I bought a 2008 Miata in September of 2007. I drove it right off the lot and on a road trip to San Jose, California from Salem, Oregon. The car battery died while on my trip. I had it jumped and headed home. When I got home I took it to the dealership and they informed me I must not have turned the key off correctly. I assumed they were right......it was my fault. Then it happened a couple more times. I continued to believe I left something on or did something wrong. I kept having problems with the battery dying...I took it back to the dealer. Again they said...."there is no drain on the battery, mam!" "The battery is fine. You just must not be driving the car enough." I argued the point, but to no avail.

So, I decided to buy a trickle charger because I was canceled by my towing insurance for too many jump starts! I have been using the trickle charger for months until...the other day...the battery would not even hold a charge for two seconds! I took it back to the dealer for the third time! I told them I was leaving the car with them for one week. I told them to let it sit for three days...then try to start it. They called me back in three days saying: "There is nothing draining your battery. You must not be driving it enough. All the battery needed is a "charge!" Go figure?????? So I said..."Oh, really? Well, I am leaving the car with you. Why don't you charge it, and try to start it in 24 hours!" I hung up the phone. I know I am a blonde, but really!!!! What tuna boat do they think I fell off of? He called me back and said: "The computer finally found a code that would allow them to replace the battery under warranty, but only at a pro-rated rate!" I said. "Nope!" "We are not going to do it that way. I brought the car in right after I bought it with this defective battery issue and you are going to replace the battery under warranty at full replacement cost. I will leave the car with you until you figure it out." I got a call back this morning that they called their district rep. and he is going to authorize a replacement battery only this "one time.!"

So.......now I understand why the automotive industry is in such dire straights! Obviously they have designed something that does not work properly and they do not want to back it up! I am disgusted with Power Mazda....in Salem, Oregon! I got my way, but I have this nagging feeling this "battery problem" is never going to stop! I buy a car every 12 years or so. I own a 1997 Chevrolet Blazer. It has been the best car I have ever owned. Absolutely no problems. Only brakes, shocks, tires, minor maintenance issues. Drive the USA in your Chevrolet! I am going to buy GMC stock and support buying and making cars in America from this day forward! We need to buy American in order to save America!

The salesman at Ron Tonkin Mazda/Toyota apparently knew next to nothing about the car.He did NOT tell me that with this particular car it is CRITICAL to have the key knob turned to "off" which is at sort of a odd angle. The car died about four times in the first two weeks, because I had what is normally "off" but on this "keyless" car it was "acc.". AFTER reading the manual cover to cover I discovered why it kept dying. The car does NOT have ANY spare tire, not even a "donut" just a repair kit and a can of air/sealant and that IS brand new!. The car now has a warning light that stays on, and a weird noise from the engine which I have to have a local dealership fix under warranty. It is extremely noisy in side.

I KNOW I turned the key completely off when I parked this 30,000.piece of sh*t, about ten days ago, and AGAIN it would not start. I used a device that I purchased from AUTO SPORT that is a portable battery that you charge up in a house outlet and put the clamps on like jumper cables but you don't need another car. I HATE this car!!!!. I will NEVER buy a Ford-Mazda product again, just like I will NEVER buy a Volkswagen product again, having purchased two brand new ones, a GTI and a Jetta and having problems constantly.

As to sale people...well, I would rather walk on hot coals than ever in my life deal with any sales man or sales woman at ANY Portland,Oregon area car dealerships. Gag!!!!

My ancient 1976 MGB sportscar is vastly more dependable, and the "technology" in MG's was Already 30 years old when they were brand new!

I hope the rumors are true, that Ford-Mazda-Jaguar-Volvo-Land Rover may go under as a company in the next two years. This 2008 MX-5 or Miata if you will, is a prime example why Ford SHOULD go under, the sooner the better!!!!