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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A Tale of Two: Matchbox & Hot Wheels Tesla Model S, with a little Fisker mixed in...

This was an inevitable post, wasn't it?

We could have titled this post "Matchbox vs Hot Wheels Tesla Model S", but the outcome is a forgone conclusion.  We have all seen previews of the Matchbox Tesla, and we already showcased the Hot Wheels version last week.  It has been well determined that the Matchbox version is far better than the Hot Wheels offering.

But, because these models were released within a few days of each other, here they are side-by-side:

Did anyone change their opinion?  We actually don't mind the Hot Wheels as much as we thought, and when looking at both, we don't mind the difference in direction, but there is a huge gap in execution.  The Hot Wheels is a little sloppy, and the Matchbox is a sign of how good Matchbox can be.

There really isn't much else to say about these two together, so we went another direction.  We decided to pair the Matchbox Tesla with what was once its rival, but like the Matchbox and Hot Wheels Teslas, there was no competition.

I remember when Felix Holst stood up at the Matchbox Gathering and mentioned the Fisker Karma was going to be a new model the next year.  I had no idea what it was, and I don't think anyone else did either.  That of course led many of us online, where we saw this stunningly beautiful car that was going to run on batteries.

The only other thing that was close was the Tesla Roadster, and while its technology was cool, its looks were not.  So all the attention went to Fisker.  Matchbox released its versions, and as seven different colors were released over subsequent years, Fisker released the Karma in much lower numbers than anticipated, filed for bankruptcy (that is the VERY short version of that interesting story), and the company was sold to a group from China.  They came and then they went.

Whether or not we will ever see Fisker again remains to be seen, but for those few minutes the company actually existed, the Karma was one of the prettiest things on the road.  And the Matchbox version didn't disappoint either.  Fisker licensors demanded the solar panel roof be included, and Mattel obliged.  They must have demanded front and rear tampos as well, because all seven versions include all those details.  The most recent version (and maybe the last version ever) highlighted the deco wonderfully in all black with black rims.

And that is the story of the Matchbox Fisker.  It is, for all intents and purposes, history.  We can't imagine there will be much  interest in it moving forward, but it definitely has a place in this post showcasing the Tesla Model S.

In contrast, the Model S has found its place.  Every movie producer in LA traded in their Panamera for a Tesla (always a good indicator), and the car is popping up everywhere.  It is here to stay, and it looks like the Matchbox will be around for awhile as well.

The same amount of detail has been put into the Matchbox Model S as was put into the Fisker.  The casting is fantastic, the color realistic, and the front and rear tampos well placed.  We have said it a hundred times, but it is Matchbox at realistic best, and it is exactly what collectors would love to see more of from the orange brand.

This is easily our favorite Matchbox of 2015 so far, and we plan on parading it out a lot to showcase what we love about Matchbox.  Hopefully we see more like it...

(Find the Fisker Karma and Tesla Model S on eBay...)


Matchbox Tesla Model S (2015 New Models):

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