Recently Pontiac has been runnign ads that ask people to "google pontiac"

So mazda is running paid search ads that show up when you do the google search



http://www.rx8club.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=69205&stc=1

it takes you to an ad like this one http://www.mx5nocomparison.com/?source=GOOG&keyword=%5Bpontiac%5D

hehehehe Mazda also grabbed ads at/on yahoo

articles here http://suvs.autoblog.com/2006/01/30/mazda-buying-the-keys-to-pontiac-err-sort-of/

and here
http://www.traffick.com/blog/archive/2006_01_29_archive.asp

Gotta love Mazda's marketing!

That's so dirty, yet so cool. fuck'em

Good strategy but the Sky and Solstice are still going to destroy the MX-5 in sales, in fact they already have if reports of presales are correct.

they also will build more in a couple months than mazda will build all year. who wins the awards tho?:)

Good strategy but the Sky and Solstice are still going to destroy the MX-5 in sales, in fact they already have if reports of presales are correct.

Even more evidence that a growing number of people don't buy sports cars for their feel anymore. They buy them for image alone. The MX-5 is a superior car to the Solstice/Sky, but the Solstice/Sky have a much more adventurous body style.

Too bad the GXP/Redline versions of the GM cars will destroy the MX-5/MSP 6.....and the RX-8. Pwnt.

That's all speculation and conjecture. We have not seen the performance versions of these cars at all yet.

A FI version of the sky will no doubt be much faster than the miata, but we all know what market mazda is in - they never aim for highest hp in the class.

Even more evidence that a growing number of people don't buy sports cars for their feel anymore. They buy them for image alone. The MX-5 is a superior car to the Solstice/Sky, but the Solstice/Sky have a much more adventurous body style.

I'd twist that around and say that the average car buyers focuses on looks more than they do the drive. I don't think anyone is buying the Solstice or Sky to boost their image. I have to admit, the Solstice and Sky are stunning in person. I was taken back by the pre-production Solstice I saw last year, and that doesn't happen often. It's almost TVR like sexy, I'm sure my view on that will change once they're all over the roads. My view will change even further once some tool pulls up next to me in his Solstice and revs.

A FI version of the sky will no doubt be much faster than the miata, but we all know what market mazda is in - they never aim for highest hp in the class.

Well they need to start aiming higher... If I hear "Brilliant Chassis but a bit underpowered" in another mag review for a Mazda I'm going to scream. Wake the fuck up Mazda, there's a horsepower war going on! Funny thing is when the introduced the MS Miata mags were complaining that the suspension was too soft...

Well they need to start aiming higher... If I hear "Brilliant Chassis but a bit underpowered" in another mag review for a Mazda I'm going to scream.To be fair, hp isn't everything, but I agree - I'd like to see mazda putting out some higher powered cars.


The solstice does look REALLY nice in person. I got to beat up on them at the Epcot test track a few months back (No Sky available). Flooring it around a track, making it squeel whenever possible.


The car looks great from outside, but once you're inside, it lacks in ergonomics's. Everything is plastic and I doubt it will age well. The clutch/shifter was no where close to the miatas (felt clunky) and it didn't feel like it had 170 hp (my boss was riding shotgun, so maybe he was slowing me down). On the other hand, I'm no fan of the miata, so maybe this size of car doesn't do it for me.

Too bad the GXP/Redline versions of the GM cars will destroy the MX-5/MSP 6.....and the RX-8. Pwnt.

Er, that's like saying the Mazdaspeed 3 will totally own a Civic EX. Makes no sense plus there's no information on those versions yet, afaik. As far as being "pwnt," they'll probably have a bunch of power over the Mazdas, but as about everyone here knows, that ain't everything. I have my doubts that they'll actually top the fun factor of the 8 or MX5.

I'm not saying they won't be great cars, but I think it's going to take them a while to catch up. After all, the fun to drive factor has been Mazda's bread and butter for at least the past decade or so. Sure, they could use a bit more power, but I think I'd be perfectly happy with whatever they decide to do in a Mazdaspeed MX5.

To be fair, hp isn't everything, but I agree - I'd like to see mazda putting out some higher powered cars.


The solstice does look REALLY nice in person. I got to beat up on them at the Epcot test track a few months back (No Sky available). Flooring it around a track, making it squeel whenever possible.


The car looks great from outside, but once you're inside, it lacks in ergonomics's. Everything is plastic and I doubt it will age well. The clutch/shifter was no where close to the miatas (felt clunky) and it didn't feel like it had 170 hp (my boss was riding shotgun, so maybe he was slowing me down). On the other hand, I'm no fan of the miata, so maybe this size of car doesn't do it for me.

