Mazda MX-5

Are you a hair dresser?

In which case you might be better off with a TT.

Nope. Not gay either to quash another stereotype.

Have to admit I also looked on the MX5 as a bit of a girly car, never driven one though because however well it drives if you don't like the look of it.. anyway whatever it is, the MK3 looks much nicer than the previous incarnations IMHO, and having driven one I'm pretty sure I can live with it.

Just doing the homework I guess.

I had a Mk2 from new for several years. Faultless ownership experience and a car that was consistently enjoyable, summer and winter. Not because it was blisteringly fast but it was just so perfectly balanced on the road and the controls had a tactility that few moderns cars can get close to.

Ignore the haridresser jibes, if the Mk3 is as enjoyable then you'll have the last laugh.

I sold the car because I developed a back problem and the low sitting position caused the sciatica to worsen-but was very sad to see it go. It held its value well, and looked/felt immaculate after 30K or so miles.


Bruce

I was only joking and was thinking of the MX5 anyhow

My wife drives a V reg 1.8 Mk2.
Excellent reliability and great fun to drive.
I wouldn't recommend it for long journeys though. Anything over 60MPH gets very noisy with the roof down and not much better with it up!

I have 3 good friends with them and I'd highly reccomend them, all have had faultless ownership.

Oh and all 3 are male , but do get jibed about MX5 ownership on a regular basis.

I don't understand the stereotype, how can a rear drive sports car with awesome handling be a bad thing!

Fabulous car - came v close to buying one, but when I actually got in for a test drive, I found it was just too small - no matter what I did with the seat, roof up my head was pushing against the soft-top, also, even with the roof down my eye-line was aimed at the top of the windscreen, so had to look elsewhere instead

J

PS - am a shade under 6' tall, so not exactly a giant, but I do have a long-ish back for my height - either way, definitely go for a test drive & see for yourself. If it fits it's a great car to have fun in, even at non licence-threatening speeds

Thanks all. I've already had an hour in a 1.8 so I'll try and tee up a drive in the 2.0 to see what the difference is.

I think the Sport is a little more than I'd feel comfortable spending but if they chuck me the keys I might try it.

Paul

I've got a Mazda5 - does that count!!

Nigel

Does anyone know anything about Boxters?

I know there's a "people buy them because they can't afford a 911" school of thought, but you could say the same about people who buy a Fiesta IMHO.

I'm thinking purely from a "they don't half seem to hold their value" viewpoint, but of course if the running costs would be five times as much as an MX-5 it starts to become impractical.

I appreciate we're talking different beasts as well comparing the two.

FWIW, the mk3 has not been well received by the press in general. It does not have some of the deftness that made the previous incarnations as enjoyable, I have no experience so could not comment but as an aside - you could possibly get a good deal on an mr2 as tehy are stoppign makign them and are crackign cars...