Does anyone else feel kinda pissed off at mazda for the new mx5? I just saw a picture of it tonight on a different board. I havent been coming here in a while and when I did, I didnt post much, but anyways. One of the things I liked about the rx8 was the style and the way it looks. I dont know how it is in other places but in alabama, there are three cars that sell. Mustangs, Civics, and Miatas. Miatas are everywhere. I bought the rx8 for the look of it and how fun it is to drive. Its also peppy when it needs to be. If I wanted something for just pure speed, id use my rx7 as a daily driver but I dont. Its going to bug me if I start seeing a bunch of the new miatas around town looking like my car. There are only around 10 rx8s here and I dont really want to see any other cars trying to pass off as one.

Sorry if this has been brought up before, couldnt get search to work for me and dont feel like looking around.`

 

The lines and overall shape of the new MX-5 looks nothing like the RX-8.

 

^ I agree...saw the MX-5 in person, and while it certainly looked nice, I thought the front looked a little too...cute. My friend described it the best..."it looks like a big baby's face". Of course, the RX-8's front could be described as a guppy fish's face at times too...or with a license plate in place, like Bugs Bunny.

But really, there's absolutely nothing out there shaped like the RX-8...no other car has a front end primarily made up of not much more than its front fenders. Most car makers though are starting to go with the trend of huge, bulging fenders instead of the flat body panels of the past.

 

Auto appearances are all subject to personal opinion.

To me, if you look at an RX8 or a pre 2005 Miata or an S2000 dead-on from the front from a distance, they all have a distinct similarity. When I see S2000's coming on the other side of the interstate I think that they are Mazdas until they get closer. Good design and style/fashion always converge.

At the other end of the scale (ugly, that is), just look at the new Audi front end. Why in the world would they choose to go with the giant grill like a Chrysler 300? They were going for a macho look. A failure IMO.

 

Yeah, I"m not too hot on the new Audi face either...but the 300 looks MEAN and I like sports cars that look that way.

The MX-5 has similar shapes but really does not look anything like the 8, don't worry about it your car will remain special.

 

i dont think the new mx-5 looks all that similar at all besides the rear tailights and the design of the front end which most cars have nowadays

 

Like others stated, I too don't think the new MX-5 looks like the RX-8. It looks just like a Miata to me, more similar to the orignal NA Miata than anything else IMHO.

Of all the Mazda cars, I actually think the Mazda 3 has the most similar styling cues to the 8, but of course the overall shape is quite different as well. Of all the cars on the road, the S2000 is the most similar to me, especially from the front. But generally speaking, the RX-8 is very unique in its look.

 

You can't see that many Miatas around. Not new ones anyhow. And especially not in Alabama of all places. Mazda only sells about 10,000 a year in the US -- that's about how Mustangs Ford sells in two weeks. And Honda sells that many Civics in about 10 days.

The reason it looks like the Miata sells in such big numbers is because the damn things run forever and the design is almost exactly the same the past 17 years. A 6-year old Miata doesn't look any different than a 1-year old Miata and a 12-year old Miata doesn't look that different.

So, if you do happen to think the new MX-5 looks similar to your RX-8, not to worry, it'll probably be years before you see them in significant enough numbers to make you feel bad.

 

while i can see the style that the new mx5 and rx8 share....flared fenders, internal headlight/tailight design...i think they look more like a big/little brother...not twins.

I loved my miata (NB), I love the new miata (NC) and I love the RX8, but they all look different and each have their own style.

I personaly think its neat when you can look at a manufactures car lineup and see the disign 'flow' from one model to the next.

Mazda6>Mazda3>MX5>RX8

 

I have a love/hate feeling for the new MX-5

 

i'm waiting for the NC to hit the showroom so the dealers will start discounting the NB mazdaspeed miatas, those are hot little numbers with an already existing huge aftermarket :D

 

Don't be mad because your car, or a similar looking car sells. The style looks nice, and even if it becomes more commonplace doesn't change that. Wouldn't you like to see more good looking cars on the road than more creations of Chris Bangle?

That said, I also don't think the new MX5 looks that much like the 8 either.

 

the new mx5 is hideous.

 

other than the fenders, I don't see a resemblance at all!