Mazda MX-5 1.5 SE 2d Owner Review

(Note: Car is a '67 plate, but the menu option on Parkers only went up to a '17 plate). I bought this car new, have owned it for 3 months at the time of writing this review and have covered 4k miles. Overall I'm pretty disappointed with it and have decided to sell it at 6 months old in the Spring when the weather picks up, if not sooner. Build quality feels pretty flimsy and 'budget', and it's less practical that the previous NC model which started to grate on me after a short time. Front picks up stone-chips very easily. Performance from the 1.5 engine is pretty tepid, and is as flat as a pancake at lower revs. Handles beautifully in the dry, and is well balanced in the wet but VERY easy to get it sideways on wet roundabouts and bends... I'd go as far as to say it can be pretty skittish in the wet when pressing on. Your average rep-mobile Insignia or Mondeo has more performance. Fuel consumption computer in the dash is optimistic, with 43mpg being more realistic with gentle driving than the 47mpg usually shown. Can't comment on any other running costs other than putting petrol in it as I don't intend on keeping it long enough to find out. Nicely styled car, but definitely one for the female driver. Glad I bought it via a broker from a garage 370 miles away from where I live, as although I'll take a hit selling it on, it won't be as sore as the hit I would have taken had I bought from the local dealer who was offering a £150 discount off the £18,800 list price.