By Kevin Ransom

Wow. It’s hard to believe that next year will mark the 20th anniversary of the splashy debut of Mazda Miata. The Miata caused quite a stir when it was rolled in 1989 as a ’90 model-year vehicle: It made the covers of all the U.S. car mags,was the subject of national stories, celebrities coveted them, dealers had waiting lists of four to six months, and customers were paying $2000 and $3000 and $4000 over the sticker price just to get moved up on the list.

All of the adulation was deserved, because the launch of the Miata marked the first new two-seat roadster that any automaker had introduced in many years. You could make the case that the Miata even changed the landscape of the affordable two-seat roadster market. And it was a zippy, nimble little performer.
And now, these many years later, that’s still true. And even though Mazda changed the name of the vehicle a few years ago to the MX-5, it will always be thought of as “the Miata” in many car enthusiasts’ minds.

Mazda rightfully boasts that the Miata/MX-5 has received more than 150 awards, including named Car and Driver “10 Best” seven times.

Perhaps the most fundamental reason for the car’s continued popularity, and continued press acclaim, is that it sticks to fundamentals, and pretty much adheres to the original philosophy that made the original such a smashing success. The MX-5 continues to carry a minimal necessary weight and still takes an equally simple approach to the mechanics. Price-wise, it’s also still within the reach of the middle-class driver, and it’s still a blast to drive.

And Mazda has now racked up sales of more than 800,000 Miatas / MX-5s: It’s still the world’s best-selling two-seat roadster.

One thing that has changed in the last few years is that the MX-5 is a bit bigger than the old Miata – with more leg room and a bit more distance between the steering wheel and the driver’s body – probably in response to the middle-aged spread of some of its most effusive fans.

The 2008 MX-5 offers some new features – a new driver’s-seat-lifter with manual adjustment, standard Tyre Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) and a six-disc CD changer for the Touring and Grand Touring models.

The MX-5 continues to be powered by Mazda’s punchy MZR-series 2.0-litre, 166-horsepower engine. (That’s if you go with the manual transmission. If you choose the automatic, the hp drops to 158. While it certainly delivers more than enough power to catapult this lightweight vehicle through the twisties, this engine is also light and compact, with a chain-driven double overhead camshafts, lightweight flywheel, variable intake valve timing, electronically controlled port fuel injection and coil-on-plug ignition. The engine revs up in silky fashion to a 6,700 rpm redline, and it delivers 140 lb-ft of torque – just the amount you want while in full “revving” mode.

The MX-5’s light weight obviously contributes to its quick acceleration and nifty handling. If a sports car is too heavy, it’s also a drag on its throttle response – not to mention its fuel economy.

To keep the MX-5 a svelte, lightweight performer, Mazda used aluminum to construct the hood and trunk lid, as well as many of the suspension components. The 2.0-litre engine also uses an aluminum block and head, while the intake manifold and cam cover are constructed out of light composite plastic.

The MX-5’s agility is due in part to a double-wishbone front suspension – a construction often found in high-performing sportsters. This suspension system helps to relay quick feedback to driver, to give him or her a faster and better feel for the road – and also contributes to improved stability.

But when you buy a two-seater ragtop, it’s not just about the brisk acceleration and crisp handling, is it? A shapely physique is also part of a roadster’s sex appeal, the MX-5 is definitely not lacking in that department.

For this generation of the MX-5, designers wanted to express frisky, modern appeal while also retaining the now-iconic feel of the pioneering Miatas. The headlamps / taillamps are mounted inboard to for a more compact quality that is at the center of the vehicle’s design philosophy. Also, the taillamps synergize the more traditional elliptical shape of design generations with newer, more modern materials. The rounded grille opening evokes that of the the original MX-5 Miata, while the lines of the front bumper are uncluttered and aerodynamically-contoured.

One nice rear detail is are the seat-back bars, while the side skirts, tire-area deflectors and the front spoiler are have been designed to control airflow under the body and along its sides – which in turn minimizes drag and adds to the driving pleasure.
Which brings us to the soft-top, which can be dropped in about 10 seconds for those blissful open-air cruises through the countryside.

