Should you BUY a 2019 Mazda MX-5 Miata RF with an AUTOMATIC? 

Joe is one car salesman I wouldn't want to meet on the lot. I'd be regretting it for the next 8 years.

I would buy it with the automatic and still have fun shifting with the paddle shifters. I drove manuals for 21 years. No more. Nice review Joe! 👍🏻👍🏻🇺🇸

Some info not mentioned on the Mazda automatic tranny… You can downshift via the paddle shifter even in FULL AUTOMATIC mode. Lets say you are driving down the highway - the auto tranny has you in 6th gear for full economy. You want to pass a truck, you tap twice on the left paddle shifter and you are now in 4th gear, the engine spins up in rpms and you move out! Mazda actually displays this mode on the dash as D with a smaller number denoting the gear that you have shifted down into - in my example 4. It is a super slick auto - you can drive around in full auto and downshift with the paddles when you need to. Zoom Zoom, lol. Hey, I’ve driven manual transmissions my entire life, and I’m in my 60s. Everything from 427 Corvettes, a 440 GTX, to grocery getting Honda Civics. I currently have a manual 2004 Corolla. I will probably get this MX-5 RF with a manual, just because my girl and I are used to driving manuals. However, these Mazda autos are super cool. When you think on it, a manual transmission is a crude way to manage gear changes - I don’t believe Ferrari even makes a manual transmission anymore for example - so don’t discount the cool automatic that Mazda makes.

Thanks brother. Nobody ever reviews the automatic.

i could have gotten a stick, but with 'sport' mode, 'paddle' shifters, and manual mode on the stick - i get the best of both worlds...i love it

Bought my fourth (!) Miata in August - a ‘19 30AE RF in Racing Orange. I am in love!

I have a 2016 , it took about 6 months to fully learn how special the AT is, and how well it performes in the twisties. Paddle shifters, really only need 2 gears in tight corners. We are not all going to a race track. The comfort when you just want to let go of constant shift changes and pedal work in all around driving is just sublime. Dont underestimate just how the manual mode with the AT is. This isnt a shelby cobra to feel the pull off the line letting out the clutch.

I don’t care what anybody thinks I’m getting the automatic Miata 2022!!

Dude I want one! I work in LA and leave for work when it's prime traffic time and head home at the worst traffic time of the day. I'm in traffic 2 hrs a day! We have very few manual drivers in LA as their daily driver so this would be so great to have something fun taking corners.

Auto makes sense for this car if you love to drive but have physical limitations that keep you from operating a clutch; use it to commute in heavy traffic; or just want to get into that GT vibe and cruise. That said, I will opt for the manual transmission every time.

I love how detailed you were!

Great review as always but during your test drive segment it would be great to get a shot of the road. Good job and keep those reviews coming!!!!!

80% of the miatas sold in Japan are automatic anyway. The future is coming, people are starting to give less fucks about manuals now

This car is so beautiful and fun to drive! I purchased mine this past Saturday and it’s my everyday car. I traded my 7yr old Mazda 3 in for my dream car - the Miata RF Grand Touring in machine Gray. If you’re like me and only keep the important things in your car such as the car’s manual, your registration and insurance card, perhaps a bottle of water in the cup holder, and a mini flashlight, sunglasses, pen & paper and hand sanitizer in your glove box, this car will suit you well. Also, the seats are very comfy and the cabin is perfect for me, but keep in mind I’m just 5’1. I highly recommend this car if you love sports cars and wants something that’s fast, hugs corners smoothly and affordability priced. I paid $36,036 for mine, but it could be because I’m in Atlanta, GA and everything’s high here. Highly recommended…

This gunmetal color + rims is just heavenly, perfect blend of elegant and sporty, I enjoy the soul red color + BBS dark rims too but if given choice I would go for the gunmetal grey. What an amazingly stunning automobile.

Solid review as usual my dude. I need to get behind the bidness end of one of those Miata RF’s fo shizzle!!!! Strong work and keep em coming brother.

I bought a used 2017 MX5 with just 9000 miles, RF auto in soul red,,,,,,,,,I ABSOLUTELY LOVE this car!!!!! I have had Vettes, Musclecars, E46 M3 Bmw,,,,,you name it I have probably owned one in the last 40 years. None have ever been just all around fun as this car. Ed Morse Mazda is an excellent place, Service is great.

In places like Malaysia where traffic jam is quite a usual phenomenon, automatic with paddle shifters is a common package chosen because of how crammed our left leg gets on the compression/decompression of the clutch while in the jam.

"Topless in Florida sun" I never thought I would hear Joe say that haha

Not gonna lie Raiti, I've never cared for antennas on cars. Your zonk on the placement here is spot on, it really does steal the eye's attention.

