Second-hand Sense: Back in 1989 there was little glamour to be found with new cars, and sports performance was generally defined by what were then known as "hot hatches" - souped-up versions of standard cars.
The latter were indicative of the paucity of imagination that went into the design of many cars and this was especially true of Japanese manufacturers. Until the folks at Mazda came up with a very clever idea indeed - face up to your design shortcomings, get someone else to design a new sports car, and concentrate on your own engineering abilities. Mazda's abilities were envied in the car manufacturing business - the company's then chief was a champion of the rotary engine.
And the decision to hand over the design of the new MX5 sports car to an American team based on the West Coast was one of the most inspired moves in recent automotive history. In short, the MX5 became the best-selling sports car in the world. Why ? Because it was a relatively simple car. It looked great, with a lovely appealing profile and pop-up headlights. It was a two-seater with a rear-wheel drive system that put you back in contact with the road. The interior was compact and switchgear and instrumentation were minimalist - just like any other classic sports car. But, most importantly, it was bloody great fun to drive. With the wind in your hair and even with the modest 1.6 petrol engine this car could give you a drive to remember.
The 1.6 and 1.8 engines were both excellent. The rear-wheel drive gave great response and there was nothing complicated about the car. Nearly 20 years on, it still has that appeal that made it an instant hit. This is strictly a car for singletons - you will get nothing into the rear, and golfers should look for something else. With the roof down it is noisy and windy and the same is true with the roof up. You need to love the MX5 more than a little to live with it.
Looks are everything with coupés and convertibles, but safety can also be a major concern. The car has a four out of five star rating in the EuroNCAP crash tests with a "well balanced performance in the frontal and side impact", although the passenger cell was "challenged by the frontal impact and was unstable". Not bad for a car whose basic design was noted not to have changed since 1989.
There has only been one major recall of the MX5 when nearly 30,000 were brought back for a problem to be rectified on the front fog light holder that might have allowed an exposed hot bulb to come in contact with part of the body of the car or fittings.
There are quite a few of these cars around, but some imports may not represent the best buy. Look for a car that has been lovingly looked after and with a full service history. A 2004 version with a 1.8 engine and extras like alloys, CD player and metallic paint and with only 5,000 kilometres on the clock has an asking price of €25,950. A similar 2002 car with a 1.6 engine and 45,000 kilometres on the clock is on offer at €19,995. As you can see, they don't come cheap.
FOR: Timeless looks, simplicity, fun to drive and reliable.
AGAINST: High second-hand costs and not enough room to bring the dog along.