Under the Hood

Tribute buyers get the choice of two engines, a 153-horsepower, 2.3-liter four-cylinder or a 200-hp, 3.0-liter V-6. The base Tribute comes with a choice of five-speed manual or four-speed automatic transmissions. Upper trim levels, including all V-6 models, come with the automatic transmission standard. Two-wheel drive is standard, but all-wheel drive is optional on all trim levels.

    See also:

    Rear Ventilation System
    * Some models. The rear ventilation system only blows cool air through the rear vents while the front climate control system is on. It does not blow air when the front climate control is off. The ...

    Wiper Blades
    CAUTION: Hot waxes applied by automatic car washers have been known to affect the wiper's ability to clean windows. To prevent damage to the wiper blades, don't use gasoline, kerosene, paint ...

    Driving Sideways and Other Assets
    As always, the MX-5 has rear-wheel drive with excellent front/rear weight distribution. At roughly 52/48 (51/49 with the hardtop), its bias is toward slight understeer, which keeps things safe. An ...