This is where the fun starts. The responsive 1.8-liter engine growls entertainingly when used hard and delivers good performance. No wheel-spinning excess here, just power that can be used, and more of it than ever before. The '96 Miata generates 133 peak horsepower, a 5-hp gain over the '95 edition. That may not sound like much, but it makes a noticeable difference in a car that weighs less than 2300 lbs.Respectable fuel economy is part of the deal as well. The 5-speed manual transmission is perfectly matched to the engine, and has one of the most positive short-throw shifters around. That's a good thing, because the Miata engine thrives on high rpm. We suggest you ignore the optional automatic; it's simply out of place in this car.
Although the Miata will scoot to 60 mph in about eight seconds, acceleration isn't really its strongest suit. Handling is. Simply stated, the little roadster begs to be driven with brio on a winding road. Body roll is minimal, the steering is both light and pinpoint-sharp, and the extra-cost limited-slip differential allows the driver to make maximum use of the power available.
Of course there's a tradeoff, in that the low-speed ride is firm, though not harsh. The brakes are very good, even without ABS, a $900 extra that's baked into one of two option packages.
Unless you have to have the accoutrements that go with it, the power steering is an unnecessary expense. Like the automatic transmission option, it's not bad, just superfluous.
On the other hand, the stiffer shock absorbers that go with the R Package aren't so stiff as to cause real discomfort, and do make a fine-handling chassis even better.
If there's any fault to find here, it's in the area of noise. Like most convertibles, the soft top doesn't do much to damp out sound waves. Between wind noise and the sweet but loud music of the engine, there's a fair amount of interior racket at highway speeds.
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