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Minivan to MX-5 – Review of the Mazda Miata

April 21, 2019 by Jill Leave a Comment

My husband and I bought our first (and only, to date) minivan five years ago. The Chrysler Town and Country is my everyday ride and, although I like to joke that part of me died a little the day we signed the papers, she’s been a good vehicle that meets the needs of our busy life with kids. I told myself I was okay with the lack of coolness that went with driving the people mover…and then I drove a compact, sporty red convertible for two weeks. I went from minivan to MX5 and today, sharing my experiences with you: what it’s like to drive a Mazda Miata after driving a minivan, what I liked, what I didn’t, and all the details if you’re considering making the Mazda Miata your next car: My review of the Mazda Miata.

I drove the 2019 Mazda MX-5 Miata Club in Soul Red/Crystal Black. This car was loaned to me by Mazda USA for review purposes. All opinions are mine. 

Table of Contents

  • Minivan to MX5 – Review of the Mazda Miata
    • What I didn’t like about the MX-5 Mazda Miata
    • What I did like about the MX-5 Mazda Miata
    • Car Facts – Mazda MX-5 Miata:
  • You might also like:

Minivan to MX5 – Review of the Mazda Miata

I drove the Mazda Miata for two weeks and that was a good amount of time to form an opinion on it. If you’re looking for a super technical car review talking about torque and side-bolstering, you’ll probably want to hop over to Motor Trend or Car and Driver. I’m giving you my completely honest perspective on what I liked about the car, what I didn’t like about the car, and how it fit into my life. If you’re considering swapping your mom mobile for something sportier, or adding a second car, this review will answer some of your questions.

What I didn’t like about the MX-5 Mazda Miata

It only seats two people

This one is obvious but if I were considering purchasing this car, the lack of a backseat would probably be the deal-breaker. I could seeing it be my everyday runaround car or something my husband and I took out when it was just the two of us but have absolutely zero options to transport my kids in a pinch? Unless we had the budget for a third car, this wouldn’t be for us.

The feeling of being so low to the ground

Not only am I used to sitting up high, I’m used to climbing up into the driver’s seat, not lowering myself into it. Getting into and out of the Mx-5 in a skirt or heels is tricky. I’ll also add that I’m 5’10, so someone with a more petite build might not have this same issue. 

The lack of console space

There’s no glove box. Instead there’s a small compartment behind the driver’s seat you can use to house your insurance and registration papers. There are two cup holders but they’re located at the driver’s elbow level. While you can use these holders to store your coffee or water bottle, you can’t reach for them without twisting your torso around and that’s not a safe or comfortable move to make while driving.

I took the Miata on a trip from San Antonio to Dallas and I always have to have water handy when I’m driving. I had to drive with the bottle between my knees four hours there and back. I made it work but it felt awkward and I would have liked a cup holder I could reach easily. 

I didn’t feel super safe on the highway

Nothing against the way the Mazda MX-5 is engineered but it is a tiny, tiny little car. Being alongside or sandwiched between semi trucks on the interstate was unnerving. I did get used to it it but I didn’t like being in front of a larger vehicle on the highway. The MX-5 is a rag top so you hear different road noises than you do inside a completely hard-sided vehicle and when that noise is an 18-wheeler on your bumper that looks like it’s looming over your itty bitty sports car in the rear view mirror, that is a little bit scary. 

It looks sporty and cool but it isn’t a serious sports car

I didn’t do any extreme speeds or drag racing during the two weeks I drove this car (honest, I didn’t, Mazda…I took very good care of your cute little red car.) Despite being fun and sporty looking, this Miata didn’t have a whole lot of giddy up and I had to really push the pedal down to get it to accelerate. It was actually fun to drive but if you have the need for speed, this probably isn’t your car. It’s a cute little roadster but it’s not a power car. It is fun to drive, though.

What I did like about the MX-5 Mazda Miata

It’s easy to maneuver

Switching lanes, whipping in and out of traffic and finding a parking space – all a cinch. The small size was a negative for me in some ways but a positive in many others. 

