Open-top classic
Alan Judd
Iget open-top motoring on two
ancient tractors. The hair-raising exhilaration achievable in sports cars only beyond the limits can be had on these venerable beasts at a licence-preserving 15mph. Perhaps our editor, who reckons he's about to be disqualified by speed cameras, should undertake constituency and family journeys by tractor and trailer. On my old girls he'd be in no danger of reaching the limits, let alone breaching them.
The traditional open-top thing, the twoseater sports car, is more admirable than desirable. They're too low. With my back, I have to get in on all fours and do a parachute roll out. Also, if you're incapable of travelling without clobber that won't, but just might, be needed — spare fuel, tow-ropes, tools, books, boots, Arctic weather clothing, survival rations — they're too small. But I do see the point of them for others and so for the recent sunny weather a pert little Mazda MX5 came to stay.
Surprisingly, they've been around for 15 years now and, although easily outsold in this country by their MG competition, they notched up their 700,000th sale worldwide in March this year. When Leyland — or whatever they called themselves — stopped making the old MOB because they thought US legislation was going to outlaw ragtops, they were wrong on two counts. Firstly, it didn't and, secondly, they extinguished one of their three marques that was internationally recognised and desired. They invested instead in shoddily built mid-range products intended for a mass market that didn't want them.
Mazda saw their chance. They studied the MOB and saw what BL couldn't: that there is a permanent niche market for the classic long-bonnet two-seater, with front engine, rear-wheel drive and short-throw gear-change. Styling should be pretty conservative — though they introduced some careful curves — and performance should be reasonable but not (partly for cost and insurance reasons) sensational; they weren't chasing Porsche buyers. Above all, it should be a popular sports car that kept going — which, being Mazda, it does.
Versions now range from the £15,000 1.6i (119mph, 0-62mph 9.7 seconds, 36.7mpg combined cycle) to the £18,000 1.8i Sport (129mph, 0-62mph 8.4 seconds, 31.7mpg combined). Residual values are good — depending on model, it retains 51 to 55 per cent of its value after three years. The car tested was the more expensive model and I have to confess I enjoyed it — ingress and egress apart — more than I thought I would. The basic shape is just about right and the cockpit, with its five clear white dials and metallic surrounds, is uncluttered and attractive. Driving position and bonnet view are good, with thoughtful ergonomics and a heated glass rear window (a great help in a convertible). It's no Lotus Elise, of course, but handling is as taut and responsive as most drivers want, with fully independent suspension, 50-50 weight distribution and 2.6 turns of the wheel from lock to lock. It's a nice drive and 1 could see why many people find them lovable, which was one of the characteristics of the old MOB that kept (still keeps) it going for so long.
As with any convertible, there's more noise with the hood up than in a closed car, and limited rear visibility. Manual operation of the hood is not difficult but I'm advised that anyone with a French manicure should get someone else to do it. It takes a little time to be confident about finding fifth and sixth gears without looking, or without dropping into third or fourth, because you're worried that the spring pressure means you're heading for reverse. Low-end torque is good — you can easily take off in second — but on sunny days with the hood down there's too much dashboard glare. The most (only?) common criticism of the MX5 is that its image is that of a ladies' car, or hairdressers' car. But the same used to be said of the MGB.
If, however, you're one for whom figures and outright performance are what really count, you'll know that the British Grand Prix will be raced at Silverstone on 11 July. What you may not know is that at nearby Bruntingthorpe the same day sees the final of the Formula Student competition. Here you'll see racing cars built in 12 months by engineering students from universities throughout the developed world. And it's not just the innovative cars you can meet, but the young people who design, build and drive them. They'll be running the motor industry and Silverstone one day but for now, at Bruntingthorpe, you can meet and watch them for nothing. It might be more entertaining than contemporary Formula 1.
As for our editor, alternatives to bantling such as speed-awareness and retraining courses are available in some areas, and are reportedly more efficacious. Besides, DO one who has seen him on his bike would wish him to use it more than he does. We cannot afford to lose him. Why not — for this least mechanical of men and in defiance of his possible ban — the Boris Johnson Speed trophy at Bruntingthorpe? The students would love it.
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