Cars X Girl

One of the most common things I hear said about the Mazda Miata is that it’s a “girl’s car.” I suppose it is to some, but to me, these little cars are anything but. The Mazda Miata is more of a sports car than most people realize at first, and has more heritage than is commonly known.

For me, being a girl with a Miata didn’t always help. My husband drives our S2000 more often than I do, and a lot of people simply assume that I can’t even drive our Honda. (Wrong, of course, but I’m sure they think it.) Sometimes we’ve joked that a lot of wives seem to end up with Miatas when their husbands buy something “better,” like a Porsche. It’s a cute, tiny, drop-top roadster that scoots around town with ease, and without the giant price tag that many sports cars carry. Yes, okay, I can see that the Miata is a bit girly. I even admit to thinking the cars are downright adorable. I absolutely love the pop up headlights on my NA!

But these factors are a tiny, tiny slice of the pie that makes up the Miata. These little go karts for the street pack way more history into them than first meets the eye, and usually all of this is lost except on those of us who are dedicated to our nimble Japanese canyon carvers. However, I have no problem explaining it for those who are just plain missing out.

Size has everything to do with it.

The Miata’s most often called “girlie” for two reasons: It’s cute and it’s small. Where the idea came from that small is girlie, I have no clue. The lack of weight makes the Miata extremely nimble, despite it’s overall small amount of horsepower. They handle with ease because, well, there’s nothing to them.

And, to all the guys that say that, answer me if the following cars are “girlie,” they’re about the same size (or smaller!) than a Miata: Lotus Elise/Exige, Ariel Atom, Caterhams and many, many other kit cars… I’m sure most girls wouldn’t drive these cars.

Street legal go kart.

Many, many, many times over has the Miata been deemed a street legal go kart. The small stature makes it extremely responsive, while the 50-50 weight balance gives it amazing handling right from the factory. Anyone who’s gotten to drive a Miata on a twisty road understands the feeling of a well-built sports car. And besides, the Mazda Miata is the world’s best selling sports car. Ever. (So HA, the Mustang is not a sports car. So says the Guiness Book of World Records.)

Sports cars come in manuals…

Probably controversial, but I firmly believe that sports cars should come in manuals. The days of sports cars in only manual trannys is gone, but it still should be an option. If you want a sports car, you should be able to drive the car properly, and that means working with three pedals and not just two. More first generation Miatas were sold in manuals than in automatics… Girlie? Hardly, most women these days refuse to learn. (And automatic Miatas, while still being Miatas, don’t strike me as being as simplisticly fun as their manual counterparts. Plus there’s the hassle of dealing with an automatic, which is much more expensive to maintain and fix.)

The control you can maintain over an engine is key, and that’s where the manual transmission shines, especially in a car built before they decided to put computers in cars to help you drive.

Lotus Elan? MGBs? Spitfires?

These were key cars in the design of the Miata. While many women may find them cute, I don’t see these as being cars girls aspire to own… Well, I do, but I’m a car girl, which makes me a lot more like guys when it comes to cars. Anyhow, the old British roadsters that inspired the Miata are well-known by car guys, but probably not so fondly remembered by the women who got to know them.

Girlie cars don’t have their own racing series.

Period. Say hello to a car that’s involved in two of its own racing series… The MX-5 Cup and, my personal favorite, Spec Miata. They’re also an amazing autocross car… And these great race Miatas are rarely driven by women. Sorry, but it’s true. A great car like the Miata is a staple in the racing community, not so much in the mall parking lot. You’re more apt to find Mustangs and Solstices taking up that job, my friends.

Did I ever mention the vast amounts of aftermarket support for these amazing sports cars? No? Because it’s huge. Then there’s the awesome community, both online in forums (Miata.net and ClubRoadster.net) and local clubs in just about every state in America. (And overseas.)

So, next time you think the Miata’s girlie, ask yourself this question, “Have I ever driven one before?” If not… You should. You don’t know what you’re missing out on.

(Psst, and if you’re a single guy, girls are gonna love the Miata. Trust me, it’s cute – a failsafe. But you’ll know she’s more than just a cute face… She’s got more soul and spunk than many sports cars out there. I am dead serious.)

Meg

In 2007, Meg began learning about cars. Two years later, she had a very modified '97 Miata and a '90 240SX project car, as well as the Rookie of the Year autocross title. Life now completely revolves around cars and she wouldn't have it any other way. CarsxGirl is her way to encourage others to get into racing (it's not horribly expensive!), to document & share her car builds, an outlet to share & improve her automotive photography skills and to show that real car girls do exist!

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