Thursday 6th August 2015

Delivery Miles: Mazda MX-5

The all-new MX-5 finally arrives in UK later this month at a lower price than you might think

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With summer clinging on for dear life, there's just enough time to launch a roadster and catch some sun. Yes, it's Mazda MX-5 Mk4 time.

Split between 1.5 and 2.0 appears equal

This week I've found myself behind the wheel of the new MX-5 in Scotland. No sun here, admittedly, but it's the perfect opportunity to discover just how well it copes with some of the UK's harshest tarmac. And on first impressions, I have to say, it's doing a fantastic job for me. It's got a compliant ride (even over major potholes), wonderfully precise steering, adjustable handling and a lovely sweet-revving 1.5-litre engine that, for my money, is a better choice than the pricier 2.0 (despite its extra torque, Bilsteins and limited-slip diff).

The new MX-5 has been on pre-order since April, although dealers don't get their cars until August 28. Speaking with Mazda, some interesting stats are starting to emerge. The UK order split is 50/50 between 1.5- and 2.0-litre cars (the initial expectation was more like 30/70), and most are top-spec Sport Nav trim (almost no base-spec SE orders have been taken so far).

What price a Mk4?

Fun in the rain too, which is just as well given summer

The entry price for a 1.5 SE is £18,495, a great headline-grabbing base point, but that's in Arctic White only - metallic costs a not inconsiderable £540-£660 extra. High-spec Sport models with Bose, keyless entry and leather start at £21,845, with the 2.0 Sport starting at £22,695.

Since the order books opened in April, a very healthy 715 orders have been placed by UK customers. That means a waiting list of around two-to-three months - not bad by the standards of a new model that's in heavy demand. But deals are certainly there to be had.

With only a handful of press demo cars currently present in the UK, it's not surprising that there's just one Mk4 in our classifieds. It's in the most popular spec, though: a 2.0 SportNav with metallic Soul Red paint (a remarkable 65 per cent of pre-orders have been for Soul Red cars, not surprising considering its lustrous look). The list price is £23,955 but it's being offered for £24,911 - essentially a £1K premium. Advertised as "arriving soon," it's probably your best chance of getting into a new MX-5 before the autumnal clag kicks in.

Soul Red gets the nod for two thirds of buyers

Finance deals
If you're not a cash buyer, Mazda UK is offering a number of finance packages that will help keen backsides into a Mk4 bucket. If you want to go the PCP route, and have a deposit of around £4K, you can have a 1.5 (131hp) SE-L Nav (OTR price with metallic of £20,505) for £279 a month over 42 months, with an annual mileage limit of 9,000.

Step up to a 2.0 (160hp) Sport Nav (list with metallic £23,955) and you'll need a £4,700 deposit and £329 a month (APR 5.9 per cent).

If you've got enough for a 50 per cent deposit, Mazda is offering a 'conditional sale' (hire purchase to you and me) deal but you'll pay zero per cent interest on the remainder. This offer is available over 12, 24 or 36 months, but you won't own the car until the final payment is made. On a 1.5 (131hp) SE - on-the-road price with metallic £19,155 - whacking down £9,615 means that over 36 months the cost is £265 per month.

Hard cheese

Hardtop essential? You need the old one

One thing that isn't available on the Mk4 is a Roadster Coupe hardtop roof - well, not for the time being at least. Mazda says it isn't ruling a hardtop model out, possibly as early as next year. So for the time being, if you want a folding hardtop for your MX-5 (city dweller? - you would, wouldn't you?), it'll have to be a Mk3. But the Mk3 has been selling so well this year that there are no run-out special deals, nor any delivery-mileage Mk3s in the classifieds. A 2015-registered red Roadster Coupe 1.8 SE with a mere 1,436 miles on the clock, though, can be yours for £17,995 - no bargain, it must be admitted, but it's probably your last chance of an as-new folding hardtop MX-5. For now anyway...

[neil-935ql]

Sorry can't get too excited about the mx5 I somehow miss the point , give me a lotus Elise anyday !

[neil-935ql]

Howroyd said:

Elise is a more expensive car, but even comparing a Series 3 Elise against an MX5 the weight difference isn't as much as expected. If you take a boggo Elise CR against a 2.0 MX5 they would be pretty close.

What the Elise has is more focus, but i'd argue that a new 2.0 Miata with no more than a grand chucked at it to firm up the suspension and you'd be looking at fairly similar prospects

• Awaiting hurling of abuse*

No abuse I guess we are all very different when it comes to cars , it comes down to personal choice and how you want to spend your buck , I think 23k for the Mazda it a lot , so I will stick to my guns and go for a good used Elise for that kind of money , you only live once !

[neil-935ql]

mygoldfishbowl said:

Why would any one who isn't a hairdresser care about either.

yes I know, but it seems fair game on ph to be outrageously stereotypical about certain marks so I thought I'd join in. My main daily is a Peugeot.

Yes I guess your right traditionally they were hairdressers cars but they must be doing well to be able to buy one of these cars ! I also believe that the mx5 must offer some sort of driving experience as a lot of people rave about how good they are , not for me though , what would you plump for , a used lotus or a new mx5 ?? Or something completely different for your cash ?

[neil-935ql]

300bhp/ton said:

Obviously someone with more money than braincells then.

Not at all , 24k is a lot for a Mazda ,a very good alternative would be a used lotus Elise for similar money or less , I know where I would rather spend my money

[neil-935ql]

300bhp/ton said:

Why not say used Ferrari too, just to make it an even more irrelevant point.

A used Ferrari for 24k ?? I am in , again it's a very fair point , you spend your money how you want so it's quite normal to consider all options when buying a car , new or used ? Just cause it's new don't mean its good