Mazda MX-5 | PH Legacy
The MX-5 has been around for what feels like forever. There's a good reason for that...
Since the original model was introduced way back in 1989, a shiny new Mazda MX-5 has been sold every 15 minutes. For more than three decades, through wars, scandals, pandemics, uprisings, coups, financial crashes and who knows what else, a new MX-5 has rolled off the production line in Hiroshima and begun its journey to its first owner every quarter of an hour, on average.
For that reason alone the MX-5 has left an incalculable legacy. It’s the niche sports car that went big-time, its reputation confirmed as much by its abundance as anything else. The one millionth example was produced in 2016 – the Porsche 911 needed an additional 25 years to reach that same milestone. No other sports car comes close, at least not in terms of proliferation. If nothing else, the MX-5 has left its mark through volume alone, always there, oh-so familiar, and seeming as though it always will be. Like Starbucks.
But the MX-5 (or the Eunos, or Miata, depending on where you’re reading this) is much more than just common. For 31 years it’s been a champion of affordable motoring fun. I would argue that in that time the little Mazda has done more to promote driving as pastime amongst the masses than any other single model line.
What I find so endearing about the car is that it’s managed all of that not by reinventing a single thing, but by tapping into age-old performance car fundamentals. Even today, the fourth-generation MX-5 calls on exactly the same technical principles as the first – minimal weight, compact size, front-engine and rear-wheel drive, snappy manual gearbox, buzzy normally-aspirated engine, double wishbone suspension.
The MX-5 hasn’t done anything new for 31 years. In truth, not even the original model defined or invented a single thing that hadn’t been done before. Its only scrap of foresight was to recognise what it was about small British sports cars such as the Lotus Elan that made them so enjoyable to drive, namely their lightweight construction and agile handling, and then partnered those attributes with modern reliability and up-to-date safety standards. That applies as much to the current model as the first.
People like me tend to describe the 911 as the most enduring sports car. It’s certainly been around far longer than the Mazda, but in the time the Japanese car has been on sale, the 911’s underlying recipe has changed enormously. It was in 1989, the MX-5 having caused a stir at that year’s Chicago Auto Show, that Porsche replaced the 3.2 Carrera G-Series 911 with the 964. Whereas the MX-5 has changed hardly all in that time, the 911 has grown bigger and bigger again, got heavier, switched from air to water cooling and from natural aspiration to turbocharging, its rear suspension architecture has evolved and its chassis systems have grown cleverer and cleverer.
Meanwhile, the MX-5 is no bigger and no heavier, its basic suspension layout is unchanged and power still comes from an atmospheric engine in the front, through a manual transmission (in the vast majority of cases, at least) and on to the rear wheels only. There has never been and nor will there ever be a more timeless sports car.
The MX-5 isn’t universally adored, of course, not even among driving enthusiasts. I understand entirely. In the case of the current ND version, I think the way the body flips and flops around I corners like a fish on the deck of a boat undermines the agility and balance of the chassis. Others reckon the MX-5 is a lightweight, not in terms of its mass but the punch it packs. I suspect everyone who cares about driving has a view on Mazda’s roadster, but even those who dislike it tend to recognise its contribution to the landscape.
After all, how many of us had our first experience of a rear-driven car in an MX-5? And our first powerslide, intentional or otherwise? Plenty, I bet. I did my first ever race in one and I know first-hand that motorsport rookies all over are still getting their first taste of competition in them. When I competed in an autosolo event on a scruffy airfield in Somerset last year, at the wheel of a borrowed MX-5 bought for only £1000, I didn’t for a moment wish I had any more power, or more grip, or that I was competing in anything more modern or more valuable.
Who would have thought, as these tiny droptop sports cars poured out of the factory gates in 1989, that they’d still be teaching throttle control and steering technique to people halfway around the world 31 years later? More than anything, I think the MX-5 has demonstrated, or even proven, the everlasting appeal of a performance car that’s affordable to buy and fun to drive, and not unnecessarily complicated or overladen with gadgets.
In all that time, the Mazda will have emboldened and inspired product planners within car companies the world over to green-light affordable performance cars of their own, without question. How many sports cars owe their existence at least in part to the MX-5? We’ll never know, but I bet it’s many. I would put the Toyota GT86 and Subaru BRZ firmly on that list, perhaps along with the Alpine A110. The MGF, too, and maybe, at a push, smaller hot hatches like the Ford Fiesta ST as well.
If the MX-5 hadn’t spent three decades reminding car company executives that plenty of us do still love a back-to-basics driving experience, I suspect many of the cars we adore now wouldn’t have seen the light of day at all. Its legacy is one we should all celebrate.
