Miata Laps Laguna Seca! - 2009 Best Drivers Car Competition

Ride along for a hot lap at Laguna Seca in Mazda's legendary roadster, the MX-5 Miata, as part of Motor Trend's 2009 Best Driver's Car competition. For the full story, check out the October issue of Motor Trend magazine.

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Autos & Vehicles

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• 2009
• mazda
• miata
• mx-5
• mx5
• best
• drivers
• car
• laguna
• seca
• randy
• pobst
• review
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• motor
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[NasahrSandi9]

true, most girls go for the mustang v8 convertible. the Mx-5 is a real mans car because it handles really well and its a lot of fun to drive

[potatotruck]

These things kick ass. It seems to be some kind of secret to everyone but actual racers! A solid 50% of my track mates run these with another 25% in S2000s. They don't have the top-end power of the Honda but they seem to have a solid edge in reliability and are far cheaper to fix.

[GoldarAndGamm]

At Thunderhill raceway, i saw a little flat-black turbo miata destroy EVERY street car present. Vipers, Mustangs, 911 GT3's... nothing caught it.  Only closet homosexuals worry about how a car affects their sexual self image. i bought my miata to race it at the track.

[marshknute]

@SETexasCustoms I can honestly say that I wouldn't want something faster than a Miata for personal track use. I'd prefer to learn how to drive my Miata properly rather than drive a faster car and fool myself into thinking I am a better driver.

Granted, I do hope to join a Miata clubsport organization after I graduate from college.

[drobles95076]

steven tylers brother..!!!!



[akilli8989]

I love my miata, can't wait to take it on the track!

[SETexasCustoms]

@marshknute As far as it being a better drivers car, as a matter of opinion, I respectfully disagree. Just out of curiosity, if you were in the position to have a separate track car for use at a place where you could drive it hard with relative safety, why wouldn't you get something a little hotter than a Miata? Or do you plan on running in a Miata class? If so, that's cool, I like tightly sanctioned classes. It makes for really competitive racing.

[marshknute]

@SETexasCustoms That's a fair point: I'll change the word "performence" and revise my statement to say: "...more of a driver's car than any Ferrari." The 599 I drove was incredible, but the only reason I could drive it properly was b/c of that lead car and our radios. That's why I love the Miata, b/c I can drive it hard all the time without putting myself or other motorists in danger. In a few years, I plan on buying another Miata to use exclusively at the track. 

[SETexasCustoms]

@marshknute I've driven a couple of them, a first gen when I was turning wrenches for a living and a girl I knew had one. Unfortunately I can't drive them comfortably, my 6'2" 265lbs frame prevents that. And they are great little cars, I had a blast with my knees against the dash. Maybe it's just the wording in your sentence, "more of a performance car". How can it be more of a performance car than, lets say the 458 Italia, which clearly and dominantly out performs it?

[marshknute]

@SETexasCustoms You're barking up the wrong tree here. Last summer, I signed up for a program called World Class Driving (google it), where I drove a Lamborghini Gallardo, SLR McLaren, 599 GTB, R8 V10 and Bentley Conti SS. I got to drive the cars hard thanks to a lead car radioing back to warn of any dangers/cops further up the road. As fast as those cars were, I had more fun driving home in my NA Miata b/c I could drive it harder more often. You should take a new one for a test drive.

[SETexasCustoms]

@marshknute "Ironically, the Miata's tiny 4-pot makes it more of a performance car than any Ferrari"... Really? I agree their great handling little car's, are great for beginning automotive enthusiasts and can make you a better driver. If I was small enough to fit I probably would've owned one at one point, but I think you failed miserably in that remark.

[wbeers690]

a huge help is the cost of the mazda.. my 95 ran me 3k last year and is in great running shape.. add another $3k to that for a supercharger and im in it for what we will call $7k ( other unlisted work) and at any autocross/ track event im hard pressed to find a car for the same price range that is as much fun to drive or will do as fast around the track. as in LAP TIMES not just trap speeds in one section of the track

love the car to death because it handles anything you throw at it