Since the summer of 1989, the Mazda MX-5 Miata has been thrilling sports car fans with its featherweight rear-drive chassis and drop-top fun-in-the-sun persona. The Miata's responsive handling drew buyers by the tens of thousands to Mazda stores, as did a dollop of 1960s British roadster aesthetic. But it's no stretch to say that Mazda's brilliant five-speed manual transmission was one of the most important pieces of the puzzle. The stubby little shifter was so effortless that it moved with just a modest flick of the wrist.