2009 BMW Z4 Vs 2008 Mazda MX-5 Miata - The Car Connection

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2009 BMW Z4	2008 Mazda MX-5 Miata	Add Vehicle
Select style 2-Door Roadster sDrive30i Style MPG City MPG Hwy Invoice MSRP Z4 2-Door Roadster sDrive30i 19 28 $42,090 $45,750 Z4 2-Door Roadster sDrive35i 18 25 $47,520 $51,650	Select style 2-Door Conv Automatic Grand Touring Style MPG City MPG Hwy Invoice MSRP MX-5 Miata 2-Door Conv Automatic Grand Touring 20 27 $24,335 $26,340 MX-5 Miata 2-Door Conv Automatic Special Edition 20 27 $25,257 $27,340 MX-5 Miata 2-Door Conv Automatic Sport 20 27 $22,033 $23,840 MX-5 Miata 2-Door Conv Automatic Touring 20 27 $23,129 $25,030 MX-5 Miata 2-Door Conv Manual Grand Touring 21 28 $23,323 $25,240 MX-5 Miata 2-Door Conv Manual SV 22 27 $19,081 $20,635 MX-5 Miata 2-Door Conv Manual Special Edition 21 28 $24,567 $26,590 MX-5 Miata 2-Door Conv Manual Sport 22 27 $20,002 $21,635 MX-5 Miata 2-Door Conv Manual Touring 21 28 $22,116 $23,930 MX-5 Miata 2-Door Conv PRHT Automatic Grand Touring 20 27 $26,058 $28,210 MX-5 Miata 2-Door Conv PRHT Automatic Touring 20 27 $24,815 $26,860 MX-5 Miata 2-Door Conv PRHT Manual Grand Touring 21 28 $25,046 $27,110 MX-5 Miata 2-Door Conv PRHT Manual Sport 22 27 $22,609 $24,465 MX-5 Miata 2-Door Conv PRHT Manual Touring 21 28 $23,802 $25,760
Show Only Differences
Pricing
Invoice Price
$42,090	$24,335
Manufacturer Suggested Retail Price
$45,750	$26,340
Monthly Payment Estimate
$763 / month	$439 / month
The Car Connection's Take
TCC Rating
8.2 Read Our Full Review	8.4 Read Our Full Review
TCC’s Bottom Line
The 2009 BMW Z4 isn't a lightweight, basic roadster anymore, but it's a comfortable and exhilarating touring sports car that leaves a lot of flexibility.	The 2008 Mazda MX-5 Miata brings the classic roadster into the modern era, with fantastic handling and an optional power-folding hardtop.
TCC Likes
Tight hardtop Velvety, responsive engines Excellent dual-clutch automatic	Engaging handling Perky four-cylinder engine Great manual shifter
TCC Dislikes
Tight cabin and low windshield header Steering ratio feels too quick Unimpressive standard sound system	Tight cockpit Lack of safety data No stability control on base models
Fuel Economy
City
19 mpg	20 mpg
Highway
28 mpg	27 mpg
Vehicle
EPA Classification
Two-Seater	Two Seater
Interior Dimensions
Front Shoulder Room (in)
53.3	53.2
Front Leg Room (in)
42.2	43.1
Passenger Capacity
2	2
Passenger Volume (ft³)
- TBD -	- TBD -
Front Head Room (in)
39.1	37.4
Front Hip Room (in)
- TBD -	50.6
Exterior Dimensions
Min Ground Clearance (in)
- TBD -	4.6
Wheelbase (in)
98.3	91.7
Length, Overall (in)
166.9	157.3
Width, Max w/o mirrors (in)
70.5	67.7
Height, Overall (in)
50.8	49.0
Track Width, Front (in)
59.5	58.7
Track Width, Rear (in)
61.4	58.9
Liftover Height (in)
- TBD -	- TBD -