No, horsepower isn't everything, but a brilliant chassis with good power power is a hell of a lot better than a brilliant chassis with an underpowered engine.


Newsflash, everything in your RX-8 interior is plastic as well, even those fake aluminum looking bits. I'm not saying the RX-8 and Miata interior isn't better built and nicer than the Solstice and Sky, but they're both plastic. Plus, people aren't going to expect much from a 20k ish US made roadster, I think most will be pleasantly surprised by the car as a whole. I rather like the Miata, it's a great drive, but not for me. Even though I and most other enthusiasts will think the Miata/MX-5 is the better car, the Solstice and Sky are still going to crush it in sales.

Even more evidence that a growing number of people don't buy sports cars for their feel anymore. They buy them for image alone. The MX-5 is a superior car to the Solstice/Sky, but the Solstice/Sky have a much more adventurous body style.

It's not as though the Solstice is a slouch in the handling dept. When 2 vehicles a close in performance/feel, and one looks fantastic while the other looks like a bar of soap, which one will most people want? :)

For a reality splash in the face - go read the latest Grassroots Motorsports comparison of a Solstice vs. 2006 MX-5 vs. 1999 Miata.

Brutal - MX5 is too soft to be a great autocross car - guess what car won - guess which came in 2nd?

For a reality splash in the face - go read the latest Grassroots Motorsports comparison of a Solstice vs. 2006 MX-5 vs. 1999 Miata.

Brutal - MX5 is too soft to be a great autocross car - guess what car won - guess which came in 2nd?

I cheated, pretty damn impressive for the Solstice. Put aftermarket shocks and sways on the Solstice and I bet that .2 advantage is long gone. Good stuff Spin. I bet more than a few guys traded in their Miatas on a Solstice from that article, if they were able to get one...


"Did a head-to-head Autocross run-off between a new Miata, a Solstice and a '99 Miata that competes on the national level in SCCA C-Stock class (equipped with aftermarket shocks and swaybars). The new Miata and Solstice were bone stock except for competition alignments, and all three cars ran on new Hoosier R-compounds.

One would have expected that with the same HP and 350 extra lbs, the Solstice would have had its butt handed to it. One would have been wrong. On a sub-40 second course, the Solstice averaged only 0.2 seconds behind the well-prepared '99 Miata, and almost 0.8 seconds ahead of the new Miata, which is a lifetime on a course like that. The test drivers all remarked about how easy it was to get into the Pontiac and be *very* fast the first time out, in contrast to the new Miata, which they thought needed a graduate course in body control.

None of them liked the Ecotech, though."

love you mazda. that's so DIRTY AND FOXY. lol.

This is hilarious. Reminds me of the little jabs between Microsoft/Apple.

The Sky/Solstice is basically the American interpretation of what a roadster should be. It's a little bigger/heavier, less nimble, and has more grunt down low. Purists will always kick and scream.

This is hilarious. Reminds me of the little jabs between Microsoft/Apple.

The Sky/Solstice is basically the American interpretation of what a roadster should be. It's a little bigger/heavier, less nimble, and has more grunt down low. Purists will always kick and scream.Unfortunately NOT less nimble (see GRM test).

Truth be told, I went & did a test drive (alone) with a MX5 top of the line version about a month ago. To boot, I even got paid some money by Mazda to do that. And although at the time I didn't say much about it, ("Nice car, fancy key, thanks!) ) I had the feeling of experiencing the "Emporer's new clothes".

IOW "where's the meat"? or "is that all there is?" was what I came away with. Yea it had nice turn in, but the shifter was rubbery & vague (compared to my RP short shifter), the view from the seat bas bathtub-like (compared to my stock 8 seat), the suspension/tire feel was bouncy rubber band soft and floaty, "Yes bouncy-floaty" and not just a little (compared to my 8 with WL Sways and RT-615s).

I got back in my 8 and left the dealership feeling like I truly had the 'real sports car from Mazda'. My slightly modded 8 may not be perfect, but compared to the stock MX5 - give me a break - not in 1,000,000 years would I swap.

The GRMS said that aftermarket suspension guys would be making a killing on the 'new Miata' and they are spot on.

Hmmm, well I haven't driven either but i'm just going by what i've read in the roundups. I'm not saying they are light years apart but most of the comparos have mentioned that the Solstice just feels less nimble than the new MX5 (i'm assuming b/c of the weight).

Not really trying to bash the MX5, but I know what I experienced.

