2o6 Short Takes - 4cyl Mustang and ND Miata

[2o6]

I haven't done a dealership drive in awhile. I have been content with my car, and I usually break the monotony with driving a flip car so I have variety in what I drive. but sometimes when I'm in a bad mood, I take a test drive on stuff that's not mine so I can cheer up.

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Mustang (2.3T, 6AT)

+ wow this car feels Japanese or European. Steering and handling are excellent, and since they got rid of the solid axle of the old cars, it handles super good

+ interior quality is good

+ I like the 2.3 turbo four

+ there's a lot of incentives on this model. I could get a lot of car for a not lot of $$$

- the 2.3T is so unamerican in its character I can see why people would be turned off. This feels like what I'd imagine to be a Nissan 240SX If it were made today

- it's huge and that rear seat is sooooo tiny, tinier then the old car

- the controls feel far away

- visibility could be better




ND

+ it's really quick so whoever says that 155 HP isn't enough can suck my dick

+ excellent shifter clutch relationship

+ divine handling

+ good interior

+ Mazda infotainment touchscreen works really well

- it's expensive (30k!!!)

- in the old days, the Miata really did have a huge edge on drivability, cost, and sportiness over the pony cars Camaro and Mustang...not so much these days

- the mustang I drove had better steering

- it's loud (because of the cabrio top)

- it's stiff (to be expected tho?)

- base infotainment looks like a clock radio on the dashboard

[Eye of the Tiger]

autotragic

[2o6]

autotragic

There were no manuals at all on the lot

[12,000 RPM]

Old Miatas cost about the same as V8 pony cars I think. Build quality was similar as well. I think it's an even trade that comes down to priorities. For my money the Miata looks more exciting. Fits my commute better too.

[2o6]

Old Miatas cost about the same as V8 pony cars I think. Build quality was similar as well. I think it's an even trade that comes down to priorities. For my money the Miata looks more exciting. Fits my commute better too.

If the Miata were only a hard top and had two extra doors and seats

[Eye of the Tiger]

If the Miata were only a hard top and had two extra doors and seats

Yeah, I know. Everything like that is FWD.

[Payman]

If the Miata were only a hard top and had two extra doors and seats

[Raza]

If the Miata were only a hard top and had two extra doors and seats

[giant_mtb]

Jesus, I think they need more buttons on that Mustang's steering wheel.

[Eye of the Tiger]

Jesus, I think they need more buttons on that Mustang's steering wheel.

Imagine what it would be like if it didn't have an airbag.

[Gotta-Qik-C7]

Jesus, I think they need more buttons on that Mustang's steering wheel.

Reminds me of those late 80s Pontiacs.......

[AutobahnSHO]

Long term I'll bet that MX-5 costs way less to keep on the road than the big poseur muscle car.

Is that the same motor they're putting in the Fusions now?

[MrH]

Long term I'll bet that MX-5 costs way less to keep on the road than the big poseur muscle car.

Is that the same motor they're putting in the Fusions now?

no, Ford and Mazda broke ways a long time ago. It's all Mazda designs now.

Kevin, what did you think of the Miata? Was it magical? Big disappointment? Better or worse than the mustang?

[2o6]

no, Ford and Mazda broke ways a long time ago. It's all Mazda designs now.

Kevin, what did you think of the Miata? Was it magical? Big disappointment? Better or worse than the mustang?

It was incredibly fun to drive, but not my style. Very fun toy, and different animal than the Mustang. Super sharp.



But I don't really like small convertibles, and back in the day the Miata was signifcantly more in tune with the road compared to a Muscle car. These muscle cars really aren't so much of a compromise anymore. The Mustang was a lot "less worse" than the Miata than you'd think.

[CaminoRacer]

Kinda sucks that the Mustang steering is better than the Miata's

[2o6]

Kinda sucks that the Mustang steering is better than the Miata's

Both are very good.

