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Despite my (some would say) advanced age I still get excited about cars. Like, really excited. Like, so excited that when I left Mazda Canada's regional office with my MX-5 presser, I may have done so slightly slideways, with my right foot as close to the bell housing as possible, lifting only to upshift a few rpm before the redline, slamming the shifter into 2nd, then repeating for 3rd...
An hour prior, I was romping the earth in no less than a Porsche 911 Turbo.
I've referred to the Mazda MX-5 as a fountain of youth in the past, and I still believe this to be the case. The 2014 Mazda MX-5 is not fast, doesn't handle like said 911 nor will it break any existing track record. What it will do is beckon you to drive on, lower the roof even when grey outside (cold and drizzly, in my case) and reveal to its driver the meaning of "life is beautiful."
What is a Mazda MX-5?
A roadster. A car with two seats. An instrument of pleasure. OK, I may have gone a little too far with the last comment, but the fact is that the MX-5 will make you happy and has been plastering smiles on driver's faces for 25 years.
The first MX-5 Miata hit showrooms in 1989 as a 1990 MY car and has since been revamped just three times. The current generation is on its last legs as Mazda has already begun the process of introducing the next MX-5 for 2015.
2014 Mazda MX-5 Price and Specs
The most basic MX-5 sports a sticker price of $29,450. At the other end of the pricing spectrum we find the GT, which retails for $40,250. This is where my tester of the week sits.
The GT -- as with all MX-5s -- features the same MZR 2.0L 4-cylinder which develops 167 horsepower @ 7,000 rpm and 140 lb-ft of torque @ 5,000 rpm. There is a 6-speed autobox available as an option, but not only is it a bad idea but it robs the 2.0L of 9 hp.
The MX-5 is a proper car with hydraulic steering, RWD, a sport suspension with Bilstein shock absorbers (GS and GT), and a limited-slip differential (GS and GT). Everything one wants; nothing more, nothing less.
Driving the 2014 Mazda MX-5
Street-light races will not end in glory, lapping days or time trials shan't reward you with a spot on the podium, but the bottom line is that pleasure, fun, and an enormously all-encompassing feeling of accomplished driving will fill your soul.
The Mazda MX-5 strikes the ideal balance between power and weight, and all of it is held within the right proportions. The grins come from the amalgam of all the car's driving characteristics. The 0-100 km/h sprint requires a little less than 8 seconds, but it's not the time that counts, it's the how.
A few engine revs, side stepping the clutch and up goes the car's nose as the weight travels rearward. Quickly, the right hand flies over to the stubby meaty shifter for a rapid flick into 2nd. As the clutch is depressed, masses flow forward, left pedal is dropped, and the go-pedal returns to the floor and once more, weight returns to the rear. The engine's growl is mechanical and reminiscent of what left British assembly lines 50-plus years ago.
The mill comes alive sometime over 4,000 rpm and pulls nicely to 7k. As it does, the rush forward is pleasant and controlled. When surrounding traffic hampers forward momentum, the binders clamp hard on the discs with firm and responsive pedal feel. Should time be too illusive for slowing down, the MX-5 will rapidly change lanes thanks to its sharp and direct steering.
As a daily driver, only the number of passengers it can carry limits the MX-5. The suspension, even with the sporty Bilstein dampers, is the opposite of harsh or stiff. I would further qualify the MX-5's ride as comfortable, soaking up some of the harshest potholes with nothing more than the occasional jitter.
The Mazda MX-5's chassis is stiff but malleable enough for some hoonage. Much like the Scion FR-S or Subaru BRZ, the tire's grip is lesser than what the car's suspension setup and components can handle. Thus, leaning heavily on the throttle results in some manageable opposite lock action. I may have tried it out a few times...
Inside and Out of the 2014 Mazda MX-5
A beauty contest will not be won if this is the intent behind owning an MX-5. The car's shape is still classic and I can only surmise that the next ND MX-5 will be a proper evolution of its existing style.
I'm not crazy about portions of the front-end, but the whole of the car is charming. The power-retractable top requires about 10 seconds to do its thing, and it does it well. Myself, I would prefer the soft top, however, it is only available with the base GX that settles for a 5-speed manual and is not equipped with the Bilstein suspension.
The cabin's design dates the car. Although functional and with easy ergonomics, it lags far behind in presentation and technological appeal. Personally, I don't give a damn.
The seats provide sufficient comfort and plenty support to hold occupants in place while the steering wheel rotates in the opposite direction the car is headed. The pedals, shifter, and steering all fall perfectly in hand, ideal for spirited driving.
Comparing the 2014 Mazda MX-5
In a nutshell, the Mazda MX-5 currently has no competitors. Should the FR-S (or BRZ?) ever be offered as droptops, then the MX-5 may have something to worry about.
With fixed roofs, Bob Hall's baby tangos with the Hyundai Genesis Coupe, Volkswagen GTI, the two aforementioned twins, and a few more. We pitted all of these a few years ago: See for yourself how the MX-5 ranked.
An hour prior, I was romping the earth in no less than a Porsche 911 Turbo.
I've referred to the Mazda MX-5 as a fountain of youth in the past, and I still believe this to be the case. The 2014 Mazda MX-5 is not fast, doesn't handle like said 911 nor will it break any existing track record. What it will do is beckon you to drive on, lower the roof even when grey outside (cold and drizzly, in my case) and reveal to its driver the meaning of "life is beautiful."
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What is a Mazda MX-5?
A roadster. A car with two seats. An instrument of pleasure. OK, I may have gone a little too far with the last comment, but the fact is that the MX-5 will make you happy and has been plastering smiles on driver's faces for 25 years.
The first MX-5 Miata hit showrooms in 1989 as a 1990 MY car and has since been revamped just three times. The current generation is on its last legs as Mazda has already begun the process of introducing the next MX-5 for 2015.
2014 Mazda MX-5 Price and Specs
The most basic MX-5 sports a sticker price of $29,450. At the other end of the pricing spectrum we find the GT, which retails for $40,250. This is where my tester of the week sits.
The GT -- as with all MX-5s -- features the same MZR 2.0L 4-cylinder which develops 167 horsepower @ 7,000 rpm and 140 lb-ft of torque @ 5,000 rpm. There is a 6-speed autobox available as an option, but not only is it a bad idea but it robs the 2.0L of 9 hp.
The MX-5 is a proper car with hydraulic steering, RWD, a sport suspension with Bilstein shock absorbers (GS and GT), and a limited-slip differential (GS and GT). Everything one wants; nothing more, nothing less.
Driving the 2014 Mazda MX-5
Street-light races will not end in glory, lapping days or time trials shan't reward you with a spot on the podium, but the bottom line is that pleasure, fun, and an enormously all-encompassing feeling of accomplished driving will fill your soul.
The Mazda MX-5 strikes the ideal balance between power and weight, and all of it is held within the right proportions. The grins come from the amalgam of all the car's driving characteristics. The 0-100 km/h sprint requires a little less than 8 seconds, but it's not the time that counts, it's the how.
A few engine revs, side stepping the clutch and up goes the car's nose as the weight travels rearward. Quickly, the right hand flies over to the stubby meaty shifter for a rapid flick into 2nd. As the clutch is depressed, masses flow forward, left pedal is dropped, and the go-pedal returns to the floor and once more, weight returns to the rear. The engine's growl is mechanical and reminiscent of what left British assembly lines 50-plus years ago.
The mill comes alive sometime over 4,000 rpm and pulls nicely to 7k. As it does, the rush forward is pleasant and controlled. When surrounding traffic hampers forward momentum, the binders clamp hard on the discs with firm and responsive pedal feel. Should time be too illusive for slowing down, the MX-5 will rapidly change lanes thanks to its sharp and direct steering.
As a daily driver, only the number of passengers it can carry limits the MX-5. The suspension, even with the sporty Bilstein dampers, is the opposite of harsh or stiff. I would further qualify the MX-5's ride as comfortable, soaking up some of the harshest potholes with nothing more than the occasional jitter.
The Mazda MX-5's chassis is stiff but malleable enough for some hoonage. Much like the Scion FR-S or Subaru BRZ, the tire's grip is lesser than what the car's suspension setup and components can handle. Thus, leaning heavily on the throttle results in some manageable opposite lock action. I may have tried it out a few times...
Inside and Out of the 2014 Mazda MX-5
A beauty contest will not be won if this is the intent behind owning an MX-5. The car's shape is still classic and I can only surmise that the next ND MX-5 will be a proper evolution of its existing style.
I'm not crazy about portions of the front-end, but the whole of the car is charming. The power-retractable top requires about 10 seconds to do its thing, and it does it well. Myself, I would prefer the soft top, however, it is only available with the base GX that settles for a 5-speed manual and is not equipped with the Bilstein suspension.
The cabin's design dates the car. Although functional and with easy ergonomics, it lags far behind in presentation and technological appeal. Personally, I don't give a damn.
The seats provide sufficient comfort and plenty support to hold occupants in place while the steering wheel rotates in the opposite direction the car is headed. The pedals, shifter, and steering all fall perfectly in hand, ideal for spirited driving.
Comparing the 2014 Mazda MX-5
In a nutshell, the Mazda MX-5 currently has no competitors. Should the FR-S (or BRZ?) ever be offered as droptops, then the MX-5 may have something to worry about.
With fixed roofs, Bob Hall's baby tangos with the Hyundai Genesis Coupe, Volkswagen GTI, the two aforementioned twins, and a few more. We pitted all of these a few years ago: See for yourself how the MX-5 ranked.