Article on the Mazda RX-8 (January 2003) with a dim level of interest, assuming it was going to be well out of my price range. I almost fell off the toilet when I read at the very end of the article that the expected base price is $27,000! I had to sit there and reread the whole thing with a new perspective. You guys gotta tell us that kind of news at the beginning!   Greg Killian. Newtown, Pennsylvania.

Maybach

Regarding yours preview of the Maybach in the January 2003 issue. It is time the high-end builders had a real challenge. Watch out, Rolls and Bentley. I have said for years GM should do the same, under the brand name of la sale. But in the real world, for the price of the 62, I could have my 2973 Pontiac Grand Ville convertible, my Olds, my wife’s Accord, and my house. I would still have enough to buy a new Z4. Park them next to one another, and more people will notice my ragtop than the Maybach. The Pontiac (224.8 inches) is almost as long as the SWB 57. With only 4447 built, my Grand Ville is rarer. Mike Langer. Springfield, Pennsylvania

Volkswagen Touareg is a post from: Automotive

The 10 Best

I, like most of your readers, have seen the praise that has been heaped on the new Mazda 6, including a 10Best award (for the Mazda 6s, January 2003), with the lease on my Audi A4 expiring, I decided to check out the 6. After contracting several Mazda dealers, I discovered that only five percent of all Mazda6s will be made with V-6s and manual transmissions. Since Mazda is trying to target German and Japanese performance sedans, what gives?

I know I can walk into my local Audi, BMW, Lexus, etc, dealers and have my choice of five- and six speed manual transmissions, but Mazda has decided to limit the product to a small fraction of its car. Mazda should reevaluate its strategy if it really wants to be serious about the 6 as a performance sedan. Chuck Titone. Denville, New Jersey.

The New Z4 is a post from: Automotive