Dear GRM pals,
Lately been shopping around for a new car, and I would like to share my findings and maybe even help someone in a similiar position. Its a bit on the longer side, but maybe it will bring a smile or two to your face.
Here is the background info:
We are reviewing the third generation Mazda Mx-5 (Miata) and the 8th generation Honda Civic. Both cars are being compared to my daily driver as well: a 1.6l stock miata. I also have an extensively modified turbo track demon miata, so I know what supercar killing performance is. I am a perfectionist and have an eye for detail, value and performance. I know about every annoying rattle in my miata and I know instantly if something sounds off. I like my simple, lighter, rear wheel drive sports cars but am a very open minded individual looking for the best compromise of value, sportiness, practicality and overall enjoyment out of a new car. What can I say, Im a sucker for a good deal. I am located in Canada so their could be a slight price difference but technically it should all be relative.
I had the rare opportunity to drive all three cars back to back, as such this truly allows me to truly compare all the cars.
First and formost (even though probably 95% of you know): The 1991 1.6l Miata. This is a great car. Its immensely fun to drive and rewards you in the twisties even more. The car is neutral, very tossable and forgiving. Even in stock trim, the car turns wonderfuly and has a floaty airy nature about it. It is underpowered, but the short ratio gearbox is a delight to row through. Interior noise is abundant and chassis flex is very present. The hard top however makes a very noticable difference in chassis regidity and noise (like night and day). The car looks like a jellybean.
At this point my father purchased a brand new Si. The car has a love it or hate it shape. I did some research and Honda calls it "a dynamic crouching ready-to-pounce form". Initially when I first saw this car on the street, I thought ugly alien shaped mini-van looking vehicle. However reading that description does open up my eyes a little. The small wedge like front end and the higher raised rear end really does look like a big kitty ready to pounce. This made me appreciate Hondas styling a bit more, its meant to be a sporty car, and this animalistic look helps it a bit. The wheels are not bad at all for a sporty economy coupe/sedan. Not bad...
Then I got in.
The interior appointment is superb. Ergonomics are fantastic. The s2000 shifter falls readily to hand (it is somewhere positioned between the rally style EP shifter and the regular EK shifter). The seats are sporty and hug you well, they look good and don't feel cheap. The sound system is great (350W standard!), all knobs and panels looks just right for a car of this class. This is a comfortable cockpit to be in. I do have a few gripes however, and this is where my classic sports car idealistics come in. Key words: this is a sporty car, not a sports car. The position is a bit high for my taste. The dash takes up too much space and makes it feel a bit cramped. And I cannot see the hood sloped out in front of me. Seeing as Im not a cyborg, I prefer my tach readout to be analog, but that is a more personal choice because this does provide a clear and very good readout even during spirited driving. Wow, this is really good...
Now for the drive.
The engine carries me up the hill effortlessly. Even keeping the revs below 4k, where my miata feels anemic, this car has not a problem. The engine is a bit on the gutless side but boy does it feel smooth, the power is good and linear. The engine revs to redline effortlessly (the only engine that felt this smooth was the renesis when I drove an Rx-8 in anger) and the shifter is smooth as butter. Let me be clear, this is a world class four cylinder (in fact, probably the best current naturally aspirated mass produced four cylinder), honda really knows how to make a great engine. The higher you take it, the better it sounds. The clutch annoys me a little, but more on this later. Again I think, wow, this is really good...
Then I start turning.
I have driven a couple of basic front wheel drive cars, but this car just feels so damn good from the first turn. The assisted steering and ratio are great. The chassis feels very taut and composed. Push it too much and understeer will rear its ugly head, and even then the LSD works great. This really feels sporty. Again I say "wow" in my head.
The brakes feel good and comunicative, but more on this later.
All in all I walk away very impressed. What an excellent car. With foglights and after everything the car came to just a tick over 28,000 CAD$. Pretty damn good value for a car of this calibre I think to myself.
As I get back into my miata for my drive to work, the shock is immediate and washes over me. My beloved 2 seat roadster feels like a piece of scrap metal. The engine feels way too weak, the chassis is soft, flexing and not nearly as composed, the car does not smell new and there is rattling everywhere. Eventually I begin to recover and rekindle my love for this simple, old car.
Then I went for a test drive in the new Mx-5. The car was equipped with the sport package (a must) and nothing else really. This car helped me see a bit more flaws in the Honda as it is also a brand new car.
