Monday 25th September 2017

Mazda MX-5: Market Watch

Autumn and winter are the best seasons to bag a convertible bargain - so how does the MX-5 market look?

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For a roadster to become one of a mainstream manufacturer's best-selling models is pretty damn impressive - and that's exactly what the MX-5 has done for Mazda. A quick search reveals nearly 1,200 used MX-5s currently advertised online in the UK alone - that's only 18 per cent fewer than Mazda's top-selling model, the Mazda 6. And with 115,600 MX-5s sold to UK customers, few sports cars have made such an indelible mark on the British motoring landscape.

A PH Hero, Mazda's masterful contemporary twist on the classic roadster has sold over 1,000,000 examples worldwide, and in its latest Mk4 form is still delivering the goods 28 years after it first hit the streets.

Like all truly great models the manufacturer produced a successful formula, which it has had the foresight to stick with through successive generations. And the Mk4 MX-5 still exemplifies the values that Mazda's original Mk1 espoused. Mechanical reliability, refreshing simplicity, affordability and an engaging purity of driving experience are all still attributes that the MX-5 possesses in abundance.

Choose one of the many MX-5 editions packing a rear limited-slip diff and a sports suspension and the driving experience is spot on. And if you like eking that little bit extra out of your sports cars then the MX-5 tuning scene is as mature as it gets. Durable engines, a spacious engine bay and dependable transmissions have made the MX-5 a popular starting point for modifications and many see track day action every weekend.

But which of Mazda's four MX-5 manifestations makes the best buy? To some degree the answer will depend on your budget, your appetite for tuning and your opinion of each car's aesthetics, but we've scoured the market and spoken to the experts to bring you the definitive view.

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Introduction
Mazda MX-5 Mk1 NA (1989-1998)
Mazda MX-5 Mk2 NB (1998-2005)
Mazda MX-5 Mk3 NC (2005-2015)
Mazda MX-5 Mk4 ND (2015-)

[Johnny5hoods]

From what I understand, a great car to drive. Just wondering, what score would you give Hiroshima (marks out of ten) for how well they've rust proofed the MX5???

Edited by Johnny5hoods on Sunday 24th September 14:57

[em177]

Article Said said:

Mk1
Don't buy if: you really want a regular track car or a daily driver

Really? That's the worst piece of Pistonheads journalism I've ever read...

[CABC]

em177 said:

Article Said said:

Mk1
Don't buy if: you really want a regular track car or a daily driver

Really? That's the worst piece of Pistonheads journalism I've ever read...

i know what you mean and initially would agree. though giving it some thought, it might be good advice.
right now a good mk1 is an appreciating classic, maybe best preserved? A bad one won't be, but then prepping for track will be costly too/
mk3 are now cheap and probably a better base for a reliable track car. there's a lot of ex-race cars and NC modding knowledge around now.

not sure if the author had thought it through, but he might just be right as of 2017.

[j_s14a]

em177 said:

Article Said said:

Mk1
Don't buy if: you really want a regular track car or a daily driver

Really? That's the worst piece of Pistonheads journalism I've ever read...

I took that in the context of comparison with other MX5 models. A MK2 would make a better daily or track car purely because of price and availability.

[Cneci]

Johnny5hoods said:

Just wondering, what score would you give Hiroshima (marks out of ten) for how well they've rust proofed the MX5???

Edited by Johnny5hoods on Sunday 24th September 14:57

Depends where you are really.

I'm sure in Japan, where, if I'm not mistaken, they don't use salt on roads, would have a good score vis a vis rust proofing.

The opposite is the case in the UK.

Edited by Cneci on Sunday 24th September 15:56

[p4cks]

Potentially the most overrated car in Britain, just behind the 205 GTI.

[Cneci]

p4cks said:

Potentially the most overrated car in Britain, just behind the 205 GTI.

Shots fired!

[anonymous-user]

p4cks said:

Potentially the most overrated car in Britain, just behind the 205 GTI.

You say that, but my MK2 was 700 quid with a years MOT, and a good couple of years before the rust reaches crisis point. I challenge you to suggest something better I could have bought for the same money

[CABC]

hucumber said:

p4cks said:

Potentially the most overrated car in Britain, just behind the 205 GTI.

