aux tests out the 06 mazda miata GT

[auxilary]

rove down to another mazda dealer, bs'd with the sales manager (he's a Z guy, apparently) which led to him giving me the keys to a mazda3 and telling me to go have fun. this mazda3 2.3 seemed to feel way more fun than the previous one I drove, and gripped much better, even though it had the same tires.

 

then we went for a spin in the new 06 miata with the gt package. 6 speed, lsd, 18" wheels...

 

holy ****, this car is FUN. First of all... the engine note is reminicent of the old mg roadster... the growl, the wind out... it was a mellodeous. The transmission is really close, even taller gears. At 70mph, I was doing about 3,500rpm in 6th.

 

The clutch is weird, there's no engagement point... I stalled it the first time because it has about 1" of travel before full engagement and requires no effort. Once used to it, it's quite nice.

 

The car handles like crazy. It will go where you want it to go. it's balanced, it's neutral, it feels like an extension of your body. I did make the traction light come on a few times. The sales manager was pleased

 

Interior: a bit cramped, but what do you expect? with top down at 70mph, you can carry on a conversation, it's relatively quiet.

[Boobala]

If they made a true hard-top version, I'd buy one.

[DatsunATX]

Nice to hear someone not brand loyal to mazda praise the new miata. Everyone I know still thinks its crap but I like them alot, a friend of mine has a firts gen miata(dont know what year)that has a nice turbo and intercooler setup and it also has LSD and other goodies ,but it hauls a$$ and carves the corners up,I cant wait to try a mazda speed miata with turbo and whatever else it has.

 

Ben