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2015 Mazda MX-5 25th Anniversary Review

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Mathieu St-Pierre
The NC bows in style

I love this car. In fact, my love affair with the MX-5 is my longest standing continuous crush on a car, ever. Well, actually the General Lee may hold that title, but of the cars I’ve driven the MX-5 is one of my true loves. The Miata first caught my eye in 1989, and 10 years later I drove one for the first time ever. I’ve been under its spell ever since. 

As such, I’m in no position to properly criticize the MX-5 so I’ll bitch a tad about Mazda. 

This 2015 Mazda MX-5 25th Anniversary is the NC’s final curtain call. As a 25th Anniversary car, recalling the Miata’s roots and beginnings, I submit that this MX-5 should have been a barebones, bargain-basement, near stripped version of the NC. Instead, my tester was a loaded GT with a few touches such as a numbered badge and other interior fancy-bits for a grand total of $40,925! Back in 1990, a new Miata MX-5 went for less than $14,000!

Less would have been more
I think there’s something marginally wrong with this picture. The 2015 25th Anniversary should have been a manual 6-speed GX with the GS suspension, differential and wheels, a few special decals, and a price tag of no more than $33k. THEN! Then, I would have been happier. 

But damn it all to hell, the MX-5 has been making me happy for the last 15 years of my career as an automotive journalist. And the actual current 25th Anniversary, my #664 of 1,100 made, is a fantastically swell car. 

The MX-5 is a true driver’s car -- it has been since the onset -- and that continues to ring true to this day. What I saw in Monterey, plus what we’ve learned about the powertrain since, the next ND MX-5 is expected to veer slightly back toward what made the first Miata such a cult hero. I am looking forward to driving the next MX-5, as much or more than any other driving enthusiast. 

Past loves
The NC MX-5, introduced for the 2006 model year, has proven to be very popular. My first encounter with the 3rd generation MX-5 came in the summer of 2005 when I got to take an introductory [linkartid="49083"]Limited edition (#001 of 3,500)[/link] for a spin. The week prior, I’d spent time in a Titanium grey mica 2005 Mazdaspeed Miata, which to this day stands as my favourite MX-5, followed closely by the original NA. 

Driving pleasure
The NC MX-5 strikes the perfect balance between handling and comfort. It is the perfect daily summer driver for spirited, and then some, driving without having your fillings fall out. The MX-5’s suspension and chassis have little weight to deal with but even so, the car masterfully manages weight transfers with a reality-check dose of body-roll. 

What always takes me by surprise is how direct and rapid the steering is. When I first get behind the wheel of an MX-5 I noticed it immediately. The level of power-assistance is spot on and the steering always provides plenty of feel and feedback. 

The brakes are abundantly powerful, sufficient enough to confidently slow the car down from speed. The only suggestion would be to upgrade the brake pads should you have any intention of tracking the car -- as I would. 

The 2015 MX-5’s normally aspirated 2.0L 4-cylinder engine puts out a charming 167 horsepower, plenty to keep things very interesting. Max torque, all of 140 lb-ft come in at 5,000 rpm, and hp at 7,000 rpm. Keeping revs around the 4,500 rpm mark ensures lively acceleration and passing manoeuvres. 

Perhaps the best part of driving the car lies in the middle of its tub: the 6-speed manual gearbox. The short-throw shifter is purely mechanical; you can almost feel the synchros and gears moving about in the transmission when swapping cogs. The pedals are ideally positioned for rapid footwork, including my all-time fave: heel-and-toe. As a matter of fact, the pedals are so well set up that left-foot braking is easy, for those who may choose to explore the car’s limits, and slightly beyond. 

Irreplaceable
The Mazda MX-5 is one of the most tracked modern sports cars and it’s very simple to understand why. Mazda engineers designed the car to be agile, pure, and fun. The right set of brake pads, a well sorted inexpensive suspension, and some tires are all you need to dispose of all the “bad” we accumulate over a week’s time at a weekend track event. 

There currently are but two alternatives to the MX-5 and they are the Subaru BRZ and Scion FR-S. But then again, you can’t put their tops down on an easy, sun-filled Sunday afternoon cruise…

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Mathieu St-Pierre
Mathieu St-Pierre
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