Old Mazda no roadster ruin

Jul 6 2009 Chris Russon

Old Mazda no roadster ruin

BRITAIN'S favourite little roadster is turning 20 and some of the originals are still clocking up the miles.

The Mazda MX-5 made its UK debut in March 1990 to become an instant hit with fans of open-top motoring.

Inspired by the Lotus Elan, the MX-5 pushed all the right buttons for rag-top enthusiasts craving an alternative to the likes of the MG Midget, the Triumph Spitfire and the then recently arrived Toyota MR2.

Its asking price of £14,925 may sound a bit steep but it was competitive at the time. A Lotus Elan back in 1990 would set you back close on £18,000 new.

The secret to the little Mazda's success was it was such good fun to drive.

Powered by a free-revving 1.6-litre engine with a delightful short-throw gear change here was a car which could accelerate from 0 to 60mph in 8.7 seconds with a top speed of 121mph.

It was also wonderful to handle. With two on board the balance was nigh on perfect and the steering totally accurate, ensuring maximum fun on hot summer days.

To mark the MX-5 milestone, Mazda in the UK has just acquired a selection of Mk1 roadsters, fondly remembered for their pop-up headlamps and quick-fold hoods.

Now in its third generation the MX-5 can still be had for less than £16,500 and although it's much more swish and stylish than the original, the cars of the early 90s still look good.

They also still drive remarkably well, which is testimony to the engineering skills of what then was a little known brand in Britain.

Having driven a selection of the originals - many with more than 150,000 miles on the clock - they perform impeccably for cars of such vintage.

If anything their handling is sharper than the current version, which demonstrates the impact of up-to-date electronics such as traction and stability controls on feedback to the driver.

Good examples can be snapped up for around £2,500 or below and that makes the Mk1 MX-5 something of a bargain for great days out. Road tax in £190 a year and you can still expect to achieve low-to-mid 30s fuel economy.

If there's a weak point it appears to be the door mirrors which may have become fragile over the years and care has to be taken when adjusting them.

Apart from that the originals have lasted well especially on the inside and the beauty of the MX-5 was a sensibly sized boot which can take a decent sized pair of bags in addition to housing the spare wheel.

The 1.6-litre engine, and the pop-up headlamps, are long gone in the MX-5 story with the current version powered by either a 1.8 or 2.0-litre which has seen performance improve to 130mph maximum and 7.9 seconds 0 to 60 with economy getting close to 40mpg on average.

At the top of the current range is the roadster coupe with its retractable hard top which operates in just 12 seconds. This version now costs £21,695 but it's fiercely competitive compared to the likes of the BMW Z4 and Mercedes SLK with similar folding roofs.

Across the globe the MX-5 has become the world's best selling roadster clocking up more than half a million sales in the past 20 years.

Of those almost 100,000 have been in Britain showing just how fond we have become of this two-seat legend.