Yes, this is the inevitable Hot Wheels v. Matchbox Mazda MX-5 Miata comparison post...

Find the Hot Wheels Mazda MX-5 Miata at Wheel Collectors...

It had to happen, right? I had to put these together.

Hot Wheels Batch M marks the debut of their 2016 Mazda MX-5 Miata, just a few weeks after the debut of Matchbox's MX-5 Miata. Both are red, both reek of their respective styles, and to me, both are wonderfully done.

I will keep my take very simple. You can only compare them on style, because execution is spot on with both. And even then, style becomes a matter of personal preference. If you are really into drift, or like your cars modified, you would lean towards the Hot Wheels. If stock is your game, the Matchbox would be your choice.

But you can't say the Hot Wheels sucks because they didn't do a nice job. Because they did a really nice job. If your goal is a drift-inspired MX-5, then you would create the Hot Wheels. If your goal is stock, you cannot do better than the Matchbox. (And yes, I know you Tomica fans are in the back raising your hands high, ready to remind me of their MX-5. I will let Lamley's RTE jump in on that comparison. It is a nice model indeed.)

I never have a problem with Hot Wheels and Matchbox doing replicas of the same car. Of course, since I collect both brands, them producing different cars is probably better, but occasionally I like pairs like this. Especially when they are this different. The same applies for the Hakosuka Skyline that Hot Wheels released in 2011, and what is coming from Matchbox later this year. The cars are the same, but the take is very different, and they pair perfectly together. I even wonder if they used the same windshield. They look very similar.

(Of course the most interesting example of a pair like this is the Hot Wheels and Matchbox Tesla Models S models. Matchbox stock, Hot Wheels modded in a race style. Some were really critical of the Hot Wheels - I didn't like the chin - and some went as far to say Hot Wheels didn't know how to design cars. The funny thing? Both Teslas were designed by the SAME person - Ryu Asada. Ryu went "Hot Wheels" for one and "Matchbox" for the other. How cool is that? Incidentally Ryu is the main designer behind the HW MX-5.)

So is there one I like better? Yeah, the Matchbox, but only because I am more of a stock guy. But the Hot Wheels joins the collection too, because it is a great replica done in a very cool style, and I LOVE the deco on this one, especially since they were able to add front tampos. And on another note, no upsloped chin spoiler - on a race car. Hmmmm, maybe we are moving away from that?

So yeah, I am in on both. You?

(Find the Hot Wheels Mazda MX-5 Miata at Wheel Collectors...

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