1999 Mazda MX-5 Miata Review
1999 Mazda MX-5 Miata Review

Used MX-5 Miata for sale
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Edmunds' Expert Review
by the Edmunds Experts
Pros
- Sheer joy to drive. Perfect weight distribution. Zingy engine. Excellent HVAC system. Perfect communication from suspension and steering. Forgiving at-the-limit handling. Glass rear window with defroster. Available Windblocker. Available Bose audio system. Passenger airbag cut-off switch.
Cons
- Space inside is tight. Teensy trunk. Not as original as the original.
What’s new
Mazda cautiously redesigns the MX-5 Miata, improving the car in every way without bumping up the price or diluting the car's personality.
Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 1999 Mazda MX-5 Miata 2dr Convertible and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $3.12 per gallon for regular unleaded in Virginia.
Monthly estimates based on costs in Virginia
$161/mo for MX-5 Miata Base
MX-5 Miata Base
vs
$168/mo
Avg. Compact Car
Vehicle overview
Mazda's MX-5 Miata is still the best roadster on the market today. Sure, Germany has unleashed the BMW Z3, the Mercedes SLK and the Porsche Boxster, but none of them can match the Mazda for sheer bang for the buck.
The MX-5 Miata is about simplicity in design and operation. It's about having fun behind the wheel. It's about feeling free and young on warm summer nights. Not a serious car, the MX-5 Miata, but that is this Mazda's charm.
Knuckleheads driven by large quantities of testosterone will dismiss the Miata as a woman's car. They don't know what they are talking about. Purists will dismiss the Miata in favor of the German convertibles, citing bloodline and heritage as worthy attributes that the Mazda does not possess. These are people who haven't driven any of the four, in most cases. We've driven the current crop of two-seat roadsters, and while some members of our staff refuse to openly admit that the Miata is the better car, it is an unspoken understanding that Mazda builds the superior roadster for the dollar.
Redesigned from the ground up, the 1999 MX-5 Miata has been improved upon in every way. The car is faster and more rigid, and sports updated styling that strays just far enough from the original to be fresh but not so far as to dilute the traditional Miata profile. In some ways, the new car is better-looking than the first-generation model, thanks to its wider tail and more sculpted bodywork. In other ways, well, let's just say those new exposed headlights remind us a bit too much of a Mercury Sable.
Trunk room is up substantially, and a windblocker is available to cut down on the number of bad hair days Miata drivers may suffer. The familiar 1.8-liter twin-cam engine makes more power and torque than last year, thanks to a new cylinder head that benefits from improved flow as well as a higher compression ratio. (California residents: your Miatas make slightly less power and torque than in the other 49 states.) Manual transmissions shift more smoothly and automatics are recalibrated to improve performance.
A stiffer, stronger body and chassis coupled with revised steering and suspension settings make the new Miata more responsive, while a wider track provides better stability in corners. The cowl shake of the old Miata is quelled substantially thanks to structural improvements. Four-wheel disc brakes are standard, and the fronts are ventilated. The passenger-side airbag can be switched off, so pre-teen kids can enjoy top-down thrills in the new car.
The 1999 version has a glass rear window with a standard defogger. A CD player comes installed in every Miata, and audiophiles who opt for the right package can crank tunes on a 200-watt Bose audio system. The revised interior is very nicely done, with well-integrated stereo and climate systems, the latter of which employs rotary dials to control settings. A sharp three-spoke steering wheel can be replaced by a leather-wrapped Nardi version. There is one Miata model available, but it can be dressed up with any of four different packages: a Touring package, a Popular Equipment package, a Leather package or the race-ready Sports package.
There's also a limited-edition 10th Anniversary MX-5 Miata that features a six-speed transmission, Sapphire Blue Mica exterior color, blue softtop with blue boot and blue interior trim. Chrome rings surround the speedometer and tachometer and a carbon fiber-like material covers the center console. A gift set (including his-and-hers Seiko watches, as well as a 1/43 scale 10Th Anniversary model) is also part of the package. Only 3,000 of these special Miatas will be produced, so get your order in now.
