The Miata has always been one of the best deals on the market. But which generation is the smartest investment?

The Miata is best with a soft top, but the RF hardtop remains an appealing, oddball alternative.

Pegged as "a successor to the MX-5," the production date will push the next-gen Miata's arrival back a bit. In 2010 it was predicted we'd see the new Miata this year, with its 2,200-pound weight ...