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’m in the market for a sedan, and I’ve gotten curious about the Mazda 6. Can someone offer some advice? I want to schedule a trip to my dealer here in Texas.

Erwin

Houston, TX

Hey, Erwin, advice on the Mazda 6 is coming your way before you set off on your way to any Texas Mazda dealer. I have some friends also curious about the car. So, we’ve been discussing how to look for and appreciate this vehicle from the Mazda Company. One thing is already clear to us, though, the Mazda 6 is definitely a step up from its predecessor, the Mazda 626.

I’d first take a look at the available trim levels. For one car, this sure is confusing if I wanted to buy it. At the current model year, there are seven trims available. There are four trim levels available with a 2.5 liter Dual Overhead Cam engine (DOHC) with Variable Valve Timing (VVT) and these are the iSV, iSport, iTouring and iGrand Touring. Standard on these trims is the 6-speed manual transmission, while an option for a 5-speed automatic is available on the Touring, Grand Touring and Sport trims. All can rev up to 170 hp at 6,000 rpm. If you want to kick it up a notch, the three trims on the S models will give you up to 272 hp at 6,250 rpm with their 3.7 liter DOHC 24-valve 6 cylinder engine. That kind of power will come in handy for that sudden burst of speed when you are in a tight spot on the road. The trims on the S models, sTouring, sSport and sGrand Touring also differ from the four other trims with their 6-speed Sport Automatic transmission. In terms of suspension and drive quality, the independent front suspension and multi-link rear will give a comfortable ride in varying pavement conditions. One thing worth looking at is the speed sensing power assist for the steering system. This makes for better handling of the vehicle on different driving conditions.