Face-Off: 2010 Mustang GT Convertible vs. Mazda MX-5 Miata PRHT
It's summer, and what better cars to toss into the Face-Off cage than a pair of convertibles? So slather on some sunscreen, crank up the tunes and don your favorite pair of shades. This time, we're pitting the venerable Mustang GT Convertible
against the sprightly Mazda MX-5 Miata
. Going just by the numbers, the Mustang has this in the bag, but don't count out the Miata (or Magrath) just yet. These things have an unexpected way of going sideways (just like the Mustang).
This is the second time Associate Pony Wrangler Mark Takahashi has defended the honor of his beloved Mustang (perhaps he's trying to compensate for his smaller cars?), but Senior Mazdaphile Mike Magrath is no stranger to the Face-Off format, as he demonstrated as he dispatched every foe on his way to winning the first Face-Off Tournament. From James Riswick's evil genius lair buried deep within the Santa Monica Mountains, the combatants enter the octagon. In the end, there can be only one.
Opening Statements:
Mark Takahashi for the 2010 Mustang GT Convertible
Ask someone to name a few convertibles and I'm willing to bet you that they'll mention the Ford Mustang among the first three. Why? Because it's an icon -- an icon that represents one of the best bang-for-the-buck deals with a minimum of sacrifice. I mean, just look at it. It's aggressive, mean, substantial and stylish. It pays homage to the great 'Stangs of the past without being kitschy. Even with the 8 million or so that have been put on the streets, you can still count on someone complementing your taste in cars.
Now look at the price -- $26 grand for a V6, all the way to $52 large for a GT500 droptop. There's likely a Mustang for any budget. For this Face-Off, I'm backing the standard GT convertible, which starts at a very reasonable $33,000. For that price, you get 315 horses under the bulging hood, big fat meaty tires, a glorious roar from the dual exhaust and a ton of unrestrained fun. It's a car that I can comfortably cruise up the coast or tick-off laps at the racetrack. There aren't a lot of cars out there that can claim that. Above all, though, this car just makes me feel goooooood. Frankly, I don't see how you can pick any car to take on my beloved Mustang. I wouldn't think less of you if you surrendered before we really get going.
Mike Magrath for the 2009 Mazda MX-5 Miata PRHT
"Rollin. In my 5-point-oh with the ragtop down so my hair can blow." -Vanilla Ice.
Guess what, though? The Mustang doesn't have that rad 5.0 anymore, but it's still got a rag top. The convertible I'm backing for the Summer-time-special Rag-Top-rigmarole, is, arguably, as iconic as the Mustang. A pure driver's car that adds lightness, exudes quality and innovation and comes with a power retracting hardtop. If there's one convertible that drivers can get behind, it's the 2010 Mazda MX-5 Miata PRHT.
Coming in with half the cylinders, half the power and a fraction of the weight, the MX-5 isn't trying to impress the internet with big numbers and a mountain of tire smoke. But if you appreciate driving, enjoy the safety of a hardtop (baddies can't cut through it with a Leatherman) and are comfortable enough in your own skin to be seen in a Miata, the 2009 MX-5 PRHT is hard to beat.
Rebuttals:
Takahashi
: Really? A Miata? Don't get me wrong, the Miata's a great car and all, but if these cars were kids, the Mustang would be shaking down the Miata for its lunch money. I'll concede that the Miata has some attractive attributes, like the hardtop, zippy handling and much better fuel economy, but I think it lacks passion. Over the years, the styling seems to get heavier and heavier, moving further away from the grin-inducing Lotus Elan it was patterned after. Plus, you're missing two seats. Yes, I know your thoughts on passengers from previous posts
, but in a pinch those extra seats can really come in handy. Add in some nifty Mustang bits like Sync and a thumpin' sound system and the Miata won't be able to touch it. Personally, I'd feel like a Mustang GT would be a reward for hard work, while I'd feel more like I had to settle for a Miata.
Magrath
: Yes, a Miata. And I'd peel off the MX-5 badges and put Miata ones on, too. It's an unadulterated toy for the family with three cars. The practicality is limited, but the joy is nearly endless. The diminutive Miata makes even the narrowest canyon road feel like the main straight at Pocono--there's always room to pass. The reward for hard work in the Miata's case is the driving experience. Again, it's not there to brag, it's not there to show off; it's there to show up, do its job and then go home. The new Mustang is darned good and Sync is my favorite feature in modern cars, when you chop the top off, however, it turns into something different, something soft, something sad. Like making a racehorse run with sandals on, killing the structural rigidity of a car designed to play just isn't right. The Miata was designed from the ground up as a convertible and it shows.
Oh, and it doesn't have a solid rear axle; it can turn and hit a bump at the same time without imploding.
So who wins? Which drop-top would you buy?
- Posted by
- Mark Takahashi August 3, 2009, 9:00 AM
- Permalink
- Categories:
- Face-Off
- Technorati Tags:
- 2010 Mustang GT, Convertible, Face Off, Face-Off, Mazda MX-5, Miata
Mustang GT.
Miata
Miata! Handling over straight-away power any day!
Miata. Hit a quiet twisty road.
Miata!
"Really? A Miata? Don't get me wrong, the Miata's a great car and all, but if these cars were kids, the Mustang would be shaking down the Miata for its lunch money. "
Haha, if the Mustang was a kid it would be a "pony girl".
http://www.brandweek.com/bw/content_display/news-and-features/direct/e3ie9cf6d4fe9496d052fc2374752fde5bc
gotta say, i'm a miata fan. Its far more intuitive and tossable with a real driver in mind
gotta say, i'm a miata fan. Its far more intuitive and tossable with a real driver in mind. Mustang feels crude/raw by comparison.
I hate convertibles, but the Mustang represents the least amount of sacrifice compared to a normal car (you know, one with a roof), so Mustang GT it is.
I'd take an MX-5 over a Mustang any day. The handling, the way the gearshift goes 'snick-snick' through the gates, the way the interior closes around you, etc. There is no doubt in my mind why people call the MX-5 the poor man's Porsche.
I'd take an MX-5 over a Mustang any day. The handling, the way the gearshift goes 'snick-snick' through the gates, the way the interior closes around you, etc. There is no doubt in my mind why people call the MX-5 the poor man's Porsche.
MX-5 please
Mike: "Guess what, though? The Mustang doesn't have that rad 5.0 anymore"
True. It has an even nicer and smoother 4.6L.
I like the Miata, but it doesn't have the charm that it used to. Gimmie a Mustang GT.
Mustang GT because my name's not Mary and I don't wear a dress.
Mustang! Even if I could fit in a miata it would still be mustang. The sound, the feel.
Why does everyone hate on solid axles? I own two vehicles that have three solid axles between them. Yes, it takes more skill to manage but after growing up with them I prefer that feel. Do you guys go through life fearing midcorner bumps? If so don't hop on a bike.
Which one sounds better when you rev it up? That's enough for me.
Mustang 1, Miata 0.
Mustang GT!!! Just turn the Key!!
MX-5 / Miata all the way...
Not that I'm biased... :)
Miata!!! Just turn a corner!!
@cruiserhead1 +1
Mustang GT all the way.
They are both great convertibles, but I choose the Mustang GT. The engine note is to die for in my dad's '05. I can only imagine the sound with the top down.
I'm biased because I own a 2005 S281 Saleen Mustang, but I gotta go with the Mustang. It just has more going for it:
Better highway passing due to better acceleration.
Actually has room for my dogs when we wanna do something on the weekend.
Superior aftermarket parts and services available. As Mark noted, you can get a Mustang to suite your price range. You can also get one cheaply and later upgrade it to the performance you want. Heck, I have Miata-like handling in my Saleen, and I paid less for it (with 22k on the odometer) than a new Miata would cost.
Toss on a good body kit onto a Mustang and you'll get a vehicle that turns more heads than a C6 Corvette.
Miata ragtop.
Miata! Looks better, feels better, drives better.
Miata.
I had a MX-5 for 9 years, bought a 2009 Mustang V6 Conv w/upgrades...and now, I just bought a 2009 Grand Touring with PRHT ...I had a tough time deciding on what one is better. so I have BOTH!!! But I drive the Miata about 2X as much.