Just a typical day when you've got a MK2 MX-5

I was impressed today. I heard a Justin Bieber song which I didn’t completely hate and wasn't forced to aggressively push random buttons on my car stereo until the ‘Biebs’ was removed from the cabin of my mx-5. But I was also impressed by my little mx-5 while having a nice quick fang around a mountain road near where I live, which is in the sticks.

It was an absolute beauty of a road, it was like asphalt spaghetti draped over a mountain top with tight turns massive drops which if fallen into would easily allow you to phone your insurance company – how nice - and long straights where I could crank up the 1.8 liter four pot. To my surprise, the mx-5 is a speedy little fella.  

It was blast, so much fun. Obviously the 1.8 liter engine in the mx-5 isn’t the most powerful of internal combustion engines, but I tell you what, keep the revs above 3000 and it shifts, it feels pretty ruddy urgent too.

Where the mx-5 belongs...

The balance of the chassis was mighty impressive too despite the road being pretty craggy with all sorts of weird cambers. But there wasn't a moment where I felt the unsure push of an understeering front end or even uncomfortable in my bucket seat, it just stuck so well. But of course, being a manual rear drive sports car with no traction control, you can provoke it into some hooniganism, which is jolly good fun, but not very good for rubber consumption... It sucks being poor.

But I had so much fun in the morning winding through mountain back roads I just had to have another go in the afternoon. So after  collecting my sister from school - she was pleased to find I was beginning to warm to the ‘Biebs’ by the way – I took the long way home and had another go and it was even more fun the second time, as I was able to push the car that little bit harder. The silly grin made an appearance.

The practicality is truly phenomenal. On some days you can even
go hardware shopping. This isn't my car, thank god..

As you can probably tell, I’m finding the mx-5 ownership experience quite enjoyable, the car hasn't missed a beat in the two or three months I've owned it, the roof doesn't leak – massive relief the first time I washed it – the tiny boot is able to carry most of my things most of the time, it’s not bad on fuel either if when you’re not doing flat out mountain passes twice a day – which is a struggle, trust me.

But all in all, I think its right to say the mx-5 and I are bonding nicely. It’s a terrific car.