You say that, but my MK2 was 700 quid with a years MOT, and a good couple of years before the rust reaches crisis point. I challenge you to suggest something better I could have bought for the same money

i think the case is argued at list price, and then at decent s/h price. no need to reduce it to shed level.

packs, how many vx220s does a man need to decide?

[Accelebrate]

I set out to find a decent mk1 or 2 for a reasonable price this time last year and ended up with a 3k mk3.

Two road trips to France, Switzerland, and Italy and three track days later it's been a brilliant buy.

[DPSFleet]

Never did get this but bought a 2012 MX5 to try it and let it "click" for me. I found it slow, cramped and thrashy and hated the cheap plastic interior. Got rid after 4 weeks................

HOWEVER, it seems that others think they are the dogs!...........Vivre la difference!

[TameRacingDriver]

First MX5 I drove was a mk2, dealer said it was a 1.8 but not so sure given how slow it felt. That was an underwhelming car.

Then I owned a mk1 Eunos RS Limited and that was a lot better. One of the best examples of a mk1 so it should be. Fun to drive, but crap engine.

I also owned another mk1, just a bog standard non PAS 1,8 uk model. Still fun to drive but not as good as the RS unsurprisingly.

I drive an MR2 Mk3 now and prefer it to any of the mx5s that I owned or driven, it’s my 2nd mr2 as well, first one was a Mk2 turbo.

I would like to try a mk4 MX5 as I like the look of it and also like they’ve tried to keep the weight down. Some say a return to form.

Overall I like mx5s, good cheap fun but I can see why some might say they are overrated. In the earlier models at least, the stock cars have pretty rubbish engines (albeit tuneable) and are pretty soft and floppy. They do have potential but it’s for that reason I prefer the more focused feeling mr2 (and perhaps I’d say the same about the gt86?)

[ambuletz]

DPSFleet said:

Never did get this but bought a 2012 MX5 to try it and let it "click" for me. I found it slow, cramped and thrashy and hated the cheap plastic interior. Got rid after 4 weeks................

HOWEVER, it seems that others think they are the dogs!...........Vivre la difference!

what did you buy instead? An audi A3 S-line with run flats and soft touch interior plastics?

[Johnny5hoods]

Slightly off topic, this summer I sold a 67k 2005 Clio 182 and replaced it with a 74k 2005 130i. Both are spectacularly unrusty, and will probably still be so five years from now. This fills me with confidence. Sadly, neither is a sports car, although the Clio did a fairly good job at being a jack of all trades.

Edited by Johnny5hoods on Sunday 24th September 18:48

[ambuletz]

rust? this is 2017, it's called patina

[dieseluser07]

How bad are the rust issues on these? Really want to try one but hearing of 2009 plates with rust on really puts me off, is the rust usually easily treatable??

[Simon Owen]

Never really considered an MX5 over the years, preferring more focussed products from Caterham and Renaultsport.

Then the Mk 4 was introduced and it suddenly really appealed (and suited us) as a 'package' . . . . well it did with a few subtle tweaks from BBR !!

In summary yes it is nowhere near as focussed as a 7 or say Renaultsport at their best but and it's a big but, it's good points far outweigh the bad bits. There is real fun to be had screaming the knackers off it and playing with the traditional RWD balance.

[JMF894]

p4cks said:

Potentially the most overrated car in Britain, just behind the 205 GTI.

This.

I've driven them on track days and find them under endowed, effeminate and cramped. Real sports cars have 6 or 8 cylinder engines and make a proper noise.........

Man up, grow some chest hair and sort it out................



PS Only on the wind up, glad they exist just not my bag x

[Helicopter123]

Lovely cars, but not quick and favoured by the ladies and those who cut hair.

For those seeking open air motoring, man up and get yourself a TVR.

[DanGPR]

Sold a really nice Clio 182 a few months ago for pretty much the cheapest MK3 2.0 Sport in the country. £2400.

I put some coilovers on it and it already had decent tyres on it. I love it! Not particularly fast but fun and adjustable on the limit.
Brakes are very good as standard, interior is ok. Hoping to get it on track in the near future.