The argument for shedding weight against adding power to a
sports car has been a favourite for a very long time, look on any forum right
now and some idiot will be adding more vitriol to the everlasting flame that is
power vs. weight. Some people are above that of course, they just go faster by
adding stripes.
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| Cars passing my mum's house |
My belief is stripes first, light weight second and power
third and it came to pass that a couple of weeks ago I got the opportunity to
put these beliefs to the test. Mazda have just launched their new MX5 and as
luck would have it they laid on a demo day not two minutes from my house and on
my birthday too. This is something I discovered having stalked a batch that had
swept round the corner below my mums sitting room window late Friday afternoon.
So for two wonderful mornings I was given the 1.5ltr then
the 2ltr to drive for a couple of hours in the Scottish hills. No real time
limits, no route limits and no dealer sucking his seat through his bum any time
I dared to entertain some late breaking or questioned the traction control. “If
you’re local you can take the car where you like sir” they said. “I will then”.
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| My 1.5 |
At this point I should state some stats on the two but I
don’t really know many, so here is what I have bothered to look up; 131bhp
plays 160bhp, there is a 25Kg weight difference. The2ltr has Billstiens
suspension, uprated brakes plus 17s rather than the 1.5’s 16s (I asked for).
The 1.5 is less than a ton not including a driver. It is pushing Elise territory,
and when you see the standard of the interior that is quite impressive.
Sunny Saturday morning, roof down and before leaving the
Archerfield estate I had the red 1.5’s media system synched to my phone, Spotify
on the go and the heated leather seat on 1 bar. A quick look at the prepared
route in the Nav revealed some good roads, but I lengthened it to take a run up
the best roads between Gifford and Duns – Jimmy Clark country. The following
morning I did the same with the 2ltr. Same choice of any colour combo 2ltr I
liked, same roads, same music, same warm bum.
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| My 2.0 |
So let’s cut to the chase, the 1.5 is better. It isn’t quick
by a long shot, but let’s face it neither is the 2ltr. What it does though is
rev really freely and give its all whenever asked. It tool all of five minutes
to fall in love with the gearbox. The start of the run took in steady A and B
roads, with some simple overtaking before waking the car up for the run over
the hill from Drem to Haddington. All good. On the English style B roads to
start the car felt slightly floaty over some sweeping corners and the steering
not blessed with huge amounts of feel, but it sure felt good running that
engine through the revs with the roof down. Heal and toe down changes come no
sweeter than this car. First impressions were good then.
From the start of the same run the silver 2ltr in grey with
beige leather instantly felt a bit more grown up and the increase in power was
evident just cruising out of the Estate. More power it has, more character it
has not. Ringing it out overtaking a row of traffic approaching Drem revealed
an engine that felt course at the top end and heal and toe that is not quite as
sweet. On the Bilsteins the car was firmer and more polished at speed, but
there the improvements over the 1.5 ended. The uprated brakes just felt firmer,
not better, and it came to pass that I found both cars wanting in the stopping
department.
In the dry neither car had the guts to unstick the rear end
on the tight 2nd gear corners between Haddington and the Pencaitland
to Duns road, although the 2ltr was the only one I thought worthy of hunting
for the traction control button. Note the 2ltr did go nice and sideways in the
wet under some trees later and has the potential to be a riot in the wet, I
believe it has an LSD. Both cars worked their traction warning lights really
hard throughout the test drives though.
From Gifford I ran both cars about five miles beyond
Whiteadder Reservoir (towards Duns) before doing a u-turn and retracing my
steps back to Base… up into the hills and back.. wide roads and narrow, good
surface and bad. Giving the 1.5 the full beans as I headed into the hills got
me really starting to like the little car. Five minutes after turning round I
had a scream out loud and pat the dashboard moment, and I generally reserve
those for the Elise! You can use absolutely everything the 1.5 has to offer on
a good Scottish road, and I love it for that. The connection between the
gearbox and drivetrain is so good that the lack of steering feel and power
stopped being important. Yes I wanted more out of some of the corners but then
it treated me to another high speed down change and it had me loving it again.
It’s a great little
car, best when flat out.
The 2ltr is all of the above and more in some respects,
quicker yes, more planted yes, but when it really counted the engine felt a bit
blowy, not as keen at the top end, and crashing into the limiter came easier. Worth
noting that I’d argue that my Mini Clubman goes through a fast corner better
than both MX5’s, and the front end feels better too. Back to the 2ltr though, the
gear change up and down never felt quite as sweet as the 1.5ltr and that was
the clincher for me, that relationship with the pedals and gearbox live up to
the hype on the lesser car.
Small margins though, had I not driven the 1.5 I would have
loved the relationship between box and engine on the 2ltr, but the 1.5 car led
the way when it counted. It felt lighter on its smaller alloys and happily gave
up all its performance when asked. Both cars can be driven extremely quickly on
the back roads but the 1.5 somehow stood taller and had more fizz. As I pulled
into Gifford at the designated rest stop it absolutely stank of speed.
“Are you having fun” they said?
"Breath in and take a wild guess. By the way can you order stripes?”
On the subject of buying one, the 1.5 makes an interesting
company car option. It has low Co2 and a decent MPG. Mine was showing 43when I
gave it back, although I had not reset the trip and had taken a chunk off the
average. I did reset the trip on the 2.0ltr and gave it back at 22mpg!
If it were not for the fact I regularly carry large items of
sporting gear it could definitely work as a replacement to my clubman. The
interior is as good with leather and media, it’s not much thirstier, a bit
faster and a bit (just a bit) more fun on the right road, especially with the
roof down option. It has that classless appeal that the Mini also carries.
In summary it is everything an MX5 should be and always has
been I guess. Great little car.