[Eye of the Tiger]

Both are very good.

Nothing like a Versa S, I imagine. How can you drive straight without a dead spot on center to let you know where straight is? Duh.

[MX793]

Interesting that you felt the Mustang's steering was better than the Miata's.  I've been pleasantly surprised by the Mustang's steering.  Much better than the last generation and there is actually some feedback coming through the wheel.  Not as good as the 1st gen Mazda3 I had, or the NA and NB Miatas I've driven, though.

[AutobahnSHO]

no, Ford and Mazda broke ways a long time ago. It's all Mazda designs now.

I meant is the rustang motor the same as Fusion.

[MX793]

I meant is the rustang motor the same as Fusion.

No.  Fusion uses either the 1.5 or 2.0 turbo 4s (or the 2.7 turbo V6).  2.3 is used in the Mustang, Focus RS, Explorer, and Lincoln MKC.

[Xer0]

No.  Fusion uses either the 1.5 or 2.0 turbo 4s (or the 2.7 turbo V6).  2.3 is used in the Mustang, Focus RS, Explorer, and Lincoln MKC.

I imagine its only a mater of time until the 2.7 finds its way in the Mustang. 

[MX793]

I imagine its only a mater of time until the 2.7 finds its way in the Mustang. 

Not sure if it will.  I personally would have preferred it to the 2.3, the two make pretty similar power in production tune and I'd wager the 2.7 is heavier.  Also, the 2.3 was selected to appeal to export markets where smaller displacements are favored.

[Eye of the Tiger]

Not sure if it will.  I personally would have preferred it to the 2.3, the two make pretty similar power in production tune and I'd wager the 2.7 is heavier.  Also, the 2.3 was selected to appeal to export markets where smaller displacements are favored.

Small displacement, eh. What is wrong with a sub-3-liter vee-eight? Even with pooprods, it would be awesome.

[12,000 RPM]

Not sure if it will.  I personally would have preferred it to the 2.3, the two make pretty similar power in production tune and I'd wager the 2.7 is heavier.  Also, the 2.3 was selected to appeal to export markets where smaller displacements are favored.

I'm surprised they didn't go all the way down to the 2.0L. That's the magic number for most overseas markets

[MX793]

I'm surprised they didn't go all the way down to the 2.0L. That's the magic number for most overseas markets

Yeah.  Especially for the Euro market.

[12,000 RPM]

Not like the extra 300ccs would have made it good

[AutobahnSHO]

No.  Fusion uses either the 1.5 or 2.0 turbo 4s (or the 2.7 turbo V6).  2.3 is used in the Mustang, Focus RS, Explorer, and Lincoln MKC.

I guess I haven't really paid attention to anything recently, that really boggles my "3.0L V6 is a regular sedan motor/3.3L is SUV/minivan territory/ larger is for sportscars" mindset.

So tiny!!!   

[MX793]

I guess I haven't really paid attention to anything recently, that really boggles my "3.0L V6 is a regular sedan motor/3.3L is SUV/minivan territory/ larger is for sportscars" mindset.

So tiny!!!   

At least for now, you can basically add about a liter to the turbo displacement to get the previous equivalent naturally aspirated motor.  1.4-1.6Ts replaced 2.4-2.5L I4s.  2.0-2.5Ts replaced 3.0-3.5L V6s. 

[12,000 RPM]

I still think that even with a turbo you need at least 3ccs for every 4lbs of curb weight. So a 4,000lb car should have a 3L turbo, not a 2L. Ideally I'd love 1:1. Obviously OEMs have a lot more insight than I do but I'd imagine once you essentially eliminate pumping losses with boost the effect of displacement on fuel economy is a lot less pronounced.

[MX793]

The 2.0T Edge AWD (~4300 lbs) I had as a rental last winter pulled with about the same authority as a 3-ish liter NA V6.  Wouldn't call it fast, but I never felt it was underpowered.