Mazda MX-5 – purchase advice for the “housewife Porsche”

In 1989 the MX-5 heralded the rebirth of the roadster and that at quite reasonable prices. Because it was popular with women and affordable, it was given the label housewives Porsche. From ignoramuses, because the little Japanese was always a driving and fun machine. The real “British” roadster feeling was not only cultivated with external features such as the British Racing Green, it was fed by the rear-wheel drive. The Mazda was always less motorized than the luxury class sports car, the consequent lightweight construction made up for the “felt sportiness” at least in the discipline.

Spontaneous emergence

The MX-5 has a ten-year history. In March 1979, at the end of an interview with Kenichi Yamamoto, then Mazda Development Manager, the American motor journalist Robert Hall asked what was still missing from the Mazda program. He replied: “A light, small, inexpensive roadster. Just like the earlier MG. However, it should start in the rain.” Then he jumps up and paints the car on a blackboard – the idea for the MX-5 is born.

After an internally advertised competition between the Japanese and the American design studio founded in 1981, in which Robert Hall was hired as an employee in the founding year, the Americans take over the lead over the project. The result: the first prototype, named V 705, was presented to the project manager on September 17, 1985 in his production facility in Worthing, England.

The production vehicle was presented to the general public at the Chicago Auto Show in mid-February 1989. Series production starts that same month. In Europe, the agile Japanese can be seen for the first time in 1989 at the IAA and the Geneva Motor Show. It went on sale in Europe a few months later in the spring of 1990. Initially, a 1.6-liter inline four-cylinder petrol engine with 110/115 hp from the 323 GT was solely responsible for the propulsion. This first generation will be produced almost unchanged for around eight years. In addition to another 1.6 liter engine with only 90 hp, which is to form the new entry-level engine, a 131 hp 1.9 liter engine is also available.

Unusually solid

The MX-5 impressed not only because of its design, but also because of its quality and reliability. Unlike the British models, the MX-5 also starts in the rain. He manages the feat of combining the feeling of a sports car with the price, reliability and maintenance costs of an everyday car. After 431,506 units, the second generation will roll out in March 1998. With an unchanged starting price of 35,500 marks. The pop-up headlights, however, had to give way to almond-shaped headlights. The middle generation is experiencing a total of two facelifts and a 146 hp special edition with which the 200 kilometers per hour mark can finally be cracked.

By 2005 Mazda will be able to sell 291,123 second-generation MX-5 vehicles – 51,000 of them in Germany alone. In January 2007, the third generation received a sister variant, the Roadster Coupe, with an electrically foldable hardtop roof. After twelve seconds, the view of the sky is clear without affecting the already very small trunk. Mazda is the first manufacturer in the world to place the soft top behind the seats and not in the trunk. MX-5 customers can currently choose between two engines with 126 and 160 hp as well as two types of transmission for the 2.0 liter four-cylinder top engine.

In contrast to many roadsters, the external dimensions have hardly changed in 32 years. In 1989 it rolled out of the production halls with a length of 3.98 meters and a width of 1.68 meters, only a few centimeters have been added over the years. Due to the increase in security systems and modern technology, its weight has slipped just over the ton mark.

Good choice

As a classic of tomorrow, the MX-5 is a good choice. Each series is known for its solid quality. From the factory, there are no problems with the engine, body or electrics. The first-generation MX-5 NAs are in great demand – often blue, red, silver or white. The “Limited Edition” is particularly hot – it was painted in British Racing Green, preferably with a beige interior. Despite its age of almost thirty, the Nippon runabout is still a lot of fun today. With 115 hp and a weight of less than a ton, the MX-5 is anything but underpowered.

However, the 1.6 liter four-cylinder engine is a real barrel organ. Almost nothing works below 4000 revolutions, after all the crankshaft whirls easily up to 6500 rev / min. If it is absolutely necessary, it can also be a few more revolutions. Thank goodness the gearshift with the short gear lever is crisp, and so the gear game is also fun.

If you are looking for a used car of the first generation, you should opt for a European model, because the American versions with the name Mazda Miata can bring expensive spare part surprises because many parts of the European models do not fit. There are beige-brown leather seats on request with boxes in the integrated headrests. You can’t go wrong with the engine either, and the 90 hp variant after the facelift has barely less pepper than the 115 hp starter model. The 131 hp version is really hot and difficult to drive at the limit, which makes the one-tonne roadster dangerous, especially on wet roads.

Be careful with imports

But be careful: There are many EU imports on the market, often from Italy – which have neither airbags nor ABS. Better keep your hands off, because security is a priority, especially with such a small joker. If you find a good used car that only has a problem with the paintwork, the roof or the interior, you don’t have to worry. Skilled hobbyists can even change the single-layer PVC roof themselves, and covering the interior is anything but expensive. The same applies to painting. A better fun roadster in better quality for less money is hard to come by.

A first generation MX-5 NA and 90 hp starts with less than 150,000 kilometers after the facelift for around 6,000 euros. The successor MX-5 NB is even cheaper from 1998 and starts at around 4000 euros. A fully equipped MX-5 NA with 131 HP with double airbags, ABS and even air conditioning costs less than 60,000 kilometers but already over 16,000 euros.