Used 2000 Mazda MX-5 Miata Consumer Reviews

Miata Equals Fun

Miatas are pure driving enjoyment. Simple and lightweight they thrive on winding roads. My 2000 has 32000 miles on it and has been rock solid reliable. The body is rigid, with only mild cowl shake. Interior space is OK if you're under 6 feet. A tilt wheel would be nice, but otherwise, the dash layout is clean and easy to read. The manual tranny is easy to shift with short throws. One of the nicest benefits of a Miata is that you don't need to spend a fortune to have fun. I'm sorry I waited so long to get one.

A scalpel in a world of hammers

This is my second Miata and the rush of endorphins that these car are capable of inducing has not waned at all in my almost ten years of Miata ownership. There's nothing on the road as inexpensive to own and reliable while being as much fun. You can't help but fall in love with these cars! Sublime handling, intuitive steering, shifting is a pleasure. Second generation (like the 2000) offers some nice improvements glass window, stiffer body, etc. while not being much (if any) heavier. I miss the pop-up lights though.

Lovin' it!

Wonderful little car. When you get this car, you're not just getting a vehicle to get from point A to B. You're getting a lifestyle. You're getting other friends (Miata fanatics) on the road. You're getting looks from girls. You're getting an "in" to a worldwide base of Miata enthusiasts. You're getting exhilaration on your morning commute (I can't tell you how many coworkers complain about the drive to work...but never me!). Mazda has the right to put "pure fun" in the official list of features.

My 3rd Miata

I live in south Florida and this is my 3rd Miata. I very rarely drive with the top up. I have been known to drop the top to drive to Publix a half mile away. I had a '93 and then a '95 which I sold with 190,000 miles on it. Bought my 2000 with 36,000 (almost brand new!). This car is much better than the type 1 cars. The trunk has finally been designed to hold something and I do not miss the barn door headlights. In my old cars the trunk would hold my Les Paul case but not an SG case. The new trunk is redesigned to easily hold a larger guitar case. Some people laugh at a musician owning a Miata but I can pack 2 electric guitars, 1 acoustic guitar, my amp, keyboard, tenor sax and misc. stuff.

Amazing Sports Car Value

It took years of saving, but the Miata was worth the wait. A pure, simple sports car, the Miata loves to be tossed around, and loves to rev. My car has 32000 miles on it and is as tight as a drum. The manual transmission is a joy to shift with it's tight, short throws. Aerodynamics are quite good as you can drive with the top down on chilly days while the heater keeps the cabin warm. As an added bonus, there are loads of support sites, clubs, and accessories available to the Miata owner. If you've been thinking of a Miata stop thinking and start driving.

Just over 200,000 miles MX 5 SE

Over the years I have replaced the radiator with an after market aluminum one with larger coils.. The car ran hot and blew the old plastic one while I was at my girlfriends place.. My wife didn't like that.. Hehe.... I also replaced the dual cooling fans with after market ones.. The car runs nice and cool, even in the hot West Texas summers... That was after 10 years of use.. Replaced the vinyl top that just wore out after 14 years of use.. Replaced it with a cloth top with glass window and defroster.. Highly recommend replacing top with cloth.. Cuts the noise down and just feels and looks much better.. Replaced alternator after 17 years of use.. Over $200 for that part.. Had a spark plug blow out on me after 17 years.. Very easy to replace that with a kit.. Kit is not expensive.. Had two rear brake calipers replaced.. $800 for that brake job after 16 years.. The heater coil is bad and needs replacing.. That started to go bad in 2017.. The driver seat wore a hole in it due to the constant getting in and out of it... I just purchased a repair kit for it and it looks okay.. Will replace the seat this year.. The car started to bottom out after 17 years, so I replaced the struts.. It still bottomed out in the rear, so I replaced the springs all the way around with standard replacement springs.. Fixed that issue.. Not as expensive as you would think.. Insurance is cheap in my opinion for full coverage.. If you are looking to buy this year model Miata, please make sure you look EVERYTHING over COMPLETELY.. Over all I would guess I've spent in the neighborhood of $5000 in replacement parts to include labor.. Most likely less.. Well worth it to me.. It still runs great.. I run it hard to work and back.. It runs very well.. I had it up to 110 MPH just the other day.. LOL... What a champ ! Hope this helps you all................... UPDATE....it is now February 2019.. The engine now runs like total crap. After $840 of repair work at Midas the vehicle still runs like crap. Extreme lose of power... The Mazda house in Midland Texas had it for five days and didn't even look at it. They won't look at anything over 10 years old now. Would have been nice if they had told me that up front. Still would be very upset with them, but at least I'd have my broken down car. The vehicle only has just over 200,000 miles. No one can seem to find the problem with the engine. If you're going to purchase a new Miata just make sure you get rid of it before it hits a hundred and fifty thousand miles. Because from that point on it will nickel and dime you to death....UPDATE.... it is now August 2019. Found the problem with the vehicle and found it to be the fuel pump as well as the crankshaft position sensor. No one in West Texas is a good enough mechanic to fix anything... so I researched the problems and fix them myself. Had the starter replaced. The vehicle now runs very well... considering everything that I have been through with this vehicle and the cost involved it still Beats purchasing a new vehicle and making monthly car payments.....UPDATE... It is now March 2020... Vehicle still runs Smoothly with no new issues to report.. Had an alignment done to fix irregular tire wear... I still feel that Even with the money I have spent on this vehicle in repairs It beats a car payment Every month for 6 or 7 years..

