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Pontiac Solstice vs 2006 Mazda MX-5 Miata

376 messages,  Last post on Jan 17, 2008 at 3:20 PM

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What is this discussion about? Pontiac Solstice, Mazda MX-5 Miata, Coupe, Convertible

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#306 of 376 Re: Chick Car reference [manybmws] by glennglenn Aug 30, 2006 (3:13 pm)
Replying to: manybmws (Aug 29, 2006 5:46 pm) "What a foolish post....you clearly don't understand the roadster market or the people who buy them. Nobody is buying a Miata to hot rod all over the place and impress people at stop lights."   Actually, I can not stand ignorance myself. I raced SCCA events back in the 90s and guess what, one of the most popular classes was the Miata class. To argue that no one bought them for racing and ONLY used them as roadsters is ridiculous. Here in the midwest they run around all the time with their tops down and their aftermarket roll bars and Enkei or BBS wheels and modified pipes. The stock class that they run allows these mods and no more. They do quite well in their class (did until the S 2000 came along) and were quite good for a stock car. Problem is, the new one went the wrong direction and indeed got heavier and on a price adjusted basis became MUCH more expensive than they were. I'd be real impressed had FORD said, "Lets go in the direction of the Elise or Exige and cut the fat." Then I 'd say the MX5 would be worth a look. Till then, its turned in to a cute, quiet and comfortable "chicks car" which it didnt have to be. Give us 200 HP, drop 300 lbs and then lets go racing, thats what they should have done. Then I'd be impressed. Replies to this message: aviboy97 (Aug 30, 2006 4:00 pm) glennglenn (Aug 31, 2006 3:34 am) aquaticexplore (Aug 31, 2006 7:29 pm)
#307 of 376 Foolishness and ignorance... by claires HOST Aug 30, 2006 (3:57 pm)
Let's tone down the rhetoric, folks -- we're supposed to be talking about cars, not each other.
#308 of 376 Re: Chick Car reference [glennglenn] by aviboy97 Aug 30, 2006 (4:00 pm)
Replying to: glennglenn (Aug 30, 2006 3:13 pm) I don't think that poster meant "no one buys them to race". MX-5 does have a rich racing heritage. But, the majority of the MX-5 buyers do not race them, only a select few.   There is currently an MX-5 Cup circuit, which MX-5's race Vs MX-5's. There is also an abundance of Mazdaspeed components available to members of SCCA.   Problem is, the new one went the wrong direction and indeed got heavier   I don't really call 20 lbs that much weight.   I have another reference for you. The Honda Civic. They are tuned and raced everywhere, and yet, they are marketed at a fuel efficient economy car to the masses. The MX-5 is marketed to the masses as a true roadster, and if you wish, you can modify the crap out of it and race it. Most MX-5 owners will not. If you think about it, you can basically modify any car now a days.... Replies to this message: glennglenn (Aug 31, 2006 3:34 am)
#309 of 376 Re: Chick Car reference [aviboy97] by glennglenn Aug 31, 2006 (3:34 am)
Replying to: aviboy97 (Aug 30, 2006 4:00 pm) "I don't really call 20 lbs that much weight.    I have another reference for you. The Honda Civic. They are tuned and raced everywhere, and yet, they are marketed at a fuel efficient economy car to the masses. The MX-5 is marketed to the masses as a true roadster, and if you wish, you can modify the crap out of it and race it. Most MX-5 owners will not. If you think about it, you can basically modify any car now a days.... "   Interesting you talk about weight of the car. Let's face it, the Miata has gotten "soft." This morning I read the Edmunds test on the PRHT and guess what, the primary thing they noticed was the increase in weight (and price too). So, if we take your 20 LBS and add the other "70" for the PRHT mechanisms, then we're looking at almost a 100 lbs (90 to be exact). Again, the car has gotten better to drive daily (quieter etc) but has gotten heavier by 100 lbs, more expensive by 1000s of dollars (the PRHT is at $30 K guys). For that money you can get the MUCH quicker SKY Red Line or the MUCH MUCH better and much faster S 2000. Attack the issue, not the person. Take a look at the ad to your left when you reply. Now thats a great looking car (Solstice).   Once again, the Mazda should have gone in the Lotus direction of less weight, less complexity and less price. If its a true roadster as you say, then its gotten away from its roots as a tossable, easy to fix, reliable daily driver that you can race too. Try racing the PRHT?? The FLEX at the first pointer cone will change your mind real quick.
