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2009 Mazda Miata MX-5 Launched In Japan

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Bret
12/09/08

In reply to 2009 Mazda Miata MX-5 Launched In Japan
I love my girly little Miata. Girls also love it and enjoy going for rides in it.

I don't see the effeminate thing ever. But then my Miata has a roll bar and sits a little bit lower.

However, I must admit that I need to drive this small car to compensate for the enormousness of my "wedding tackle".
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kingedwin
12/09/08

In reply to 2009 Mazda Miata MX-5 Launched In Japan
This isn't a sports car. It doesn't have a V8. Duh.

[memewatch.com]
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pauljones
12/09/08

@kingedwin:

I have seen LS1 small blocks squeezed into 300ZXs, 350Zs, RX-7s, 240Zs, 240SXs, and even the odd S2000. If one must really, and truly, feel the urge the screw up the cars near-perfect factory balance, I am sure one could cram an LS1 into this thing as well.
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MushyHeirloom
12/09/08

In reply to 2009 Mazda Miata MX-5 Launched In Japan
Same great taste, new GIANT BADGE!

The new headlights are good, though. I appreciate those. Needs more pop-ups, though.
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Landau_Calrissian loves our President Camacho.
12/09/08

In reply to 2009 Mazda Miata MX-5 Launched In Japan
Wow, they sure fixed the problem of affordability. Didn't these things used to be cheap once?

And they also added 10% more estrogen, which didn't seem possible but was crucial.
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theeastbaykid
12/09/08

@ILoveWhatYouHate..09 Matrix: IIRC, the Miata started around $13k in 1990. That's about $22k in 2008 dollars, and they've added a TON of content. Whether that content is to your liking is up to you, fortunately first-gen cars are still readily available for those on a budget.
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Landau_Calrissian loves our President Camacho.
12/09/08

@theeastbaykid: I never thought of it that way, good point. Although for cheap drop-top fun, I will stick with old Jeeps.
And the other above poster also has a point, I must have man-image issues. That car (and my ex-wife's Sebring convertible) have always been girl cars to me, maybe because I never see guys driving them.
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theeastbaykid
12/09/08

@ILoveWhatYouHate..09 Matrix: I've got both a '92 Miata and a CJ-7 in here somewhere....
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acarr260
12/09/08

In reply to 2009 Mazda Miata MX-5 Launched In Japan
For a price approaching 30 large, I was hoping for something that could put up a fight against the S2000.
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Rock517
12/09/08

@acarr260: I think the S2000 is targeting a little more of the club crowd than the Miata. I dunno, I know they're offly close and all, but when I think of the Miata, I think, "weekend sports car," whereas when I think of the S2000 (as dated as it now is), I think, "high-revving track car." The Miata has broader appeal.
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skeeler
12/09/08

@Rock517:

I agree, the two cars are targeted at slightly different markets.

However, if you want to slay the big boys on the track, get the softtop MX-5 with the 6 speed (about 23 k$ in the US) and throw on the Cosworth supercharger and intercooler (5500 $), and a set of 17x9 wheels with appropriate tires. You'll be kicking serious but for about 30 k$, all in.

Of course, you wouldn't have the factory warranty that would come the S2000.
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acarr260
12/09/08

@skeeler: Plus, for $3.5k more than stock, the guy in the S2000 will be passing you like you're sitting still. A guy I work with has a supercharged S2000 that he uses as his daily driver. For a fairly cheap track car / daily driver, it's borderline batshit insane when it hits vtec and it can eat most Vettes for lunch.
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acarr260
12/09/08

@Rock517: I see what you're saying, but they seem to be pretty much the same thing to me. They're both small cars, two-seaters, designed for spirited driving and yet mellow enough to drive around town or to work. I think to me it just comes down to the old paradigm of "if I had $x to spend on a car that needs to be able to take me where I need to go and can be taken to track days, what would I buy?" At that price, the S2000 doesnt get much cometition from this little Miata.
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A strolling player
12/09/08

@acarr260: $10k is a pretty big difference to me. The basic softtop (all you need, c'mon) is $25k; last I checked the S2000 was either $34600 or $36400--can't remember--but that's still ten grand more.
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brandegee
12/09/08

@A strolling player got SMACKed: It's a reflection on how good the MX-5 is that it's being compared to a car that's clearly in a whole different price bracket.

The 2009 model starts at $35K and easily clears $38K with some bells/whistles. That's close to Evo/STI land.
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A strolling player
12/09/08

@brandegee: When did they start asking you if you wanted bells and/or whistles?! When I checked, two years ago, the S2000 was $36400, period, no options.
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theeastbaykid
12/09/08

In reply to 2009 Mazda Miata MX-5 Launched In Japan
Hard to believe the Miata has been around for 20 years. Still the best cheap roadster by far.
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wrx-tyrannosaurusWrx
12/09/08

In reply to 2009 Mazda Miata MX-5 Launched In Japan
O, but I forgot to mention, every housewife in 'Burbia will ruin the allure soon enough. Just like cheerleaders and mustangs, and the elderly and their Mercedes.
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Bad Juju
12/09/08

@wrx-tyrannosaurusWrx: Hey they've been trying since 1990. Who cares about the image, it's still a hoot.
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nick2ny
12/09/08

@Bad Juju: AMEN! gosh i can't stand it when people say "but it's a girls car". You aren't a man if you're obsessed with image. My image has always been that I'm not obsessed with image. seriously. but seriously, i've owned two miatas and i loved them bof. I'll always remember jm1nb3531x0123501 -- only serial number of any vehicle i can ever remember.
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pauljones
12/09/08

@wrx-tyrannosaurusWrx:

I am secure enough with the size of my manhood to enjoy driving a lightweight, rear-wheel-drive car, thank you.
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A strolling player
12/09/08

@nick2ny: 1999 or '98? I get those year codes so mixed up sometimes.
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wrx-tyrannosaurusWrx
12/09/08

In reply to 2009 Mazda Miata MX-5 Launched In Japan
I've never quite been able to justify buying a Miata, but I've always wanted to. Just something about such a little, simple driver's car thats cheap and isn't meant to break any land speed records.

+1 more in the Miata column.
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