Makes you excited to wake up

I bought my 2000 SE 4 months ago and I.m driving it for my daily commute.It still keeps me excited and makes me wake up early than I used to just so I can have more time to drive it. Problem is I've been putting more miles to it than I should, approximately 3000 miles a month, and I get to work late almost every time. But I always get to work with a smile on my face :-)

Get one!

Great car! Surprisingly powerful engine really takes off. I had an '77 MGB & it's fun to recall that ride, but nicer to have A/C, rear glass window & mechancial reliability. I drove it compared to Honda S2000 & BMW Z3, thinking Miata wouldn't compare & would toss it out. It won hands down. Maintenance = none. Had to buy new tires since I burned the stock ones off!

Miata

One of the finest driving cars I have owned. The only better driving experience I've had was owning a Lotus Europa. However, the maintenance between the two is worlds apart. I have had virtually no maintenance other than tune ups and tires. As far as handling is concerned, I have a hard time breaking the tires loose in the turns. It can be done, but not easily. This car handles like a slot car. Well built, and takes what you can throw at it!

2000 LS - Reliable and Fun

This car has been a blast. Super reliable and fun to drive. This is my daily driver as well and the car saw an icy New Jersey winter last year. Was fine with a set of 4 snow tires. I only broke the end loose once. These cars are a great buy and will last well beyond 200k miles with some TLC. I think the 160-180hp range would have been better suited for the car as it feels kind of slow down low with lack of torque. If you're looking for a low maintenance, reliable 2 seater convertible, this car is probably for you.

A fun car to drive!

I find this car hard to fault. It is a great performer and fun to drive. It is my second Miata. If I were younger, I would definitely plan on getting a third one.

who can complain when they're smililng??

what a joy to own, it never wants to go see the Service Dept, it only wants to whine around some turns...Not a particularly "fast" car, but it hugs a turn and grabs the road like a barrel horse....it is tough to make it fishtail,(but can be done, so be careful)...and even though it is relatively affordable, it turns heads. Lots of Bang for the Buck.

Very good car indeed.

I like this car very much. Great condition, drive much nicer than my reliable 94 Miata. This newer car's audio system has this occasional annoying static coming from the left tweeter . Howerver, the Bose audio is wonderful. My 5 speed midnite blue Miata drives very well. I haven't pushed it to the limit, but I probably won't try that any time soon. The car seems to be passing faster on the top gear. Much smoother engine than my 94'. Gas mileage drops a little bit, though. I will BUY another Miata AGAIN, no REGRETS. PROUD OWNER OF 2 MIATAS.

True Roadster

Wife and I both love this car. We take it out for rides just to enjoy it. Haven't done that since I first started driving. Handles like a dream on the mountain roads and doesn't feel like your killing it on the interstate.

Too much fun for very little money......

The Miata is truly a ton (almost literally) of fun at a very affordable price. Driving the car gives me the feeling of being one with the road. The car is the most responsive vehicle I've ever driven. Although you won't be the winner in any straight-out drag contest, you'll lose any competitor in the twisties. Mazda picked the perfect winner with the Mahogany Mica body and Parchment top/interior. This car is truly a charm to own.

Little red roadster

O.K., But......

