Old flame Mazda MX-5 two-seater is better than ever

Mark Glover’s AutoGlo car reviews also can be seen in the Northern & Central California Cruisin’ News magazine published monthly out of Folsom, California.

Sacramento, California -- I met up with an old flame the other day.

It was a 2020 Mazda MX-5 Miata Club RF roadster.  Sure, it's technically just an MX-5, but even Mazda puts "Miata" on the sticker for good measure.

And that's appropriate, because just saying "Miata" brings back 30-year-old memories of when the little two-seater was introduced, and seemingly everybody had to have one.  Auto enthusiasts were crawling all over each other, offering to pay thousands above the asking price for one of the first models on American shores.

I wasn't that over-the-top about the car -- my household budget back then wouldn't allow for it anyway -- but I certainly admired the roadster's sexy style and straight-up road trip appeal.

Flash forward to 2020 and not all that much has changed.  Then again, upon closer inspection, much has changed.

First off, the basic sleek, low-to-the-ground, super-sporty exterior remains intact.  Folks walking up to the car instantly know it's an MX-5 Miata.

Behind the steering wheel, positive changes are within reach.

The tester is way more powerful than the Miata that first took a bow at the Chicago Auto Show in 1989.  Under the hood is a 2-liter, four-cylinder engine rated at 181 horsepower.  With the MX-5 weighing in at less than 2,500 pounds, this power plant makes for a muscular rear-drive machine.

Accelerations off the line are seat-pressing blasts, and once the revs are up, the MX-5 can dart around stragglers with agile, stick-to-the-road ease.  There's a satisfying, deep engine note to accompany this, a deeper tone that one normally gets from a 2-liter 4 arrangement.

Even with the sporty DNA, fuel mileage is excellent at 26 miles per gallon in the city and 35 mpg on the highway.

With the RF hardtop, the roof can be packed away or put up in a mere 13 seconds at the push of a switch.  It's still a fun show after all these years.

For me, the most impressive thing was the number of standard perks that came with my tester.  Far from a stripped two-seater, my ride included paddle shifters, a 7-inch touch-screen display, heated seats, a lane-departure warning system and a generous supply of state-of-the-art safety and security features.

All this was reflected in the sticker price, a somewhat hefty $35,185.

Obviously, the MX-5 is not -- and never has been -- a daily chore-doer, unless you like to make your grocery store runs a three-trip experience.  Nope, the Miata is meant to be taken out on the open road and opened up.

Try it.  I guarantee you'll love it.