You are here: Home / Car Reviews / Mazda / MX-5 Miata / 2005 Mazda Miata Convertible Sports Car

2005 Mazda Miata Convertible Sports Car

New Car Review of the 2005 Mazda Miata Convertible Sports Car

Description: Convertible Sports Car
Base MSRP Range: $22,098 - $26,580
Invoice Price Range: $20,398 - $24,528
Where built: Japan

Mazda's two-seat and open-top roadster, still the ultimate affordable sports car, has the perfect weight balance which sets up that Miata magic of predictable vehicle control for a driver.

For 2005 it continues in two editions -- Miata and Miata LS -- both packing a twin-cam 1.8-liter four-in-line engine zipped to 142-hp.

Miata LS stocks leather seats in either black or parchment, plus power door locks and a Bose audio kit, with a six-disc CD changer optional along with a 6-speed manual transmission. Base Miata provides stock items like power steering, power windows and power mirrors, air conditioning, foglamps and an audio system with CD deck. Two new paint colors emerge this year -- Nordic Green and Razor Blue.

The Mazdaspeed version of Miata gets fired up, thanks to a fully integrated turbo-charger tied to an air-to-air inter-cooler. These enhancements push the power curve up to 178-hp through a 6-speed manual gearbox with revised gear ratios, a stronger clutch and shot-peened treatment of the linkage for even more precise shifting on Miata's stubby stick.

On the ground are 17-inch Racing Hart alloy wheels with low-profile Toyo Proxes tires, and behind each wheel's slender spokes you may spot silver-painted brake calipers on the disc brakes.

Lava Orange Mica and Black Mica are the latest shades of paint for the Mazdaspeed Miata.