We go back a long way with the Mazda Miata. We first drove the Miata in 1989, when there were just two of Mazda’s roadsters on the east coast. Later we earned our Sports Car Club of America competition license in a Showroom Stock C Mazda, and had our first ever win in our first ever race. And although we have never owned a Miata—having been in the minivan stage of life—every time we’ve driven a Mazda Miata has been yet another homecoming.

So it was with great anticipation that we scheduled our 2008 Mazda MX-5 Miata with the power retractable hardtop for a road test. But we didn’t ask about the transmission. Egad! An automatic!

So we were testing three things in one: the Miata, as an entity compared to those that preceded it; the power retractable hardtop, and what it does to this sports car; and what’s with the automatic transmission anyway.  We’re happy to say that, yes, the Mazda Miata is still a happy warrior, and yes, the PRHT works but we think we’d rather have the fabric roof because we’re cheap and we’re traditionalists; and then there’s the automatic. But why tell you all this here when there’s a whole review, including video, on carbuzzard.com. Check it out here then tell us your opinions down below.