A sports car is not just about power. Its about a combination of power and handling and power-to-weight ratio. These cars are precision machines that are optimized for the best possible handling for the available power. Adding horsepower means adding weight, changing the dynamics of the suspension, body stiffness, and a host of other things. You cannot just add power to an existing car without altering many other things to get everything balanced. Well, you *can* add power, like many people do, but you will have screwed with the dynamics of the vehicle and thrown other things out of balance. Given two identical machines, just adding power to one of them will not make it faster on a track, for example. You will be faster in a straight line, but you will lose out massively on the twists and turns. Like someone else said before, the Miata has been on the 10 best for ages..... there is a reason for that, and lack of power ain't the reason!

 

One of the reasons I love the Miata is that you can drive it with your foot flat to the floor most of the time. Yes you may be speeding, but it isn't doing stupid speed like in a Corvette where one wrong move can get you in the ditch and dead. The Miata encourages you to drive it at 8/10ths on a public road, the limits and speed are low enough to where you won't kill yourself, the handling and braking is so good and forgiving that you can catch a mistake, you have to be really stupid to send a Miata into the ditch IMO. The car really communicates with you, its forgiving when you do get in over your head.

 

Well said....what you are talking about is driveability. The Miata has been king in this domain (ok, maybe a tad bit behind the Honda S2000) for a long time. Simply adding power will put you in the ditch!!

 

The S2000's main problem, though, was that its VTEC four didn't reach its (extremely narrow) power-band until motorcycle RPMs. I remember, the first version had a 9000 RPM redline, with HP peak at 8600 and torque peak at 7600. Below 6000, it was like a slug. The subsequent version had slightly lower power-peaks, but not much. We also saw that, to a lesser extent, on the first VTEC Toyota four in the 2000-2005 Celica GT and some versions of the Matrix. A lot of these engines, BTW, were damaged or ruined because over-zealous kids gave them too many RPMs while drag-racing....I saw a couple of those ruined engines myself in the service bays.

 

so it's January 4, 2018 - when is Mazda going to load the 2018 MX-5 BUILD YOUR OWN info?!?!?!

 

maybe the '18 miata isn't actually available yet?

 

Interesting. Fiat hasn't updated its Build-Your-Own site for the new 2018 124 Spyder, either....which, I believe, is built in the same plant as the Miata. Perhaps (?) there is a delay in the plant getting the latest model into production. Dealership-deliveries were supposed to be started this month...January.

 

I agree with your assertion is supported by the robust sales of the GT86.

 

Goes to show the kind of gearing and how hard the engine has to work to put up acceptable performance numbers. Defeats the purpose of "small and efficient."

 

If you are flooring it constantly on public roads, then you are being reckless and eventually you will end up in a ditch somewhere. Or put someone else in a ditch because of the aggressive driving.

 

Some reviews says the s2000 drives like a regular civic when its off the powerband and it sounded like a blender.

 

I encourage you to find a dealer who has an S2000 on the lot, and ask for a test drive. You will be amazed at the handling, the sound, AND prepare to have a smile that no one can wipe off for a week! The car has an incredibly high power-to-weight ratio, which is why it works.

 

doesn't mean they can't update the website tho.

 

It probably would have outsold the Miata if the price had been a little lower. The Miata, of course, though lacking the S2000's ultimate top-end power (if you rev the hell out of the engine, of course) appealed mainly on its low price by sports-car/roadster standards.

 

Yes, the Miata has a lot going for itself too.... including a great power-to-weight ratio. It handles great and you can throw it around without worry. The only downside to it is body stiffness and a tiny bit of cowl shake. I don't know if those have been sorted out in the newest versions, so I may be hanging onto some old baggage. I just wish I could live with the back end looks!