Welcome back to another Members’ Rides! For the second iteration this year, we are heading to the windy city of Chicago, where it is my pleasure to introduce Matt, aka Trust Doesn’t Rust. Matt is an IT worker living in Chicago with a couple of awesome rides. One is always a fan favorite, and the other is far less common.
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How did you get into cars?
My folks will claim that my love of cars started with my Little Tykes Cozy Coupe. I’ve never been into sports; LEGOs, Star Trek, and cars were my main interests as a kid. My dad and grandpa had a casual interest in cars, but they weren’t gearheads. For some reason, I just gravitated to all things automotive. I’ve had a subscription to Car and Driver since I was nine.
My dad and I have attended every Chicago Auto Show since 1995. While most kids were watching cartoons before heading to church, I was watching Motorweek. I was really into Saturn in the 90s, and I’m not ashamed to admit it. While most folks were partying in college, my friend Patrick and I were bombing back roads in his R53 Cooper S and my Saturn SC2. I don’t work on my cars, but I love driving and keeping up on the automotive industry.
What’s currently in the garage?
- 2021 Polestar 2
- 2021 Mazda MX-5 Miata RF
How long have you had the Polestar?
This is my wife’s car. She bought it new and took delivery on December 25th, 2020. It was a bright spot on an otherwise isolated peak-pandemic Christmas. Around the time we would normally open presents with her family, we instead met a transporter in an empty Home Depot parking lot.
How did you come to choose the Polestar?
When we started dating, she had a 2010 Mazda3 hatch and, while it was a great car, she hardly drove it since her daily life is much better suited to walking, biking, and public transit. As a result, she started having problems with the car and decided to replace it. She’s the perfect candidate for a BEV. She’s had it for over five years, and it only has 33,000 miles on the clock.
Did you cross-shop it with anything else?
At the time, the only EVs that had any sort of appeal were the Tesla Model S, Model 3, and Audi A3 e-tron. When Polestar announced the 2 and the official launch, I put a bug in her ear, and it latched on like a Ceti eel larva to a cerebral cortex.
Has it given you any issues?
The car hasn’t given her any major problems; most things have been annoyances. The Infotainment can be slow at startup (“She’s doing her best, she just needs a minute!”); the keys have gotten flaky and need reprogramming, and the rear pass-through is stuck closed. Also, the upholstery material on the doors and seats is a bear to keep clean.
What is the best thing about this?
We both love the car; it suits her needs perfectly. Given how little she drives, the minimal maintenance requirements are fantastic. Since it’s roughly the same dimensions as her old Mazda3, it’s great for city life, and the hatch makes it much more versatile than a sedan. My wife works with a local chicken rescue (yes, it’s a thing), and the interior has plenty of space for friends and hens. For an electric car, it handles really well, and the off-the-line acceleration is effortless. It’s also just a really great-looking car. Polestars are pretty uncommon here, so it still turns heads.
Anything you don’t like?
There is not enough space in this article to thoroughly document my hatred for auto-braking. It’s so goddamn sensitive and jarring. The first time it went off when I was behind the wheel, I had my in-laws in the car, and I had to explain to them that I didn’t actually hit anything. I still don’t think they totally believe me. Aside from that, the turning radius is crap. Every U-turn is a fun game of “Will I make it or will I be the recipient of honking and rude gestures?”
How long do you think you’ll hold on to this?
How long it stays in the garage is not up to me. We’re both still smitten with the car, and resale isn’t exactly stellar. I think she’ll keep it for a while longer.
Any idea what will replace it?
That’s a great question. If I were in her position, I would be hard-pressed to find a good alternative. Most of the PHEVs and BEVs being launched are crossovers, and we are not crossover people. Tesla is out of the question. The Ioniq 4/5 and EV4/6 are appealing, and the BMW i4 has potential. That said, nothing really lights up my eyes enough to warrant a change.
How has the Polestar experience been overall?
The ownership experience has been pretty uneventful. Polestar was still getting its legs when she bought it through the New York space, so the actual purchase process was a learning experience for all involved. Fortunately, the Lisle space has opened, which offers convenience and peace of mind. It’s not close, but it’s certainly closer than Detroit.
Have you ever road tripped in the Polestar, or do you stay local?
I hate that this is still the rub with BEVs. Charging infrastructure has gotten better, especially with access to the Supercharger network. Unfortunately, there’s still a level of planning, uncertainty, and time management that cannot be overcome by my current anxiety medication. My wife’s family is just outside of Kansas City, and driving down would add an extra hour or two for recharging. Adding two hours to an eight-hour trip is just not something we want to do. The farthest she’s taken it was to Indianapolis, where she was able to charge at the hotel. If we go on road trips, we usually wind up renting something.
