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Coupes & Convertibles Pontiac Solstice Pontiac Solstice vs 2006 Mazda MX-5 Miata
376 messages, Last post on Jan 17, 2008 at 3:20 PM
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I think what you're saying is this: Solstice and Miata and natural competitors. Therefore, if Pontiac drastically ups the performance of the Solstice with the GXP, then Mazda must respond with a Mazdaspeed MX-5. What I'm saying is that competition is dictated as much by price as vehicle dynamics. If the GXP (or Sky Redline) is a $28-30k convertible, it will compete with other $30k convertibles. How WELL it would do this might be an interesting discussion for another day. My point is that the Miata is NOT a $30k convertible and (IMO) I don't think Mazda wants to compete in that market. Is it possible they will lose SOME sales of a $23k MX-5 to a $28k GXP? Sure; but I don't think the number of sales lost would warrant a panicked release of a Mazdaspeed MX-5. Just a difference of opinion - no way to know for sure for a couple of years but it does lead to interesting questions. What I'd like to know would be the response of Honda with their S2000 to a well balanced, powerful Solstice GXP.
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Replying to: rorr (Feb 03, 2006 7:21 am) I think it is fair to say we are looking at the same issue through somewhat different perspectives. You are looking from more of a pure consumer/business perspective. I am looking from the buff mag perspecitve (where they tend to ignore price, though not always). We shall have to see which perspective Mazda takes. What I'd like to know would be the response of Honda with their S2000 to a well balanced, powerful Solstice GXP. Interesting thought. While Mazda certainly has not sat on its hands, Honda has been fairly content to leave the S2000 with only modest changes. Wonder what the GXP will do to this strategy?
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Replying to: logic1 (Feb 03, 2006 8:14 am) Yep. But look at it this way: for years Mazda essentially had the affordable roadster market to itself. And then Honda released the S2000, which (while still fairly affordable) offered substantially better performance for somewhat more money. So, look at history. Did Mazda release the Mazdaspeed Miata in response to perceived lost sales to the S2000? I don't know the answer to that (not being in on the development meetings when the decision was made to build a Mazdaspeed Miata). However, I'll point out that the S2000 was out for a few years before Mazda released the Speed version. You can draw your own conclusions. Granted, the Miata and S2000 were somewhat further apart pricewise than the current Miata and proposed GXP. But (and this is my opinion), I think the price spread will still be substantial enough to move the GXP out of the base Miata market and more into the S2000 market. And even buff mags, when they do vehicle comparisons, at least TRY to match up vehicles at similar price points with similar capabilities. Based on that, I think that folks like C&D will match up the GXP against the S2000. I would think the Pontiac fans would welcome this matchup.
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Replying to: rorr (Feb 03, 2006 8:49 am) But to stay with the Buff magazine angle, as the S2000, Z4, SLK were coming out, you frequently saw editorial comments on the one hand praising Mazda for keeping the Miata inexpensive but on the other asking for more horsepower. And even buff mags, when they do vehicle comparisons, at least TRY to match up vehicles at similar price points with similar capabilities. Based on that, I think that folks like C&D will match up the GXP against the S2000. I would think the Pontiac fans would welcome this matchup. An S2000 and GXP comparo is almost inevitable. But it is not unreasonable to expect a comparo asking when Mazda is going to join the fight as well.
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Replying to: logic1 (Feb 03, 2006 9:08 am) |
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You know we live in a society of complainers. Every one is to busy complaining about our economy. There should be NO discussion even about the Miata. It probably may be a decent vehicle but in the end it is japanese. I love america and the american workers. Every one should quit buying foreign cars.
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Replying to: guywas (Feb 08, 2006 10:11 am) Actually, by most measures, our economy is doing quite well. "I love america and the american workers. Every one should quit buying foreign cars." Fine. If you love american workers, then an 'american' car would be one built by american workers. Correct? Of course, the flip side of this is a 'foreign car' would be a car built by......foreigners. Correct? BTW - this is the wrong thread for this discussion. There is a thread in the 'News and Views' Board devoted to 'Buying American Cars'. You might want to visit.
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Replying to: rorr (Feb 08, 2006 11:07 am) Agreed. Folks, let's not drive down that road. |
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| Mazda is unvailing the new Mazdaspeed3 as a 2007 or 2008 model in the next few weeks at the Geneva auto show. For all of you that think Mazda will come up with the Mazdapseed MX-5 in response to the Pontiac GXP very soon, I think this is evidence that we will not see a Mazdaspeed MX-5 for quite sometime. IMO | |
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Replying to: ttbuyer (Sep 23, 2005 4:31 am) |
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