The gas mileage is awesome

If you’re used to filling up a larger vehicle, the much smaller dollar amount on the gas pump will be a welcome surprise. The first time I put gas in the Miata, I thought to myself “that just can’t be right.” 

The trunk has a surprising amount of space

When I first looked at the trunk, I thought it wouldn’t hold very much. It holds more than you might think. I drove the Miata to the grocery store for “just a few things.” You can probably guess how that worked out. I ended up buying what I’d call an average grocery cart load for my family of four and all my grocery bags fit. I was surprised.

However, if you’re going to use the Mazda Miata as a road trip car, you’ll need to be conservative with what you pack and what you bring home. I took a solo trip to Dallas and I had a small suitcase and a backpack with my camera equipment and that pretty much used all the space in the trunk. You could maximize space by sharing a suitcase with your partner or using soft-sided bags. You’d also be very limited on what you could transport back, so the Miata probably isn’t the ideal car to take on a major shopping spree.

It’s a cool looking car

Looks count. They’re not the only thing that counts but you’re in your car every day and driving something you think it ugly isn’t fun. Trust me, I’ve been there. People look at your different when you’re driving a sleek little red sports car. Not that this should be the sole reason you should spend $30K but I think it’s worth mentioning that people look at you differently when you’re rocking a sexy red convertible than they do when you’re behind the wheel of your trusty people mover. 

It’s really fun to drive

It took me the better part of a week to really appreciate the MX-5 Miata. Having to fold myself in half to get into the car took some getting used to and the fact that I couldn’t easily reach my cup holders when I was driving drove me nuts but it’s a really fun little car to run around in. If I could afford a third, “fun car” I could drive during the day when I didn’t need to take my kids somewhere (which is actually quite a bit) or for date night with my husband, I’d consider this one. This beauty can be had for around $25K so if an extra or “just for fun” car is in your budget at all, it can be quite affordable. 

Car Facts – Mazda MX-5 Miata:

  • Fuel economy: You’ll average 30 MPG, 26 on the highway and 35 in the city
  • Price: MSRP is just over $30K. The model I drove was $32K
  • Front and rear stabilizers bars
  • Power windows with one touch down
  • Power automatic door locks
  • Leather wrapped steering wheel with audio/Bluetooth/cruise controls
  • Heated cloth trimmed sport seats
  • Rear view camera
  • Side impact door beams
  • LED tail light
  • Rear cross traffic alert and blind spot monitoring
  • Advanced keyless entry system and push-button start

For more info  visit Mazda’s  website.

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Is the Mazda CX-3 Your Next Family Car?


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All About Jill

I'm a digital content creator and essayist who copes with parenting and most other situations with humor and snark. Just so you know, if this weren't the internet, I'd be smiling awkwardly and answering simple questions like "How are you today" with gems like "I like pockets."

I really do love pockets, though.

I spent 26 years in the USAF, which went by really, really fast. I'm very proud of my service but I'm loving my second act even more. Writing gives me the opportunity to flex my creative muscles and that's what makes me happy. Welcome.

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rippedjeansandbifocals

Freelance Writer & Travel Expert
Producer, Listen to Your Mother SA
💜 Mom via birth & #adoption
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Jill Robbins
Here’s something you’ve probably never seen be Here’s something you’ve probably never seen before: my bottom teeth.
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I always hide my crooked bottom teeth in pictures and I’m super self-conscious when I talk. So I did something about it.
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I wore braces as a kid and my top teeth are straight but my bottom teeth are shifting and one tooth is traveling into the back of my mouth and I have some crowding. My orthodontist said it’s very unusual to put braces on just half your mouth but my bite is still aligned so they didn’t have to put them on my top teeth - my wallet is thankful.
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Questions I’ve already been asked:
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1️⃣ At your age? Yes, at my age. I still care about my smile. 
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3️⃣ How long do you have to wear them?
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6-9 months.
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3️⃣ Do they hurt? 
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My teeth are sore and my mouth is tender but not to the Tylenol level so I guess the answer is “Not too much.”
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Other questions? Advice?
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#braceface #adultbraces
Little things can really be big - do you agree? M Little things can really be big - do you agree?

