Now in its third generation the sports car remains true to the very entertaining ‘89 original. Starting at just under thirty grand the new MX-5 has to be high on any list of enjoyable things.
Remarkably the manually operated cloth top has been on sale here since the start of the year without many being seen on our roads (18 sold to the end of July). The simple reason being Mazda has only recently formed a new Irish distribution company so the car hasn’t been pushed until now.
To make the MX-5 appeal broader the Japanese firm has just launched an MX-5 with an electric folding hard top. The MX-5 Roadster Coupe deliveries will begin in January 07 and should retail for around €34,000. While you can get an optional hard top for the standard car the new Roadster Coupe will raise or lower its hood in a lightning quick 12 seconds. The main advantage over the rag top is the quieter cabin with the roof up, plus you get the added bonus of a greater feeling of security when parked. There has been a slight weight gain so the suspension and a few bits have been worked on to compensate.
This MX-5 road test could almost read as my 1989 original with a bit of index linking thrown in. Basically on the road the car is sweet, still light and nimble but above all entertaining.
So where does the MX-5 magic come from? The Japanese brand copied all the best bits from traditional sports cars like the MGB roadster etc. When it brewed up the MX-5 (or ‘Miata’ as it was christened) but most importantly then added that special ingredient, reliability! With the engine fitted lengthways under a long bonnet and power sent to the rear wheels the MX-5 still performs like a true ‘old school’ sports car. Unlike poorer rivals like the MGF you sit in and not on the MX-5.
Behind the wheel an MX-5 lets you become part of the car. On the move the main sensation is one of nostalgia as the experience is so unlike your average car. Mazda has always tried to deliver sporty cars and one of the best ways to make a car more involving is to sharpen up its responses. The steering remains geared to react very quickly to driver input and the delicious gear throw continues to be ‘wrist flicking’ short.
The new car has the winning MX-5 DNA. In the standard car the manual hood is simplicity to use and from the driver's seat a strong arm can raise it in less than five seconds so I wouldn’t be rushing out to get the Roadster Coupe version but there are many who will.
This journalist had a privately-owned Mark 1 MX-5 for three years B.C. (before children!) and that’s some endorsement as motoring hack’s years are similar to dogs.
Between the RX-8 and MX-5 Mazda has some top of the range machinery.
Michael Sheridan
