2004 Mazda MAZDASPEED Miata New Car Buyer's Guide

What's New for the 2004 Mazda MAZDASPEED Miata?
This performance-tuned version of the 2004 Mazda Miata includes a turbocharged and intercooled engine, a lowered sport suspension, 17-inch wheels and 40-series performance tires, and a beefed up transmission. Special paint colors, interior trim and smoked-gray headlamp lenses identify the 2004 MazdaSpeed Miata as different from the regular version.

Advantages of the 2004 Mazda MAZDASPEED Miata:

• Impressive engine power
• Fat band of mid-range torque
• Sticky low-profile tires
• Feels more composed at speed than standard car
• Compelling bang-for-the-buck value equation

Objections to the 2004 Mazda MAZDASPEED Miata:

• Below 3,500 rpm, feels just like the standard car
• No cruise control

Editor's Advice:
For fifteen years, twisty road handling and top-down drives on sunny summer days have been the Mazda Miata’s strong points. Acceleration, while adequate, has not impressed enthusiast owners who wanted more power. The 2004 MazdaSpeed Miata helps to resolve this complaint with a 178-horsepower, turbocharged and intercooled 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine that can get one of our favorite roadsters from zero to 60 mph in less than 6.5 seconds. In addition to the blown motor, the 2004 MazdaSpeed Miata includes a lowered and stiffened suspension, a strengthened six-speed manual transmission and clutch, and 17-inch alloy wheels wearing 205/40 Toyo Proxes tires. Around town, the MazdaSpeed Miata behaves much like the standard car because the turbo doesn’t spool up until 3,500 rpm. From that point on up to the 7,000 rpm redline, the MazdaSpeed Miata literally shrieks to speed, making it all too easy to bang into the rev limiter. On winding country roads, the MazdaSpeed Miata shines with a nice, fat, juicy band of mid-range torque available where previously there were just crumbs. Additionally, the whole car feels tighter and better glued to the road, with outstanding brakes and the Miata’s signature scalpel steering slicing through the curves. As might be expected, ride quality is diminished, and for some reason Mazda chose to excise cruise control from the MazdaSpeed Miata. Every 2004 MazdaSpeed Miata includes cloth seats with red inserts; Bose audio; remote keyless entry; power windows, locks and mirrors; and antilock brakes. A single option is available, a package that adds red-stitched leather and a cloth convertible top to replace the standard vinyl lid. Mazda plans to make 4,000 copies of the MazdaSpeed Miata, half painted Velocity Red (from the RX-8) and half painted Titanium Gray (from special-edition Miatas in 2002 and 2003). Arriving in March of 2004, the MazdaSpeed Miata is priced at $25,500 without leather and $26,200 with leather. Given that these numbers are lower than a base 142hp Miata LS with a five-speed, we predict that the 2004 MazdaSpeed Miata will prove quite popular. Expect your local Mazda dealer to have a glut of used Miatas for sale this summer.