#310 of 376 Best Motoring review by carlisimo Aug 31, 2006 (6:29 am)
This is from a Japanese car program. The driver is Keichii Tsuchiya, the most famous of Japanese GT race drivers (the "drift king,">link title" but he's done much more than that). Probably nothing we didn't know about the Miata and the Solstice, but good videos nonetheless. (The Miata has always been called the Roadster in Japan, just in case there's any confusion about that.)   Part 1   Part 2 Replies to this message: glennglenn (Aug 31, 2006 8:31 am) carlisimo (Sep 04, 2006 9:17 am)
#311 of 376 Re: Best Motoring review [carlisimo] by glennglenn Aug 31, 2006 (8:31 am)
Replying to: carlisimo (Aug 31, 2006 6:29 am) Carlisimo, many thanks for the link to the Miata versus the Solstice video. One thing I noticed from the driving is that the Japanese fellow had to work a LOT harder (look at his hands and feet) to get the Miata to go fast and YET it still LOST in lap times. The Solstice handled very nicely and was not so much a handful to make go fast. Even the Japanese driver was surprised at how good the Solstice was. Chalk up another one for the Solstice. Don't forget too, this was not even the GXP model with almost 100 more HP. Be afraid Miata, be very afraid, of the Solstice and the Sky!!! There's a new sheriff in town and he's got GM on the badge. Replies to this message: carlisimo (Sep 04, 2006 9:17 am)
#312 of 376 link by audia8q Aug 31, 2006 (9:20 am)
Somebody should link the Edmunds video of the MX-5 vs. Solstice.   I got a dvd of the test but don't know how to post it...I bet its around edmunds somehwere. Replies to this message: glennglenn (Aug 31, 2006 9:37 am) aviboy97 (Aug 31, 2006 11:53 am)
#313 of 376 Re: link [audia8q] by glennglenn Aug 31, 2006 (9:37 am)
Replying to: audia8q (Aug 31, 2006 9:20 am) Somebody should link the Edmunds video of the MX-5 vs. Solstice.    "I got a dvd of the test but don't know how to post it...I bet its around edmunds somehwere"   The Vid is worth a look, not too long and has lots of driving in it. A very telling tale indeed from a great Japanese car driver. He even says they ought to sell the Solstice in Japan. Now that would be a real kick!!
#314 of 376 Re: link [audia8q] by aviboy97 Aug 31, 2006 (11:53 am)
Replying to: audia8q (Aug 31, 2006 9:20 am) here it is   http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/Drives/Comparos/articleId=107290
#315 of 376 Re: Chick Car reference [glennglenn] by aquaticexplore Aug 31, 2006 (7:29 pm)
Replying to: glennglenn (Aug 30, 2006 3:13 pm) This post resembles the GM attitude for many years to Japanese cars, right up to the point the former was issuing press releases denying that it was going to go bankrupt. Simply put, the GM twins are a good first try. However, the lack of attention to detail is evident to every reviewer of these vehicles. You cannot put a gas tank in the trunk and not expect it to impact usefulness of the cars. There is virtually no storage space in the interior of the cars either. The transmission was pulled right out of a Mack truck, er, Silverado (or whatever). Hard to believe you mentioned weight, since the bigbutt GM twins have it in spades. They pulled the rear recessed (nice time washing them) lights right out of the trailblazer (since it ain't selling). The cornering ability is a joke, as is braking ability. Read C&D or any other to highlight deficiencies of the GM twins. The base engine is bigger yet the car is slower than the 'chick car'. Also, it gets much poorer gas milage and switch gear sucks. You are right that the high end version will beat a miata in a staight line, but the price is outrageously higher too. Mazda will undoubtedly issue a turbo version of the miata which, owing to the bigbutt nature of the twins, will equal or exceed the bigbutts. If you want to boast about a GM product, can we agree the discussion should be limited to the corvette?

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