Auto News 5

It seems that when you do something long enough, new things become old and old things tend to feel new again. Some explanation: Twenty years ago, I was the car culture editor for a large format "lifestyle" magazine - before "lifestyle" dripped with irony - called L.A. Style. It was in that role that a brand-new Mazda MX-5 Miata was thrust upon me at the end of June 1989. It was mine to drive through the Fourth of July weekend, even though "civilians" weren't able to take delivery of the much-heralded new roadster until after the holiday. Thus, my Miata experience back then was a very singular and exclusive one. Now that time has passed, I'm writing about the car as a collectible classic. As I cast my mind back to the first Bush era, I can make the argument that the Miata fit that definition even at its inception.

With the exception of the Volkswagen Routan, it seems I've driven virtually all the various styles of minivans Chrysler builds. That said, I think I liked this SXT the best - no, it's not as ornately equipped as our last SXT or our Four Seasons Town & Country, but I still found plenty to like.