Quote:
Originally Posted by Ohio Enthusiast
And yet Mazda manages to sell a 2400lb car for $30,000. Do they lose thousands of dollars for every Miata sold? Regulations certainly play a part, but throwing all blame for big and heavy cars on the government alone is disingenuous.
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I didn't say "all blame" was on the government for increased weight, complexity, and cost due to safety features - I said that, plus consumer tolerance for cost-to-feature ratio, was mainly responsible.
Buyers looking for a two-seater convertible sports car are looking at Z4s, Boxsters, and TT roadsters, et al. Very few are cross-shopping those with a Miata because the Miata is cheaper and feels it. The Miata sells because it's a Miata, and Miata buyers are looking to buy a Miata.
Look at the Fiata. Effectively a slightly-longer Miata with a stronger 1.4L turbo engine instead of a relatively weak 2L, the Fiat 124 had 1/4th - 1/5th as many sales as the Miata and is now discontinued.
PS: You have literally one example, the Miata, because it's the exception to the rule, not the rule.