My Mazda, My Story

An MX-5 Miata Reunion Years in The Making

Celebrating 30 Years of the MX-5 Miata begins with celebrating our fans and their stories. We asked owners and enthusiasts from around the country to submit their MX-5 stories to celebrate the debut of the 30th Anniversary MX-5 Miata at the Chicago Auto Show.

Sometimes cars are destined to be owned by a specific owner. That was the case for Rina Jacobson and her 2000 MX-5 Miata, which she bought in 2011—for the second time.

After falling in love with the MX-5 and owning one from 2000 to 2004, her daughter’s car seat no longer fit in the MX-5. Jacobson made the decision to part ways with her MX-5 and listed the car for sale, but it had to go to the right person.

Rina in 2000 when she first brought her car home.

“With a heavy heart, I sold it to a great guy not too far from me,” Jacobson explained. “We had a ‘gentlemen’s agreement’ that should he ever want to sell it, I would be first in line.” It was a deal and Jacobson parted ways with her beloved roadster.

Over the years they’d stay in touch through email. In 2011, nearly 8 years after selling her MX-5, he wanted to know if she was interested in buying it back.

Elated by the offer, Jacobson couldn’t refuse the chance to get her MX-5 back.

“It was in stellar condition,” Jacobson explained. “The miles stayed low, with only 60,000 miles put on it in 11 years, and all the regular maintenance was completed.”

Reunited with her beloved MX-5, Jacobson and her now 15-year-old daughter enjoy top-down rides up and down California’s iconic Pacific Coast Highway.

“My daughter thought she eventually would get it,” Jacobson explained, "But she won't. This is my car! I love my Great Pumpkin and can’t imagine not having it forever.”