Everyone knows that the Miata is about the most fun one can have on four wheels without (grossly) breaking the law. It's a great example of how you don't need 300-plus horsepower to really enjoy the drive. A responsive, agile chassis along with the inherent fun of open-cockpit motoring make for a high entertainment value while behind the wheel.
But another attribute of the Miata that may not be as obvious is how well the car fits. How well it fits me, anyhoo. At 5-feet-5 and 150, it's not like I make big demands as far as leg- or head-room -- I can get comfortable in most vehicles. But I do appreciate controls that are close at hand, a bucket seat that hugs me and a steering wheel/pedal relationship that doesn't have the wheel flirting with my chest so I can work the clutch. That toggle switch of a gear shifter is located perfectly too -- just the right height so snapping through the gears is a mere wrist flick and a constant joy. Lastly, when I'm settled into the Miata, I don't have that "sitting in a bathtub" feeling that I had with our long-term Solstice...
John DiPietro, Automotive Editor @ 14, 200
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