Eunos Roadster - MX5 in disguise (Mazda MX-5 1.6i)

Member Name: Scrypt

Product:	Mazda MX-5 1.6i
Date:	14/09/01 (7854 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Cheaper then UK car, Amazing drive, Smile factor

Disadvantages: Higher Insurance

I needed a new car so went around checking out what to buy. I somehow ended up at a Japanese import place (xoticar.co.uk) with the idea I wanted a Subaru Impreza Turbo. Sadly they didn't have any in stock. But what did catch my eye was a rather snazzy Eunos Roadster - the Jap equivalent of the UK's MX5.

Black, with a tan leather interior on a K plate with 34000 miles on the clock for £5500! Not bad. But still it's a ladies car and I'm a 6ft bloke who doesn't want to look a pansy so I thought nah. Then my girlfriend said 'well sit in it at least' and that's where it started.

The MX5 is a dream to sit in. Everything is comfortable and within reach. The dashboard layout is amazingly simple and yet has everything you could want. The gear lever is perfectly placed so that with your arm on the armrest you can change gears with ease. The steering wheel is the perfect size and generally the seats are very comfortable. With it being a Japanese car it had a few extras that the UK models don't have, such as air-conditioning, silver cast speakers covers in the footwells and best of all speakers in the headrests which are an awesome idea. Also it has a rear brake light mounted in the boot - not an option in the UK until a lot later.

So I thought that I may as well take it for a test drive - this is where the real shock came in. Pulling away I noticed how fantastically smooth the gearbox was - this is on an 8-year-old car. The steering was so perfectly weighted that getting the car to change direction was simplicity itself.

Powerwise the car was awesome - something I didn't expect. Its not supercar territory by any stretch of the imagination, but what it does have is a ridiculously high power-to-weight ratio. Okay quick physics lesson. Thought the car only has a 1.6 engine pushing out 115 bhp, it also has very little weight, hence the car is pulling not very much meaning it strains the eng
ine less to get it moving and the power is used to propel you forward with some speed. I was truly impressed with the speed of the 1.6. What should be remembered though is that this was a 'pre-cat' car and as such the performance was excellent. Post 94 cars had a cat put in to reduce emissions and are somewhat slower as they lose approximately 10bhp which is very noticeable when you drive them.

On the road the car is excellent. I thought it would be light and unable to cope with high speed. I was wrong. The car is very sure footed with the wheels sticking like glue to the road. Overtaking is easy with the power, and the car doesn't feel as if its gonna fall apart when you go over bumpy roads - a common flaw in many convertibles. As there is no roof some cars are liable to flexing as the chassis isnt strong enough to cope with the extra strain placed on it. The MX5 doesn't have this problem at all.

The roof was a concern to me, I though that as it wasn't electric it would be a hassle. Wrong again. It was as easy as anything to do, unclip 2 little buckles and push it back, 5 secs maximum. The roof mechanism can be a little heavy when lifting, but ladies shouldn't fear because only minimal effort is required to cover yourselves when the rain starts. One concern I did have when the roof was down was that there would be a lot of wind noise, once again I was wrong (them developing here?). The noise is slightly high, but with the wind deflector in place its fine. It's similar to driving a normal car with the windows open.

What the car gives you that no other can is a smile. That's why you see people driving MX5's smiling, they are happy. Its so good to drive you cant help but be happy behind the wheel. If you don't believe me go test drive one - then try to justify all the reasons behind a convertible being impractical for you - and I guarantee that you will think 'sod it' and proba
bly buy the car!

All in all the car surprised the hell out of me ? but I didn't buy it?. Well I was going to until my girlfriend started saying how much she loved the car . Basically she guilt-tripped me into letting her buy it which she did. The car is still as great to drive today as it was when we first got it at the beginning of summer. Ill let you know how winter fairs.

Okay, so you've read the review and think 'Wow this is so positive'. There are some downsides however. AS I mentioned above the car is an MX5 in everything but name. It's made I the same factory as the UK cars, has the same engine and is just as fun. The benefits are that the car loads cheaper then the UK equivalent, but the negative are that the insurance costs are lots higher. Because it was an import the best insurance we got was £732, for a UK car the insurance was only £350 - less then half. I think its disgusting but that's another opinion. Best bet is to ring round a few places before buying the car.

Mazda built the MX5 on the old Lotus Elan concept of a 2-seater roadster. The car has won pretty much every award going with its simplistic design and fantastic handling. The newer spec models have changed somewhat as EC laws have killed of the MX5's in-famous pop-up headlights.

When comparing the MX5 and the Eunos there are a few differences. Firstly the Eunos has a higher spec. The UK models are very basic because Mazda could sell them anyway. In Japan things are difference with the manufacturers needing to impress the audience. Look out for V Spec machines with leather interiors and better interiors. Externally the only 2 differences between the cars is that he Jap cars have a brake light mounted in the boot, and a square number plate - that's it! Nothing else? apart form a lower price of course!

As for parts, all the UK and Jap cars are the same, and call to a local Mazda dealer will confirm t
his. If you are really lucky they may even be willing to service the import for you - ours does.

All in all I recommend the car whole-heartedly to anyone - especially those who think it's a 'woman's car'.. Have a drive and it will change your opinion instantly.

Summary: