“It’s a girl’s car.”
I thought the fact that I made mention that I was off to play footy when I posted the only pic of me behind the wheel of the Mazda MX-5 GT Roadster on Facebook might overcome such comments.
Nope. As sure as the Fremantle Dockers losing on any given weekend seems, the comments came.
And while I appreciated the comments from those women who said they owned a MX-5, they were not really helping my cause.
But care not. If my mates want to pass on this piece of motoring brilliance based on the misguided presumption its fit only for the ladies, that’s their loss.
There’s a reason the MX-5 is the world’s biggest selling roadster. And I cannot see that the latest offering from Mazda is going to interrupt that charge in the slightest.
Buyers are spoiled for choice on the range, with a 1.5-litre or 2.0-litre option giving them something to think about. You can get behind the wheel of the cheapest version – 1.5-litre – of the fourth-generation MX-5 for $31,990.
And while the smaller power plant has received plenty of praise – from both men and women – I tested what surely must be the more “manly” 2.0-litre version which comes in at $39,550.
The 118kW and 200Nm of torque pushes the MX-5 GT to 100km/h in a claimed 7.3 seconds. That wasn’t tested, although it certainly has not problem getting off the mark.
The swish leather seats, with seat heaters (handy when pushing to make the most of the last remnants of nice autumn weather with top-down driving), auto headlights and wipers, LED daytime running lights, climate control aircon, 7-inch touchscreen, satnav, premium audio and keyless entry are the top of the range GT highlights over the entry level range.
They cap off an already swish and sporty looking beast.
But great looks and a respectable power plant are not what make the MX-5 the bomb for me and most definitely not just a girl’s car. It is not even the tight little manual six-speed making this most definitely a man’s car.
The MX-5 GT Roadster is a driver’s dream. Handling is outrageously good.
Even though you sit just inches from the ground and the ride is firm as a sports car should be, it is relatively comfortable even when bowling over some urban kilometres.
It comes into its own though when you put it to the test through some hills sweepers or tight tracks. Steering is pin sharp. Just point the MX-5 to where you want it to go and it goes there… not unlike a go-kart.
There are a couple of downfalls in the MX-5. With the top down (or canvas roof overhead) driving comes more noise, of course, and getting in and out of something so low can be a bit taxing on the body… particularly after that footy game… but it is worth the effort.