Not trying to talk you out of a Miata at all here, but we towed a Toyota MR2 Spyder with a manual transmission. Just providing an alternative if the Miata drops off your list of considerations. Mind you a Miata has a trunk, the MR2 has a lockable stow-away compartment behind the seats. The trunk is much more practical, but the mid-engine MR2 was dreamy driving the curves. Still we loved the Spyder until we found ourselves driving through deep dry river beds with it to get to our trail heads. Since then, we tow what you see in my signature.