The 2019 Mazda Miata RF Club Highlights why You Need to drive a Miata - ONE TAKE

The 2019 Miata RF Club is a great addition to the Miata lineage and a rewarding coupe, but is it too expensive? Mazda Miatas are not only fun to drive, they're an essential experience in your driving education. Everyone needs to drive one, regardless of the year or trim or how much rust it has, at least once.

Note: I forgot to cover the media screen. It's a touch screen when you're stopped, but only lets you use the puck/wheel when you're moving. I don't love touch screens, especially on bumpy roads, and I found the puck controls to fast and intuitive. Apple CarPlay is present, thankfully.

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[sephiros]

"It will probably change how you judge cars for the rest of your life". I can vouch for that. Very true words.

[mot]

I drove muscle cars for years. One day, I drove the Miata and was shocked by how how much more fun it was. I bought a Miata asap. Best car I ever owned!

[GregsTurtleHaven]

I was a valet for years and also drove high end cars to parties for demos, shows, etc. Miatas were always my favorite

[Kee_Diddy]

This video made me miss my Miata so much. It really was such a magical experience. I was still working construction at the time, and I'd arrive to job sites in my Miata, and the feeling of pulling all of my tools out of the trunk after having a euphoric early morning drive with the top down was/is an unrivaled experience for me. That car was so thoughtful about its place in the world, and what it meant to have a good drive. I think this video convinced me that I need another Miata in my life, at some point. Thank you!

[robertharmon]

The Miata continues to impress, I loved my 1G and you're right everyone needs to drive a Miata, any year. HP numbers are more of a distraction than anything when it comes to evaluating how good a sports car is. By the way Zack, you have really grown as a journalist over the years, you are well spoken, clever, and you carry a presence of class & distinction, nicely done.

[Zcypot]

in a world of WHP hungry people, im glad the miata formula has remained mostly the same.

[kirkdavis]

I just bought a 2019 RF at the end of the year awesome deal. I freaking love it I'm 6 ft. tall and fit fine. I make excuses in my head to drive it, dang I'm almost out of laundry well it's time to drive😁

[crisj]

My MX5 is my therapy, driving at late at night topdown with my favourite 80’s music is so relaxing.

[flush_entity]

The miata is one with the mountain roads, hence all the animals coming to see what its all about

[fidobite]

I have come to love my '17 RF... bought used a yr ago with 12k on it - a flawless garage queen - "touring" model 6-sp with all the options - brick brown leather - $24k. An absolute joy to drive even with just 155hp. If you want more Edelbrock makes a sweet supercharger kit good for 200hp+!

[MrSlowestD]

I never really thought much of the miata, but then I started an exocet project, which requires a miata donor, so I picked up a $1500 NA with a soft top falling apart, no rear window, and a body appealing to literally nobody, and drove that around for a month to make sure the engine was sound before the exocet chassis arrived.

In that 1 month of driving it I utterly fell in love with it. So small, so easy to drive, so fun to blast around town with, then I started taking it to autoX events and it was a blast there too. An absolute blast. Hopefully I finish the exocet project soon and can enjoy this fun go-kart again.

I thought it wouldn't be any more fun than a civic because of the horsepower on paper, but it is much more fun. I've owned a few liter bikes that do 0-100mph in 5 seconds and STILL, this thing makes you ear-to-ear when you're zipping around an autoX track or even around town, because it's seriously a hilarious go-kart that's a blast to drive, even if only to work.

About 6mo or 9mo ago I rented the ND for 2 days on Turo, and it was equally as fun as, it has't lost any of that spirit at all.

[martsmarts]

Analogue gauge... perfect! I’m glad they didn’t join the digital gauge party.

[autoobsessivegarage]

Finally someone addresses bat attacks whilst driving a convertible. Thank you good sir!

[doriangray]

I have a 180 mph 718 Porsche. I miss my 2019 RF club. Strange. And, my 718 T is below 3000 lbs by a little. But, it does not flow and conform like the ND2 RF. Now, the spec to get next time is the club’s Brembo and bbs wheels. That’s a lot of unsprung weight removed and completely removes brake fade on a mountain

[NoahTheFacts]

When you have something annoyingly resonate at just one frequency, get a tone generator App for your phone, connect to the car stereo, find the tone and volume that makes it rattle, then go hunting. You can usually tighten a screw, pad or grease the back of the panel to eliminate the buzz.

[arttafil]

As a former fighter pilot the interior is just right!

[EjinRenos]

The MX5 has become a very solid car. Shedding off the image of its previous name, the ND2 MX5 now outdoes the S2k in straights now stock for stock. The RF is so stylish, bringing an image of the old 72 Corvette or the Lotus Elise with its flat rear deck and fastback look. The road noise is also less than the softop unless you hit crosswinds.

No longer is it the "miata" that people remember being just a tiny and cute, yet it still remains one of the few driver cars out there. I've driven other cars like 986 Porsche boxster, S2000, Mercedes SLK r172, and even older MX5s - this car is a solid thing to enjoy on the road without needing to be faster like many others.

[dremarcos]

Potentially, one of the best reviews I have watched. There was a level of care and attention to the information being relayed that is seldom seen. I have had the pleasure of driving quite a few MX5’s across the generations, on road and on track, and also the RF when it launched. They are a barometer for feel and fun. Have to agree with a great majority of what you mentioned about feel and chassis dynamics, and then the overall value proposition. I came away from my RF drive impressed with a great many of its attributes, but fundamentally feeling like, when it came to putting hand in pocket and parting with cash, that it would be difficult to justify to myself. I have an RX8 as a track car/weekend car, (I know I know, but it has fantastic dynamics and 9k and didn’t feel that I would be a great deal more for the bucks (reliability is a diminishing factor for me considering the RX8’s usage I my life). All things said, those are subjective elements, this video however - well, this was very enjoyable!

[cltnthecultist]

I'd love to see more solo Zack videos. He's got a great dryness about him, yet still seems like he's really enjoying himself. This was a great vid.

[montycrain]

Always Designed from the start as a Club racer. Double wishbone “Indy Style” suspension front and rear. No McPherson strut economy suspension.