Wrap Up Thanks to its utter competence and sheer fun-to-drive nature, not to mention our tropical surroundings, the MX-5 allowed us to soak up Hawaiian vibes like few other cars on the planet.

Over the years, competitors have attempted to decode Mazda’s Jinba Ittai philosophy, from Ford with the ill-fated Mercury Capri to Toyota with the fast-fading MR2 Spyder. And though the Miata arguably spawned a roadster renewal in America, paving the way to success for the BMW Z3 and Z4, the Honda S2000, the Mercedes-Benz SLK, and the Porsche Boxster, it has needed to fend off few direct competitors on price, design, and performance.

Until now.
General Motors is gearing up a factory in Delaware that has begun spitting out 2006 Pontiac Solstices, a less expensive, more powerful, and exotically sultry roadster that will provide the MX-5 Miata with the stiffest competition it’s ever had to face. And following the Solstice for 2007 is the Saturn Sky, an equally compelling two-seater with added luxury features. But until rabid customer desire is sated for the Pontiac and Saturn (did we just write that sentence!?), the Solstice and Sky are likely to be in scarce supply – leaving the MX-5 Miata as a fine alternative.

And what a fine alternative it is. Thanks to its utter competence and sheer fun-to-drive nature, not to mention our tropical surroundings, the MX-5 allowed us to soak up Hawaiian vibes like few other cars on the planet. The size of the specially made tires that shod the MX-5 didn’t matter. We stopped caring how many logarithms or test specs created the new Miata’s gallop and go. The scent of jasmine came on a sea breeze. The sun warmed our cheeks like liquid Vitamin C. The bucket seat became a saddle and our muscles knew intuitively what to do. There were wisps of a dream, a blur of vivid colors, and we were propelled fast, then faster, then galloping. One with our surroundings. One with the car. Jinba Ittai. Either that, or some kick-ass Mazda public relations Kool Aid.