Mazda MX-5 Miata 0-60 times

The winter season doesn’t take kindly to Roadster owners. They often have to tuck away their convertible to protect it from road-salt corrosion, prolong the life of its top and save its interior from grit and slush contamination. Also, storage helps to keep the driver away from a chilly cabin, flapping canvas racket and the whistling wind as it passes over the weather seals.

If your Roadster is your only means of transport, you’ll have no choice but to mount some winter tires, put on gloves and soldier through the frosty months. Alternatively, you could get yourself the two-seat, convertible Mazda MX-5 Miata RF. The MX-5 Miata comes in two forms: the ND Club soft top and the NC Club RF.

The latest ND MX-5 is 100 pounds heavier than its predecessor but exhibits the same speeds. It hits 60mph in 6.1 seconds and covers quarter of a mile in 14.8 seconds at 93mph. The current soft top is, however, faster, hitting 60mph in 5.8 seconds and clearing quarter of a mile 0.2 seconds sooner at 94mph.

The soft top takes about 8.4 seconds to get from 30 to 50 mph and about 10.7 seconds to reach 70 from 50mph. The heavier RF falls behind with a 9.6 seconds timing when getting to 50mph. The six-speed automatic exhibits exemplary downshifts and is able to beat the manual by getting from 30 to 50 mph in 3.4 seconds and 50 to 70 in 4.5 seconds.

The Miata falls short when it comes to interior features. It has no glovebox nor door pockets. It only provides for rudimentary cup holders and a not-so-spacious cube for stashing your phone and keys. As experienced in many other classic sports cars, the wind is also not very kind to one’s hair past 50mph. Navigation units and radar detectors have their source of power hidden somewhere near the passenger’s footing.

All Miatas pay tribute to classic cars, offering very little consideration for comfort. This keeps the driver focused purely on the joy of driving. Every increase in steering lock and shifting showcases the great improvements that Mazda brought to the archetypal British sports cars.

The vehicle is, however, not that practical. It has seats for two and a trunk that can host a few overnight bags. The RF offers more silence and style compared to its soft top counterpart. Both are no longer basic drop tops. They are also not very luxurious. Mazda has fit the base model with a 7.0-inch infotainment system. This adds onto the LED headlights, cloth upholstery, leather-wrapped steering wheel and keyless ignition. The optional 2018 Club model features BBS and Brembo front brakes. It can also be upgraded with heated Recaro seats.

The 2018 Miata comes with a few upgrades such as keyless ignition and an improved infotainment system. The Club trim is available for those who desire to have extra features. Those uninterested in enhancements can acquire the 2016 or 2017 model. Models from prior years are from a completely different generation and will feature distinct features.