RideLust

Attending track events can be one of the most exhilarating and exciting things you can do with your car. From novice drivers to experts, nothing says “fun” like wringing out your ride at speed. With speed however comes the chance for danger and in a race track environment there is usually “zero” warning when things are about to go south. The following video was recently shot at Northern California’s Thunderhill Raceway and shows just how unpredictable things can get even when there are experienced drivers behind the wheel.

Source: Vimeo.com

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Thumbs Up: Perhaps the best-looking midsize sedan, premium feel

Thumbs Down: Could use more power, transmission not particularly sporty

Buy This Car If: You’re shopping for a midsize sedan with good looks and an upscale feel

While this may not come as a surprise to many readers, Mazda doesn’t sell nearly as many Mazda6 sedans as Honda sells Accords or Toyota sells Camrys. That’s not to say the previous Mazda6 was a bad car, but it was easily lost in the crowd, especially when competitors spend serious money on television and print advertising. Read More…

24 years. That’s how long the world has been infatuated with the Mazda Miata. When first released back in 1989, this little roadster literally rewrote the book on what inexpensive, open-air cruising was all about. For 2013 Mazda has released the Miata Club, a hopped up version of their famous roadster that’s said to be better in every way. Motor Trend’s Carlos Lago recently took the 2013 Mazda MX-5 Miata Club out for a proper thrashing, and by the end of the video you’ll notice that everything that made the MX-5 great in the beginning, still remains today.

Source: MotorTrend.com

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Thumbs Up: Impressive handling and fuel economy; good content for the money

Thumbs Down: Dated exterior design

Buy This Car If: You want a commuter car that delivers both features and frugality

Just a few short years ago , a car that served up features like a blind spot detection system, adaptive headlights, Bluetooth audio streaming, navigation, keyless entry with push-button start, rain-sensing wipers and a Bose Centerpoint surround-sound audio system would have fallen into the luxury car realm, priced far out of reach of the average consumer. Read More…

It should come as no surprise that not all custom cars are “nice”. In fact I’ve seen a few in my day that were downright awful. However on this episode of Matt Farah’s “TUNED” on the DRIVE network, Matt and Co. come across an old Mazda RX7 that while updated, is still a monumental pile of crap. Click through to check it out.

Source: Youtube.com/DRIVE

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Thumbs Up: Still delivers razor-sharp handling and superb value

Thumbs Down: Long overdue for replacement

Buy This Car If: You prefer your affordable fun in topless form

Mazda’s MX-5 Miata, in its current form, dates back to the 2006 model year. That’s when the second generation of the world’s favorite sports car gave way to the current generation, dubbed “NC” in Miata-speak. Seven years is a long time to sell any model without significant changes, but the Mazda MX-5 Miata has one primary advantage: it’s outlived all of its competition. Read More…

I kinda have a thing for Mazdas. Even the lowliest Mazda dances like a Braavosi sword master . But most Mazdas aren’t what you’d call beautiful. This 1972 Mazda 1800 sedan, however, is simply stunning. And for good reason: It was penned by one of the most legendary automotive designers in history. Here in the US, the 1800 is exceedingly rare. Only 2100 or so were imported. This 1800 is for sale on Craigslist for the low price of $4500.

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A few years ago moto-journalist Chris Harris wrote a piece on the Mazda MX-5 Miata stating that is wasn’t nearly as good as everyone claimed. Naturally MX-5 fans stood up, yelled, screamed and demanded Harris’s head. Thinking that he may have been wrong, Harris decided to give the little drop-top another go in the hopes of liking it a bit less than previously thought. So, what did he think? Click past the jump to find out.

Source: Youtube.com/DRIVE

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Thumbs Up: Great fuel economy, epic manual transmission

Thumbs Down: Oddly-high passenger seat, limited manual gearbox availability

Buy This Car If: You want a Mazda3 but need the practicality of a crossover

Crossovers, to quote from Mazda’s very own ad for the CX-5, are the rolling embodiment of compromise. They typically offer little of the off-road capability of body-on-ladder-frame SUVs, yet fail to deliver fuel economy on par with midsize sedans. Ride quality tends to be too soft or too harsh, with few landing in the sweet spot in between. Worse, most crossovers offer zero entertainment behind the wheel, which makes them vehicles of necessity, not vehicles of choice. Read More…

Thumbs Up: A fuel-sipping hatchback that’s fun to drive

Thumbs Down: Optional footwell lighting can’t be turned off

Buy This Car If: You need a car that delivers impressive fuel economy with being boring

Fuel economy is now among the top considerations when purchasing a new car, as Americans are beginning to realize that the days of cheap gas aren’t coming back this time around. If you see driving as an inconvenience, and view cars only as a way of getting from one place to another, there are plenty of fuel-efficient hatchbacks and compacts to choose from. They may serve up decent fuel economy, but from a driver’s perspective they’re the culinary equivalent of steamed white rice. Read More…