1999 Mazda Miata 10th Anniversary Convertible 1 Owner 6sp Manual Low Miles on 2040-cars

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8 cars we're most looking forward to driving in 2015

Now that 2014 is officially in the books, it's time to look ahead. And following our list of the cars we liked best last year, we're now setting our sights at the hot new metal that's coming our way in 2015. Some of these, we've already seen. And some are still set to debut during the 2015 auto show season. But these are the machines that keep us going – the things on the horizon that we're particularly stoked to drive, and drive hard. Jeep Renegade Not the Chevrolet Corvette Z06. Not the Ford Mustang GT350. Not the new John Cooper Works Mini. Nope, I'm looking forward to the adorable, trail-rated Jeep Renegade. And that's because I really, really, really like our long-term Jeep Cherokee Trailhawk. I do not, however, care too much for the Cherokee's looks, and I really don't like its $38,059 price tag. The Renegade Trailhawk, meanwhile, promises much of the same rough-and-tumble character as its big brother, but at what we expect will be a more reasonable price (I'm personally wagering on the baby Jeep's off-road model starting at no more than $23,000). With a 2.4-liter four-cylinder and a nine-speed automatic, it should also be a bit easier to fill than the V6-powered Cherokee. Also, I can't help but love the way the Renegade looks. It's like someone took a Wrangler, squished it by 50 percent and then handed it off to George Clinton for a healthy dose of funk. The interior, with its bright, expressive trims and color schemes should also be a really nice place to spend some time. I'll be attending the Renegade's launch later this month, so I'll have a much shorter wait than my colleagues. Here's hoping the baby Jeep lives up to my expectations. – Brandon Turkus Associate Editor Mazda MX-5 Miata Here's an uncomfortable truth: I'd rather spend a day driving a properly sorted Mazda MX-5 Miata of any generation on a winding road than I would nearly any other vehicle, regardless of power, price or prestige. It's not just that I prize top-down driving and enjoy the Miata's small size because it gives me more road to play with. I just find there's more motoring joy to be had with high-fidelity handling and an uncorrupted car-to-driver communication loop than I do with face-distorting power or grip – let alone valet-stand gravitas. But perhaps most of all, I love Miatas because they can deliver that level of feedback and driver reward at modest speeds that won't put the locals on edge or endanger lives – you can use more of the car more of the time.

Sell your own: 2004 Mazda RX-8

Looking to sell your car? We make it both easy and free. Quickly create listings with up to six photos and reach millions of buyers. Log in and create your free listings. Combine "sports car" with "user-friendly" and, in most forums, you have yourself an oxymoron. Sports cars are – by definition – sporty, but rarely do they qualify as easy to use. One that did and, regrettably, has faded from the scene is Mazda's RX-8. Initially launched in 2003, and out of production within roughly a decade, the RX-8 was perhaps the rotary-powered answer to a question few – at the time – were asking. Happily, Mazda produced it anyway. With its front mid-engined platform, freestyle doors and +2 seating, the RX-8 came as close to offering day-in, day-out utility as anything this side of an extended-cab pickup. And its nod to practicality did little, if anything, to diminish the essential goodness of the menu. Mazda's design team provided a high-revving rotary, nimble handling and almost telepathic steering, combining them into a frenzy-filled dollop of locomotion. The result was no more than mildly fast and furious, but in properly motivated hands the RX-8 delivered a high level of entertainment for a relatively modest outlay. This for-sale example, a 2004 RX-8 with automatic transmission, requires just $6,000 and – not incidentally – the ability to buy into its premise. The automatic will be perceived by many to be a negative, but might also suggest a more gentle ownership history. And without benefit of a clutch and shifter, the new owner can concentrate on the driving, with the Mazda's absurdly direct steering and slot-car cornering. The asking price is on the high side (book average is about $5K), but know that similar cars might bring upwards of $8,000. And at 91,000 miles it's been used, but perhaps not used up. Related Video: Mazda Used Car Buying Buying Guide Ownership Coupe Performance

Meet our new long-term 2016 Mazda MX-5 Miata Club!

We have a new Miata! For a year! And yeah, we're excited about it. This adorable roadster was added to our fleet over a month ago, but we've just now stopped driving it long enough to tell you about it. You can watch our unboxing video for this new long-termer above. (Spoiler alert: The car in the box is a Miata.) Then read a little more about which options and features we chose and why. What we got We chose the mid-line Club model because it's the only way to get the suspension with Bilstein shocks, the limited-slip differential, and a shock-tower brace. Club also includes an appearance package with a front air dam, side sill extensions, a rear bumper skirt, and a ip spoiler for the trunk. We chose Ceramic Metallic paint because it's white and silver and awesome all at once. The only option we chose is the Brembo/BBS Package. In addition to the upgraded brake system and 17-inch wheels alluded to by the title, this package adds Mazda's advanced keyless entry – you can unlock the doors and start the car without taking the key-thing out of your pocket. The MSRP for the car is $32,835. What we skipped The Grand Touring trim (too fancy), the automatic transmission (too few pedals), and extra-cost red paint (not ceramic enough). Grand Touring adds lots of convenience stuff like rain-sensing wipers and auto climate, some active safety systems, and leather. We wanted the upgraded chassis instead, and we' were trying to save some (hypothetical) money. Why we got it Because it's a Miata, and we like fun. The plan is to drive the bleep out of it for a year and report on the experience along the way. We'll take it to a track or two, keep the top down as far into winter as possible, and then slap some snow tires on it to continue . Maybe at a slight angle relative to straight-ahead at times. We'll see. If you have questions about this car, leave them in the comments below and we'll address as many as we can during the coming months. Miata! Related Video: