Comments on: Mazda announces U.S. pricing for new MX-5 hardtop http://www.leftlanenews.com/mazda-announces-us-pricing-for-new-mx-5-hardtop.html Car news, reviews, and specs for the auto-industry Sat, 11 Feb 2012 00:12:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: 07 MX-5 PRHT http://www.leftlanenews.com/mazda-announces-us-pricing-for-new-mx-5-hardtop.html#comment-290374 07 MX-5 PRHT Fri, 05 Jan 2007 22:14:47 +0000 http://www.leftlanenews.com/2006/08/16/mazda-announces-us-pricing-for-new-mx-5-hardtop/#comment-290374 I have owned both a 2006 Pontiac Solstice and, presently, a 2007 Mazda MX-5 (Miata) retractable hardtop. The Miata wins hand-down. For example, sticker price on the 06 Solstice was about $26,000. The sticker for the 07 Miata was about $27,000. For an extra grand, the Miata boasts features that the Solstice did not have such as heated seats, 18 inch alloy aluminum wheels, and a power retractable hardtop. For that extra grand, the huge advantages for the Miata are 1) a truly well-designed power retractable hardtop which looks great even when in the "up" position, 2) a lower belt-line befitting a roadster, allowing the driver to rest his arm on the top of the door and enjoy the open air, (the Solstice feels like you are sitting in a deep bathtub), and A TRUNK! The Solstice doesn't have room to carry even a small picnic basket, much less luggage for a weekend trip. Also, a nifty new mid-level/floor blower setting for the heater which, when used in conjunction with the heated seats and the well-designed wind deflector behind the passenger cabin, allows comfortable top-down motoring at fifty miles per hour in temperatures as low as fifty degrees. The shifter on the Miata is superior, handling is as good or better than the Solstice, and torque is good clear through high rpm's. The Solstice engine sounds like it might fly apart over five grand. Thankfully I sold the Solstice while the market was still hot and got my money back. The Miata is a far better value and a much better car. Oh, yeah, one more thing. The more I drive this 2007 Miata, the more impressed I am by how the designers remained true to the spirit of the 1991 Miata I drove and loved for years. They nailed it. I have owned both a 2006 Pontiac Solstice and, presently, a 2007 Mazda MX-5 (Miata) retractable hardtop. The Miata wins hand-down. For example, sticker price on the 06 Solstice was about $26,000. The sticker for the 07 Miata was about $27,000. For an extra grand, the Miata boasts features that the Solstice did not have such as heated seats, 18 inch alloy aluminum wheels, and a power retractable hardtop.

For that extra grand, the huge advantages for the Miata are 1) a truly well-designed power retractable hardtop which looks great even when in the “up” position, 2) a lower belt-line befitting a roadster, allowing the driver to rest his arm on the top of the door and enjoy the open air, (the Solstice feels like you are sitting in a deep bathtub), and A TRUNK! The Solstice doesn’t have room to carry even a small picnic basket, much less luggage for a weekend trip.

Also, a nifty new mid-level/floor blower setting for the heater which, when used in conjunction with the heated seats and the well-designed wind deflector behind the passenger cabin, allows comfortable top-down motoring at fifty miles per hour in temperatures as low as fifty degrees.

The shifter on the Miata is superior, handling is as good or better than the Solstice, and torque is good clear through high rpm’s. The Solstice engine sounds like it might fly apart over five grand. Thankfully I sold the Solstice while the market was still hot and got my money back. The Miata is a far better value and a much better car.

Oh, yeah, one more thing. The more I drive this 2007 Miata, the more impressed I am by how the designers remained true to the spirit of the 1991 Miata I drove and loved for years. They nailed it.

