The new retractible hardtop, like the softtop, has no spare tire which
puts it between genital herpes and HIV as something I DO NOT WANT! :-(

Before anyone asks when was the last time I needed a spare tire, it was  
quite recently that I hit an invisible something on the freeway and
completely destroyed my left rear tire, it was cut open from the center
of the tread to the bead!  

I learned three things from the event:

1. I won't go out of my driveway w/o a spare, no patch kit would have
fixed that tire.

2. I won't go out of my driveway w/o a roadside assistance card, I
learned I can't lift the spare tire from it's storage place in the
Ford-On-Steroids.

3. I learned some people are absolutely GREAT!  When I called the
Lincoln roadside assistance I was told it would take about an hour to
get someone there so I unloaded my scooter from the trunk and figured
I'd sit and wait in comfort (it was too hot to wait in the car w/o
running the AC.)  A young guy stopped to offer aid, I told him help was
on the way and he left, next some really nice guy pulled a city bus (!)
over onto the shoulder, got out, walked back to me and asked if he
could help!  I thanked him and he went on.  Next was a couple of young
ladies who offered help and they went on and finally an older Hispanic
couple stopped and refused to leave until the service truck came, they
said they weren't in any hurry and didn't want me to have to wait
alone!

Not to mention the VERY cute young thing driving the Highway Patrol car
who stopped to checked up on me and drove back to see if she could find
what it was that I hit.  She looked SOOOoooooo good in that uniform and
filled it out SOOOOoooooo well that I've sped ever since on that
stretch of road hoping she'll stop me!

I don't know if it was the handicap plates that did it for me or if I
was dealing with an unusually nice bunch of folks that night but I
won't forget them... and I'll NEVER be w/o a spare!

What in HELL was Mazda thinking?

"The turbo doesn't start doing it's thing until 4,500 RPM, and the rev
limiter cuts the fun at 6,500 RPM." (from an article online)

Versus the otherwise standard 7000 RPM.

note: Those numbers are the redlines, I believe the actual limiter is
just past there.

Seriously?!?  I've been away from the dealership for too long!  Gotta go
check one out! :)  ....and then go home without it... :(

-Scott

My 04 MSM redlines at 6500 rpm. It's significantly faster than a stock NA
or NB (NC?) Miata and comes with a full 4-year warranty. So far it has
been rock-solid reliable. I have a feeling it was left relatively detuned
for the sake of reliability. But as you note, all I need to get another 50
horsepower is to replace the intake and exhaust systems. Throw in an FMIC
intercooler and an O2 signal modifier and the whole package comes in at
probably $1600-$1700. That's getting into the range of aftermarket FI
systems but in a basically factory engineered system, and for a lot less
money.

I'm not really a gearhead but I'll probably spring for these mods in two
years when the warranty expires.

But as-is these MSM's are a great deal. Lots of neato toys on them. Good
wheels, good brakes, good suspension, torsen diff, 6-speed, 178 HP, etc.