Looking for a pure sports car at a decent price? Look no further than the 2012 Mazda MX-5 Miata Grand Touring Convertible. This snazzy 2-seater offers exhilaration galore with its light weight and sporty feel, while packing such standards as a manually folding soft convertible top, 17-inch alloy wheels, heated leather-trimmed upholstery and leather and simulated alloy cabin accents onto its sleek frame. Then there are the heated seats, tilt-wheel steering, automatic climate control, power windows and mirrors, universal remote garage door opener, cruise control and automatic day/night rear-view mirror, all standard. Entertainment, should the drive not be amusing enough, consists of a Bose premium sound system with an MP3-capable 6-CD changer and 7 speakers, including a subwoofer. Alas, only 5.3 cubic feet of trunk space will drastically limit the vacation wardrobe.
In any case, options include the Premium Package with keyless entry and ignition, satellite radio and a wireless cell-phone link starring Bluetooth hands-free technology, as well as the Appearance Package, with front air dam and side and rear under skirts. Further, a popular Suspension Package can equip this spiffy roadster with a sport-tuned suspension, Bilstein shocks, a larger rear stabilizer bar and a limited-slip differential for some serious back-road driving.
Powering the 2012 MX-5 Miata Grand Touring Convertible is a perky 2.0-liter inline 4-cylinder (I4) engine that puts out 167 hp and 140 lb-ft of torque. A choice of two transmissions graces this spiffy roadster, with the standard gearbox being a nifty 6-speed manual transmission. An optional 6-speed shiftable automatic with steering-wheel-mounted paddle shifters is also available, though oomph is cut marginally to 158 hp. Mileage is a sharp 21 mpg city/28 highway with either transmission, and Mazda recommends burning premium unleaded gasoline.
Standard safety features in the 2012 MX-5 Miata Grand Touring Convertible include 4-wheel antilock brakes (ABS), traction and stability control and dual side-mounted airbags with head protection chambers. Additionally, halogen front fog/driving lights are standard, while high-intensity-discharge (HID) headlights and a remote antitheft alarm are optional with the Premium Package.