]]> By: Phil http://www.leftlanenews.com/mazda-announces-us-pricing-for-new-mx-5-hardtop.html#comment-238363 Phil Sat, 19 Aug 2006 21:52:38 +0000 http://www.leftlanenews.com/2006/08/16/mazda-announces-us-pricing-for-new-mx-5-hardtop/#comment-238363 My wife says the upcoming MX-5 retractable hardtop is her choice. Therefore, whatever any "reviewer" says means very little to me. That said, as a former very satisfied '94 Miata owner who loved to load a few bags in the trunk and hit the road with my favorite blond (my wife), I absolutely love the fact that the new MX-5 has an even larger trunk that does not suffer when the top is down. I would never buy a Sky or Solstice simply because I don't want to be limited to just driving around the block every day. Those two have virtually no storage or trunk space...what a shame. It makes them useless for top-down travel which is one of the best reasons on earth to own a sporty convertible. My wife says the upcoming MX-5 retractable hardtop is her choice. Therefore, whatever any “reviewer” says means very little to me. That said, as a former very satisfied ’94 Miata owner who loved to load a few bags in the trunk and hit the road with my favorite blond (my wife), I absolutely love the fact that the new MX-5 has an even larger trunk that does not suffer when the top is down. I would never buy a Sky or Solstice simply because I don’t want to be limited to just driving around the block every day. Those two have virtually no storage or trunk space…what a shame. It makes them useless for top-down travel which is one of the best reasons on earth to own a sporty convertible.

]]> By: Renton http://www.leftlanenews.com/mazda-announces-us-pricing-for-new-mx-5-hardtop.html#comment-231337 Renton Thu, 17 Aug 2006 11:52:19 +0000 http://www.leftlanenews.com/2006/08/16/mazda-announces-us-pricing-for-new-mx-5-hardtop/#comment-231337 Carlos -- "I don't know which I'd pick. But it sure is great being able to choose." It is nice to have a choice, I'll agree. Carlos — “I don’t know which I’d pick. But it sure is great being able to choose.”

It is nice to have a choice, I’ll agree.

]]> By: Anonymous http://www.leftlanenews.com/mazda-announces-us-pricing-for-new-mx-5-hardtop.html#comment-229840 Anonymous Thu, 17 Aug 2006 02:18:35 +0000 http://www.leftlanenews.com/2006/08/16/mazda-announces-us-pricing-for-new-mx-5-hardtop/#comment-229840 Both the Sky and Solstice are cheap, low grade, chintzy little cars. I test drove both and hands down, the Miata was a superior car. That engine in the Kappa is nasty... Over 3 grand and it sounds like its got dirt stuck in there. The Mazda was much more refined and its chassis was much more nimble and lively. Hope the hardtop doesn't ruin the character of the car. Both the Sky and Solstice are cheap, low grade, chintzy little cars. I test drove both and hands down, the Miata was a superior car. That engine in the Kappa is nasty… Over 3 grand and it sounds like its got dirt stuck in there. The Mazda was much more refined and its chassis was much more nimble and lively.

Hope the hardtop doesn’t ruin the character of the car.

]]> By: Plenty O'Toole http://www.leftlanenews.com/mazda-announces-us-pricing-for-new-mx-5-hardtop.html#comment-229115 Plenty O'Toole Wed, 16 Aug 2006 22:03:19 +0000 http://www.leftlanenews.com/2006/08/16/mazda-announces-us-pricing-for-new-mx-5-hardtop/#comment-229115 I don't like the look of the hard top with the roof up, if the top is up a lot it looks way better with the soft top. I love in CA and the top would be down most of the time so for security when parked I would get the hardtop I don’t like the look of the hard top with the roof up, if the top is up a lot it looks way better with the soft top. I love in CA and the top would be down most of the time so for security when parked I would get the hardtop

]]> By: Carlos http://www.leftlanenews.com/mazda-announces-us-pricing-for-new-mx-5-hardtop.html#comment-229034 Carlos Wed, 16 Aug 2006 21:47:11 +0000 http://www.leftlanenews.com/2006/08/16/mazda-announces-us-pricing-for-new-mx-5-hardtop/#comment-229034 Some people will still want the manual softtop. It's way faster, which is good if you're impatient or drive with the top down when it looks like it's about to rain. It looks better to some. It allows for more 'storage' room behind the seats. And it's cheaper. It's lighter too but not by much; only racers will notice I'm sure. I don't know which I'd pick. But it sure is great being able to choose. Some people will still want the manual softtop. It’s way faster, which is good if you’re impatient or drive with the top down when it looks like it’s about to rain. It looks better to some. It allows for more ‘storage’ room behind the seats. And it’s cheaper. It’s lighter too but not by much; only racers will notice I’m sure.

