Mazda MX-5 Miatas becoming rare on dealer lots

The 2015 Mazda MX-5 Miata is about to become extinct. In many areas it may already seem to be.

Mazda’s 2015 model year MX-5 Miatas are being sold now in only tiny numbers each month. In March, there were only 532 sold in the US market. That number is down 30% over the prior March. Year to date, the Miata’s sales are up, but our suspicion is that Mazda built very few 2015 cars to send to dealers. The all-new 2016 MX-5 Miata may not make it to US dealers until as late as August in any significant numbers.

Mazda began taking pre-orders recently for the 2016 models Miata but has not said when it will be available. With the Japanese market launch planned for June, and the US launch to follow, it seems that for at least this year there will be very few Miatas for sale in spring or summer.

The outgoing third generation Miata is lightly larger, more powerful by about 12 HP, and also about 150 pounds heavier than the new design. For cruising and Sunday fun, the outgoing car will not be dramatically different than the new fourth generation car, but then there are looks. The new car looks better than the current model. It will also have a modern infotainment system including navigation.

Bargain hunters hoping that new, 2015 Miatas might overlap the new, 2016 may be out of luck. Unlike a mainstream car like the Camry, which sells in big numbers, it is possible that Mazda could time the new Miata’s availability pretty much perfectly.