Chrysler PT Cruiser Limited

Another vehicle that turned heads when it debuted was the Chrysler PT Cruiser, which was rolled out in 2000 for the 2001model year.

It’s retro body style simultaneously evoked ‘30s-era coupes and ‘60s-era woodys. And buyers flocked to Cryco dealerships to get their hands on them – not just for the distinctive throwback appeal, but also for its interior flexibility and compact-car pricing
Now, eight years later, the PT Cruiser remains one of the more unique-looking vehicles on the road. And with more than 1.2 million PT Cruisers sold since 2000, it’s also been a relatively strong sales performer for Chrysler during a period when all of Detroit’s carmakers saw their market share decline Chrysler designers know that, in a auto market that continues to fragment, freedom of choice is a very big deal – so, during that period, they’ve offered 12 different variations, including four Dream Cruiser Series vehicles, the PT Turbo, the Flames, Woodie, Chrome Accents, Chrysler PT Cruiser Convertible, the refreshed 2006 Chrysler PT Cruiser, Chrysler Street Cruiser Route 66 and Pacific Coast Highway Street Cruiser editions.

For the 2008 model year, the PT Cruiser model has been renamed the PT Cruiser LX. It’s also available in the Touring and Limited editions. And in keeping with that slight tweaking of the model name, the ‘08 edition offers some new features, including:
• Seat-mounted side air bags standard on all models
• Compass and temperature display on LX model
• Sound Group I available on LX and Touring models
• Sound Group II available on Touring and Limited models
• SIRIUS Satellite Radio (now standardon Limited model) increases coverage to deliver more than 130 channels of radio programming.
• Body-color grille standard on LX and Touring models

Also, a new body-color spoiler on the liftgate enhances aerodynamics, while a the rear liftgate provides unfetteed access to the PT Cruiser’s multi-use interior. Indeed, between the Cruiser’s fold/tumble/removable seats and the optional fold-flat front passenger seat and movable rear shelf, the interior offers 26 separate seating / cargo-space arrangements, with a maximum cargo space of 76 cubic feet. And it offers plenty of head- and legroom.
The Limited features chrome accents on the grille, and the and Touring and Limited models are both given round fog lamps.

The LX model comes with a 2.4-litre, 150-hp naturally aspirated engine and five-speed manual transaxle, while the Touring and Limited editions are powered by a 2.4-litre turbo job that ups the ponies to 180 horsepower and comes with four-speed automatic transmission. I drove the Limited, and I would definitely recommend going with the 180-pony engine. The PT Cruiser isn’t lugging around a lot of extra sheetmetal, so 180 ponies ensures that it’s still a fun, zippy drive – with fine road manners, solid steering feel and a smooth ride.

Inside, the instrument panel boasts large gauges, standard compass and temperature display, flush shutoff rotating air vents and a Chrysler signature analog clock. The radio is situated high in the center stack, while a passenger grab handle on the right side of the instrument panel eases the entry and exit from the vehicle.

The center console comes with a sliding armrest and covered storage space, and also features a deep storage bin that can hold six CDs, plus a coin holder and two fold-out cup holders for rear-seat occupants. Front cup holders on the Limited model feature bright accents.

To customize the interior, buyers can order up an optional Chrome Accents Group – which includes chrome bodyside moldings, chrome door lock knobs, front cup holders with bright accents and a chrome exhaust tip.

Chrysler engineers have reduced road, wind and powertrain noise, resulting in a quieter ride inside the Chrysler PT Cruiser’s cabin. That quietude was achieved in part by an acoustic package which includes sealants around the doors, windows, rear floor pan and reverberant cavity area – and also by sound absorption in the trim panels – both of which help reduce road noise. Meanwhile, sealing around the heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system and insulation in the dashboard reduce powertrain noise. Finally, the inner belt seals in the door and added foam in the A-pillar reduce wind noise. So, for a relatively small vehicle, the Cruiser indeed delivers some on-road serenity by shutting out the noisy world outside.

Like the MX-5, the PT Cruiser still gives buyers a unique, peppy eye-appeal that sets it apart from the crowd – no small achievement in a time when there are so many different models on the road that it’s sometimes hard to tell one from the other. And it does so at a very affordable price. Which is also no mean feat in these inflationary times.

