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So you have just been out shopping for a new 2017 Mazda MX-5 Miata, or better yet, just drove a new one home. The new Miata has some great surprises, but have you found the fatal flaw in the interior design yet?

2017 Mazda Miata & Fiat Spider Cupholder Flaw
As you may have noticed, the twin cupholders Mazda mounted inside the Miata are behind you. Not exactly an easy way to grab a drink while you both steer and shift. Worse yet, unless you are a very small person you may find that your right elbow contacts the cupholders when you are resting your arm on the armrest. If you have not yet noticed you have short arms, so we will call you T-Rex.

Why Did Mazda Make This Mistake On Miata & Fiat Spider?
Mazda designed the 2017 MX-5 Miata around the stick shift. Really. The driver's right hand perfectly placed was Mazda's interior design starting point. Everything else came next. Once Mazda put the stick shift, manual handbrake and infotainment controls on the console there was no room left for the cupholders. Now, if you are about to hammer us in the comments saying that "This is a driver's car and cupholders don't matter yada yada yada" let us tell you that we Torque News staff are former owners of Miatas and we know that people who own them do indeed like a tasty beverage while on the road. It is not a small thing to some owners. Particularly those who use their Miata as a Grand Touring car. Hey, that is actually the name of a Miata trim!

So What is The Miata & Fiat Spider Cupholder Fix?
The fix is very satisfying it turns out. First, grab the driver's side cupholder firmly. Then, pull up on it till it feels like it is going to break. At that moment the car will let it go. Hopefully, it went well and it popped out and the dust cover closed the hole. Stash that cupholder someplace you won't ever lose it. Next, grab the passenger side one and do the same rough treatment to it, but don't store it away. After you get the passenger side cupholder out, go around to the passenger side of the car and you will find a place to insert it. Jam it down in there like you mean business and it should click into place. Once locked in, it will be much sturdier than it appears. The result is shown in the top of page image. We tested the holder with a 16-ounce bottle of juice in a glass jar and it held the weight fine. It also handled a Starbucks Venti Latte with ease (20 oz).

Watch the Instructional Video On Miata & Fiat Spider Cupholder Below
In case you don't trust us, we made a video showing how all this goes down. Check it out on page 2 and let us know if it was helpful.