Certain cars acquire reputations via buyers' gender or age group rather than the size, style, price or performance of the vehicle.

Volkswagen's Beetle and Chrysler's PT Cruiser are surprisingly popular among women drivers. The Honda Element was marketed to appeal to young drivers, but it's been successful among urban families who enjoy recreation.

Like the Beetle and PT Cruiser, the Mazda Miata has had great success among women drivers, and it's become the world's best-selling two- passenger convertible. But Mazda had other plans, and they're overtly apparent considering the 2006 version.

First, Mazda now prefers the name MX-5 to Miata. More importantly, the Miata, which debuted in 1990, has undergone vast changes for '06. It's 2.5 inches longer in the wheelbase, 1.6 inches longer overall and 1.7 inches wider. It's engine has increased from 1.8 liters and 142 horsepower to 2.0 liters to 170 horsepower.

Additionally, color scheming has drastically improved and the car's presence on the road is anything but its previous "soft" reputation.

My test vehicle for the week was the Mazda Grand Touring edition with a six-speed manual transmission