Subaru Legacy 3.0 R

When Subaru unveiled the redesigned Legacy 3.0 R Limited for the 2008 model year, the model was designated as the company’s flagship sedan, and was the first time a 6-cylinder Legacy was made available to North American buyers.

Even before the ’08 model-year rollouts, Subaru had already earned a solid rep as a pioneer when it came to all-wheel-drive vehicles, and the company likes to boast that it’s the only carmaker to equip its vehicles with Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive as standard equipment.
Subaru has positioned the Legacy 3.0 R to compete against other midsize All-Wheel Drive performance sedans, and, to that end, the ‘08 edition marks the introduction of a performance-minded paddle-shift transmission and the Subaru Intelligent Drive (SI-DRIVE) performance-control plus Bilstein Sport Suspension.
One striking visual element of the redesigned ‘08 Legacy model line is a new grille with chrome crossbars and a central Subaru logo – an image intended to represent the company’s heritage in the aeronautics field.

The re-skinned ‘08 Subaru Legacy also boasts all-new front sheet metal – with a larger grille opening, new front and rear bumper fascias, and new headlights and taillights. Another eye-catching design touch on the new front and rear bumpers are the reduced overhangs, which yield a sportier and more modern visage.
As for interior changes, the redesigned Legacy gets a new instrument panel and new interior fabrics. The once-optional telescopic steering column and the new integrated ignition key/remote entry unit, come as standard equipment. On the premium models, a redesigned steering wheel adds more controls for the audio system, cruise control and the multi-information display, plus separate SI-DRIVE controls.

And for ‘08, the advanced Vehicle Dynamics Control (VDC) stability and traction system will be offered, while the Tyre Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) is now standard.

One of Subaru’s selling points has been its rep for high-end safety equipment: Indeed, the Legacy earned the highest award from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) – “Top Safety Pick” – in the midsize car segment. The Legacy also attained the highest rating in the IIHS frontal offset, side and rear impact tests – and received five-star ratings for the driver and front passenger and rear passengers in the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) New Car Assessment Program (NCAP) crash tests.

For ’08, the Legacy 3.0 R Limited sedan replaces the 2.5 GT spec.B model as Subaru’s performance/luxury flagship sedan. Powered by a 245-hp 6-cylinder Boxer engine, the 3.0 R shares a similar Bilstein Sport Suspension with the 2.5 GT, but is constructed from different components and is tuned differently. That is, it’s designed to provide more refined and sophisticated levels of performance, in order to compete with those premium European All-Wheel Drive sedans.

The new steering wheel paddle shifters that come with the five-speed automatic truly do increase “driver involvement.” The driver can now manually control gear-shifting in one of two ways – either by using the console shift or the paddle shifters. Plus, the new “downshift blipping control” delivers the sort of revving experience that hot-rodders usually get from an aggressively-shifted manual transmission.

The 6-cylinder 3.0 engine in the Legacy 3.0 R employs an Active Valve Control System (AVCS) variable valve timing system, which meshes with Active Valve Lift System (AVLS) technology to bolster and distribute power levels throughout the mph range.

But let’s get back to that Subaru Intelligent Drive (SI-DRIVE) performance-control system, which allows the driver to maximize engine performance, control and efficiency. This is achieved by choosing from among three different modes – “Intelligent,” “Sport” and “Sport Sharp.” These different modes can be engaged either by using the rotary dial on the center console or the new-for-’08 button on the steering wheel.

The SI-DRIVE system essentially triggers these different levels of vehicle performance by regulating the engine control unit (ECU) – as well as the transmission control unit if you opted for the automatic – and also by fine-tuning the electronically controlled throttle.

If the “Intelligent” mode is selected, the system reduces engine torque and maximum power and switches over to a more relaxed throttle response curve. Meanwhile, the “Sport” mode delivers a more brisk quick throttle response and punchier acceleration. Finally, the “Sport Sharp” mode modifies the engine’s electronic throttle mapping to deliver the quickest throttle response of all the modes – and gives you more beastly power much more quickly. It’s the “Sport Sharp” mode that speed-racers will enjoy the most, especially when putting this stylish number through its paces out on curvy country roads.
From where I sit, Subaru’s new flagship is definitely a winner.