 |
| Mazda MX-5 Miata |
CARBARN | Mazda MX-5 Miata | one of the latest Mazda car that was marketed in 2011 it has an extremely dynamic concept, with an environmentally friendly car is a lot of youth who want to have it, want to know? The following report MX-5 is fun, smart, low to the ground, modestly powered, nicely priced and handles like its on rails. It's the closest thing to a go-kart for the street. Or a skateboard. Still, Miata is sometimes derisively called a "secretary's car," which refers to the car's somewhat anemic 2.0 liter 16-valve DOHC 167-horsepower four-cylinder powerplant (the auto tranny puts 150 horses to the ground; 140 pound feet of torque makes for a satisfying launch at the Stop Light Grand Prix).
 |
| Mazda MX-5 Miata |
Truth be told, the heaviest Miata sold, with an automatic transmission, weighs-in at a feathery 2542 pounds with a 52% front/48% rear weight distribution. This makes the 167 horse engine feel a lot more powerful than it really is and helps tremendously in handling, steering and stopping (when using engine torque to slow with the stick). One major reason the engine never got too powerful (originally it was a mere 1.6L) was for insurance reasons. The car is aimed primarily at under-40 types, and insurance for those folks is expensive enough. Add a high-powered car to that equation and insurance might be impossible to get or pay for. So keeping it modestly-powered keeps ownership costs lower. Some aftermarket companies make bolt-on turbocharger kits for Miata owners and one outfit even put a Ford V8 in that front bay which made for a frankly dangerous ride. Even a front engine/rear driver has its limits.
Fewer than 5% of cars and trucks sold in America are ordered with a standard transmission; automatic and CVTs have taken that market over completely. But there are still a lot of drivers who crave the control, the sounds, the visceral feel of a stick shift, the active involvement in their driving. If so, Miata might be your next car; especially if that new Cayman or used Miura are out of your league (they are out of mine!). And finally, Miata is cute. "Cute" is a big deal in Japan, where they have something like 20 different words and get very specific as to cuteness, like the Eskimos have scores of different words to describe snow. Miata remains true to its original intent.
