Final November, our personal Jeff Sutton received an opportunity to expertise the most recent Mazda Miata. In so doing, he received somewhat perception into why folks say that “Miata Is At all times The Reply” (MIATA). Jeff’s story is right here.

The Decide of the Day is the automobile that began all of it, a low-mileage first-generation 1991 Mazda Miata listed on the market on ClassicCars.com by a non-public vendor in Ventura, California. (Click on the hyperlink to view the itemizing)

“Southern California automobile,” the itemizing states. “67,299 authentic miles. Saved clear, all the time garaged or lined, one proprietor.”

The primary-generation, or “NA” chassis Miata, was launched for the 1990 mannequin yr in the USA. It was assembled in Hiroshima, Japan and provided solely as a two-door, two-seat roadster with compact proportions. Weighing in at solely about 2,100 kilos with out choices, it was instantly touted as a tossable and balanced sports activities automobile that was track-ready proper out of the field. And due to its nimble nature, the Miata might make do with a small 1.6-liter inline-four and solely 115 horsepower. The motor sang effortlessly to the 7,200-rpm redline and have become a well-liked platform for tuner modification.

Right this moment’s unmodified instance automobile from 1991 appears nearly as good as one would anticipate for a 32-year-old automobile with about 70,000 miles on the odometer. The vendor states that the comfortable high wants repairs, there’s a blemish on the windshield, and there’s a ding on the driving force door (additionally proven within the pictures). The bonus with this automobile is its uncommon color-matched detachable hardtop, which gives an alternative choice to the standard-issue black fabric high. The Miata’s sheer simplicity was considered one of its most lovable traits: The cockpit was intimate, the controls have been simple to determine, and the analog gauges have been clearly laid out.

Regardless of falling into the sports activities automobile realm, the Miata had economy-car effectivity: The vendor states that this automobile delivers between 25 and 30 miles per gallon. That makes it a excessive worth within the smiles-per-gallon space.

Jeff said in his evaluation that the fourth-generation 2022 Miata was “among the finest driving experiences you possibly can have chucking a sports activities automobile sideways.” I’m a agency believer that this classic Miata might additionally present the identical expertise for about half the worth.

“Prepared for the street,” the itemizing concludes.

The asking worth $16,500 for this well-kept, low-mileage Miata.

To view this itemizing on ClassicCars.com, see Decide of the Day.