2004 Mazda MX-5 Miata MAZDASPEED

Rare 2-year-only turbocharged Mazdaspeed Miata. Fantastic color combination of Velocity Red over black leather. 6-speed manual transmission. 17-inch wheels with recent tires. The fastest factory Miata that still embodies all that s awesome about Mazda s sports car.

The Mazda Miata has always represented driving fun distilled down to its purest form. Light weight, a manual gearbox, and an eager chassis all add up to a car that s built for one thing only: to put a smile on your face. In fact the only thing that could make the Miata better is more power, which Mazdaspeed thoughtfully added in 2004 in the form of a turbocharger on the 1.8-liter DOHC engine. The Mazdaspeed Miata was only built for two years due to a factory fire, and the factory never produced another turbocharged Miata, making this something of a collector s item. Of course, dressing it in brilliant Velocity Red paint doesn t hurt, and it s a lovely shade with a bit of metallic in it, so it glows in the sunlight it s not just plain old red. The familiar Miata shape is largely unchanged, sticking to the pure form-follows-function ethos that defined the car since the beginning. There s a slightly bigger air intake up front and a small wing on the trunk lid, but beyond that, the Mazdaspeed is a little stealthy, if a red sports car can be such a thing. It s in beautiful condition throughout, with Mazda s typically excellent panel fit and a deep shine to the paint. Obviously kept as a hobby car from the beginning, it shows extremely well.

The interior is no different, offering bolstered black leather bucket seats designed to hold you in place during spirited driving. There s minimal wear, consisting of some wrinkles on the driver s seat bolsters that are commensurate with the car s age and mileage. The rest is standard Miata equipment, with big, legible dials, a fat leather-wrapped steering wheel, and a snug cockpit that is surprisingly spacious once you get situated. Of course, the top-of-the-line Miata also gets a full complement of options, including A/C, power windows and locks, and a great-sounding Bose AM/FM/CD stereo system that might be a little redundant in a car that sounds like this. The stubby shifter connects to a 6-speed manual transmission that s a joy to row through the gears just a light flick of the wrist grabs the next gear. Overhead there s an easy-to-manage convertible top that stows under a fitted boot for a clean look. And there s even decent cargo storage in the trunk, which is perfect for two people on a weekend getaway. There s also a full-sized spare with jack assembly underneath, along with the battery in the right rear corner to help weight distribution.

The engine is what makes this particular Miata special. A variant of the standard 1.8-liter DOHC inline-4, it is outfitted with a turbocharger to huff it up to an impressive 178 horsepower and 166 lb-ft. of torque, enough to make the featherweight Miata downright fast. It s not at all peaky or fussy, and the boost comes on smoothly so the Miata is never caught putting a tire wrong. It offers typical Mazda reliability and should continue to run for many years with only routine maintenance. It starts easily, idles nicely, and generally works like you expect a modern motor to work, but if you lean on it and get into the boost, it becomes an altogether different animal. Grab the right gear in the 6-speed manual and you ll find that it takes some pretty substantial machinery to get away from this little roadster, especially on a twisty road. The engine is identified by its red crinkle finish cam cover, and you ll note that the engine bay is sparkling clean thanks to two decades of enthusiast ownership. The undercarriage is just as clean with no evidence that this car has ever been used in inclement weather and certainly never in the salt and slush. Beautiful 17-inch alloy wheels fill the fenderwells and carry recent 205/40/17 Michelin performance radials.

Documentation includes the original manuals and books in the factory pouch, as well as the original window sticker.

If you love to drive, the Miata should be on your short list. Still outrageously fun, the Mazdaspeed Miata turns up the performance without any downside, a rare feat when starting with an already great car. Add in the superb maintenance, bulletproof reliability, and overall ease of ownership, and this cool little roadster will quickly become a favorite. Call today!

Harwood Motors always recommends and welcomes personal or professional inspections of any vehicle in our inventory prior to purchase.