My husband gets up with our kids twice a week and does their breakfast and morning routine and takes them to school so I can sleep in. I don't laze away the morning in bed - it usually amounts to about an extra hour of sleep for me and a little more peace and quiet as I start my day. 

This probably seems like a little thing but this is huge for me. The mental benefits of not having to set my alarm on a schoolday is truly my love language. I would rather have sleep than flowers or presents. 

On those morning where my husband takes my kids to school, I will inevitably find the kitchen not "just so." There will be spills on the table or something that didn't get put away. I resist the urge to be sarcastic or to ask "Um, is there a reason we have four boxes of cereal just sitting on the counter?" or point out that it would take less than 30 seconds to wipe a tabletop or put a box back on the shelf. I resist saying stuff like "I guess if I want it done a certain way, I have to do it myself." I don't even say that to myself. 

My husband isn't "doing me a favor" by taking care of our kids. When I talked about being stressed and tired during an argument last year, he offered to take some things off my plate and giving me two mornings where I don't have to set an alarm was one of his ideas. It's part of the give and take of marriage and even though it makes me clench a little when I see spilled milk or stuff that hasn't put away, I appreciate having a partner who shares the load with me. 

My marriage definitely is not perfect and I'm in no position to give relationship advice. But for us, this one little thing is a really big deal. 

And, as I've recently discovered, a cereal box can sit on the counter for several days and the world doesn't explode. Who knew.

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Anyone else having massive “This time last year” moments?
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2020 started out so fine. We extended our kids’ winter break to take them on a Disney Cruise- no better reason than that, amiright- and I was excited about all the Disney Cruise blog posts I was going to write. Disney Cruises are (errr...were?) one of the most searched terms on my website and how a lot of people found me.
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Early 2020 was such a time of hope and light that pretty much everyone took for granted.
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While it’s become glaringly obvious the change in the calendar isn’t a magic potion, I still have hope for this year and still believe there magic yet to happen.
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You know...the good stuff.
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We got our first Raddish Kids box right before the We got our first Raddish Kids box right before the holidays and finally dug into it this weekend. Our box had a cold-weather theme which was perfect for this cold weather we're having (flurries in San Antonio can you believe it?!)

Each box contains three recipe cards, a culinary tool, an iron-on patch and Table Talk conversation starter cards. A shopping list is included and also emailed to you in advance in case you want to be ready to cook as soon as your box arrives. You buy all the groceries yourself. 

We made homemade chicken and dumplings this weekend and they turned out amazing. If you need modifications (i.e. gluten or dairy free) you can hop on to the @raddishkids website and go to the "Bonus Bites" section. You'll find modifications, food videos, extra recipes, parent info and more fun stuff. 

The price ranges from $20-$24 per box depending on what type of subscription you choose. Boxes are designed for kids 4-14+ with varying degrees of supervision needed depending on your child's skills and age. Kyle and i have done two meals from this box - we still have cookies left to make - and worked together about 50-50. It was a lot of fun. 

To order yours, here's my affiliate link https://raddish-kids-monthly-delivery.sjv.io/edoAr or read my full review (link in bio)

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I think today would be better if I could hang out I think today would be better if I could hang out with donkeys all day. 

There's a reason animals are used in therapy - they are both comforting and fun. This picture was from our October outing to Wassermann's Wranch outside of Alpine (in West Texas.) I love my beautiful state and the landscape of West Texas fascinates me because it's so different than what I see every day here near San Antonio.

Wassermann's Wranch is located just a few miles outside the city. It's a private hobby farm that sees visitors by reservation. It's absolutely worth planning your day around and you can check out more in my blog post linked in my bio.

I didn't realize I liked donkeys until I got to know these guys. The owner, Heidi, told me "I think you might be a donkey chick."

I think I'm OK with that. 

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