I still remember the day I drove away from the dealership with a $40,000 Mazda MX-5, the 30th Anniversary edition. It was a bright, crisp morning in late summer, the kind of day where the air feels like it’s been freshly scrubbed by the night. I had spent months researching, watching countless videos, and calculating how I could fit this dream into my budget. The anniversary edition was everything I had hoped for and more: a beautiful shade of Racing Orange, special badging, and a host of exclusive features that made it feel like a piece of automotive history.
The car had this aura about it; it felt special right from the first turn of the key. The exhaust note was distinct, a throaty growl that hinted at the power waiting to be unleashed. As I drove through the winding roads that led away from the dealership, I couldn’t help but marvel at the way it handled. The steering was precise, the suspension perfectly balanced, and the overall driving experience was just intoxicating. It was like Mazda had bottled up everything that made the MX-5 special and injected it into this one limited-edition model.
Every corner I took felt like a dance, the car responding to my inputs with a kind of immediacy that made it clear just how much care had gone into its engineering. The anniversary edition’s interior was also a highlight, with its Alcantara-trimmed seats and a handful of unique touches that made it feel luxurious yet still sporty. The technology and infotainment system were state-of-the-art, making every drive not just exhilarating but also enjoyable in a modern sense.
Fast forward a few years, and I found myself reflecting on a different kind of Mazda MX-5 experience: a $5,000 NA Miata I had bought on a whim. This was no anniversary edition. It was an older model, with a faded paint job and a few dings and scratches. The moment I saw it, I was filled with a mix of nostalgia and curiosity. I had heard that the older models had their own charm and that sometimes, a simpler car could offer just as much driving pleasure as its newer counterparts.
The first time I drove the NA Miata, it was like stepping back in time. The steering was heavier, the ride a bit rougher, and the interior decidedly more Spartan compared to the modern iteration. But there was something undeniably engaging about it. This was a car stripped down to its essentials, and while it didn’t have all the bells and whistles, it made up for it in sheer driving joy. The lack of modern features meant that every drive felt more immersive, more connected to the road.
Despite its age, the NA Miata had a charm that was hard to resist. The gear shifter was a delight to use, the engine’s response was crisp, and the overall driving experience was pure and unfiltered. It reminded me of why the MX-5 was so beloved in the first place: its ability to deliver an engaging drive without relying on modern technology or flashy features.
Comparing the $40,000 anniversary edition to the $5,000 NA Miata felt like comparing two different philosophies of driving. The anniversary edition was a showcase of what Mazda could achieve with the latest technology and design, while the NA Miata was a reminder of the brand’s roots and its dedication to creating a fun driving experience with fewer frills. Both cars had their own merits and unique appeals, each representing a different era of the MX-5’s storied history.
The ultimate takeaway from this experience was that no matter how much you spend, the joy of driving an MX-5 lies not just in its price tag or its features but in the connection it creates between the driver and the road. Whether it’s the cutting-edge technology of the 30th Anniversary edition or the raw, unfiltered pleasure of the NA Miata, both cars offer something special.
Driving the anniversary edition felt like experiencing the pinnacle of Mazda’s engineering prowess, a culmination of decades of refinement and innovation. In contrast, the NA Miata offered a glimpse into the past, a simpler time when driving was all about the basics and the pleasure of the drive itself. Each car, in its own way, highlighted what makes the MX-5 such a beloved vehicle: its ability to bring joy to driving enthusiasts, regardless of the price or the era in which it was built.