Even the electric version deemed too pricey for a 10Best award boasts the same blend of refinement and handling. The 167-hp four is merely adequate and the handling limits are unimpressive by sports-car standards. This is true whether you're talking about the base four-cylinder sedan or the six-cylinder coupe with its clockwork manual. Entertainment, value, and execution of the intended purpose are the 10Best commandments: This one okay, two nails 'em all. According to our testing, the Boxster S accelerates as quickly as a standard 911. Courtesy of the substantial torque increase, in-gear acceleration is stunning, making overtaking an effortlessly exhilarating pleasure whether on an A-road, autobahn or a racing circuit.
It keeps the Miata commendably light and wonderfully responsive. But there are a few standouts, cars that remain true to their original concept even as they evolve to keep up with the times. But value is doubly rewarding; it means paying the least amount possible for something of superior grade. But, with a total weight of roughly 2,500 pounds, the 167-horsepower 2. Is it loaded with horsepower? Courtesy of the substantial torque increase, in-gear acceleration is stunning, making overtaking an effortlessly exhilarating pleasure whether on an A-road, autobahn or a racing circuit.
The Subion challenges drivers to maintain speed and when apex velocity is maxed out, so is the driver-satisfaction gauge. From the lovely quick-shifting manual transmission to the near-instantaneous steering turn-in response, the Miata is a true enthusiast driver's dream. One aspect of this car that Mazda did extremely well is the power hardtop. The location of the cupholders is flawed, too. A cheap car endlessly reminds you of its inferiority. This exhaust system allows the engine to exhale more effectively, which bumps its out put to 302 horsepower and 254 pound-feet of torque.
It can stop from 70 mph in a shorter distance than the. Driving It There is nothing about the 2013 Mazda Miata convertible that we don't like. The top also gets points for not eating into cargo room, which is miniscule to begin with. The interior materials are well above what we'd expect at this price, with Grand Touring models outfitted with heated leather seats, Bose audio and automatic climate control. Put the top down and all your cares go out the window — actually, the roof. There's virtually no performance gap between the six-speed manual and the eight-speed automatic.
The rigid rear axle is older than Moses. I still want the car and they still have it so hopefully we will be able to piece-together a deal eventually. A third optional upgrade is a 2. Amazingly, the Miata's trunk is big enough to fit a large overnight bag or a few days' worth of groceries. But there are a few standouts, cars that remain true to their original concept even as they evolve to keep up with the times. This tiny, two-seat convertible has few competitors. Elsewhere, the Miata loses some more points in the comfort department.
The retractable hardtop is offered on Touring or Grand Touring trim levels and adds the power-retractable hardtop with a glass rear window and rear defroster. Hood, trunk, front-suspension control arms, rear-suspension uprights and rear brake calipers are all crafted in a material many carmakers seem yet to discover in any meaningful quantities. For the first time since 1997, when the Ford Contour and Mercury Mystique shared, one car sold under two different marques has claimed a single 10Best award. They did the same last fall really pushing some good deals at me. Simply put, the Miata is a ho. The new car is roomier, thanks to a longer wheelbase, but lighter than the car it replaces. For example, make sure you limber up before climbing in.
A slinky new body makes the Boxster look less like the 's little brother and more like an exotic. Ford might not have hit every mark—the automatic is still a dullard, for instance—but the reach upward lifts the Focus away from its competition. What really matters is the driving experience: turn the 2. Steering is communicative, with a crisp, precise feel that lends a sense of connectedness to the road. Is it loaded with horsepower? As a result the engine now delivers a mighty 268 horsepower at 7,350 rpm — a 110-horsepower bump over the standard 2. Put the top down and all your cares go out the window — actually, the roof. The seats might be marginally comfortable for some, and a few people may find them not to be the best for longer trips.
Those looking for a bit more comfort and security can opt for the retractable-hardtop version, which amazingly takes up no trunk space and results in the loss of only a small storage compartment behind the driver's seat. As a daily driver, though, it might leave you feeling sore and cramped. So why is this car back on this list for a record 27th time? This being a transition year for the model, the F30 sedan stands alone as the winner, without support from the rest of the lineup. In fact, top-down is the only way to drive this car. Many would-be challengers have benchmarked this winning formula, and some even match or beat it in one way or another, but they all fall short of the gestalt.
Top down, sight lines to the rear corners are limited because of a windscreen that stretches the space between the head restraints, making it tough to get a clear view of your blind spot. Like a genie lamp, it's small on the outside and remarkably cavernous inside. Its playful and graceful spirit makes taking grandma to the doctor and the kids to soccer and the boss to lunch no chore. Despite an entry-level price tag, the Mazda Miata Sport for 2013 is comprehensively equipped. The F30 is just getting started, too—a slides into view next year. Which is funny, because this 48-year-old malefactor's stingy rear seats would enrage the Amish. Based on price, its closest challengers are a bit larger, with room for more passengers; they include the Fiat 500C, the Mini Cooper convertible and the Volkswagen Beetle convertible.
Just sell cars at fair prices if you dont want bad reviews. It's as if Ford built the Focus's structure to compete with Mercedes-Benz, the steering with Porsche, and the suspension with Lotus. A five-speed manual is standard in the base Miata Sport, and a six-speed automatic is optional in all trims. Club and Grand Touring models add a sixth gear to the manual transmission; all three trim levels offer an available 6-speed automatic as an option. And, as noted, a 6-speed automatic is optional across the board, but truly appropriate only if you've lost your left leg in a racing accident. We hear the buzzing, and even a little interior rattling, as the backing track to a constant reminder that chassis development took the lead during this car's gestation. What has Jota done to it? Tip o' the hat to the in this, its third consecutive 10Best posting.