Biggest Loser? Mazda Wants Next Miata To Shed 720 Pounds

The original Mazda MX-5, like the British roadsters that inspired it, was a small car. Less than 156 inches long and under 66 inches wide, the first Miata had a curb weight of just 2,178 pounds.  Drivers soon rediscovered the joys of a car with low weight and modest power; you couldn’t go very fast in a straight line, but the tradeoff was that you could carry a significant amount of speed into corners. The scant horsepower from the car’s 1.6-liter in-line four made the Miata an economy car in the eyes of insurance agents, adding to its affordability and forever labeling it a "chick car" in the eyes of the uninformed.

By the time the third generation was released in 2006, the MX-5, like many of us, had picked up a few extra pounds. Dimensionally larger (to the joy of drivers over six feet tall) the new car measured nearly 158 inches in length and 68 inches in width. It got a bigger, more powerful engine, too: the 2.0-liter Mazda MZR engine now made 170 horsepower, moving the MX-5 from the “underpowered” category to the “sufficiently powered” category. Despite Mazda’s focused efforts to reduce weight (shaving grams off the rear view mirror, or using thinner floor mats to save ounces), the 2006 Mazda MX-5 tipped the scales at 2,510 pounds, some 332 pounds heavier than the original MX-5.

For the next generation MX-5, Mazda is said to be going back to basics. The design goal for the car is to shed 720 pounds from the 2011 MX-5’s curb weight of 2,480 pounds, which would yield a flyweight roadster that tips the scales at only 1,760 pounds. Getting there will require significant weight savings from the engine, which may shrink to as small as 1.4 liters. Equipping it with a turbo, direct injection and variable cam timing will ensure that performance improves (or at least stays on par) compared to the current MX-5.

A lighter engine won’t save 720 pounds, so Mazda is expected to make the new car narrower and to strip out content like an owner’s manual (which can be replaced by a flash drive) and a glove box (replaced by storage molded into the rear bulkhead, perhaps).  Impact protection standards will still need to be met, so it’s likely that the next generation car will see increased use of high-strength steel in key areas, perhaps in conjunction with an increase in aluminum body panels.

Whether or not Mazda will get the next MX-5 down below 1,800 pounds remains to be seen, but it’s clear that they haven’t lost sight of the original car’s goal. Build an affordable, entertaining and reliable sports car, and the buyers will come.

[InsideLine, via MotorAuthority]

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The 5 Biggest Mistakes Used Car Buyers Make

Making a mistake buying a used car can cost you hundreds, even thousands of dollars more than necessary. That doesn’t take into account the added time and stress to make things right.

When I was Internet Manager for a major car dealer, I compiled a list of the most common mistakes my customers made when buying used cars. I’ve been giving it away for free for the last few years in hopes that it will save others unnecessary suffering.

I’ve shortened the list from eight mistakes down to five for this article. If you want a copy of the original, see below.

Mistake #1 – Not checking the vehicle history report

This is a no-brainer when buying privately or from a dealer. You want to make sure the vehicle has never been in an accident, a hurricane, or had the odometer rolled-back. Was it a rental unit or a lease return? Many buyers don’t like rental cars, but know that lease returns are preferred over even trade-ins at major dealerships.

Most dealers make the vehicle history report available on any car they're selling. Not so with private sellers. There are two vehicle history reports available: Carfax.com and AutoCheck.com. Both do a good job; however AutoCheck will be less expensive if you’re running a lot of reports.

Mistake #2 – Not checking the vehicle inspection report

If buying from a car dealer, simply ask to see the mechanic’s inspection report on the vehicle you want to purchase. If they won’t show it to you, you’ll need to choose between walking away from the deal and having your own mechanic check the vehicle out.

What do you do when buying from a private seller? Always have a mechanic perform a pre-purchase inspection. This can be time-consuming and you’ll need to pay for it yourself. However, you don’t want to wake up a month down the road to find the transmission falling apart and it’s going to cost you $4,500 to put it back together.

Mistake #3 – Ignoring fuel consumption

When I was Internet Manager for a major car dealer, I was surprised at how many customers arrived asking for a car that was good on gas, but drove away in a gas-guzzling SUV they had always wanted.

It’s more difficult to ignore a vehicle’s EPA rating when we have $4 gas. The best place to research fuel consumption is a user-friendly, government website: FuelEconomy.gov. You can use this site to discover the miles-per-gallon for older model vehicles, or new ones.

Mistake #4 – Ignoring certified pre-owned (CPO) vehicles

I frequently steer friends and family to certified used cars. These vehicles not only meet a higher standard—only a few years old with a limited number of miles—but they are put through a comprehensive inspection with deficiencies repaired. Then, the manufacturer—not the dealer—provides an extended warranty and other benefits. You’ll pay a bit more for a certified pre-owned vehicle, but those benefits won’t diminish if you make a great deal on the selling price.

CPO cars, trucks, and SUVs are an especially smart buy if you’re busy and don’t have the time it takes to shop for a safe, usually less-expensive vehicle from a private seller.

Mistake #5 – Don’t comparison shop

The Internet has changed how new and used cars are bought and sold. There are now ample tools online to comparison shop. Begin on websites such as Kelly Blue Book or Edmunds to find out what a specific, pre-owned vehicle should sell for in your area. Then check sites such as Craigslist.org, AutoTrader.com, or Car.com to see how similar vehicles are priced.

Remember that dealer prices are virtually always higher than the price offered from a private seller. In theory, a dealer offers more value to the end-user by taking at least some of the risk out of buying a used vehicle.

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The author's original The 8 Biggest Mistakes Used Car Buyers Make and How to Avoid Them is free at BayAreaCarGuy.com.

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