Hello, I have always loved Mazda’s MX-5 Miata since it first came out 10 years ago. However, I’m being tempted to get a Pontiac Solstice, which I think has great styling also. So, what do you think? Should I be seen in a new MX-5 around Houston, Texas or go with another car?

Joey

Houston, TX

Hey, Joey. How are you doing there in Houston, Texas?? Wonderin whether you saw the photo of a red 2008 Pontiac Solstice or was that a Saturn Sky? I still get confused from afar. That’s what you get for churning out twins. Kidding aside, that’s GM’s issue. Here is what I have got to say about your dilemma. Stick with the MX-5. You sound like a true Miata lover and like all “loving” relationships, there comes temptation. For you, temptation came in a package called “Solstice.” Sure, GM’s packed this baby (and its twin, the Sky), with enough candy to make you salivate. So let me just say, whoa, whoa, whoa! Take a pause and a deep breather before making that leap, alright?

Now, allow me to give you some “counseling” here. I mean, you can patch things up and rekindle the sparks with a new MX-5. Like, what have you got to lose? Under the hood, there is still that 4-cylinder 2.0 liter engine that you’ve always appreciated. The 2008 MX-5 still handles well and, in my opinion, revs quicker than a Solstice. In terms of design, I do think the MX-5 is a classic compared to a ’08 Solstice. Oh, and the roomier trunk space is a winner for me, too. That’s why I’m sticking with mine.

Although the  Mazda CX-7 looks like a serene slow goer, it really packs some verve when it gets out on the road. It handles like a sports car (believe me, I know) and has a turbocharged engine that makes me want to drive an hour out of town just to let it loose on the roads. I bought it at a great price at Joe Meyers Mazda in Houston Texas….right about $17K with what I wanted on it.