MX-5 2.0l sport (Mazda MX-5 1.6i)

Member Name: Jonathan

Product:	Mazda MX-5 1.6i
Date:	27/10/09 (35 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Handling, acceleration, comfort, held-value, practicality

Disadvantages: Awkward mirror control positioning, feel every bump at slow speeds

In 2008, after many years of wanting to return to his Triumph Spitfire days, and upon his retirement, my father bought himself a new 1800cc Mazda MX-5 roadster coupe. Having driven it down some country lanes on Boxing Day last year, I knew I had to join the MX-5 family!!!

Earlier this month (October 2009) I traded in my reliable, spacious, five-seat 55 plate Mazda 3 2.0l sport saloon for a 55 plate 'True Red' MX-5 2.0l sport.

I am a long-legged, proportionately built, 5'11", 31 year old male. There is ample room for me, and the driving position is perfect, all the controls at your fingertips, with the possible exception of the wing mirror controls.

The notchy, close-ratio six speed box and light clutch offer both smooth gear changes, awesome acceleration, and excellent fuel economy, regularly achieving 35mpg, without driving like an eco-warrior. Steering is precise, yet offers plenty of driver feedback. This car has traction control and a limited slip differential which all aid the car's superb handling as a competent driver can whip it round the country lanes, staying on the correct side of the road, and experiencing virtually no body roll. The only negative, if you desperately want to find a negative, is that at slower speeds you feel every catseye because of the stiff suspension...

Roof down, or roof up, the BOSE stereo (with six disc in-dash changer) offers phenomenal sound quality at both low and high levels with no distortion. So bass lovers and those who appreciate a little Mozart should be equally at home in this car.

If you drop the windows fully you do get a little battered with the top down, but with the windows half up, and the rear wind deflector raised you can carry on a normal conversation with your passenger and in freezing cold weather, the heater and heated leather seats will keep you both warm and comfortable - EVEN in a short sleeved shirt!!! The car is well streamlined and if you are unlucky enough to be caught on the motorway with the top down in a rain shower, you will only get wet when you slow or stop... and then it takes about 3 seconds maximum to pull the hood up, and clip it in place.

People complain about the lack of practicallity, but if you compare this to the Toyota MR2, or even the more larger Porsche Boxster, then this car offers oodles of practicallity. The boot is spacious enough for two people's luggage - unless you are married to Victoria Beckham - and there are lockers and cubby holes a plenty.

If you want a 2 seater sports car that is going to offer superb handling, more than satisfactory acceleration and a decent top end, plenty of comfort features, practicality, style, value for money, future held value, and the exhileration of open top motoring, coupled with JDM rock-solid build quality and reliability, then look no further... and it's not expensive to insure or tax either!!!

A true winner all round, and the closest you will come to Brit 60s sports motoring in the 21st Century!

Summary: Awesome, reliable, practical, exhilerating!

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