Preferred the Eunos version to get power windows and AC, and the slight bump in power of the 1.8.
Not sure it hasn't changed at all though - adding cupholders to the Mk3 was pretty shocking at the time
The third generation, NC, has s
tty engines. The block is extremely sensitive to oil levels. People have even reported crank and/or rod bearings failing due to oil starvation with oil levels half way or higher up. Combined with cilynder walls that are too thin and deform over their life span and failing piston rings (what I heard is that they sit too high on the piston) that cause oil coming through in the combustion chambers and then using up a lot of oil in a short amount of time is critical. Besides, the oil pressure gauge on the NC is just some simulated presentation of oil pressure, it has nothing to to with real oil pressure.And these cars still corrode, even being later noughties cars. Corrosion on aluminium panels and rust on steel parts. Though not as bad as the first two generations.The ND has problems too. The gearboxes for the 2.0 has several revisions as they kept failing. I read somewhere (without seeing any reference) that it was the fifth generation gearbox on that engine that finally got it right. And again, apparantly these have body problems. I heard from a very known and respected parts dealer that Mazda dealers are already worrying about the stuff they will have to fix under warranty which will cost them time and money.
It's very disappointing that a JAPANESE car knows all these problems, very fundamental problems. I'm not used to Japanese under delivering in that respect. That being said, I do own an MX5 and they are real fun to drive. The engine is very uninspiring. It is quick yes, easily getting to 62mph well under 7 seconds stock. But the way it does it just doesn't give me a tingling feeling like a Honda B or K series would. The soundtrack is also very boring and generic. But you have to look past this. Many cars have engines as their center piece and the rest is just not as well put together. With an MX5 you just don't feel the need to take it to the extreme every time cause you're already having so much fun without doing it. Little slide here and there, small roads with a lot of corners. And the car is so talkative. Yes, sometimes the swaying might be a bit much but if you ever buy one and mod it, don't remove all of it. Because it's the cars way of communicating with you what it does. The car talks to you and is very easy to drive partly because of that. This car will not cut off your hands and feet if you go over board sometimes.
And I do feel what Elmariachi says, I also like to take longer routes back home, be it coming from work, friends, family or whatever
Two days ago I took her out for a bit of fun and only got back 3 hours later 
But it's a bit of a guess. Numbers went down really fast towards y2k. For the last gen that site only has numbers for North America and those actually aren't bad if you compare them to previous generations. But that doesn't necessarily mean it did wel on other markets.
But it's a bit of a guess. Numbers went down really fast towards y2k. For the last gen that site only has numbers for North America and those actually aren't bad if you compare them to previous generations. But that doesn't necessarily mean it did wel on other markets.
I think you need to ask yourself why you are looking at Mx5's. They are light, easy to maintain, great steering feel (NA, NB) and gearboxes.
If you are going to use them at track days they simply take the abuse at a minimal cost. For a increase in power and performance your budget will need to grow exponentially.
I think you need to ask yourself why you are looking at Mx5's. They are light, easy to maintain, great steering feel (NA, NB) and gearboxes.
If you are going to use them at track days they simply take the abuse at a minimal cost. For a increase in power and performance your budget will need to grow exponentially.
But.... the downsides are more than outweighed by the upsides. I love these little things. Just great fun, no pretence. I'd happily have another in a heartbeat. Mk4 appeals too I must admit. Mk2 and mk3 do very little for me.
However I now find myself really lusting after the current version. I love the shape of it and the 2 litre model now has the performance to match up to the looks for me. I'll have a 30th anniversary model please.
Last one used mainly used as a track car, but also owned a rare pitcrew converted one thread here from 10 years ago
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
Felt to me like a sports car that people who don’t know about cars would like. Yes, wind in the hair, yes rear drive.
For example we had a new one twenty years ago - my ex wife’s car - she loved it because “sportscar” but she couldn’t drive and wasn’t an enthusiast. She Just liked the wind in her hair and the sporty looks.
When I drove it I couldn’t get my head around it. Firstly the steering felt lifted right out of a Mazda 323. Very slow witted and not at all like a sports car. Secondly, the scuttle liked to wobble about enough to remind you of the MGB. The engine was boring and had no fizz whatsoever. I was so unimpressed with it that I took it out on purpose one morning very early to wring it’s neck up some proper roads to see if I was missing something. I wasn’t. It was crap.
As soon as the Elise came out in 1996 (I think) the Mazda should have taken it’s coat and buggered off. Because THAT was how to make a £20k sports car.