Remember this car was designed by the Japanese to imitate the experience of the MG. The MG was designed for the very winding roads of back woods England, 35-45 M.P.H. They totally hit the mark,if you drive a lot on very windy country roads, or just drive around town to Safeway and Starbucks. However, if you are on the freeway at all, this is not an "Autobahn" car. At 60 M.P.H. the R.P.M.'s are 3,500+. It has 5 speeds. So, on any normal vehicle the R.P.M. should be about 1,800. Realistically, with the right gear ratio, this car could get 45-50 M.P.G at 60. Watch out for the plastic radiator. It will fail between 120K-130K.

red vet

Initially ride and handling were quite bad: so 1.reduced tire pressure to 26, 2. added rear sub-frame brace, 3. added front sub-frame brace, 4. got racing wheel alignment. It is now perfect. This is my second, I'm waiting for the turbo's to come out.

Love it!

I've only owned my Miata for 1 year, but I already found myself staring at it this spring on a warm day in March while it sat stored in my garage. This is the most practical fun I've ever had! I have to drive places anyway; why not enjoy the trip?

2000 miata

no problems except make sure you tighten the fuel cap after fuleing...3 clicks..sends a check engine light...found out the hard way...ha ha

Mazda Miata

This has been a great buy.Cheap on gas.Handles well.No problems at all in the time ,I have owned it.

I LOVE my Miata!

There is NOTHING about this car that I would change (& I'm not yet convinced the '06 body restyling is an improvement). Even my mechanic loves it & is disappointed to only see it for Spring tune-up & Fall storage prep. The car lives in NH & handles A LOT of rough weather without a whimper. Now that its 5 years old, I pamper it a bit more and store it for the winter. Mid-November is a sad time. Dreamed of owning a Miata from 1st release and finally jumped in 2000 when I saw it in British racing green/tan. CLASSIC! Wish I'd done it sooner but at least I did eventually & NEVER looked back. Never much cared about what I drove as long as it was fairly decent. I LOVE THIS CAR! It's more than a car - it's part of my spirit!

Still love my miata!

Here it is 8 years later and I still love my car. It has only 50,000 miles and lots of love. In that time I have had only a few minor repairs. One was to replace the master and slave cylinder for the clutch system and finally am putting in a new radiator. But what to expect when your summers are 115 degrees with no rain day in and day out. It still purrs like a kitten and I finally had my first brake pad replacement. All other parts still original and no major problems. In fact I think the NB is the best of the miata runs. It gained the necessary curves that made it so sweet. The NC lost some of those curves which was sad and got some fenders that were more RX in looks.

Makes a commute feel like a vacation

I have been driving mine as a daily 80 mile commuter for nearly 2 years and it has been simply a blast. Fun during the winter with the hardtop on. Just a delight in the warmer days with the top down. Getting 28-30 mpg. My wife says it makes her feel like we're on vacation every time we go out for a spin. Low cost, reliable, daily driver. I SMILE during my commute!

Zoom Zoom On

Had a blast with the car from when I picked it up this summer 'till I tucked it away from the harsh New England winter. Patiently waiting for the Spring. Never drove anything with such a solid and flat handling stance. Since designed from ground up as a convertible, body flex is less than many other convertibles.

Fun on a shoestring budget

My wife has wanted a convertible for years so I wait until we moved from California to Iowa to get her one. Go figure. Actually, I drive it as a daily driver and except for a couple of big snowstorms it has served me well. My wife does get to drive it occasionally and we cannot wait for warm weather. My 16 year old daughter wants to learn how to drive a manual tranny so there will be some bonding (and praying) going on. Most fun car I have ever owned bar none! I have already gotten sideways on some corners.

Not what I was expecting! Mazda, what did you do!?

