Auto Review: 2011 Mazda MX-5, 2011 Scion tC

By Ron Amadon, MarketWatch

DAMASCUS, Md. (MarketWatch) — Once, thousands of gallons of adult beverages were consumed as heated pub arguments were waged over whether a particular car was a true sports car.

There was general agreement that the car had to have a folding top, but issues such as reliability, quality of construction, and a hard ride seldom entered the discussion. The ability of the car to be raced and the number of doors frequently were part of the agenda.

2011 Mazda
MX-5

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Over the years the definition of a sports car evolved and softened. My guide, the “Road Track Automotive Dictionary,” said a sports car should be “exhilarating” to drive and “put a smile on the driver’s face.”

With that in mind, we examine the Mazda

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MX-5, and Toyota’s

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Scion tC, that surprised me with its increased fun to drive quotient that came with its last redesign. Both cars will carry over to the 2012 model year with minimal changes.

First, the MX-5.

There is virtually no disagreement that this little bug qualifies as a sports car. Enthusiasts have Mazda to thank for keeping this brand around as others got into the marketplace for more crossover vehicles. Honda

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is close to a sports car with its new CR-Z that only awaits a power implant.

Put the top down on the MX-5 and head out on a Saturday drive through the countryside, and you quickly discover the joys of open-top motoring, complete with super-responsive controls, excellent handling, a stiff ride and somewhat-modest power. On the MX-5, all these ingredients result in a nicely balanced car that puts a smile on anyone’s face.

2011 Scion
tC

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The double-overhead cam inline four produces 167 horsepower at 7,000 rpm and 140 pound-feet of torque at 5.000 rpm. In the test car, a slick-shifting six-speed manual transmission was always a delight to use and added immeasurably to the car’s fun to drive numbers. Weekend racers have found lots of ways to up the power numbers.

It’s all EPA calculated to produce 21-28 mpg. I got 22 in generally country driving. Out on the highway, road noise is a constant, but buffeting with the top down is held to a minimum. The overall noise level is in line with this type of vehicle.

Mazda disagrees with early British sports-car makers who saw nothing wrong with the unspoken requirement that a toolbox and spare parts be kept in the trunk. The MX-5 has rung up an enviable reliability record over the years.

In short, the MX-5 ranks high on my personal list of cars those who enjoy driving must own before they are forced to curbside.

2011 Scion tC

After spending most of a day running errands over three quarters of my home county and parts of another one, I usually return home in one of two moods. I’m glad that the day is over or ready to go some more. My tC reaction was, “Hey, this thing is really kind of fun to drive.”

The little Toyota inline four that cranked out 180 horsepower @ 6,000 rpm and 173 foot-pounds of torque @ 4,100 rpm was one reason why. So was a smooth-acting sequential automatic transmission, although I am told the tC is more responsive with the standard six-speed manual. Depending on your choice, zero to 60 comes up in the high seven-second to lower eight-second range.

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