I’m very much attracted with how the 2009 Mazda MX-5 Miata Grand Touring looks and that’s probably what I’ll buy here in Houston. However, I’m meaning to ask first, what can you say about its performance?

Sergio

Houston, TX

For sure, any Houston car dealer will tell you that you will have a nice ride with the 2009 Mazda MX-5 Miata Grand Touring. Its rear-wheel-drive is power-driven by a 2.0-liter four-cylinder rated at a horsepower of 167 and torque of 140-pound-feet. The usual test car of a Houston car dealer for the 2009 Mazda MX-5 Miata Grand Touring features the typical six-speed manual transmission. A drive test has recorded a run of 6.9 seconds from zero to 60 mph which is about half a second fasted that the previous MX-5 that has been tested. It has also been found that the engine enhancements for the 2009 Mazda MX-5 Miata Grand Touring were obvious – it does not bog like before and the upper revs are not anymore wasted.

This MX-5 gives out a sporty roar that lies across a high-performance motorcycle and a Honda’s old-school VTEC. The shifter and clutch are among the finest at whichever cost because not like a lot of manual-transmission tandems, its shifter and clutch really feels smoother and more defined when hurried. Certainly, the MX-5 can use a little added power; however, any person who likes sports cars would have a sack of running this ragtop because of its closely spaced components.

The braking performance of the MX-5 Miata Grand Touring is away from criticism and fade is not an issue. One other powerful suit of the Mazda MX-5 Miata Grand Touring is its fuel economy at an EPA-estimated 21 mpg city/28 highway.

I think the Mazda 3 is pretty cramped for me and my wife, and I’m thinking of getting something bigger but I’m tempted to check out the other cars out there. Should I even consider the Mazda 6 as an option for me right now as our ride of choice here in Texas?

Christian

Houston, TX

Say it with me, Christian, “zoom, zoom, zoom.” Goodness, that old Mazda ad’s stuck in my head. Okay, enough zoom with the Mazda 3, so let’s go big with the Mazda 6. Yeah, Christian, I still think the Mazda 6 is worth a shot for you and your wife in Texas. What’s there worth checking in the Mazda 6? Read on.

Well, if its space that you want, this mid-size sedan definitely has enough for both you and your wife and a few kids as well. Features raved by current owners of this car range from performance to driver/ passenger conveniences like keyless entry, keyless ignition, dual climate control, satellite radio, blind spot monitoring, rain-sensing wipers and even seat memory. For power, there’s a 272 hp 3.7 liter V6 Mazda 6 available, if you are leaning towards fuel economy, you can always opt for a 170 hp 2.5 liter 4-cylinder trim. These are denoted by either “i” or “s” on the trim level. Having an “i” gives you the 4-cylinder and “s” means you’ll get a V6. Trims range from i-SV, i-Sport, i-Touring, i-Grand Touring, s- Sport, s-Touring and s-Grand Touring. The differences among these trims just revolve around the luxury appointments and electronics you get in the car, much like those I mentioned earlier.

Since bringing my Mazda3 home from my  dealer, I’ve gotten used to its agile handling and great storage space. The fuel economy isn’t quite what I thought it would be, but it’s still up there. The dealer I used was Joe Meyers Mazda, and I liked dealing with Daniel in new car sales.