Oh boy... This car. No matter what car you own right now, this Mazda is slower. Not only will your fellow man make fun of you for owning one, but women won't be impressed either. This car turns heads, if you're like 10 years old. My Miata was given to me as a graduation gift and while it was an extremely nice gesture, I would have rather received a moped. Ever since I've been driving this car I've noticed other Miata drivers waving at me like I'm their best friend and its really gross. I know I sound very pessimistic but I'm being completely honest. The radio on my Miata is the stock one and it is a disaster. Not only do I have to jam the power button in to turn the radio off/on but when I turn the volume up the radio cuts off. If you want to feel like you just played a pick up game of Basketball in the hot dry sun then put the top down on a Miata and go for a spin. Every time I get out of the car my back is soaked and I'm not a big guy either, its very unprofessional. The car never seems to get cold enough and my Freon levels are at max. The glove box and arm rest storage compartments are made of a cheap plastic that breaks and crumbles if you don't baby it. The stock carpets don't stay in place when you drive and all the warning sign stickers begin to peel and flake off all over the place. I constantly feel unsafe in this car and at every stop light I look behind myself to make sure I'm not about to get rear ended because if I did, I would most likely die. The car is reliable don't get me wrong, but is reliability really a sacrifice you want to make when you loose the pizzazz and thrill of something far superior. Now comes the most important part. I have truly wanted to write this review purely on this one topic but found myself with a list of other pressing issues I felt needed to shared with future buyers. The acceleration on this car is horrendous. Not only have I lost stoplight sprints to Volkswagen Beetles but my Miata won't even win against older NA generation(1989-1998) Miata's. This car is SLOW and anyone who disagrees clearly hasn't driven a car before. If there is ONE redeeming quality about this car it is the handling. I've owned a Mercedes-Benz SLK previously and I can honestly say the Miata would have it in the corners. The car looks OK for an early 2000s car, but it most definitely tried to take some design queues from the Jaguar XK8. I thought Miata's had a reputation for being affordable, fast and stylish but in truth they're just female repellents and loser attractors.

liked Miata so much, I now sell them

I purchased my first Miata in 1992 and loved it so much, I decided to get into the business in '94 and sell them. I'm now the sales manager and OWN my 4th Miata personally. No finer bang for the buck anywhere - and it comes with a huge family (Miata clubs all over the country.)

Street Legal Go-Kart

This car is the most fun car to drive I've ever owned! I don't know why I waited so long to buy one.

Awsome little car

I absolutly LOVE my MX5. It is fast, it just plain STICKS to the road, its great looking, and convertable! Only thing I run into problems with it is it is very small and the two seats sometimes are a pain. A small nit-pick is a better cup holder would have been cool.

See you in my rear view Z3!

I came very close to buying a Z3, I'm so glad I stumbled upon this MX-5. She has to be the best auto purchase I've ever made. Smiled when I picked her up and I'm still smilin :) I get alot of people checkin her out, even so much as to ask me "what is it"? My neighbor mistook my new addition as the Z3... ok, I know... she's a Ford fan what can I say. All I know is that I take the long way to work and travel on all the windy back roads I can find!

Most Fun Car Ever!!!

After 2 1/2 years of ownership, I still have no reservations about having purchased a Miata. I'd drooled over them for a decade, and when my 10 yr old Protoge finally gave out, I went out and one. Not the most practical car by any standard, but at least I don't have to pick anyone up at the airport anymore!!! I'm hard on the car, so I've had to replace the brakes and tires, but other than that, no problems. Highly recommended!

Love My Miata

I bought a Miata due to everything I had read about this type of car. All of the reviews agreed on how dependale these cars are. The other factor was the fact that I wanted a fun car to drive to work everyday and the Miata is always described as a fun car.

more fun

bought as a weekend toy every mile driven has been a blast. For the price nothing beats it. It has had nothing done but oil changes and will likely need nothing done for years. I am almost glad the warranty has expired so I can tinker with it.

After 7 years this is a great car!

I bought this car to drive to and from my workplace. The road I take is all curves. This car will still make any of the curves at twice the posted speed limit; however I never would break the law ;~) This car has been the best "fun per dollar" ratio of any car I've owned. No mechanical problems ever, period! Put gas in it, change the oil, keep the tires pressurized correctly and drive it. If you are looking for a fun low priced car, get one of these!

Excellent

Best car I've ever owned. Handling is fantastic. I enjoy driving to work every day.

Fine Fun

For the price, no car matches the Miata for care free driving fun.

Way too much fun.

Bought this for my son with his hard earned savings. What a shame he can't drive a stick and Dad gets to use it for a while. Puts the fun back in driving. I probably look ridiculous in it, so my wife says, but who cares!! You only live once, let's have some fun!

Hot Ride

Great car, my second one. Best to drive when weather is dry. Great handling, great sportscar in its price class, and just a hoot to drive. It is a looker. I have a Black on Black and it is elegant.

2000 Base with convenience pkg

You have to feel this car to believe it. If you need an abundance of straight-line acceleration, a Detroit V-8 may be a better choice, but when the road starts to twist, this car shines. No other vehicle has steering with as much feedback as a Miata. The gearshift feels like using a bolt-action rifle. The top is weathertight, reliability is excellent.