What led to you buying the Miata?
What led me to finally buying an MX-5 was my wife imploring me to just buy the damn thing already. I have always had a thing for MX-5s but I couldn’t justify the impracticality of the car. When the ND RF came out, I knew I had to make it happen. It took 5 years to pull the trigger, but it was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made.
When did you get it?
This was another pandemic-era purchase; I picked it up new in May of 2021. COVID was wild, man.
I know you mentioned some lighting upgrades, any other changes?
Lighting upgrades is putting it generously; I just installed LEDs where Mazda should have installed them in the first place. A manufacturing defect in the stock muffler made itself known last year in the form of a very annoying rattle. I used it as an opportunity to replace it with the Goodwin Racing RoadsterSport SuperQ muffler. Aside from throwing on winter tires every year, the car is stock.
Plans for additional upgrades of any sort?
Honestly, no. I know that’s a weird thing to say here, but the car is perfect. I might get the urge to do some small things here and there, but nothing is planned.
Was this your first Miata? What preceded it?
This is my first Miata. I like to say that my first car was a 1994 Saturn SW2 (thanks Torch for the birthday drawing!), but let’s be honest, it was my mom’s car that she let me drive in high school. I just treated it like it was mine.
My first car was actually a 2002 Saturn SC2. We were a Saturn family; we owned four. I replaced it with a 2007 Audi A3, which was followed by a 2014 Mini Cooper S. I don’t buy cars often, so when I do, it has to be something that I really want.
How long do you think you’ll keep this?
So, despite the fact that I do keep cars for a while, my brain has this habit of getting designs on the next car shortly after making a purchase. I’ve always got something else on the radar. This is not the case with the Miata. I absolutely love this car, and I’m prepared to keep it for a very long time.
What makes this the best car for you?
Most importantly, the car is an absolute blast to drive, even in the city. Since its power and dynamics are accessible at low speeds, I don’t feel like I’m holding the car back. When I’m able get out of the city, the car is a complete joy.
My good friend lives in rural Wisconsin, and while I love hanging out with the guy, sometimes the drive to and from his place is one of the highlights. Aside from that, it’s small, unusual for this environment, and the fuel efficiency is a nice bonus. The fact that the car is gorgeous doesn’t hurt either.
Do you drive this daily. How is it usually used?
Not many people would choose to daily a rear-wheel-drive, manual transmission sports car in the city, but here we are. I throw on a set of snow tires every winter and, as long as we don’t get a foot of snow, I will take it out. If the weather gets too bad or I need to carry something larger than a carry-on suitcase, I’ll borrow the Polestar.
Any fun stories of your time with the RF?
Shortly after I purchased the car, my wife gifted me a performance driving class at Autobahn Country Club for my birthday. It was a ton of fun and really helped me to get comfortable with the Miata, especially since it’s my first RWD car. Despite participating with Corvettes, 911s, a Lotus Evora, a CT-5 Blackwing, and, oddly enough, a Kia Forte GT (no judgment, I fully support it), I was able to keep up just fine. Best of all, my friend decided to join me with his 50th anniversary Mustang GT.
What would you like to see Mazda do with the fifth-gen car, whenever that comes out?
I would love Mazda to just stick with the current formula. There are rumors running around about hybrid power, which is fine. As long as they still offer a four-banger, a manual transmission, RWD, and an option for some kind of hardtop, I will buy the next car. There are plenty of folks who think it needs more power, it needs AWD, it needs more space. Those people are fools. If Mazda somehow fails to live up to my personal expectations for the next car, I will buy a new ND3 and keep it for as long as I can.
What’s in the dream garage?
- 1994 Saturn SW2
- E28 M5
- Triumph Dolomite Sprint
- 1977 Ford LTD Landau Sedan
- MGB GT
- Audi Ur-Quattro
- Datsun 280z
- Ferrari GTC4Lusso
- McLaren F1
- Mk1 GTI
- Saab 99 Turbo
Why would each of these earn a spot in your dream garage?
It’s an eclectic selection, for sure. Aside from the F1 and maybe the Ur-Quattro, I don’t think many of these would find their way into most dream garages. The SW2 is a pure nostalgia move. Everything else is what I find to be the most interesting and unusual vehicle in its respective class. Land yacht? Check. Supercar? Got it. Roadster? You betcha. Quirky foreign car? Look, this is gonna start sounding like a song from The Little Mermaid. The point is, I think all of these would bring me actual joy while being brushed off by the uninitiated and appreciated by those who know.
Thanks Matt!
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The post Miata Is Always The Answer And So Is A Polestar This Time: Members’ Rides appeared first on The Autopian.
