Video: 2009 Mazda Miata
By Cars.com Editors
May 13, 2009
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About the video
Cars.com's Joe Wiesenfelder takes a look at the 2009 Mazda Miata at the 2009 Chicago auto show.
Transcript
Hi, I'm Joe Wiesenfelder with Cars.com at the 2009 Chicago Auto Show. where 20 years ago, this car was introduced, this actual model. This is a 1990 Mazda Miata. It's an affordable two seat convertible, a Roadster.
It was the first of its type to kind of bring back a Roadster revolution other manufacturers have followed. So for the 20th anniversary of the 2009 here, has had some styling changes and some other improvements under the hood. There have few generations of MX-5 Miata. When this one came out a few years ago, it had a different front end. It was the second one with real headlights, instead of pop-ups. For 2009, what they've done is they deepened the front bumper and they've given it the large kind of smile grill, which I don't mind that much. They have the same approach on the Mazda3, and it looks a little bit like a clown. And that frightens me. The lights themselves have been changed a little bit in terms of their shape. And the wheels different 16 and 17 inch wheels. Some of the other changes to the body are a little bit more subtle. Like the rocker panels here on the side, you can almost not tell the difference that was done mostly for aerodynamic purposes. And the rear end like the front has been changed a bit. It seems to be a little bit deeper, though the car itself is not sitting any lower. Now the most significant functional change on the inside was replacement of the front seats. A little bit more comfortable. I can attest to that. Also some mechanical things like the engine has been changed the slightest bit in cars with the six speed manual transmission. That red line is now at 7,000 RPM up from 6,700. It's the same in the automatic. Couple other revisions for 2009, antilock brakes are now standard. Changes to the suspension system. They've changed the shock valving, the firmness, and basically they made it feel a lot more like the original, the 1990. Not quite as soft as the more recent one was. It's interesting. It doesn't seem like a good time to be selling a sporty car, but at the same time, when this one came out in 1989, it was a recession then too. And because it's affordable and it still is, it's just over 20 grand to start and you'll pay a little bit more if you want a retractable hardtop, I'd say it still has a good chance for people that want something sporty and don't have too much to spend and want to save on fuel too. <v Announcer>For additional information on this car or any other, go to cars.com and our blog, KickingTires.
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