Mazda MX-5
Since its first production in 1989, the Mazda MX-5 has spanned a generation as the world’s most popular mass produced sports car. It is the archetypal high performance, affordable modern sports car.
Designed with the Jinba Ittai (horse and rider as one) ethic, the MX5 is exactly that. It’s a real ‘drivers car’, that allows the driver to feel at one with the machine. The steering, suspension and pedals keep the driver informed as to every fluctuation on the road. Whereas on other similar cars, the driver may feel removed from the driving experience, the MX5 is all about the fusion of man and machine.
The Mazda MX5’s cult status stems partly from the fact that people from a variety of economic backgrounds can aspire to one. Due to their abundant presence on the market they can be picked up second hand for reasonable prices – nearly one million have been built and sold around the world. Mazda is renowned for reliability – typical of a Japanese manufacturer – so a second hand model can easily bypass 100,000 miles.
Whereas a Porsche or a Ferrari will remain a pipedream, the MX5 represents the consumers chance to own a performance car. It looks like a classic roadster. Its lightweight chassis has a muscular appearance and all versions have refused to date. The hood looks equally good when dropped down in the summer or covered over in the winter.
A new edition Mazda MX5 1.8i comes in at £17,990 with the 2.0i around £22,000. Not many cars from as recently as 1989 have attained cult status: the MX5 certainly has. Critics may quibble over what constitutes a ‘modern classic’ but there is a general consensus that MX5 falls firmly into this category. It represents the chance for the working man to proudly drive a genuine sports car.