The “Miata with eyes” is the first-generation Mazda Miata, the NA, built from 1989 to 1997. Its pop-up headlights flip up out of the hood and give the car its famous friendly face. I’ve owned 10 Miatas across the NA and NB generations, starting with a $1,000 1999 NB in 2018. Here’s what owning them taught me.
In the realm of automotive enthusiasm, few cars command universal respect like the Mazda Miata. My journey with these cars began in 2018 when I acquired my first Miata for a mere $1,000, a figure reminiscent of the pre-pandemic era when the joy of car ownership was delightfully accessible to the budget-conscious enthusiast.
The 1999 NB Miata, naturally aspirated and bursting with potential, was my initiation into what I would describe as a playful driving experience. Learning its dynamics across varying conditions in snow, rain, and dry asphalt was not just educational but exhilarating. Despite a rather ambitious experiment with an eBay turbo kit that prematurely ended its tenure, the car left a mark on my automotive soul.
From a $1,000 NB to a Mazdaspeed Miata
Transitioning to a 2004 Mazdaspeed Miata, I encountered a vehicle that, despite its ‘Swiss-cheese-like’ frame, offered a new canvas for creativity. Modifications like eBay fenders, a Paco 3″ Lift Kit, and JDM Bilstein struts imported directly from Japan transformed it into a pothole-conquering, oversized-wheel-wearing spectacle that generated smiles and laughs in equal measure. This venture into the realms of both NA and NB chassis (the NA is the one with the pop-up headlights) stretched my palate, driving me to collect most every color variant of this delightful machine. I have enjoyed naturally aspirated, turbo, and supercharged variants, (all the 1.8L Engine).
Why the Mazda Miata still matters
But the Miata’s significance extends beyond personal story. In the broader automotive world, it represents accessible performance in an ecosystem increasingly dominated by technology filled, expensive alternatives. Its appeal highlights a desire for simpler, more engaging driving experience.
The allure of the Miata, in my experience, lies not just in its affordability nor ease of modification (both qualities well-documented in countless forums and videos) but also in its predictability and reliability as a source of pure, unadulterated driving joy.
Why I’d buy 10 more
As I look back on my journey with these Miatas, I am reminded of the truths they reinforce about the automotive passion: it’s not the price tag that defines enjoyment but the connection between driver and machine. The Miata, with its humble yet spirited design, continues to facilitate this connection with its analog feel and design.
In an age where the automotive world faces with the transition to electrification and autonomy, the Mazda Miata stands as a reminder of the value of driving. The road ahead is uncertain, but one thing remains clear: the Mazda Miata, in most its iterations, will forever hold a special place in the hearts of those who cherish the joy of driving. And so, as the market continues to evolve, my eyes will remain peeled for the next great Miata deal, ready to embark on another chapter of this forever rewarding journey. It is for these reasons I would not hesitate to double down on my investment in joy, community, and automotive purity by acquiring ten more Miatas…if not more.
Why the first-generation Miata looks like it has eyes
The NA Miata has retractable headlights. Switch them on and the two round lamps rise out of the hood; switch them off and they fold flat. With the lights up, the car reads as a face, and Miata owners have leaned into it for decades. Jalopnik calls the pop-ups “a cheerful wave hello, a cheeky wink.”
That’s why the most popular NA mods are about expression. A wink module raises one headlight while the other stays down, and a sleepy-eye mod only opens the lights partway for a half-lidded look.
If you want the face, you want an NA. The second-generation NB (1998 to 2005) switched to fixed headlights, which is why my 1999 NB doesn’t have the eyes. Pop-ups were mechanically complicated, and like most of the industry Mazda moved away from them as pedestrian-safety standards evolved.
Miata generations at a glance
- NA (1989–1997): pop-up headlights, the “Miata with eyes”
- NB (1998–2005): fixed headlights; includes the 2004 Mazdaspeed Miata
FAQ
Which Miata has the eyes?
The first-generation NA Miata, built from 1989 to 1997. Its pop-up headlights look like eyes when they’re raised.
When did Miatas stop having pop-up headlights?
With the second-generation NB, which arrived for 1998 with fixed headlights.
What is a Miata sleepy-eye mod?
A mod for the NA that raises the pop-up headlights only partway, for a half-closed look. A wink mod raises just one.
What 10 Miatas taught me about buying one
- Start with a cheap NA or NB. A $1,000 1999 NB was the entry point here, and the first-generation (NA) and second-generation (NB) cars remain the most accessible and the easiest to modify.
- The 1.8L engine takes abuse well. Naturally aspirated, turbocharged and supercharged examples all ran on the same 1.8L, and the reliability held up across all three.
- Check the frame on a Mazdaspeed. The 2004 Mazdaspeed Miata is the one to want, but rust can leave the frame “Swiss-cheese-like.” Inspect before you pay.
- Skip the bargain turbo kit. An eBay turbo kit ended the first car’s life early. Budget mods are part of the fun; budget forced induction is not.
- Buy for the drive, not the spec sheet. The appeal is predictability, analog feel and the connection between driver and machine, qualities that are getting rarer as cars go electric and autonomous.
If Miatas are part of a bigger love of driving, my guides to the best fall road trips in New England, a White Mountains foliage drive and spring road trips through U.S. national parks are made for a roadster with the top down.