Garage update - I bought an MX-5

[M1k3yC]

After driving a few different cars I ended up adding a Mazda MX-5 to my garage. It's a 2016 2.0 Sport Recaro in Soul Red. I love it. Obviously it's not as quick as my E86, but it is really engaging and fun to drive. Anyway, here's what everyone comes for - pictures! The car does sit level, by the way, it's the outside of my garage that is uneven.

 

[Smartbear]

Looks great, I bet that’s more agile than a z4 - it looks pretty light.
Rob

 

[Mr Tidy]

I was never a big fan of these when they came out, I much preferred the looks of the Fiat 124 Spyder although by all acounts the Mazda drove better.

But I'm starting to quite like them now, and yours looks fantastic in that colour.

 

[IRD]

Looks very smart indeed. I had a previous generation model with the folding hardtop and enjoyed driving it.

 

[M1k3yC]

Thanks! Yes, you can definitely feel the difference in weight vs. the Z4. The photos flatter it, I'm going to have to do a little bit of work to bring it back to its best. Only one previous owner but she (and I know it was a lady owner, I'm not making an assumption!) didn't take the best care of it unfortunately. Most of the issues are minor cosmetic ones, though, and I think I can get a lot of the light scratches and blemishes out of the lacquer. A few days after I got it, I gave it a really thorough clean inside and turned up a pen, a lipstick, some receipts, and a spoon. The irony of an MX-5 coming with a free lipstick was not lost on me :lol:

 

[Mr Tidy]

Well at least she remembered to remove her hairdressing equipment! :lol:

Do you have any plans for a stubby? That's some whippy on there!

 

[M1k3yC]

Do you have any plans for a stubby? That's some whippy on there!

Funny you should ask, as I ordered this today: https://www.mx5parts.co.uk/short-aerial-models-p-4370.html

 

[buzyg]

Love it, so much fun to drive at almost legal speed s.

Might be time for the lad's mk 2 to go though, after it"s MoT revealed the dreaded rot today.

 

[Zed Baron]

Looks nice and the colour really suits it

 

[scootr]

Looks like fun - I see it has a proper gear shift lever
Curious what you think about the handling compared to the zed

 

[SiJar]

Yes I agree that’s a nice looking car, although I must admit I owned a brand new Mk3 2.0 sport In 2007 and hated it. I sold it within 6 months of ownership and just could not get my head around the lack of power having sold a Honda S2000 to buy it, What a mistake that was! I always Felt that I was driving a ladies car. However I still take an admiring glance at these when I see one on the road and admire the looks and their simplicity and if I purchased one again I would have to get a BBR conversion done, as I think it’s a real shame that the power is a little to low on these but I can understand why they have such a following.

 

[Huzee4]

My lad had one of these up until quite recently which he part ex’d against a G29. I loved driving it, it handled superbly and I loved the gearbox and all the toys especially the speaker in the headrest which was brilliant when using the hands free as it was clear as a bell ! We drove from west wales to Dorset to pick it up from a Mazda dealership and shared the drive home roof down all the way it was a stunning day and one to remember. The car was a one owner job, around 3k on the clock and was mint, on the drive home my son ejected a cd from the stereo and asked me “Dad who is Roger Whittaker ?” I told him that it said a lot about the previous owner ....

Enjoy your new car, you’ve bought it in the best colour I think it’s stunning

 

[M1k3yC]

Thanks for all the positive comments! I am spoilt now when I go to my garage - do I take the MX-5 or the E86?

Enjoy your new car, you’ve bought it in the best colour I think it’s stunning

Thank you! The colour combo on your son's is really nice as well. I don't think I've seen one like that before - was it an Icon special edition?

Curious what you think about the handling compared to the zed

In it's favour it's a lot more communicative and comes with an LSD from factory. Going against it is that you can really feel the difference in rigidity between it and my E86, but that's not a very fair comment since the E86 is a coupe. It's still early days, ask me again in a few months

I purchased one again I would have to get a BBR conversion done, as I think it’s a real shame that the power is a little to low on these but I can understand why they have such a following.

I'm tentatively considering going the Super 200 route with BBR when I get near the end of the 12 months Mazda approved warranty. Assuming that I still love the car and have the cash free. I don't miss the power a great deal, but I do know what you mean. It's very eager at low speeds but you notice the lack of power at high speeds. That said, despite what some reviewers say, you can't drive it flat out everywhere without losing your license. It's very capable on a twisty road.

 

[Huzee4]

Thank you! The colour combo on your son's is really nice as well. I don't think I've seen one like that before - was it an Icon special edition?

It was the Icon, your colour is the best to have on the new shape though