I guess it's just another case of marketing & words on a magazine page vs. side-by-side butt based reality. Go take your 8 down to your dealer and try an MX-5 yourself. You'll find plenty I imagine, no shortage up here anyway. Then come back and tell what you felt. I was frankly very surprised. Anyway it should make you feel good when you drive away.:)

I'd twist that around and say that the average car buyers focuses on looks more than they do the drive.

Unless that average car buyer is driving an Evo or STi!

I hope the Solstice can become the new Gay Man's car so a self-respecting straight guy can drive a Miata / MX5 now. :mdrmed:

i plan on buying a mx5 in 4 years or later, I have talked to brian Goodwin about the mx5 he told me the mx5 with coilovers is amazing in handling. That on road course he was destroying his old 99 times on that track ( that was set up for track with slicks). The mx5 had street tires.

I think mazda should have made the sport package a real sport package with stiffer springs and dropped. But they did not. Just like any car maker there soul purpose is to make money even though they had to ruin the reputation of a car to saty with masses.

The thing i liked about the miata is the tq it feels like u have more tq than an rx8 becuase of its weight of course.

Was the MX-5 in that article equiped with the suspension package? I'm surprised by those results since the Solstice is heavier, has a longer wheelbase, and everyother magazine I've read said that the Miata felt nimbler.

all the reviews I have read said that the miata felt nimbler but the pontaic was faster around what ever corse they set up. so I dont think its that the other magz had differnt results just that the enjoy the miata becsue it feels so good.

all the reviews I have read said that the miata felt nimbler but the pontaic was faster around what ever corse they set up. so I dont think its that the other magz had differnt results just that the enjoy the miata becsue it feels so good.

I've read the Miata is faster, but that makes sense because the Solstice weighs 400 lbs more and even the greater hp does not make up for it. :dunno:

Unfortunately NOT less nimble (see GRM test).

Truth be told, I went & did a test drive (alone) with a MX5 top of the line version about a month ago. To boot, I even got paid some money by Mazda to do that. And although at the time I didn't say much about it, ("Nice car, fancy key, thanks!) ) I had the feeling of experiencing the "Emporer's new clothes".

IOW "where's the meat"? or "is that all there is?" was what I came away with. Yea it had nice turn in, but the shifter was rubbery & vague (compared to my RP short shifter), the view from the seat bas bathtub-like (compared to my stock 8 seat), the suspension/tire feel was bouncy rubber band soft and floaty, "Yes bouncy-floaty" and not just a little (compared to my 8 with WL Sways and RT-615s).

I got back in my 8 and left the dealership feeling like I truly had the 'real sports car from Mazda'. My slightly modded 8 may not be perfect, but compared to the stock MX5 - give me a break - not in 1,000,000 years would I swap.

The GRMS said that aftermarket suspension guys would be making a killing on the 'new Miata' and they are spot on.
That's ONE review that doesn't say the new MX-5 is more nimble than the Solstice.

I've read at least 3 others that say otherwise, and give the MX-5 faster times in pretty much everything.

I guess only time will tell once people start racing their Solstices.

wow that is awesome!

i drove one of the new mx5s at the zoom-zoom live event here a few months back and incredibly underwhelmed by it, especially when compared to the rx8. the mx5 had considerably less "get-up and go" and i was surprised by the amount of body roll that it had.

from talking to other people at the event, the reviews were mixed. some greatly enjoyed the rx8 more and others enjoyed the mx5 more...and most of those were simply because the mx5 was a vert.

i'd still like to drive a solstice/sky. it'd be interesting to see how they compare. and on a side note, i like the styling of the sky much more than the solstice.

i thought i started a thread about marketing tactics- cant seem to find it. anyone seen it around here?

i just googled pontiac and nothing mazda comes up, has pontiac done something?

BRILLIANT marketing by Mazda!

GM Marketing has got to be so pissed. :mdrmed:

google pontiac solstice, not just pontiac

When I drove the Mx5 at the zoomzoomlive thing, the car felt really fun and tossable. It was very enjoyable car to play around with compared to the Solstice. Solstice wasn't a bad car for terrible handler, it just didn't feel as fun though. Didn't get a chance to play with the Solstice on a closed track but street driving, it wasn't really as lively.

i just googled pontiac and nothing mazda comes up, has pontiac done something?

when i first read the thread, just googling "pontiac" would bring up a premium/sponsored ad at the top for a mx5/solstice comparison. that doesn't work any more. but like was mentioned, searching "pontiac solstice" still works (for the time being).

i thought i started a thread about marketing tactics- cant seem to find it. anyone seen it around here?


