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.

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.