I drove a 1.6 Miata.

In reply to NOHOME :

I don't remember what color interior you have in the Molvo - if it's black, I might have one for you.

frenchyd said:

In reply to BlueInGreen - Jon :

Why did they stop making it?   I know bigger is better yadda,  yadda yadda. But really don't you think Mazda is missing out on some  entry level buyers?  
   How about  a modern EV version. Use the existing  1600 sheet metal & Chassis ( as much as possible) and throw a smallish motor and battery set in.  You don't need hundreds of miles of range.  Or blinding acceleration to replicate its willing sporty nature.  

You know the current Miata is actually less expensive, better equipped, safer, faster, within 100 lbs or so and pretty darn similar in size to the 1990? They didn't stop making it, really. 

Trying to "use the old 1600 sheetmetal" wouldn't work (even if they still had it) as there's no way it would pass modern safety regs and it would need a significant redesign to work as an EV. Heck, even pop up lights aren't compatible with modern pedestrian safety requiments from what I understand. Fun thing to think about and I'm pretty sure MG did that with the B, but a Miata EV won't have any parts interchangeable with the NA other than stuff like lug nuts. 

My 17 year old daughter loves her 1991 Miata.  It was down for a couple months this summer with an engine issue (https://grassrootsmotorsports.com/forum/grm/miata-engine-noise-diagnostics/184305/page1/), and she was driving the E46 M3 convertible (also a manual transmission).  The whole time, she couldn't wait to get back into the Miata, and she's much happier now that that she is.  While the Miata is fun, I gotta say for a daily driver the M3 pushes more buttons for me.  

In reply to Keith Tanner :

And that is why Mazda is awesome.

In reply to Keith Tanner :

Fair enough, find a mint one and use it to make a mold.  Now use fiberglass or some other material.  ( like Saturn did )  but keep the original Elan inspired styling.  

I too am back in the early Miata fold. I have faster cars, but there is nothing like an early Miata, except maybe my Lotus Elan.

I got my 90 by accident and drove it 10 years.  For awhile, I had a 90 and a 95.  Similar, but different, both a lot of fun.  The silver one is the 90.

Drove my 92 around the past couple days as it's been nice out! Absolutely a blast. 

Nohome, I sent you a PM.

A supposedly quick run to the hardware store this afternoon turned into a few-hour drive to nowhere in our Miata. :)

(Well, since we had the car out and the weather's so nice....)

And we drove the Miata more over the weekend. Fun car that does exactly what I want it to do.