Cargo Area Dimensions
Trunk Volume (ft³)
8.0	5.3
Brakes
Rear Drum Diam x Width (in)
NA	NA
Drum - Rear (Yes or )
NA	NA
Rear Brake Rotor Diam x Thickness (in)
11.8 x - TBD -	11.0 x - TBD -
Front Brake Rotor Diam x Thickness (in)
11.8 x - TBD -	11.4 x - TBD -
Disc - Rear (Yes or )
Yes	Yes
Disc - Front (Yes or )
Yes	Yes
Brake ABS System
4-Wheel	4-Wheel
Brake Type
Pwr-Assisted	Pwr
Fuel Tank
Fuel Tank Capacity, Approx (gal)
14.5	12.7
Steering
Turning Diameter - Curb to Curb (ft)
35.1	15.4
Steering Type
Pwr Rack & Pinion	Pwr
Steering Ratio (:1), Overall
14.4	15.0
Lock to Lock Turns (Steering)
3.0	2.7
Turning Diameter - Wall to Wall (ft)
- TBD -	- TBD -
Tires
Spare Tire Size
NA	NA
Rear Tire Size
P225/45R17	P205/45R17
Front Tire Size
P225/45R17	P205/45R17
Spare Tire Order Code
NA	NA
Rear Tire Order Code
NA	NA
Front Tire Order Code
NA	NA
Trailering
Wt Distributing Hitch - Max Tongue Wt. (lbs)
NA	NA
Dead Weight Hitch - Max Trailer Wt. (lbs)
NA	NA
Dead Weight Hitch - Max Tongue Wt. (lbs)
NA	NA
Wt Distributing Hitch - Max Trailer Wt. (lbs)
NA	NA
Weight Information
Base Curb Weight (lbs)
3241	2529
Wheels
Spare Wheel Material
NA	NA
Rear Wheel Material
Alloy	Aluminum
Front Wheel Size (in)
17 x 8.0	17 x 7.0
Rear Wheel Size (in)
17 x 8.0	17 x 7.0
Spare Wheel Size (in)
NA	NA
Front Wheel Material
Alloy	Aluminum
Cooling System
Total Cooling System Capacity (qts)
- TBD -	7.9
Electrical
Maximum Alternator Capacity (amps)
147	100
Cold Cranking Amps @ 0° F (Primary)
- TBD -	- TBD -
Engine
Engine Type
Gas I6	Gas I4
Displacement
3.0L/182.8	2.0L/122
Fuel System
- TBD -	MPFI
SAE Net Horsepower @ RPM
255 @ 6600	158 @ 6700
SAE Net Torque @ RPM
220 @ 2600	140 @ 5000
Engine Order Code
NA	NA
Mileage
EPA Fuel Economy Est - Hwy (MPG)
28	27
EPA Fuel Economy Est - City (MPG)
19	20
Fuel Economy Est-Combined (MPG)
22	-
Transmission
Clutch Size (in)
- TBD -	NA
Drivetrain
Rear Wheel Drive	Rear Wheel Drive
Final Drive Axle Ratio (:1)
4.27	4.10
Trans Order Code
NA	NA
Trans Type
6	6
Trans Description Cont.
Manual	Automatic w/OD
Trans Description Cont. Again
NA	NA
First Gear Ratio (:1)
3.50	3.54
Second Gear Ratio (:1)
2.01	2.06
Third Gear Ratio (:1)
1.31	1.40
Fourth Gear Ratio (:1)
1.00	1.00
Fifth Gear Ratio (:1)
0.81	0.71
Sixth Gear Ratio (:1)
0.70	0.58
Reverse Ratio (:1)
3.19	3.17
Summary
Body Style
2 Dr Conv	2 Door Convertible
Vehicle Name
BMW Z4	Mazda MX-5 Miata
Suspension
Stabilizer Bar Diameter - Rear (in)
- TBD -	- TBD -
Stabilizer Bar Diameter - Front (in)
- TBD -	- TBD -
Shock Absorber Diameter - Rear (mm)
- TBD -	- TBD -
Shock Absorber Diameter - Front (mm)
- TBD -	- TBD -
Suspension Type - Rear (Cont.)
NA	NA
Suspension Type - Front (Cont.)
NA	NA
Suspension Type - Rear
- TBD -	Multi-link
Suspension Type - Front
- TBD -	Double-Wishbone
Emissions
EPA Greenhouse Gas Score
5	-

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