Garry Springgay’s Top Three Performance Vehicles Available Today On An Enthusiast Budget - Mazda Miata MX-5

Mazda Miata MX-5
Following up the complete refresh of the Miata last year, Mazda managed to build the fourth-generation MX-5 Miata smaller and lighter than the car it replaces without sacrificing interior space, safety or equipment. Thanks to the reduced weight, this version is even crisper and more fun to drive. It zips around turns with enthusiasm and precision few other cars can match, regardless of price. I can’t tell you how much fun it is to watch a well-driven Miata spank a six-figure supercar on a twisty road course. Sure, it gets eaten on the straights, but its reliable 155-horsepower four-cylinder engine still produces enough power and sound to make powering out of those turns a real joy. It’s available with a six-speed automatic, but this is another car that begs you to get the manual transmission, which is one of the slickest gearboxes on the planet. And no, these are not “chick cars”. It takes a lot of skill for a driver to reach the handling limits of an MX-5 on a twisty track. You can have more fun in a 2017 Miata than cars that cost twice as much or more.

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