The MX-5 Miata is a car that auto enthusiasts should drive at least once in their lifetime. Drop by your local Mazda dealer on a warm sunny day, and see why Edmund's enthusiastically recommends the Miata.
Consumer reviews
Read what other owners think about the Used 1999 Mazda MX-5 Miata.
5 star(89%)
4 star(11%)
3 star(0%)
2 star(0%)
1 star(0%)
62 reviews
Trending topics in reviews
Most helpful consumer reviews
4.75 out of 5 stars
Second time around
mike9691, 09/05/2012
1999 Mazda MX-5 Miata 2dr Convertible
We bought our first Miata new in 2002.
Can't add anymore than everyone else has about how fun and reliable it was.
Had to get another car soon after because it was impractical for our needs at the time.
Ten years later, I found this 1999 with 140kmiles for a very good price and practicality be d****d.
It still runs like a new one and is just as much fun.
I'd like to disagree with … everyone that says it's not a good choice for a 6 foot person.
I'm 6'1" and have plenty of room with the top down, which is the main reason for owning one.
It is a little tight for headroom with the top up, but that shouldn't keep a taller person from checking one out.
4.63 out of 5 stars
My NEW (to me) Miata
brianne12782, 03/27/2013
1999 Mazda MX-5 Miata 2dr Convertible
I just bought a 1999 Mazda Miata. She's cherry red and with the beige lether interior, Bose sound system, P/W and P/L. I love her!!!
I've wanted a Miata since before I could drive and my mom refused when I was 16 years old to get me one, citing it was unsafe. I understand where she was coming from- plus when I went to college, in MAINE, my Miata would've been a silly choice.
However, I … live and work in Boston and I love this car! No, I wont be able to take her out in the winter that much but she's a second car and well worth it.
She was just over $8,000 and had only 28,000 miles on it! I know right!!! She had one owner who kept her in a garage at his cape cod house! WHat a steal- mint!
4.88 out of 5 stars
Nice fun car to drive.
CrazyGuy, 12/20/2008
1999 Mazda MX-5 Miata 10th Anniversary 2dr Convertible
I just picked up this 10th anniversary edition Miata with 100,000 miles on it. The car still runs and idles like new. No vibration at all. The paint is in very good condition. I love 6 speed manual tranny and dual tone interior design. Leather and suede buckets seats. The handling is excellent. RWD. I love this car. A nice Christmas present for myself
4.63 out of 5 stars
My second Miata
Tim, 03/05/2010
1999 Mazda MX-5 Miata 2dr Convertible
This is my second Miata. I got it with only 57,000 miles. Previously I had a bare bones 96 (no A/C, P/W) I loved it. Then I bought a new 05 Mustang GT that had the comfort and the performance (LOVED that one too!). But I had to sell the Mustang unfortunately. So while I was "right sizing" I went back to a Miata. And in San Diego there isn't a more perfect car. If it wasn't for the 300 … HP in the Mustang I would have rated the Miata higher in performance. The Miata's handling is perfect. It's buzzy at freeway speeds. I love the way it shifts. Looks better than the new Miatas!
1999 MX-5 Miata Highlights
Base
Engine Type | Gas |
---|---|
Combined MPG | 24 MPG |
Cost to Drive | $161/month |
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place | 5.1 cu.ft. |
Drivetrain | rear wheel drive |
Safety
IIHS Rating
The Insurance Institute of Highway Safety uses extensive crash tests to determine car safety.
- Small Overlap Front Driver-Side TestNot Tested
- Small Overlap Front Passenger-Side TestNot Tested
- Moderate Overlap Front Test – Original0
- Moderate Overlap Front Test – UpdatedNot Tested
- Side Impact Test – OriginalNot Tested
- Side Impact Test – UpdatedNot Tested
- Roof Strength TestNot Tested
- Rear Crash Protection / Head RestraintNot Tested
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