Fiesta Subaru

The term “affordable sports car” has changed over the years, but let’s start by considering what a sleek, light, high-performance, two-passenger car might be best for a drive around Rio Rancho. With the average price for a new automotive purchase beginning to exceed $49K, let’s also try to keep the price under $40,000 MSRP for all the bells and whistles. Finally, a true sports car should also at least offer a shift-for-yourself option, so let’s list a manual six-speed as a possibility. In 2025, these kinds of requirements cut down the number of contenders considerably. At the top of the list might be the new 2025 Mazda MX-5 Miata, whose sleek roadster profile certainly meets the first requirement. With twin slim-line LED headlights and flowing lines that wrap around and carry the design from front to rear with graceful curves, the Mazda MX-5 looks good with the fabric top up or down. Minimalists will appreciate that the rear glass actually folds down into a rear well behind the cockpit...

It’s the middle of winter and this is not the usual time to think about sportcars. After all, you never know when a cold front will blow into Rio Rancho and make the streets and highways a mess? But a modern car enthusiast will always know their options, and sometimes it’s as simple as looking down. Look down at the tires that a modern sportscar like the 2025 Subaru BRZ has mounted. Tires are the only connection a car has to the road and technology has come a long way in offering a plethora of options to choose from. To start with, the 2025 Subaru BRZ--whether in Premium, Premium Plus, BRZ tS or Purple Special Edition—comes equipped with 215-40-18 radial tires (the Premium uses 17” alloy wheels, so 215-40-17 tires are fitted). These tires are usually best suited for summer use, with a rubber compound and tread that works best in moderate temperatures. Of course, there are all-season radials available that can expand this range into the near freezing mark, with a tread compound that wil...