http://www.topgear.com/content/featu...ries/18/1.html

More proof that there's more to a car than it's specs on paper.

 

I'm going to go drive one of those in two weeks, shortly on the tail of a new Miata.
We'll see if either has "Jinba Itai".

 

Many convertible drivers are all into flash and no substance. I'm sure that's why the Solstice and Sky are selling.

 

I can't stand the MX-5. It is so unbelievably twitchy in the corners. Sure, it's predictable, but I don't want to work that hard to drive fast. The RX-8 on the other hand just does what you ask no questions asked.

The MX-5 is an unimaginative relic that is you can thrash into the corners if you're willing to pay attention to it. I would much rather have 260hp in an attractive package than a high maintenance, boring looking "handler" like the MX-5.

 

Can you elaborate on why you think it is unimaginative? The car brought back and defined the light-weight simple roadster category that every important sports car manufacturer now has a hand in.

 

Yeah, but how many years ago? What have they done lately to reinvent that? It looks like a roadster from the 50's.

It's nothing personal -- I probably just don't like roadsters. I guess I just think it's odd that the #1 benefit of a roadster is that you can flog it around corners, but the MX-5 (supposedly the standard for roadsters) is so twitchy around hard pressed turns. It may be predictable for someone who knows what to expect, but it's not even in the same ballpark as the 8 IMO. The 8 is so much more intuitive and well-behaved.

Of course, I have limited experience in both cars. I guess I was just playing devil's advocate more than anything because I really like the direction the Sky and the Solstice are taking roadster design.

 

How twitchy or unpredictable do you think that Saturn is going to be in the corners? I agree with you that most roadster owners just go for the look and the openness of a convertible, but true car racing enthusiasts will still enjoy the MX-5 I believe. People will sacrifice the look for the handling, but saying that, Mazda is still going to lose a lot of sales.

 

The power hardtop is a nice addition to the MX-5... something that makes a roadster more palatable for me. However, the lack of grunt and bland styling are going to do Mazda some damage in the sales department when the competition is clearly topping them in those categories.

 

I suppose. I guess I would either get a Sky if I cared about looks or pony up the money and get an S2K if I cared about handling (but still wanted a roadster).

 

Plus, I can really appreciate the hardtop as an impressive feat of engineering. They added a metal roof and power mechanism that weighs only 150lbs more than the softtop, while take up no additional space! And the Sky can't manage a decent trunk with a softop...

 

Looks like the MX-5 is still on top, but if you combine the Solstice and Sky (which may or may not be fair to do) they're on top by a good amount.

2007 YTD Sales:
Solstice: 3,620
Sky: 2,837
MX-5: 4,373

sources:
http://media.gm.com/servlet/GatewayS...=2&docid=34960
http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/st...2007,+12:04+PM

 

Maybe the new hardtop Miata will change that.

 

I always felt that the idea of an MX-5 hardtop is a bit like fat-free pizza: what's the point?
Seeing the clouds as you drive is the whole focus of that car.

 

^ Oh, so it never rains or drops below 60 degrees where you live?

 

Umm, how's that proof of anything? I'm pretty sure the Saturn (Redline) would demolish the Miata on just about any track, "dead feel" steering or no. Being almost as good as the Miata in feel and handling is huge. Keep in mind that the Miata is the roadster standard...the measuring stick..etc. Gimme the Saturn anyday over the bar of soap.

 

Blah - I drove my miata through wind, snow, and Rain.

 

That's academic. That doesn't mean it's more fun to drive.

 

How much less fun to drive do you actually think it could be. All the reviews I've read, say it's a blast. /shrug

I drove a Mx-5. As mentioned earlier it is twitchy. While fun, it's not the end all, be all driving experience. Sometimes it is simply a pain in the ***. My AT 8 is more fun, simply because I tell it to do something and it does it. There's no second guessing. The 8 can get tail happy, but it so controlled that there's never a worry. A less rear happy, slightly worse handling equivalent to the Miata would be much more fun to me. I haven't driven a Kappa car yet, and maybe my tune will change, but I sincerely doubt it. The only reviews that emphasize numb steering are comparo's with the Mazda. When directly compared to the Mx-5, sure it's going to have some worse points. When compared to any other sportscar it is just fine. That says alot for the Mazda, but nothing bad for the GM in my opinion. A great handling 260hp, 2800lb car sounds like fun to me. A fantastic handling 170hp, 2400lb car sounds like fun too, in a different way. Hell a great handling 170hp, 2800lb car also sounds like fun.

 

No. In fact, it doesn't.
I haven't put the top up on the Miata since January.
Even when it does get too cold for the top-down (occasionally at night in January), that is what the cloth top is for. Reach back, pull it up, drive.

I just don't see why would anyone buy a fixed-roof Miata. If you live in a place where you can't take the roof down, get a coupe of some sort.

 

^ the roof isnt fixed

 

Considering the miata chassis is based upon the rx8, I find the differences you are claiming to be amazing. I haven't driven a NC. I think they're ugly, or I would.

Frankly, the Sky/Solstice COULD be a LOT LESS fun to drive. Numb Steering and additional weight can do wonders to rob a kar of it's soul.

 

Ahh. Retractable. Big waste of time and weight.

 

A review i saw (sorry no reference) liked all 3 (Miata, Solstice, non-redline sky). Their times were comparable, same with handling; but the Miata just edged out the other 2. And at the end of the day they choose the Miata as the best, mainly because it was the funnest.

 

We have this thing called "winter" here, as well as "crime" and "vandalism." (It is so much easier to slash a ragtop than it is to break a window) What color is the sun on your planet?

Also for the whole "get a coupe" thing, sure, just let me know what 2400lb RWD coupe is readily available with low miles for under $15k...

 

All the reviews I read said it was far better to live with than the soft-top version... they said it looked better, was more comfortable, and would happily deal with the added weight for the hard roof. I've driven both a retractable hardtop and a soft-top, and I agree with them.