreit01
I've never drive one, but have read all the rave. It wouldn't be the car for me. I prefer "torque + straight-line acceleration" vs. "canyon carving". Besides that, I get carsick if taking curves/hills too fast

.


That's how I was to a degree as well. I drove 3 different years. mid 90's, 2004 sport, and a 90. They are so alive and dynamic it makes driving a whole new experience. Still a decent minivan could out accelerate me, and that wasn't something I could overlook. Then I read up on turbocharging them and how there is a huge following and 2 large dedicated vendors that do it and many more smaller ones. The 90 of my friends got a turbo and 220 wheel hp so about 245 rated hp and it was 2100lbs. After driving it I was set. I had top find a Miata.
I bought a 2002 special edition Yellow 2 years ago and in about 30-45 days it will have a fully built engine with 300whp or about 345 crank HP. At 2400lbs not much will be able to stay with it in a straight line. If there are a few turns and braking zones then it's all over. The Miata design makes driving something you cant wait to do every time you get in it. It's like a drug. Jumping into say a mustang or new camaro its like you just had an all you can eat and you feel bloated, slow and slothful.......

 

[jimbrewer]

Originally Posted By: Quattro Pete
It's considered a toy, which means it's a "want", not a "need", hence the manufacturer knows it can charge more for it. Besides, a Z4 which is in the same segment would set you back 2x as much, so the miata is a bargain by comparison.

As for MPG, well, it's supposed to be a sports car that has a drivetrain geared more towards performance, not fuel economy.


Paradoxically, Miatas are GREAT used car buys for precisely the same reasons. (This at a time when there are not too many good used car deals out there). Times get tight. low mileage toy gets traded in. Not too many people buying $15K toys these days. Yet, they might as well be any Honda for their reliability. Decent, not great mpg. Maybe 28 MPG. I know a guy who bought a Miata "toy" to go with his daily driver, a big pickup truck. The guy ended up driving the bejabbers out of that Miata, like 150K trouble-free miles on a car he bought for maybe 8K. A lot of people just need a little runabout like that. You could do a lot worse than a used Miata.

 

[grampi]

The Miata is no different than the Mini Cooper, Fiat 500, or the Smart Car...all are considered specialty "niche" cars, or in other words "toys", and those who buy them can afford them and are willing to pay the inflated prices for these matchbox toys...

 

[HerrStig]

Originally Posted By: grampi
The Miata is no different than the Mini Cooper, Fiat 500, or the Smart Car...all are considered specialty "niche" cars, or in other words "toys", and those who buy them can afford them and are willing to pay the inflated prices for these matchbox toys...
And big "Pick Up" trucks with leather seats which only go to the milk store are NOT toys?

 

[bladecutter]

Originally Posted By: HerrStig
Originally Posted By: grampi
The Miata is no different than the Mini Cooper, Fiat 500, or the Smart Car...all are considered specialty "niche" cars, or in other words "toys", and those who buy them can afford them and are willing to pay the inflated prices for these matchbox toys...
And big "Pick Up" trucks with leather seats which only go to the milk store are NOT toys?


Everyone has a different view of what a "toy" is to them.

My gf drives her Fiat 500 Abarth to work every single day.
It both is and is not a toy to her. She simply loves it, and uses it.

Any vehicle that doesn't get driven is a waste, to me.

BC.