Mazda MX-5 1.6i > Reviews (21)

The favourite of several major car magazines and TV presenters and when you test drive one you know why.
Take it out on a sunny day with the roof down, and it gets admiring looks from everyone young and old, male and female. This is because of its classic sports car look. It is exactly what a sports car should be, low lean, and sleek.
It’s smooth to drive with an excellent sporty feeling gearbox. The old model the mark 1 has a five-speed box, and the mark 2 has six.
The mark one is instantly recognizable as it’s the one with the pop up headlights, and where else can you find them these days?
My mark 1 has now 81000 on the clock and the only problem I have ever had is when the radiator packed up.
The 1.6 engine is sweet to listen to and has enough punch to keep up with all but the boy racers! My car has no extras being only the basic model, but you can get electric windows, alloy wheels, air con, and more. But the interior is comfortable and all controls are in fingertip reach. The dials on the dash are clear and functional.
My car can with the standard factory fitted immobiliser, and I have never had any need to add extra security - perhaps that is a personal matter.
I manage to get 350 miles out of a tank which takes around 42 litres, but I am told that I drive ecconomically.
The road tax is medium being a 1.6 and the insurance is not unreasonable given that it is a cabrio.
As I have mentioned in the disadvantages the boot is small the mark one particularly as the spare tyre occupies one corner, and in my case the CD player mounted on the tailgate side means a very odd shaped space is available. Having said that if you use soft luggage then things do squash into the numerous corners, and I have taken the car to Italy for a fortnight with no problem. If you have no passenger then the front seat is necessary for items such as TV's Christmas Trees, and compost bins!
This car is superb, the starting price for a sports car makes it available to most, and the resale value is good.