I've never understood why manual drivers are so prideful about shifting. It's not like driving manual means you designed the entire vehicle from scratch and your extra manual maneuvers literally allow you to fly in the air. It's just extra manual actions of the hand/feet that still get you to your destination. Why is it such a sin to drive an automatic?

Had a 1987 Mazda Rx7 back in day...lol..great car but when the exhaust had to be replaced it cost me 1,600 ...lol..loved that car ..great review Raiti...thumbs up brother.

Awesome review Joe great presentation. After all considered I’d go for soft top no motors and electric to worry about. I’ve experienced manual and automatic and I’ve got to say automatic with the easy flappy paddle shift is fantastic. Keep it up buddy. All the best. Jim from Birmingham uk💪👌👍🏻

Love my 2021 ND2 automatic RF this car is so fun shouts out to all MX5 automatic drivers

23:37 I was wondering exactly this, this video is just super detailed! I do appreciate the effort!

I just ordered a 2021 it will be here in May 2021. I’m so excited. A great vehicle for the price. I’m 65 and have wanted one for years. LIG!

I love being topless in the florida sun

Thank you for the positive comments on the automatic. While my current Miata is a 2017 manual RF, I enjoyed my 2006 automatic for almost 10 years. I'm actually thinking about getting a 2020 in an automatic.

I've drove the various combinations of RF / Ragtop / Manual / Auto, and decided on the Ragtop with the auto trans. The automatic offers the option of being more relaxing during those (many) times when you want to just cruise and/or enjoy your coffee, or when you’re dealing with city traffic. Those who insist that this car must be had with the manual really need to try the auto. The manual mode combined with the paddle shifters is fantastic, but when you add the “Sport” mode option, you’ve got so much to play with. I love it!

I love my 2019 RF Grand Touring Automatic Deep Crystal Blue Mica!! I got mine last March and just love it!!!

Always love a good retractable hard top. Had too many issues with every single soft top I’ve ever owned. But if you can get a manual anything over an automatic then it’s a no brainer. Also considering how few people know how to drive them nowadays it’s one of the best security system money can buy.

Great presentation, Joe. Hard to beat this roadster. In order to do that, you'd pay double the price of this Mazda. Porsche, Alfa Romeo, to name a couple, have two seat roadsters, but they are twice the price of this Miata. Ya gotta love that Japanese technology, to be able to make this roadster at half the price. Ohhh, if it only was offered with a turbo... zoom, zoom!!!

Nice review. This guy gets the job done. He knows what he's talking about.

Hope you got to take the new Subie out this weekend and enjoy it!

Love the videos joe

Two things that need to be added, in the 2020 model, flat bottom steering wheel, and a heads up display. It's FUN!! I LOVE this street lego Go Kart. Did I mention it's FUN!!! 6 speed Manual with the GT-S package, comes with , limited slip differential, Bilstein dampers, Shock tower brace Front, and Black Top, Looks like a moonroof with top up. also Its FUN!!!

Thanks for the review, Joe! Automatic Miata. Interesting!

Another great review, thanks, Joe. Q: Drop top aside, which is the “better” drive, 86 you drove the other day or this MX-5?

Great video! Amazing explanations 🙏🇵🇹.

Great Review!

Dang Joe, I thought I wanted a manual but you make a strong case for the automatic, :)

Hi joe! I really like all your videos! Can u please answer this question, would you rather go with this mx5 or subaru or 86? Please notice me joe!

This little car is a pure enjoyment.

Amazing Miata even with the automatic transmission. Love the sound and yes 7500 RPM redline. Thanks Joe.

I have that exact car. Love it a ton. Very fun.

Love the RF in that color, the manual club with the recaro package would be my preference.

Never owned an RX-7 but I did have a much loved RX-8. Great 4 door sports car (with hidden rear doors) that looked like coupe. Only a couple of complaints. Torque was a foreign concept. A 9000 rpm redline and you needed every bit of that in acceleration. It was like driving a four wheel 650CC Japanese motorcycle. Then there was the flooding issue. If you made the mistake of turning off the engine before it reached operating temperature it flooded about 75% of the time. No big deal, right? Just wait a minute. Wrong. The car would never move again until it was towed to the dealer to have the single spark plug replaced. I managed to learn to never turn it off for the first five minutes after firing it up and replaced the totally inadequate battery with a stronger one to avoid a failed start. In the RX-8's last year of production Mazda thoughtfully added a warning in the gauge cluster warning the driver to NEVER turn off a cold engine. Ah...memories. Sold it to a high school kid who was thrilled with it. I bought a GTi. :)

Got my 2019 fully loaded RF GT last week. It's also an automatic. Love it. As far a apple car play, the dealer will install it for free. They aren't going to let you walk for a $10 part and an hour's worth of labor. The first thing i did was replace the standard antenna with a stubby one.

