I hope I don't flamed too bad. I have a female associate she wants to buy a sports car. We started looking at the Mazda because she heard they are not stolen as often as the BMWs, Lexus, Benzs, Infinitis and Hondas. Thats what her research came up with. As we looked she said she liked the Mx-5 and wouldn't mind a bigger car like the RX-8.

I gave her somethings to read and research being an independant lass, she could research it. After reviewing the different opinion polls on these two vehicle she decided on the Mx-5. Quite honestly I couldn't really recommend the RX-8 over the Mx5 as a 1st time Sports Car for a woman with little maintenance knowledge.

I believe that one of the things that makes the RX-8 neat is the know how thats needed to maintain so it stays in proper working order. I'm not sure the CAT has been redesigned that it will not flood after being moved from one spot to another, within a couple minutes. I see the RX-8 as a fine sports car IF you know how to maintain it.

The Mx-5 is just a fine Mazda almost its flagship or the Flagship for all present day Sports cars, arguably PRE 2003 the Miata was one of the few if not only SCs sold out of Japan. The Miata showed that there was still a viable market for driving because its cool and fun. Might just be the way I look at it, anway my 2 cent.

 

You can't go wrong with either one, really. They're both lots of fun. The Miata is a convertible, but it's less space and less power. The 8 takes a little more to take care of, but it's not unmanageable, even for a first-timer. Plus, you get two more seats, a proper trunk, and extra power... but worse gas mileage. I'd just tell her to buy whichever she likes better.

 

I have had both, they are both good cars.

 

They are both inferior to the Merc. E55, just shell out the extra cash so you have the superior car compared to every aspect of both those cars.

 

Just another useless post....

 

You started it....

S

 

It should stay in the same post, not clutter up other peoples questions. Did you read my advertisers thread in suggestions?

 

I dont know if its a good idea not to buy a car because it has a higher probability of getting stolen?

 

As many have mentioned, both great cars.

Questions? Does she drive stick or Auto? Is the convertible a positive or a negative? Is she too prissy to look under the hood(not meant as a bad thing, most girls are, and I have nothing against that)? If so does she have a mechanically inclined Significant other?

Reasons... If she prefers the convertible and drives auto she will be much happier with the mx-5. If she prefers to drive stick, and doesn't care that much abotu the convertible she will prefer the 8... It does take a bit of common sense and dirty hands to drive the 8 as a daily driver. It is not the best car for someone who will not or does not have anyone that will open the hood on a nearly weekly basis, depoending on driving habits.

The automatic alone may be enough to swing to the MX-4 in my mind. The engine and tranny are much better matched then at least the pre '06 9's. I have not driven a 6 speed auto but have heard it is better.

 

Why is it useless in this thread but not in the other? wtf kind of double standard is that tigster!

If the E55 is such a better car, why not suggest it, even though it has a higher chance of being stolen?

 

They have a very good anti theft system in the car. There are less of them on the roads, so they have a lower total amount of cars stolen. Cars like Honda's and Toyotas always have a total greater amount of cars stolen. It is pure numbers. I would like to see a site that shows the percentage of cars stolen by the brands based on the total car sales by that manufacturer.

Of course civic's are going to be stolen alot, tons of people drive them. They are also in neighborhoods that typically have a lower income level than that of a luxury brand automobile. The sad part is the is where most of the thefts take place. Same with parking lots there are just more of the common cars there to make it easier to steal them.

Show me where a Mercedes is a higher stolen car than a Mazda. I would like to see that.

 

Depends on the area they're in I'm sure.

Any car you leave in a ghetto area is prone to being stolen. It's just most people with mercedes have really nice jobs in good areas and a garrage at home.

 

MX5 is nice, just looks a little bland. Especially compared to the Solstice.

 

That is exactly what I said. You are the one who said it has a better chance of being stolen.

 

One for the week and the other for the weeh-end!!!

 

thats a really really small house.
looks more like a detached apartment...

so the 8 is for weekends?

 

Go on

 

We looked at the Pontiac Solstice compared to the Miata its bigger and nice looking body style. But not as classic looking and too much chrome colored plastic surrounding the gauges as trim. Have U seen those cars where the plastic color chrome chips and crack given it a crappy look years later. The MX-5 interior and body sytle is classic, I wish it had a Mazda turbo charged engine like the high end Pontiac!

The RX-8 also has a classier interior then the Solstice, its a nice looking sharp car its just tries to do too much, with chrome color trim.

 

My previous car was a 1999 Miata Sport. The miata was much closer to "my" definition of a sports car - light weight, great handling, great road feel, no fancy electronics, etc. As a convertible, being open to the elements adds a ton to the sports car experience - the sound of the exhaust echoing off the mountains is pure bliss.

For someone that really likes to drive hard, the miata is the perfect car. It's very reliable and replacement parts (tires, brakes, etc) are much cheaper. It's not a car you want to commute long distances with. My experience is with the older models. The newest model is heavier, has a softer suspension, stability control, etc.

The RX-8 is a fantastic car. It's much more relaxed. It's much easier to drive faster, since the suspension absorbs much of the imperfections in the road. In contrast, the Miata feels much more nervous (which is half the fun of that car). Likewise, the RX-8 is easier to reel in if you get sideways - the MX-5 requires faster input from the driver. The RX-8's a much better highway car and more stable at high speeds (and more expensive because of the poor fuel economy).

My ideal sports car would be a car as light as my NB miata (~2200lbs), slightly larger (far smaller than the RX-8), with a rotary engine.

 

34 feet by 35 feet with full basement two room at the second level with bathroom.

 

Suggest to her that she test drive both, and buy the one that then appeals to her the most. Not to base her decision on opinion polls.

She won't go wrong with either, as long as it's her choice.

Ken

 

*edit* just read the other topic. I get it now.

 

My fiancee and I took a short vacation last new years about 4 hours away. We stayed at a condo, and managed to pack 2 suit cases, a rubbermaid container full of food, and plenty of extra jackets in my RX-8. If you have other vehicles with space, then a convertible would not hurt.

 

Nobody can make up her mind for her, ultimately she has to decide for herself.

I test drove the MX-5, RX-8, M3, M6 in addition to the Mustang and 350Z when I was new-car shopping earlier this year. All of them had their own unique properties, feel, etc. When the dust settled though, it was the RX-8 that I drove home. I did stare long and hard at the MX-5, however. Between the two she really can't go wrong either way, IMO.

 

The biggest reason I got an RX-8 versus a Miata was the practicality aspect -- a back seat for the kidlet. The extra room has come in handy a number of times. Other than that, I think they're equally fun, just fun in different ways.

I'd still like to have a Miata/MX-5 for a track car.