1971 Pontiac Bonneville vs. 2012 Mazda MX-5 Miata
To start off, 2012 Mazda MX-5 Miata is newer by 41 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1971 Pontiac Bonneville. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1971 Pontiac Bonneville would be higher. At 7,462 cc (8 cylinders), 1971 Pontiac Bonneville is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1971 Pontiac Bonneville (185 HP @ 4000 RPM) has 18 more horse power than 2012 Mazda MX-5 Miata. (167 HP @ 7000 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1971 Pontiac Bonneville should accelerate faster than 2012 Mazda MX-5 Miata. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1971 Pontiac Bonneville weights approximately 865 kg more than 2012 Mazda MX-5 Miata. So despite on having greater horse power, its additional weight may have an impact towards its acceleration in comparison.
Both vehicles are rear wheel drive (RWD) - it offers better handling in dry conditions; in addition, if you are looking to drift, both vehicles do the job better than front wheel drive vehicles. With that said, do keep in mind that many other factors such as speed and the wear on your tires can also have significant impact on traction and control. Let's talk about torque, 1971 Pontiac Bonneville (485 Nm @ 2000 RPM) has 295 more torque (in Nm) than 2012 Mazda MX-5 Miata. (190 Nm @ 5000 RPM). This means 1971 Pontiac Bonneville will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 2012 Mazda MX-5 Miata. 1971 Pontiac Bonneville has automatic transmission and 2012 Mazda MX-5 Miata has manual transmission. 2012 Mazda MX-5 Miata will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 1971 Pontiac Bonneville will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 1971 Pontiac Bonneville | 2012 Mazda MX-5 Miata | |
| Make | Pontiac | Mazda |
| Model | Bonneville | MX-5 Miata |
| Year Released | 1971 | 2012 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 7462 cc | 2000 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 8 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 185 HP | 167 HP |
| Engine RPM | 4000 RPM | 7000 RPM |
| Torque | 485 Nm | 190 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 2000 RPM | 5000 RPM |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Automatic | 5-speed manual |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 2 seats |
| Vehicle Weight | 1990 kg | 1125 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 5740 mm | 3995 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 2030 mm | 1720 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1390 mm | 1245 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 3210 mm | 2329 mm |
