New Mazda MX-5 Miata GT carries a shocking sticker in Canada
Jul 25, 2009 
In my 22 years of life I have learned a great deal. I have learned three absolute truths about cars that I thought to be irrefutable. The first absolute fact I know about cars, is that double-wishbones are the best handling form of suspension in existence.
My second irrefutable truth is that the most universally comfortable and supportive seats in a car that costs less than six figures are in Saabs and Volvos. My belief in the third truth has been shaken. Until earlier this week, I knew, the Mazda MX-5 Miata was the best sports car for the money.
From the entry-level version right up to a car with a folding hardtop or Mazdaspeed turbo, this is the ultimate bang for your buck sports car. This lasted until I talked to Mark earlier this week and looked at the price of a loaded MX-5.
Mark lives on PEI, which is in a part of the country where certain cars are surprisingly uncommon. What PEI does have however, is a Mazda dealer that is head and shoulders above par. MacIsaac Mazda has let Mark test a variety of their cars, knowing that he has no intent of buying a car within the immediate future. This surprised me but not as much as the rather good inventory of used cars on their lot. In the past week I have seen, a bargain priced, supercharged Mazda Millenia, a BMW motorcycle,a Mazdaspeed6, a low mileage RX-7 and a nicely priced Mazda 6 hatchback.
Mark told me that because he is so happy with this dealer, that one day he will buy a brand-new fully loaded MX-5 (with a manual transmission of course) from them. Not knowing what such a car costs, I looked on the Mazda Canada site. In the province of Ontario, including taxes, a red, 2009 MX-5 GT costs $47,025.70. That is more than a Nissan 370Z coupe and it’s close to Honda S2000 territory.
The 370Z however is still a coupe and the Honda is getting on in years. The Mazda is a great car, but when I looked south, to the States, I wondered if Canadians are getting fleeced. In the US an identically equipped car, with the same options and features is priced in US dollars for $28,940. Before you jump down my throat with exchange rate comments, at the current rate, it works out to $31,376.77
As of Friday, July 24th, the Canadian dollar is worth about 92 cents American. In order to balance out, our dollar would have to be worth about 50 cents. In my life I have never seen the exchange rate that low. Bearing that in mind importing a car requires paying GST and in this case duty on an Asian made car, it still may be cheaper to bring up your new toy from the states.
Combined taxes and duties around 11 per cent so think long and hard if you are in the market for a new MX-5 Miata. Just remember that when your car breaks down and you need to get in and out of the shop quickly with a good loaner car, it may be helpful to have the person who sold you the car there to help you along.
MX-5, Mazda, Mazda MX-5, Mazda Miata, Miata, Roadster, convertible in Auto Prices, Mazda 
Reader Comments (9)
If you want to pay the U.S. price go live in the U.S.! Prices of Japanese cars are set against the Yen not the U.S. dollar! Our market is not the American market! Maybe manufacturers will stop offering sports cars for sale in Canada since the market is tiny. Then what? Canadian cars usually have a higher level of standard equipement as well.
On the other hand, US/Canada price comparisons should include Transport and PDI which is a ripoff in Canada.
http://www.autolinemag.com/1586-mazda-mx-5-gt-becomes-super-lightweight.html