I rate it very highly! The Miata (or i guess they just call it the MX5 nowadays). It's cheap!! Sports-car handling and manuverability for typically half the price (or more). Good looking. Great car to start the game, yet lots of turbo & NA upgrades ensure you can use your low-priced MX5 in lots of later scenarios. Close (not oddly spaced) gearbox. You dont' need alot of help in the handling department to get these cars to do what you want. Plenty color choices.
Bad things? there aren't many. Ultimately, you can't take a MX5 thru the entire game (but who cares, right?) also, after 4 GT games, the Miata has become a bit of a "backburner" car for me. It's there, yet i don't choose it very often due to it's highly popular nature and the fact that i've driven them in other Gt games. Too much understeer while the power is still low.
90 out of 100
next car: Isuzu Bellet!