Hi Joe.... i am a huge fan of you,like to see you bringing a latest model honda accord coupe

The first Miata I REALLY like. It's a great looking car!

Come on brother! Damn! You have done a review on the "tiny" Miata six times in the last three months. Why don't you just buy one. COME ON MAN!!!

I have an RF auto ND 17 and an RF MT ND2 21 - both great, buy whatever you like!

To baby auto haters car enthusiast don’t care about the trans it’s about the smile and joy

5 reasons why Miata Is Always The Answer

Nice looking car ... im just about to get my liscense and go to college .. is this car a good pick for a first car ?

Rag top and Stick shift . Lighter and more fun to drive

That's FIVE Reviews now and all great.. :) I have the MX-5 RF Automatic and O absolutely love it, wouldn't change it for any Car and I'm not joking, I love this Car. No complaints. I got the Eternal Blue.

Hey there Mr.! Maybe a stupid question, but I gotta ask: is this WAY MORE silent than the cloth version with the roof on?

“Fully loaded.. has everything” doesn’t have the nappa leather.. interior lighting package.. upgraded side sills and pedals.. etc So not everything but yeah it’s nice

I love this car, Joe

Hey Joe . . . How about giving us an update on the upcoming changes to the exterior and interior enhancements to the 2021 Mazda MX-5 RF GT. Thanks!

Very nice design

Joe, Review the MX-5 Sport with the Manual - It has everything you need for much less $.

2020 and we still have keyboard manual drivers XD...having a manual doesn't make you a race car driver relax and let people enjoy the car

Love the ride and review, Joe. So, manual or automatic? Cloth top or hard top?

Hi Joe, How is this Miata comparing to the new (2022) BRZ, with same transmission?

The club trim comes with a splitter in the front

I said I would never drive an automatic until I moved back to the SF Bay Area. Traffic is crazy so I traded in my NC manual Miata for a MKIII TTS

Please post another video for the 2020 Miata.

My 2016 soul red is up there now for repairs.

whats the difference in the 0-60mph on automatic and manual for the rf? i heard auto is 7.9 seconds and manual is 6.8 seconds. that doesnt sound right to me

Torque is more important in an engine than HP specially if it comes down low ,like in a turbo engine

Miata in an AT? Meh....I love the MT...it’s so smooth and such a short gearbox! Easy!!! My MT truck I had years ago wasn’t as smooth or short of a gearbox! This Miata is a breeze in MT!!!!! LOVE IT!!!!

Good video! I looked very good. What do you think of Jimmy Hendrix? If you like my guitar and harmonica you will be happy.

is it dual clutch or traditional gearbox?

Where do I keep the twinkies? In a glove box? or centre consloe?? Oh wait, I dont really need to worry when car shifts for me. I can hold twinkies in my right hand while driving.. beautiful.

curious on the ride without the bilstein shocks on the auto

They still use clay models? When did car design centers stop using them? Cause clay models are the still used in prototype designs.Door panel exterior color comes on all trims.

I love this beautiful car thank you very much young man. 😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎

“You won’t be able to put 12 foot paddles on the back of this Miata” 😂

Pre-COVID peice 2019 new MX-5 RF GT automatic fully loaded $35,700 MSRP

Not everybody wants to drive manual. Just because some people knows how to drive manual doesn't mean their good drivers.

Ive been to Ed Morse Mazda so many times you should get one of those cookies they have

its funny how people are shitting on the automatic transmission.... I can drive a manual but hell I prefer automatics for everyday use. And there is a reason why ferrari lambos AMG's etc don't make manuals anymore. The automatics are a lot faster around the track. Yes I agree its fun to drive a manual but hey! don't shit on auto transmission miatas!!! they are still great cars and the automatics also redline at 7500 so its a win win.

This is the exact spec of Miata I would want, if I was in the market for a Miata. Maybe get the Soul Red color....

What happens when those speakers in the seat blow out lol

Hey JR.. an automatic miata is such an oxymoron that I even avoided clicking on this video until now. Great vids Joe.. awesome work 👍🏼!

I don’t like speakers on the headrest

A good looking car

Still beautiful car in 2019

Joe would you mind if I start my own car review channel and closely mimic your style. Instead of Zonks, I will have Bonks, LoL. I will condemn faux vents and may actually serve a dinner on a wing.

I also hate my antenna on my s2000. You need a lot of body work to get rid of it😢

I would get it for fun

E Brake?

No one: Joe: I am 6 feet tall

That antenna can be removed, right?

I drove one on a track day great car but I found soft / floating in the corners.

How do you tint the rear window?

The answer is no.... Why, because I will buy one used 13yrs later and don't want to see the miata market flooded with automatics. I think that's how the NC market was for the Hardtop, I see mostly automatics.

Joe will you have project cars you will be working on now that you are a Youtubist? Errrr...RU-vidr?