Are Miatas reliable / cheap to own?

One of the most common questions we have gotten on social media is are Miatas reliable and cheap to own.

Miatas are very reliable cars, and some of the most affordable sports cars around. Most of the engine parts are sourced from other economy cars in Mazda’s lineup, which makes them simple and affordable to maintain.

Obviously this is a site dedicated to fixing and maintaining Miatas, so all of our repair-related content might make it seem like these cars need lots of work…

That couldn’t be further from the truth! Obviously any car is going to need work, and Miatas are no exception to that.

Reliability / Common Problems

Most of the work you will need to perform on a Miata classifies as either basic maintenance or wear items – stuff like oil changes, brake pads, spark plugs, or replacing suspension components. All of which are things that will need to be replaced on any vehicle, even new cars.

Other common repairs, such as replacing a radiator or a valve cover gasket are not really Miata-specific repairs, they are simply “older car repairs” – things that you will end up having to do on any out-of-warranty car. Truly, there aren’t really any break-the-bank problems with Miatas.

Wear Items

Another thing to consider is that Miatas are very lightweight. While that may seem unrelated to cost-of-ownership or reliability, it is actually a big strength. Heavier cars need bigger brakes in order to stop them, beefier shocks and springs to hold them up, and wider tires to maintain control of them. And in most cases those bigger brakes, springs, and tires cost more money. Because Miatas are so lightweight, they are able to have amazing handling and road feel, while also having cheaper wear items. Win-win!

Insurance

Lastly, you can’t talk about the cost of owning a vehicle without discussing insurance. Car insurance is going to be a cost you have to bear with any vehicle, and fortunately Miatas tend to be on the cheaper when it comes to the cost of insuring them.