First I walk around. They got it right... All the cues are there, its my jellybean on some testosterone. The flared fenders, raised back and sloped hood. The car looks good, this looks like a real sports car. Im feeling it. Now on a personal note, I do not have a thing for convertibles or anything against them. My car has a hardtop because I prefer that look much more. I do not take my top off too often (maybe because its the hardtop and its such a pain). If this car came as a solid coupe, like the new gorgeous Solstice coupe, that is what I would have.
I get in.
There is the shifter, looks good, looks like the Rx-8 one...but not sure. The analog gauges, miata and mazda cues are all present. The seating position is superb, this is what a sports car position feels like. I don't feel like Im sitting on the car, Im sitting IN the car. The look and feel of the seats don't impress me too much. In fact I think the old miata might have better looking, lasting and supportive seats, but not too sure. Don't know if I could take the leather either, too slippery...would replace it with a track seat eventually anyway. The interior appointments are not bad, a couple of the knobs look on the cheap side. Someone told me the interior is upscale, almost BMW like...I disagree. A flash of doubt crosses over me...this is my beloved mazda after all. Hmm, this car is about driving, enough of this: I turn the ignition.
If the honda is a truck, the mazda is a tractor. The engine sounds more MAN (ie.. football, V8, rare steak, beer, ROAR!). This engine feels less smooth, more simple and is louder... I like it. Now that I have another new four cylinder to compare I see the huge difference. The Honda can be caught with it's pants down, this car cannot. The torque is right there, low-mid powerband feels stronger. The engine sounds great, mechanical...but it seems to run out of breath a bit near redline (not sure though, just seat-of-pants dyno). Its almost polar opposite to my daily Miata. The clutch feels better too, feels like a sports car. It grabs hard, I get a feeling for it quickly and I begin shift a lot smoother, I fall into a groove quickly. The salesman asks me who taught me to drive, I tell him I learned myself. (This is where Honda appeals to the general public, the Honda clutch feels soft, vague, distant...as someone who takes performance driving seriously, this is kind of annoying but understandable).
I begin to turn... and I frown. This does not feel like MY miata. The car feels planted, the floaty nature is gone and its communicating, but its also resisting. Where I can turn my miata through a sharp turn with one finger, I would not dare to try it in this car (Note: I run fairly high pressure in my tires, that could account for some of the difference). It feels like my miata with a 225lb person sitting in it. Ahh, the weight difference is apparent. But wait, something else is there, its like the front wheels are resisting. Feels like toe out, or maybe even ("dare I say it") some understeer. Maybe this is what everyone has been talking about. I notice the "convertible" interior noise. The chassis feels much more solid.
I turn on the stereo and my ears scream dissapointment. The stereo does not sound great. Im a pretty simple guy, my miata does not even have a stereo. But I like good, clear music in my new daily driver. Well Im sure at least the bose premium system would be good.
Now I love brakes. Great brakes will make it for me more than an infusion of 20 extra horsepower. Great brakes really let you reel in those big heavy cars at the track, those suckers need to break early and that big lead they gained on you just dissapeared with threshold breaking to the apex. The brakes feel good, almost no discernable difference with the Honda but I know for a fact at the track these are far superior. For day to day driving most people will feel no perceivable difference.
I drive in with a pit in my stomach. I walk away with very mixed feelings. This car that I just test drove is 3000$ more than the Honda before taxes and all the random dealer charges. That is a big difference for me. But in many ways it was more fun to drive.
Now I have some bias in this respect. The Honda for me has one big strike against it: the front wheel drive. I love my rwd, classic-esque sports cars. I know front wheel drive can be fast (Integra Type-R), but it just can't register as a sports car to me. Also I understand the Mx-5 is a convertible. Then why do I feel like they are just asking too much for this car?!
Performance wise the cars are similiar.
On the other hand, the Honda has the superior interior, its more practical, has a better sound system, superior engine, better fuel economy, cheaper insurance and cheaper overall price. It is in fact, the better value for 99% of the drivers out there. I know for a fact the performance potential is there as well. But I think I still wan't an Mx-5? Im just not sure...maybe I can look at a used one... Sigh.
I wonder what are they asking for a Solstice...? Its a bit on the heavier side, but I won't know till I drive it.
Hmmm, 2009 models coming in soon. Maybe I should give the Cobalt SS a test drive. 4 piston monoblock brembos after all.
I love good brakes.
