Mazda's Roadster Coupe defies the inclement weather and proves it's an all-rounder

Publish Date: 18.06.2007
Vehicle Reviewed: Mazda MX5 Roadster Coupe 2.0i Option Pack
Model Year: 2007

On the Road Price: £19,580

EU Combined MPG: 36.7 mpg
Emissions: 183 g/km
VED Band: E
Insurance Group: 13E
Warranty: 3 years or 60,000 miles

Kerb Weight: 1155 kg
Transmission: 6 Manual
Drivetrain: Rear Wheel Drive

Acceleration (0-60mph): 7.9 secs
Max Power: 160 PS @ 6700 rpm
Max Torque: 188 Nm @ 5000 rpm

(Images are for illustration purposes and may differ from actual vehicles)

"MAZDA’S iconic MX5 may not be the quickest off the mark but in one important area it is by far the fastest.

In just 12 seconds the new hardtop roadster can go from open-top bliss to secure coupe – just the thing for a British summer.

With weather as unsettled as ours you can be drenched in a minute as the looming black clouds decide to deposit their load turning your perfect sports car into a roll-top bath on wheels as you wait for the rising lid.

Thankfully Mazda’s first foray into the cabriolet-coupe market is magnificent. It flies back into position from a place just behind the seats and in front of the boot. The clever thing is that it doesn’t impinge on the already limited boot space and looks extremely neat when in place where the canvass roof of the faithful soft-top is normally stored.

Drivers love their MX5's to the point where many even give them names. One dealer even reported that they had been sent a postcard from a European driving holiday – not by the owner but by the car itself – which must surely have something to do with the fact that the driver had been in the sun too long.

Roof up the MX5 is surprisingly ordinary given its cult status. It’s fine, don’t get me wrong, but doesn’t live up to the hype or the high expectations. Roadster Coupe is no exception and seems noisier than the soft-top version as engine, road and wind noise resonates around the interior thanks to the boom-box acoustics of having the hard-top in place.

Performance and handling feel adequate rather than impressive and there is little to get you excited – until the rain finally stops, the roof is dropped and the MX5 takes on a completely different persona.

There’s nothing quite as liberating as being topless as you drive along our nation’s roads. All becomes well and your view of the MX5 changes completely. All of a sudden the 2.0 litre motor feels perky, the gear-change slick. Handling becomes spirited, the exhaust note crisp and grip impressive. The whole car adopts an air of sportiness, helped as natural light illuminates the previously dull interior.

It looks the part too with distinctive lines, nice proportions and a quality sheen. It’s now easy to see why the car has proved so popular over the years and why drivers love to acknowledge each other with a cheery wave or flash of the lights.

The new hard top is an excellent feat of engineering and marketing that will make the MX5 more popular still. It means that it is more likely to be used all year round instead of just in the summer months and has extended further the appeal of an already appealing car."

Source Name: Ian Lamming
Source Link: http://www.frenchandlammingmedia.com
Source Category: Road Test