Mazda MX-5 Miata RF

Yes – the Mazda MX-5 Miata RF really is ‘that good’. In many ways, it’s perfection. But it’s hard to define perfection these days. Or more accurately, it’s hard not to be over-shouted when you try to define it. See – we have the (often) misfortune of living in a social media driven world… that’s even further driven by specs & stats & opinions & inexperience. Consequently, it makes it hard to think for ourselves… and to clearly know who WE are and what WE WANT. Versus what we’re TOLD we want by influencers & algorithms. And taking all that digital/social chaos into consideration, the Miata should not stand a chance. Yet here it is.

The MX-5 Miata is just about as pure as it gets.

It’s soul capturing. And it’s truly therapeutic… in a way that few people get the opportunity to fully experience. The Miata RF 6-speed quite literally is, the car that all enthusiasts (like me) gripe doesn’t exist anymore. It’s ‘that car’ from the early-90s golden era of Japanese sports cars. There are so many reasons why it should be extinct in modern times… sales-wise, size-wise, etc. Yet here it is in this moment, brand new, staring you right in the face.

Sure – the MX-5 Miata RF may seem a bit pricey…

And/or hard-to-justify for what’s essentially a recreational, single-purpose vehicle. But – the VALUE is there from an emotional standpoint. This is a car you purchase with your heart, not your head. But – owning a Miata will change the way you see & compare cars. It will enrich your automotive vocabulary and/or perspective. And it will make you realize, that the sum of a car is not in its specs & stats. That’s hard to explain to an outsider, but easy to understand when you drive a car like this. There’s just an aspect to great cars that you can’t measure with tools or data. On paper, other new performance cars excel & blow the Miata out of the water. But from the driver’s seat… few new cars can beat the Miata. And VERY FEW new cars will make you happier & more eager to drive than a MX-5 Miata.

If you’re looking at the ND (current model) MX-5 Miata…

Ideally look for a 2019+. In 2019, the Miata got some engine tweaks & improvements that really just hit the nail on the head. My opinion: whether it’s the regular MX-5 Miata ragtop, or this hardtop/targa RF model… both are great. There’s no wrong answer; pick the one that picks you. But spring for the Club or Grand Touring models (this is the Club pictured). Those two models have a limited slip, and odds are, you’re either gonna be glad you have it… or wish you did. The soft-top Miata offers a basic Sport model without limited slip. But in the RF, the Sport model is cut, and you just have the Club & Grand Touring models.

The Miata RF Club model comes with the Brembo/BBS/Recaro package.

It gets a little confusing here, but the Club is less expensive than the Grand Touring if you opt for the regular soft-top MX-5. But in the soft-top variant, the Club does not come with the Brembo/BBS/Recaro package (that’s a $4,500 added option). However, if you decide to go with the Miata RF hardtop/targa, the Club becomes the more expensive model over the Grand Touring… and it does come with the Brembo/BBS/Recaro package included. And in RF configuration, the Club is only about $3,000 more than the Grand Touring (versus the $4,500 option on the soft-top). So ehhh, you’ll figure it all out & make the right choice for you lol… I’ve got faith.