The Mazda MX5 has been around now for over 30 years, and it still follows the same basic recipe even today. It’s a small lightweight sports car that has been inspired by the elder British sports cars of the past. It may be a little heavier than it was in 1989 and the power has only been increased slightly, but the feel of the car is still there. The MX5 is still a fun little sports car, and you can get one for just under $27,000. Is it worth it though nowadays? Well, let’s find out.
The MX5 faces fierce competition nowadays from cars that are priced at a similar price point. Some of these cars are faster than the MX5 and more practical. Cars such as the EcoBoost Mustang or the Turbo Camaro. How on earth can Mazda keep up with them when their car is far slower, a lot less practical, and more expensive?
You also have the Toyota 86, another similarly priced sports car. It seats two extra people, has a bigger trunk and more power. On the used market, you can bag yourself a BMW Z4 or even a Porsche Boxster for new MX5 money. Well then, the MX5 doesn’t seem like a good deal at all then.
The standard MX5 pushes out 129hp and 111 lb-ft of torque from a 1.5 inline-4 engine. It hits 60 in 8.3 seconds which is pretty disappointing, especially for a sports car. The top MX5 features a 2.0 engine with 181hp and 151 lb-ft of torque. That car hits 60 in around 6.5 seconds which is better, but still not as fast as an EcoBoost Mustang. Transmission choices include a six-speed manual or automatic transmission. The base models are all powered by the manual, whilst the more expensive cars can be specced with an automatic gearbox.
The top MX5 model includes some pretty nice features. It has Bilstein shocks, a Limited Slip Differential, and a strut tower brace. There top RF model in addition to these things is also specced with a black roof. That car though costs just over $35,000 which is $10,000 more than an EcoBoost Mustang and over $9,000 more than a base MX5. Is it really worth it?
Picture via: kwsuspension.co.uk
The MX5 is a Proven Sportscar
picture via: youtube.com
Say what you want about the MX5, but it’s been beating the competition for years and years. Over a million have been made, and it has been sold worldwide. The one thing that people seem to love about the MX5, is how fun it is to drive. Journalists have been saying for years and years that whilst the MX5 may not be the fastest car on sale today by a long shot, it certainly is one of the most fun cars on sale today.
To understand why so many people love the MX5, you have to take a quick history lesson and look at the original MX5 from 1989. The “NA” generation as it was called, was a small sports car that was heavily inspired by old British sports cars, most particularly the Lotus Elan. The 1980s was the generation that killed off the British sports car for good. People then preferred a hot hatch since they were fast, spacious, fun, reliable, and cheaper than a sports car. So why did Mazda make it?
Well, Mazda realized that they could make a good sports car that was cheap, fun, and most of all reliable. They knew that people absolutely adored British sports cars in the past and that the formula for a lightweight sports car was a working one. They took all of this together and set away building the MX5. It was light, fun and it looked like a small sports car. It wasn’t pretending to be something luxurious or something fast, it was just something to make you smile. The MX5 even had a smiley face on the front of the car with the pop-up headlights up.
The NA was extremely successful, and just over 30 years on, here we are today with the ND generation. Things have changed obviously, the latest MX5 is heavier and more well equipped. It’s also safer scoring 4-stars in the European NCAP test. The latest MX5 includes a sat-nav, cruise control, air conditioning, electric seats, leather, etc. All of these would have been left out in the original MX5. This leads to the next point, is the latest MX5 just too luxurious?
Is The Latest MX5 a Bit Too Over The Top For an MX5?
picture via pintrest.com
For years now, many die-hard MX5 fans have been criticizing the modern MX5 models for being too “luxurious.” The first and second-generation MX5 models were quite basic cars. The second-generation NB model may have had an optional Bose audio system and leather, etc but ultimately it was a very simple car. Come to the third generation NC model, and the MX5 has become a lot fatter and a lot more luxurious.
The MX5 was never meant to be like this. It was meant to be a small sports car which everybody could enjoy. No distractions, just a place to drive and drive. If you want these luxury features, get a BMW.
The latest MX5 weighs in though at just over a tonne which is pretty light if you ask me. The original car weighed 100kg less than the new car, and considering there is a 31-year difference between the two, that figure isn’t too bad. Furthermore, the MX5 is still naturally aspirated which is big news because Mazda could have easily fitted the car with a turbocharged unit. You really have to rev the nuts out of the MX5 to get any power, but people really do love to do this so why change it?
In my honest opinion, those complaining about the MX5 being too over the top for an MX5, are just so hung up over the first-generation NA model. Yes, that was a very good car indeed, but times have moved on. People no longer want a bread and butter sports car. They want Apple Carplay too and heated seats. Hence why Mazda has to provide this for the customers since they are the ones with the money. If they don’t include these things, then what? They make an excuse calling it a “purists” car because it doesn’t have any luxuries? Course not.
The MX5 still is a simple car. The roof isn’t electric, and this isn’t just on the base model but all models (unless it’s the RF body shape). There are no turbos, it’s still pretty light and it’s also still an RWD sports car. Probably one of the most sportiest sports cars on sale today. It’s not a luxury car at all. You can’t drive this thing from country to country like a GT and whilst it could be used as a daily driver, we don’t think you’d want to do that.
The MX5 has one set purpose, and that’s to be a fun small sports car. That’s it. Everything else added on top is a bonus. So many cars nowadays try to be everything at once. The Porsche 718 wants to be a luxury car whilst being a sports car whilst being a daily driver and a track car. Things do start to get a little messy, but with the MX5 you know what the manufacturer’s intention was when they were making the car.
Would We Buy One?
picture via: whichcar.com.au
Yes, we would still buy one. As mentioned earlier, it’s not the fastest car by any means for that sort of money. Neither is it the most practical, the most comfortable, etc. But it doesn’t pretend to be those things at all. The MX5 attracts a certain type of buyer who just wants to have a bit of fun in life. Whether your a new driver in your Sophomore year or you’re a 50-year-old dad working at Cisco, this is a car for people who are looking to be a bit more adventurous in life.
Around the track, it isn’t bad. Round corners, no issues whatsoever. On the straights though, it is slow. Of course, there are plenty of medications out there to make your MX5 better on the track, so there are no major issues there. The best race tracks for these cars are the smaller ones with a lot more corners. Bigger F1 circuits or Nascar tracks will not do this car any justice.
The best roads for this car, are the hill roads. Mountain roads like the ones in Colorado or California. Roof down lovely road, lovely car, what else could be better?
You buy this car for those moments. It’s fun, easy to drive, and pretty safe. This is the sports car for the everyday man because you have to remember that not everybody is a Mika Hakkinen. Not everybody can drive about in your Porsche’s or BMW’s in the same way they can in the MX5. However, if you do happen to be Mika Hakkinen you will be pleased to know that the MX5 is still a very fun car even for the most advanced drivers out there. This is what you call a proper drivers car.