2005 Mazda Rx-8 Base Coupe 4-door 1.3l Manual 6 Speed Fully Loaded on 2040-cars

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2016 Mazda MX-5 Miata battles Toyota GT86 on track

It's got two doors and a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine up front, driving the rear wheels. It's made in Japan, and as far as bang-for-your-buck goes, it's a downright bargain. So which are we talking about, the Mazda MX-5 Miata, or the Toyobaru coupe known alternately as the Subaru BRZ, Scion FR-S, or Toyota GT-86? The answer is "yes," and it just goes to show, roofs notwithstanding, how close these two vehicles really are to one another. Which one is your favorite may come down to a matter of personal taste, but for its latest video, Auto Express set out to find out which laps faster around the track. On paper at least, the Toyota's 200 horsepower will trump the Mazda's 155 any day of the week, and twice on Sunday. Then again, the Miata does weigh a good 400 pounds less, even with the 2.0-liter engine and despite its convertible bodystyle – but is that enough to make up the difference? You're going to have to just watch the video for yourself to find out. All we'll tell you is that the match is pretty darn close – what you might call a photo finish, if they were actually racing each other at the same time as opposed to each racing the clock separately. So watch the video above and voice your support for your favorite little Japanese sports car in the Comments section. Related Video:

'Ringbanana' Miata is improbable 9-minute Nurburgring car

The combination of being inexpensive, capable, reliable, and friendly to all skill levels makes the Mazda Miata one of the world's most popular platforms for motorsports, but the roadsters aren't exactly rocketships. What would it take to lap a ratty, first-gen example around the Nurburgring Nordschleife in less than nine minutes? We're not exactly sure, but the Ringbanana team intends to discover the answer. The project is the type of thing that gets dreamed up after a few too many pilsners: buy the cheapest running Miata available and put as little money necessary into the roadster to make it capable around the 'Ring. As the Best-Motoring-inspired intro explains, the Mazda is largely stock other than some Fulda performance tires, possibly aftermarket springs, and a stripped interior. The video above shows the baseline test, and the convertible manages a 9:21.8 circuit, which doesn't seem too bad as a start. The video below goes into far more detail about the project's genesis and its goal. Plus, the two hosts are quite entertaining when replying to the comments from the original clip. We wish them the best of luck and look forward to following along on Facebook to see what it takes to get the Ringbanana below nine minutes. This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings.

Mazda recalls 193k CX-9 crossovers over corroded suspension

An issue with the suspension on the CX-9 has prompted Mazda and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to recall 193,484 vehicles across the United States. The campaign specifically affects units from the 2007-2014 model years, manufactured between October 24, 2006, and December 28, 2013. In those affected vehicles, the ball joints in the front suspension may corrode due to water leaking into the fitting. According to the statement below, if the ball joint rusts, the front lower control arm could separate, resulting in a loss of steering control. And needless to say, that could lead to a crash. To repair the issue, Mazda will have to replace both the left and right lower control arms, and will naturally do so free of charge, but will undertake the repairs in stages. First, owners of the affected vehicles will receive a notification that a recall campaign is under way. Then they'll get a second letter when the parts are ready and they can bring their vehicles into their local dealers. The company will start first with 2007-09 vehicles, specifically those registered in the snowy states of the Northeast and Midwest. Specifically: Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Washington, DC. (Oddly, states in the the western portion of the Midwest, as well as the Rocky Mountains and the Pacific Northwest, were not included in that initial phase. Nor was Alaska, for that matter.) After that they'll call in 2010-14 models in the same states before undertaking repairs on vehicles in other areas to the west and south. Related Video: RECALL Subject : Corrosion of Front Suspension Ball Joint Report Receipt Date: JUL 20, 2015 NHTSA Campaign Number: 15V451000 Component(s): SUSPENSION Potential Number of Units Affected: 193,484 Manufacturer: Mazda North American Operations SUMMARY: Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain model year 2007-2014 CX-9 vehicles manufactured October 24, 2006, to December 28, 2013. The affected vehicles have front suspension ball joints that may corrode from water leaking into the fitting. CONSEQUENCE: Over time, the ball joint corrosion may result in the front lower control arm separating from the ball joint, causing a loss of steering control and increasing the risk of a crash.