2008 Mazda MX-5 Miata vs. 1998 Nissan President
To start off, 2008 Mazda MX-5 Miata is newer by 10 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1998 Nissan President. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1998 Nissan President would be higher. At 4,494 cc (8 cylinders), 1998 Nissan President is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1998 Nissan President (267 HP @ 5600 RPM) has 127 more horse power than 2008 Mazda MX-5 Miata. (140 HP @ 7000 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1998 Nissan President should accelerate faster than 2008 Mazda MX-5 Miata. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1998 Nissan President weights approximately 750 kg more than 2008 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, 1998 Nissan President (394 Nm @ 4000 RPM) has 226 more torque (in Nm) than 2008 Mazda MX-5 Miata. (168 Nm @ 5000 RPM). This means 1998 Nissan President will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 2008 Mazda MX-5 Miata. 1998 Nissan President has automatic transmission and 2008 Mazda MX-5 Miata has manual transmission. 2008 Mazda MX-5 Miata will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 1998 Nissan President will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 2008 Mazda MX-5 Miata | 1998 Nissan President | |
| Make | Mazda | Nissan |
| Model | MX-5 Miata | President |
| Year Released | 2008 | 1998 |
| Body Type | Convertible | Sedan |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 1840 cc | 4494 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 8 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Valves per Cylinder | 4 valves | 4 valves |
| Horse Power | 140 HP | 267 HP |
| Engine RPM | 7000 RPM | 5600 RPM |
| Torque | 168 Nm | 394 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 5000 RPM | 4000 RPM |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Automatic |
| Number of Seats | 2 seats | 5 seats |
| Number of Doors | 2 doors | 4 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 1140 kg | 1890 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 3960 mm | 5230 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1730 mm | 1840 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1640 mm | 1430 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2270 mm | 3040 mm |