We blame P2P and piracy. Through strict legislation giving us control of thread topics, we feel we can dramaticly reduce the amount of thread jacking prevelant on teh intarweb today :bootyshak :mdrmed:

i googled jjust "pontiac" just now and got this

http://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla%3Aen-US%3Aofficial_s&hl=en&q=pontiac&btnG=Google+Search

2nd premium ad in the blue top section is the mazda ad

weird- when i clicked the link in my post- one out of about 5 times it didnt bring the mazda ad up....

hmm...i was just refreshing the page, and when the mazda ad wasn't present on the top sponsored ad area, but was in the side bar sponsored area. and when it was present in the top, it wasn't in the side...but it was there everytime, in one of the two locations.

well there ya go

well to take my thread furthur askew i offer this MX-5 vs Solstice comparo

http://money.cnn.com/magazines/fsb/fsb_archive/2006/02/01/8368211/



But the Solstice was hurried to market after its debut at the 2003 Detroit auto show, and that shows in the execution: The cloth top is a bit more cumbersome, and there is practically no trunk space. Though the formula for the MX-5 hasn't changed much over the years, it has been subtly, flawlessly refined.

Americans are fortunate to have two such appealing sports cars arrive on the market at the same time, but only the MX-5 is seductive enough that I would consider moving to the suburbs merely to have the pleasure of driving one to work every day.

i think its quite clear that the 2 cars are close enough objectively that it comes down to the subjective preferences of the reviewers which they pick.

Anyone do this with a MX5?

www.mallettcars.com/solstice-conversion.htm

Anyone do this with a MX5?

www.mallettcars.com/solstice-conversion.htm

Yes, similiar conversions have been done with the GM V8 and the Miata.

http://www.mallettcars.com/images/solsticerearnorwalk.jpg

No dual exhaust!??!?!

Is anyone mass producing them? Has anyone ever seen a V8 MX-5 in action? I bet that thing is fast as shit

Oh mass production.... hmm, that I don't know.

I've seen some custom conversions.

Yes, similiar conversions have been done with the GM V8 and the Miata.


Is anyone mass producing them? Has anyone ever seen a V8 MX-5 in action? I bet that thing is fast as shit

i think its quite clear that the 2 cars are close enough objectively that it comes down to the subjective preferences of the reviewers which they pick.

You're absolutely right. I've driven both briefly and they're pretty close; one mod to one or the other could open up a gap, but that's the mod game for ya.
in terms of subjective styling, both inside and out, I prefer the Miata though. the front of the Solstice looks like it's going to shave me (!).
I'll reserve judgement for the Sky until I can experience it first-hand.

Both cars are evenly matched but too small for me. Why can't they bump them up to the size fo the 8? Reviews I've read say the Miata is more fun to drive. The Soltice has lunch box trunk space when top is down. I"ve boycotted GM since the 80's and will never buy one as long as there is a comparable import. I'd take the Miata first anyday. You know it's a great car with a history.

Hats off to Mazda's marketing savy. That is a cool trick they did.

Both cars are evenly matched but too small for me. Why can't they bump them up to the size fo the 8?

you want a Kabura! see berns comments here http://www.rx8club.com/showthread.php?p=1225824#post1225824

you want a Kabura! see berns comments here http://www.rx8club.com/showthread.php?p=1225824#post1225824

Doesn't look like it comes in a ragtop. I want an affordable rwd roadster larger than the Miata.

Google wins court batle (for now) over this issue

http://www.searchenginejournal.com/?p=3868


As Goldberg points out, the favorable ruling came at a low federal court level. Until there are federal appellate court consensus rulings or an eventual US Supreme Court ruling all this isn’t totally over. But for now, Google can sell “Pontiac” to “Mazda” and vice versa.

also here's a link to the acgtual San Jose Mercury article

http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/business/technology/15647152.htm?source=rss

That marketing tactic is ruining search engine results. I hate searching for a certain topic and getting a bunch of crap back as a result. If I wanted to Google "Mazda" I would have....I wanted info on the Pontiac......and vice versa.

I really hope this court decision is overturned on appeal. It's in Googles best interest to stop this practice before people just stop using the service over it's ambiguity.

Just because this marketing tactic exists, doesn't mean that it is indeed an effective tactic. Also, useless ad-links will eventually disappear anyway - no need for court rulings.

Back off topic: Another reason for a RX-5 (MX-5 sport version with a Renesis engine).

Go Mazda!

Google will be the death of all things good about the internet... :wavey:

Google IS the internet, lol