I don’t know which I’d pick. But it sure is great being able to choose.

]]> By: Penny Tentiary http://www.leftlanenews.com/mazda-announces-us-pricing-for-new-mx-5-hardtop.html#comment-228858 Penny Tentiary Wed, 16 Aug 2006 21:08:20 +0000 http://www.leftlanenews.com/2006/08/16/mazda-announces-us-pricing-for-new-mx-5-hardtop/#comment-228858 Good as the new MX5 undoubtably is i'm saving for this http://www.carmagazine.co.uk/secret_new_car.php?sid=94&page=1 Good as the new MX5 undoubtably is i’m saving for this
http://www.carmagazine.co.uk/secret_new_car.php?sid=94&page=1

]]> By: snork http://www.leftlanenews.com/mazda-announces-us-pricing-for-new-mx-5-hardtop.html#comment-228814 snork Wed, 16 Aug 2006 20:57:27 +0000 http://www.leftlanenews.com/2006/08/16/mazda-announces-us-pricing-for-new-mx-5-hardtop/#comment-228814 Definitely a reasonable adder...now all they're going to have to do is build them enough quantity. For such a small premium, why would you want a manual soft top? Definitely a reasonable adder…now all they’re going to have to do is build them enough quantity. For such a small premium, why would you want a manual soft top?

]]> By: Andre Neves http://www.leftlanenews.com/mazda-announces-us-pricing-for-new-mx-5-hardtop.html#comment-228811 Andre Neves Wed, 16 Aug 2006 20:57:12 +0000 http://www.leftlanenews.com/2006/08/16/mazda-announces-us-pricing-for-new-mx-5-hardtop/#comment-228811 Grow up man. Nobody needs comments like that made. I bet you can design & produce a better product chump :| Grow up man. Nobody needs comments like that made. I bet you can design & produce a better product chump :|

]]> By: Big Jugs http://www.leftlanenews.com/mazda-announces-us-pricing-for-new-mx-5-hardtop.html#comment-228784 Big Jugs Wed, 16 Aug 2006 20:50:04 +0000 http://www.leftlanenews.com/2006/08/16/mazda-announces-us-pricing-for-new-mx-5-hardtop/#comment-228784 You are so welcome Andre You are so welcome Andre

]]> By: Andre Neves http://www.leftlanenews.com/mazda-announces-us-pricing-for-new-mx-5-hardtop.html#comment-228772 Andre Neves Wed, 16 Aug 2006 20:43:29 +0000 http://www.leftlanenews.com/2006/08/16/mazda-announces-us-pricing-for-new-mx-5-hardtop/#comment-228772 ^Maturity at it's finest ^Maturity at it’s finest

]]> By: Big Jugs http://www.leftlanenews.com/mazda-announces-us-pricing-for-new-mx-5-hardtop.html#comment-228707 Big Jugs Wed, 16 Aug 2006 20:25:10 +0000 http://www.leftlanenews.com/2006/08/16/mazda-announces-us-pricing-for-new-mx-5-hardtop/#comment-228707 I so want one over a Shiturn SKy or a Pontiac Solpiss I so want one over a Shiturn SKy or a Pontiac Solpiss

]]> By: Renton http://www.leftlanenews.com/mazda-announces-us-pricing-for-new-mx-5-hardtop.html#comment-228628 Renton Wed, 16 Aug 2006 19:58:18 +0000 http://www.leftlanenews.com/2006/08/16/mazda-announces-us-pricing-for-new-mx-5-hardtop/#comment-228628 Very reasonable and a bargain compared to the UK. Very reasonable and a bargain compared to the UK.

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