In this week's automotive adventures, Steve ponders the case for a wholesale upgrade for his 2015 Mazda MX-5 (as opposed to a lighter suspension tweak), books a hard-charging driving lesson with teaching-guru Jonathan Palmer, rejoices at the reopening of Beaulieu and more.
Saturday, Sunday
Great weekend: two Mazda MX-5s to play with. For ages I’ve been itching to get hold of a latest-spec MX-5 (20% more poke, 700rpm-higher rev limit, better damping, reach-adjustable steering column) to compare with my 2015 edition that looks the same but isn’t. There are lots of interesting points of comparison: my car rides superficially better but lacks the body control you need in a roadster once you get going a bit. And my engine seems wheezy by comparison.
Mazda’s car, equipped with Bilstein dampers and a dealer-fit Eibach lowering kit, is a bit stiffer but much more controlled and has steering and grip that’s frankly miles better than mine. Plus that extra engine zing. The decision I now face is whether to buy the obviously faster new-edition MX-5 or stick with my car but go with the suspension upgrade at a very reasonable £1000-ish. I could also tweak my car’s engine to about 200bhp for £4000 all in, versus £15,000 to change. Nice decision to have to make.
Monday
After such a weekend, I got onto one of my regular summer kicks about improving my driving and enjoying it more, so I phoned Jonathan Palmer – former F1 racer, now founder and kingpin of the Palmer Sport driving events business – to ask how and when it would come out of lockdown.
“Great timing,” boomed JP. “We’re starting next Saturday.” Which means that, because of the vagaries of print schedules, by the time you read this, the world’s best driving event will have been going full tilt at Bedford Autodrome since last weekend, clearly with appropriate but none-too-difficult anti-virus and social distancing measures in place. It’s hard to think of a better way of making yourself feel better about driving (and life) than spending a hard-charging and tyre-smoking but essentially carefree day with JP and his talented team.
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Mazda.
It's an icon car, just like the Gti, or the E-type Jaguar, but it's second Car, you couldn't do the Weeks shop in it if you have Family, it's a choice car, looks cute, but it's not for me.
The trouble with road testing...
Driving two cars back to back highlights small differences that would otherwise go unnoticed. So I don't doubt that the new one is better. But £15k better?
Far better to just enjoy your existing car which, in isolation is probably very satisfying indeed. Chasing small improvements is always going to result disproportionate spending - plus the new one will depreciate by £5k in the first year, at least double the likely loss of the five year old. And it too will quicly become old, last year's model and probably replaced by something better.
If in doubt, stick to what you've got!
So the new mx5 is that much
Agree Jason, it does still look fresh and modern.
And you suggest your 2015
And you suggest your 2015 rides better too?
Our roads are not going to get better anytime soon.