Test drove the new 2019 MX-5 today....
Discussion
....lovely bit of kit, well done Mazda 
The 20bhp or so increase on the old model to 180-ish peaked my interest for a drive and I think it's now in the proper sweet spot. Car I drove was a GT Sport Nav+, which is a bit unnecessary, best to stick with the Sport Nav+and ditch the all inclusive "Safety Pack", rear spoiler and pricier tan leather (as opposed to standard leather) and save ~£1K. Although on the Sport I'd prob re-spec the tan leather for £200 as it looks good with the rest of the black interior and red exterior.
Car moved around a fair bit on the greasy roads even with warm tyres, lovely line tightening when you get on the power mid corner, heel and toe-able, short throw precise 'box, likes the redline (even when not run in so can only get better!) and it shows up everything that is wrong with modern turbo engines which is almost enough to sell it in itself. Great example of how 170bhp/tonne is great fun for the road even if you drive much pokier cars.
Only complaints are that the nose feels heavy compared to the 2004 MR2 we had a while back (kinda expected really as it's not mid-engined, but still....), needs a fruitier exhaust, and it doesn't like really fast gear changes as the revs drop to to slowly (heavy flywheel? engine a bit tight as it only had a couple of hundred miles on? who knows?)
Overall though, fab car at the price point if it's going to be your daily or a "do everything with no kids fun car". As a weekend car, you'd probably still prefer a used Elise for the same money assuming you can contort yourself into it and don't mind the rawness which is obvs not everyone's cup of tea.
All that said, even though we don't meet the criteria above, we are sorely tempted....!
The 20bhp or so increase on the old model to 180-ish peaked my interest for a drive and I think it's now in the proper sweet spot. Car I drove was a GT Sport Nav+, which is a bit unnecessary, best to stick with the Sport Nav+and ditch the all inclusive "Safety Pack", rear spoiler and pricier tan leather (as opposed to standard leather) and save ~£1K. Although on the Sport I'd prob re-spec the tan leather for £200 as it looks good with the rest of the black interior and red exterior.
Car moved around a fair bit on the greasy roads even with warm tyres, lovely line tightening when you get on the power mid corner, heel and toe-able, short throw precise 'box, likes the redline (even when not run in so can only get better!) and it shows up everything that is wrong with modern turbo engines which is almost enough to sell it in itself. Great example of how 170bhp/tonne is great fun for the road even if you drive much pokier cars.
Only complaints are that the nose feels heavy compared to the 2004 MR2 we had a while back (kinda expected really as it's not mid-engined, but still....), needs a fruitier exhaust, and it doesn't like really fast gear changes as the revs drop to to slowly (heavy flywheel? engine a bit tight as it only had a couple of hundred miles on? who knows?)
Overall though, fab car at the price point if it's going to be your daily or a "do everything with no kids fun car". As a weekend car, you'd probably still prefer a used Elise for the same money assuming you can contort yourself into it and don't mind the rawness which is obvs not everyone's cup of tea.
All that said, even though we don't meet the criteria above, we are sorely tempted....!
Rev hang comment intriguing as my 2015 ND 2litre has a very responsive engine when it comes to blips on throttle, with the feel of only a very light flywheel . Almost uniquely, as everything' normal' I've driven for years has had awful rev hang, none worse than on the otherwise brilliant 1litre Ecoboost .
Mario149 said:
....lovely bit of kit, well done Mazda
The 20bhp or so increase on the old model to 180-ish peaked my interest for a drive and I think it's now in the proper sweet spot. Car I drove was a GT Sport Nav+, which is a bit unnecessary, best to stick with the Sport Nav+and ditch the all inclusive "Safety Pack", rear spoiler and pricier tan leather (as opposed to standard leather) and save ~£1K. Although on the Sport I'd prob re-spec the tan leather for £200 as it looks good with the rest of the black interior and red exterior.
Car moved around a fair bit on the greasy roads even with warm tyres, lovely line tightening when you get on the power mid corner, heel and toe-able, short throw precise 'box, likes the redline (even when not run in so can only get better!) and it shows up everything that is wrong with modern turbo engines which is almost enough to sell it in itself. Great example of how 170bhp/tonne is great fun for the road even if you drive much pokier cars.
Only complaints are that the nose feels heavy compared to the 2004 MR2 we had a while back (kinda expected really as it's not mid-engined, but still....), needs a fruitier exhaust, and it doesn't like really fast gear changes as the revs drop to to slowly (heavy flywheel? engine a bit tight as it only had a couple of hundred miles on? who knows?)
Overall though, fab car at the price point if it's going to be your daily or a "do everything with no kids fun car". As a weekend car, you'd probably still prefer a used Elise for the same money assuming you can contort yourself into it and don't mind the rawness which is obvs not everyone's cup of tea.
All that said, even though we don't meet the criteria above, we are sorely tempted....!
Funnily, we drove a GT Sport Nav+ on Friday and its the one we'd go for. LED lights, reversing cam and the Nappa leather seemed like value for the £1,000 or uplift.The 20bhp or so increase on the old model to 180-ish peaked my interest for a drive and I think it's now in the proper sweet spot. Car I drove was a GT Sport Nav+, which is a bit unnecessary, best to stick with the Sport Nav+and ditch the all inclusive "Safety Pack", rear spoiler and pricier tan leather (as opposed to standard leather) and save ~£1K. Although on the Sport I'd prob re-spec the tan leather for £200 as it looks good with the rest of the black interior and red exterior.
Car moved around a fair bit on the greasy roads even with warm tyres, lovely line tightening when you get on the power mid corner, heel and toe-able, short throw precise 'box, likes the redline (even when not run in so can only get better!) and it shows up everything that is wrong with modern turbo engines which is almost enough to sell it in itself. Great example of how 170bhp/tonne is great fun for the road even if you drive much pokier cars.
Only complaints are that the nose feels heavy compared to the 2004 MR2 we had a while back (kinda expected really as it's not mid-engined, but still....), needs a fruitier exhaust, and it doesn't like really fast gear changes as the revs drop to to slowly (heavy flywheel? engine a bit tight as it only had a couple of hundred miles on? who knows?)
Overall though, fab car at the price point if it's going to be your daily or a "do everything with no kids fun car". As a weekend car, you'd probably still prefer a used Elise for the same money assuming you can contort yourself into it and don't mind the rawness which is obvs not everyone's cup of tea.
All that said, even though we don't meet the criteria above, we are sorely tempted....!
Drove very well. Timing isnt quite right for us to get one just yet, but i'd say in six months or so it would be a viable option. We'd be looking an auto though as my wife has arthritis.
Bemusingly, the dealer would only offer £550 off the stupidly high list price of £29,700 or thereabouts with metallic paint (+£1000 contribution to the finance from Mazda if you used it), Told us there was no chance of any higher discount from anyone. Two mins on line and Drivethedeal, we sourced one for £3,300 off with the further £1,000 off if we took at the finance.
Mad it a more palatable £25,000 ish.
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