Advantages: Dead easy to drop the top (and put it up again) Disadvantages: Fuel economy coulld be better
For the Summer I purchased a second hand MX51.8 Sports. It was 4 years old and had the matching hard top as well as the permanently fitted cloth soft top. I had done my home work and this was the one that every review was recommending. It is one of the limited edition Sports and as such comes with leather heated seats.
First things first, off came the hard top and into storage until winter. The hard top was very simple to remove and the soft top just flips up and down. However neither my wife or I can pull the soft top up when sitting in the seats. One of us has to get out. Both the hard top and soft top have a heated rear window which is essential and in a two seater cabin. The fold up rear wind deflector is not that good so long hair still gets blown forward. Top Gear did an effective demonstration of the difference ...
ForlornHope 23.07.2007
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Mazda MX-5 1.8i
Advantages: fun, stylish, easy to drive, convertible Disadvantages: fuel consumption around town, road noise on the motorway
This review will concentrate on the 1.6 litre cars available in the UK from 1989 to 1993
I Bought my MX5 in the winter of 2006. I picked up an early 1991 model with the 1.6 litre engine and 67,000 miles on the clock. The car was faultless without an ounce of rust on the body and had a full service history with Mazda and had been cared for by the Lotus garage that had taken the car in as a part exchange. The car did require the big service at 60,000 miles (includes the cam belt change) which was carried out by MKG3000 Mazda of Twickenham for the reasonable cost of £390.
Around town the car deals with bumps very well with only large pot holes sending a shimmy through the chassis. Road noise around town is also very acceptable and its light direct steering makes it easy to park. Around town you'll achieve around 24-26mpg ...
Advantages: Great stylish drive Disadvantages: Lack of space
I was inspired to buy an MX-5 on a rare sunny english day. It has 5 speed manual gearbox, (rwd) ,unleaded petrol, 2 doors.
It looks great and runs great. Great for style on those sunny days and it sticks to the road so the handling is great.
I can usually get about 85 miles for £10 of petrol (usual petrol price 94.9p per litre)
The engine is very reliable. Never had a problem!
As mine is not electric, it can be a pain locking the doors and winding the windows down but when the roof is down, that doesnt matter.
My only critisism is the lack of space. I tried to put 2 suitcases in and was not successful. However you can buy some special mazda suitcases that fit perfectly in the boot.
Not a great car for the shopaholics out there, but if you are out to impress then the world is your oyster ...
