The “Zoom-Zoom” Folks Bring Forth Two Winners

Recently the Winding Road lured an MX-5 Grand Touring roadster (with me in it) to The Old Place restaurant along Mulholland Highway in Cornell. Next door, a new business was preparing to open.

There, owners Tim and Denise Skogstrom were putting final touches on the new Cornell Winery and Tasting Room. Wooden floors, rustic décor and a quaint setting promise an inviting place to relax and enjoy tasting wines produced by local growers. Visit cornellwinery.com.

Mulholland Highway and connecting roads are a perfect setting for exploring the capabilities of the redesigned MX-5 Miata. My top level tester had the new retractable hardtop—a great addition that offers the best of both worlds. Just unlatch it at the windshield header, then push a button.

The new design shows prominent fender flairs and clean lines. Still, it’s a bit on the “cute” side. Is that to appeal to women buyers? More on that later.

You’ll probably like the new exterior. But everyone should be thrilled with the interior re-do. Although I wished for a seat height adjuster (my wife couldn’t see comfortably over the instruments) and two inches more legroom, everything else was outstanding.

The 6-speed automatic, steering wheel with up- and down-paddle shifters on both sides, logical controls, and comfortable seats with decent bolsters all contributed to the fun.

The MX-5’s 2.0L 4-cylinder 166 horsepower engine provides good acceleration. Its ride is “communicative” to put it mildly. Quick steering, grippy tires and effective suspension help you feel at one with the road. If the road has any imperfections, though, you will feel “at one” with them too. That’s a plus or minus, depending on how hardcore you like your sports cars.

Handling is razor sharp. You can push this car hard through those S-curves, maintaining perfect control. And with paddle shifters snapping quick shifts up and down, you can do your best Michael Schumacher impression while having the time of your life. Make no mistake—this is a real sports car. “Zoom-Zoom” indeed.

Acceleration with the 6-speed auto is a wee bit slower than with the stick, but this auto is so good that you should try it before deciding. It caused me to change my mind—I’d actually favor the auto. It’s that good.

The Mazda 3 S Touring was fun too. Its purpose in life if far removed from that of the MX-5. But with comfortable seating for four and a compliant ride, it gets the nod for commuting and trips.

Its handsome exterior is the same length as a Honda Civic Sedan’s, so you know where it’s competing. One advantage over the Civic is the 3’s standard Dynamic Stability Control and Traction Control, not offered on the Honda. Good job, Mazda.

With the optional 2.3L, 156 horsepower engine linked to a 5-speed automatic, acceleration was decent. While not a sports sedan, handling proved to be capable and you can hustle this one down a mountain road fairly quickly, confident that its DSC will help keep you pointed where you intended.

The 3’s interior was comfortable and fairly quiet, with good rear seat legroom for its class. My only complaint inside was with the instrument lighting. Red and blue together is a jarring combination. If you drive a lot at night, try it first.

Worth noting is that practically everything you need or want is standard. This is a car you can buy without any options and be quite content. Without options, the sticker stays under $20,000.

My loaded MX-5 Grand Touring was priced at $29,895 including destination. It is EPA rated at 20-city and 27-highway mpg. The Mazda 3 stickered at $21,290 with optional Sirius radio and a moonroof. It is EPA rated at 22-city and 29-highway mpg. Remember, the 2008 EPA test methodology has improved, so numbers are now lower and more realistic than last year’s.

Both Mazdas were enjoyable to drive. The 3 is exemplary for a small economy car. And the MX-5 delivers huge driving fun. I just wish it would lose its cuteness. It is so capable a machine that it deserves a “look” more in keeping with its performance. If it struck a more serious pose, I probably couldn’t resist one. Visit mazdausa.com.