Mazda MX-5 (1990 - 2005) 1.6i 2d (90) Owner Review

"hairdresser's car" or " woman's car". These are the only arguments people have when they have no clue what they're on about and never sat in one. Best car I have owned so far. It looks great, the pop-ups attract attention wherever you go. The styling is obviously very 90's but it's part of the charm to drive a car that stands out from the everyday boredom. The interior is delightfully simple, nothing to distract you. No nonsense, no electronic gizmos to do things for you. The car handles very well. Balance is astonishing (with good tyres and correct alignment!), grip is phenomenal. The tail will kick out in round abouts in the wet when you push it. Again, very controllable. The steering is beautifully assisted, an excellent compromise between lightness and feel. The suspension is perfectly calibrated. It's the right mix between sportiness and comfort. I did 2500 miles in May (I went to France and Italy) and my back or knees did not ache at all. I even slept in the car. The driving position is perfect, ergonomics are excellent. It handles the daily routine very well (traffic / supermarket trips) and I average about 37mpg on daily trips and 46/47mpg on long distances. It's not particularly fast. It's not modern. It probably isn't safe. But if you don't care about all these things, this is the car for you. It's a car that makes its driver happy. This is what a car should do. It's brilliant and I cannot recommend it enough. The bad? They rust but adequate care will make sure it doesn't.