An imperfect gift
The MX-5 is the perfect car for cruising down winding roads with the wind in your hair. But if you’re more inclined to have fun on the track, unfortunately the MX-5, despite its sporty intentions, won’t fit the bill.
The 158-hp, four-cylinder mill (automatic transmission) is ideal for normal usage, but as soon as you look for a little extra oomph, you come face to face with the engine’s limitations. Throughout my road test I kept telling myself “I’m barely moving, but I’m having so much fun.”
The MX-5 is at its best on narrow country roads where the stress of the daily grind melts away and the only thing you need to wonder about is the last time another car came down this way. Believe me, you find yourself having so much fun, it’s practically blissful.
However, when choosing a country road you have to make sure it’s the kind that doesn’t require a lot of shifting. At least, that’s what I found with my six-speed automatic transmission. The paddle shifters behind the wheel do what they can, but it’s just not enough.
The transmission churns out sluggish accelerations that disappoint every time you open up the throttle. But the solution is simple. The five- or six-speed manual transmission wakes up the engine and considerably increases driving pleasure.
My recommendation is this: take a manual driving course with the $1,350 you save by forgoing the automatic transmission. It’s worth it, I guarantee it. Because of the overdrive the exhaust note is nasally on the automatic, but that’s not the case with the manual transmission.
Competition
In point of fact, the MX-5 is the last of the affordable roadsters. There are still a few rival GM products out there: Pontiac Solstice GXP (from $36,685) and Saturn Sky Red Line (from $40,165). The Volkswagen Eos ($36,575) and Ford Mustang ($31,649) compare favourably to the little Mazda.
Conclusion
The MX-5 is the very incarnation of reasonably priced driving pleasure. As a second car you’ll be hard put to find something better. Just make sure to travel light and use narrow country roads. If you want to get the most out of this roadster, opt for the manual transmission – the fun you’ll have will make you forget all about the dearth of power.
photo:Matthieu Lambert
The MX-5 is the perfect car for cruising down winding roads with the wind in your hair. But if you’re more inclined to have fun on the track, unfortunately the MX-5, despite its sporty intentions, won’t fit the bill.
 |
| Throughout my road test I kept telling myself “I’m barely moving, but I’m having so much fun.” |
The 158-hp, four-cylinder mill (automatic transmission) is ideal for normal usage, but as soon as you look for a little extra oomph, you come face to face with the engine’s limitations. Throughout my road test I kept telling myself “I’m barely moving, but I’m having so much fun.”
The MX-5 is at its best on narrow country roads where the stress of the daily grind melts away and the only thing you need to wonder about is the last time another car came down this way. Believe me, you find yourself having so much fun, it’s practically blissful.
However, when choosing a country road you have to make sure it’s the kind that doesn’t require a lot of shifting. At least, that’s what I found with my six-speed automatic transmission. The paddle shifters behind the wheel do what they can, but it’s just not enough.
The transmission churns out sluggish accelerations that disappoint every time you open up the throttle. But the solution is simple. The five- or six-speed manual transmission wakes up the engine and considerably increases driving pleasure.
My recommendation is this: take a manual driving course with the $1,350 you save by forgoing the automatic transmission. It’s worth it, I guarantee it. Because of the overdrive the exhaust note is nasally on the automatic, but that’s not the case with the manual transmission.
Competition
In point of fact, the MX-5 is the last of the affordable roadsters. There are still a few rival GM products out there: Pontiac Solstice GXP (from $36,685) and Saturn Sky Red Line (from $40,165). The Volkswagen Eos ($36,575) and Ford Mustang ($31,649) compare favourably to the little Mazda.
Conclusion
The MX-5 is the very incarnation of reasonably priced driving pleasure. As a second car you’ll be hard put to find something better. Just make sure to travel light and use narrow country roads. If you want to get the most out of this roadster, opt for the manual transmission – the fun you’ll have will make you forget all about the dearth of power.
 |
| The MX-5 is the perfect car for cruising down winding roads with the wind in your hair. |
photo:Matthieu Lambert
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