Mazda magic - and a step back in time

Jul 6 2009 Mike Torpey

BEAUTY beyond comparison, brutal reminders of man's capacity for violence and an event many felt would never come about - it was all happening at the start of the 1990s.

In the space of a few months Nelson Mandela was released from the Victor Verster prison near Cape Town, gangster epic Goodfellas was nominated for six Academy Awards and Michelle Pfeiffer graced the cover of People magazine's '50 Most Beautiful People in the World' issue.

And who could forget Nothing Compares 2U, which propelled shaven-headed Irish singer Sinead O'Connor to the top of the charts, for a full month.

It was also the year the first generation Mazda MX-5, the car that single-handedly energised the small and affordable roadster market, was launched.

The timing couldn't have been better and an audience crying out for fun, stylish, wind in the hair motoring made it an instant success.

The pricing was pitched at a competitive level, appreciably lower than its two key rivals the Lotus Elan and TVR S2, and by the end of the year 2,246 Britons had splashed the cash.

Twenty years on from the MX-5's unveiling at the 1989 Chicago Motor Show and a new sharper, leaner and greener Mazda has joined the party.

To mark the anniversary Mazda UK scoured the country for some early examples, paying between £1,500 and £2,500 for 10 cars and putting them on the road alongside the latest models.

A long and certainly one of the most beautiful driving routes in Britain - through the highlands of Scotland - afforded the chance to compare the generations. The outcome was an eye-opener.

The 2009 Mazda MX-5 range of soft-top and roadster coupe sports cars costs from £16,345, amazingly just £1,420 dearer than the original.

You have the choice of 1.8 or 2.0-litre engines, the latter boasting stability control and a new sound enhancer for a more throaty exhaust note.

And with its 12-second operating time, the roadster coupe has the world's fastest powered retractable hard top.

My test model also featured a new 'PowerShift' automatic paddle-shift transmission, which adds to the fun factor. Plenty of punch - 0-62mph in 8.2 seconds - and first class handling resulted in an exciting, if polished, driving experience.

Time then to switch cars and hop behind the wheel of a 1993 model with the original 1.6-litre 116PS engine. No electronic wizardry here, even though it only takes a matter of seconds to unclip the lid and manually fold back the hood.

I can't overstate what a terrific car this is to drive. Pure and engaging, it's just what open-top motoring should be about - and you aren't faced with a confusing array of buttons and switches, just the simple air vents, heater controls and a few dials.

Most surprising of all though was that this model had already done more than 143,000 miles and was still going strong - a testament to Mazda's reliability.

Okay, with the hood down 40mph feels more like 70 but the sheer enjoyment and fabulous looks - few if any mainstream cars have aged so well - make this a car you feel proud to be seen in.

Another swop, this time to a 1992 special edition - there were 13 limited edition models before the second generation MX-5 arrived in 1998 - and another chunk of motoring magic.

This one came with black paintwork and time-honoured tan leather interior, wood and chrome steering wheel, mahogany trim, unique alloys, anti-lock brakes and a mere 118,000 miles on the clock.

Everywhere we stopped people came to look inside and chat about the car (not bad for something that cost just over £2,000 on the used market).

Then there was the scenery. Spectacular seascapes, mist hovering over the mountain tops conjuring images of the Mountains of Moria in Lord of the Rings, then the unspoiled beauty of the remote Red Point beach - apparently the Queen's favourite.

It was a step back in time but also a glimpse ahead, because if there's an affordable car future generations are going to collect it will probably be the original Mazda MX-5. I'm on the hunt.