The fact that ex wifey and everyone else chose to ignore the Lotus shows that the Mazda wasn’t ever bought as a sports car. Just a caricature of one.
But the lack of power was something that bothered me, rightly or wrongly I always wanted it to have more. So when Mazda upped the 2.0 to 184bhp I finally went and test drove one. Then ordered a 30th Anniversary RF.
I love it.
I expect your review on the tardis to come out yesterday as well please.
As for the mx5. The world would be a worse place without it. I love the culture that has formed around it and I loved my ND2. It was a fantastic car in almost every way.
If you drive it at the limit with traction control turned off it is a sharp car rather than forgiving (don't blink). The steering could have a little more feel and the grim reaper sits behind you, but it will make a driver out of you and with banzi commitment you can chase down almost anything on a bumpy, bendy stretch. The LSD allows control over absurd angles and no car since the AE86 begs to be sideways on every corner more. It is a proper hoot of a drive and will still return 40mpg. Smiles per gallon it is probably the best car ever made!
I just wish they'd do something about the seats. I tried commuting 4-5hrs per day in one and it actually medically broke me. Sadly I had to sell it and get something with back support.
Thankfully, Porsche do supportive seats better than almost anyone. Still in some ways it will be missed.
If you are going to use them at track days they simply take the abuse at a minimal cost. For a increase in power and performance your budget will need to grow exponentially.
Felt to me like a sports car that people who don’t know about cars would like. Yes, wind in the hair, yes rear drive.
For example we had a new one twenty years ago - my ex wife’s car - she loved it because “sportscar” but she couldn’t drive and wasn’t an enthusiast. She Just liked the wind in her hair and the sporty looks.
When I drove it I couldn’t get my head around it. Firstly the steering felt lifted right out of a Mazda 323. Very slow witted and not at all like a sports car. Secondly, the scuttle liked to wobble about enough to remind you of the MGB. The engine was boring and had no fizz whatsoever. I was so unimpressed with it that I took it out on purpose one morning very early to wring it’s neck up some proper roads to see if I was missing something. I wasn’t. It was crap.
As soon as the Elise came out in 1996 (I think) the Mazda should have taken it’s coat and buggered off. Because THAT was how to make a £20k sports car.
The fact that ex wifey and everyone else chose to ignore the Lotus shows that the Mazda wasn’t ever bought as a sports car. Just a caricature of one.
original 1.6 engine was a peach, later 1.8s and 2L less so. quite soulless in fact.
they did flex, but i'd still say they were a great simple sports car as std. imo.
they are sensitive to geo. early mk3s even came with suv set up as std!!!
there were, and are, mostly bought for wind in the hair sportiness.
Now, for the enthusiast the fun comes taking a previously enjoyed vehicle and finishing it! that might seem to criticise the car, but when you consider that vast aftermarket, expertise, low cost and availability of mods it's heaven.
chassis bracing, suspension and engine work can all be done for a fraction of what it would take on other cars. and the result is excellent AND still light. only for enthusiasts though.
A well sorted MX5 complements the Elise very well in that they take on track or b roads in different styles.
i'm missing my SC NA track car, can't work out what to replace it with.
MK 3
MK 1
MK 4 (not great)
MK 2 (a shocker)
Shame as post above points out that every gen is flawed.
1. Mk3.5 = Mk2.5 (depending on spec and wheels etc)
2. Mk3 = Mk2 (again depending on spec / wheels)
3. Mk1
4. Mk4
Personal taste is a funny thing.
Felt to me like a sports car that people who don’t know about cars would like. Yes, wind in the hair, yes rear drive.
For example we had a new one twenty years ago - my ex wife’s car - she loved it because “sportscar” but she couldn’t drive and wasn’t an enthusiast. She Just liked the wind in her hair and the sporty looks.
When I drove it I couldn’t get my head around it. Firstly the steering felt lifted right out of a Mazda 323. Very slow witted and not at all like a sports car. Secondly, the scuttle liked to wobble about enough to remind you of the MGB. The engine was boring and had no fizz whatsoever. I was so unimpressed with it that I took it out on purpose one morning very early to wring it’s neck up some proper roads to see if I was missing something. I wasn’t. It was crap.
As soon as the Elise came out in 1996 (I think) the Mazda should have taken it’s coat and buggered off. Because THAT was how to make a £20k sports car.
The fact that ex wifey and everyone else chose to ignore the Lotus shows that the Mazda wasn’t ever bought as a sports car. Just a caricature of one.
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