>>Out of interest, how does the performance compare to your existing one?
On paper my old 1.8 is faster, with a bit more power and a bit less weight, but nothing I'd expect to notice - especially as I drive the 1.8 with some regard for its age and unknown history.
Having owned the 1.8 for 6 years, I'm reasonably confident that another 30bhp will make little difference to me.
The point is to enjoy driving it - and while the 2.0 will be a bit more flexible, if that was the objective I'd save up for a Fiat 124 Spider, which is the same car, looks better to my eye, but has a 1.4 turbo - similar power (140PS) but with 240 Nm at 2250, v. the Mazda's 150 @4800 (1.5) or 200 @4600 (2.0).
It's not in Caterham territory, but these are fairly light cars and fast enough if they are driven properly.
On Friday I saw an MX5, top down, in the same red colour. I was held at some lights and caught up at the next roundabout. Except I wasn't looking at an MX5, it was an F-type convertible in almost the same colour, and the MX5 was now directly ahead of it - looking just like its little brother.
I wanted the MX5 there and then - I drove a V6 supercharged F-type convertible a couple of years ago when it came out, and it was awesome. Shattering acceleration. But not really fun. I didn't shove the accelerator into the carpet until I was urged to on a straight bit of dual carriageway, and what seemed like a couple of seconds later I was braking down from a highly illegal speed. It's a car I couldn't enjoy, once I had amazed all my friends by showing off with the acceleration and the popping noises. I mean it. No sour grapes at all:)
Of course a 2.0 MX5 is nothing like that. I'm sure it would be fine, and better on a track no doubt with its stiffer suspension and damping (partly there to help with its higher weight and slightly forward centre of gravity). But experience tells me I just normalise to what I drive, and it will not feel subjectively slow any more than my 1.8 does, although I'm sure I would occasionally wish for more power whichever I chose.
Just found this Autocar review. They seem to like the 1.5. Slightly hyperbolic "gathering force, right the way to the 7500rpm redline" - peak power is at 7000.
www.autocar.co.uk/car-review/mazda/mx-5/performance
Last edited by: Manatee on Tue 15 Aug 17 at 19:44
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