Why you’d want a Mazda MX-5 Mk2
The original MX-5 was a hard act to follow. It had to go because its pop-up lamps no longer passed pedestrian safety laws in the US, where it was called the Miata.
So Mazda made a virtue out of necessity by refining the design, making it a bit bigger (inside and out), a little more aerodynamic and noticeably more powerful. Its suspension was stiffened, the wheels and tyres grew – the MX-5 was moving with the times.
Officially called the NB but also known as Mk2 or Series 2, its ethos remained the same – front engine, rear drive, 50:50 weight distribution and double-wishbone/coil-spring suspension all round – a modern Lotus Elan.
Against tough opposition from the MGF, BMW Z3, Toyota MR2 and Fiat Barchetta, the Mazda held its own. “King of the heap is the MX-5, no question,” wrote Autocar of the chassis, when testing the 1.8 for the first time. “We can’t hide our disappointment that the MX-5 has lost some of its visual sparkle,” the review continued. “To drive, though, it’s better than ever.”
Only the more expensive Lotus Elise beat it as a driver’s car, but with a lot less everyday practicality. In the UK, road tax may influence your choice: all MX-5s registered pre-March 2001 cost £245 a year to tax, whereas a later 1.6 is £280 and a 1.8 is £305.
There were plenty of special editions, too, which often don’t cost much more, so you can track down a far nicer-spec model for your money if you’re happy to shop around.
