{"id":63422,"date":"2025-05-14T04:18:06","date_gmt":"2025-05-14T08:18:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.globalvillagespace.com\/tech\/experience-the-joy-of-driving-living-with-the-mazda-mx-5-as-your-only-car\/"},"modified":"2025-05-14T04:18:06","modified_gmt":"2025-05-14T08:18:06","slug":"experience-the-joy-of-driving-living-with-the-mazda-mx-5-as-your-only-car","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.globalvillagespace.com\/tech\/experience-the-joy-of-driving-living-with-the-mazda-mx-5-as-your-only-car\/","title":{"rendered":"Experience the Joy of Driving: Living with the Mazda MX-5 as Your Only Car"},"content":{"rendered":"

How Practical Is It to Own a Convertible as Your Only Car?<\/p>\n

When you think about owning a convertible, the image that often comes to mind is one of sunny drives along coastal roads, wind in your hair, and the thrill of open-air driving. But what if that convertible was your only car? Is it really practical to rely on a two-door roadster like the Mazda MX-5 for all your driving needs, especially during the winter months? Let\u2019s dive into the experience of living with the MX-5 as a daily driver and explore the highs and lows of this unique automotive lifestyle.<\/p>\n

The Mazda MX-5: A Decade of Evolution<\/p>\n

The 2024 Mazda MX-5, affectionately known as the \u2018ND\u2019 among enthusiasts, has been around for nearly ten years. Over this time, it has evolved through various updates, culminating in the Homura specification, which boasts a powerful 181bhp 2.0-litre engine, lightweight canvas roof, and an array of performance features like Bilstein dampers and Brembo brakes. This model is designed for those who crave a blend of comfort and spirited driving, making it a tempting choice for anyone considering a convertible as their sole vehicle.<\/p>\n

Is It Feasible to Drive a Convertible Year-Round?<\/p>\n

The big question here is whether a small, rear-wheel-drive convertible can handle the rigors of winter driving. Admittedly, many might scoff at the idea, especially those who prefer the security of a larger, all-wheel-drive vehicle during the colder months. However, my experience with the MX-5 has been surprisingly positive. <\/p>\n

Initial impressions? The car is compact\u2014smaller than even the classic Mk1 MX-5\u2014which can make parking a bit of a challenge at first. But once you get the hang of its dimensions, it becomes second nature. The boot, while not enormous, is surprisingly deep for a car of its size, making it suitable for everyday errands. Sure, when I took it to visit family, we had to get creative with storage, but it was manageable.<\/p>\n

On the road, the MX-5 shines. It\u2019s comfortable enough for longer journeys, achieving over 40 mpg on the motorway. The long sixth gear keeps the engine relaxed at cruising speeds, which is a welcome change from my previous long-term car, the Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio, which averaged a mere 23.5 mpg. The Bilstein dampers provide a surprising amount of comfort, even on less-than-perfect roads, making it a delightful car to drive daily.<\/p>\n

Winter Driving: A Test of Character<\/p>\n

So, how does the MX-5 fare in winter conditions? Surprisingly well, at least for someone like me who doesn\u2019t have kids or a need to transport large items regularly. While some colleagues raised eyebrows at the thought of driving a rear-wheel-drive convertible in the snow, I found it to be a fun challenge. The car\u2019s lightweight nature and responsive handling make it enjoyable to drive, even when the roads are less than ideal.<\/p>\n

Of course, there are some downsides. The small windscreen washer reservoir can be a nuisance during winter months when visibility is crucial. And while the infotainment system is functional, it can be frustrating for those of us used to touchscreens, as it requires a rotary controller while driving. But these are minor quibbles in the grand scheme of things.<\/p>\n

Track Days and Weekend Adventures<\/p>\n

One of the standout experiences with the MX-5 has been participating in unique events, like Mazda’s night-time track day in Anglesey. The car performed beautifully, proving itself as a capable track machine while still being comfortable enough for the journey there and back. It\u2019s moments like these that remind you why you fell in love with driving in the first place.<\/p>\n

The MX-5\u2019s blend of low-speed fun and reliable performance has made it my favorite long-term car so far. It\u2019s not just about getting from point A to point B; it\u2019s about enjoying the journey. The seating position, the feel of the manual gearbox, and the overall driving experience are hard to beat.<\/p>\n

Is the Homura Spec Worth It?<\/p>\n

Now, let\u2019s talk about the price. The Homura spec comes in at around \u00a335,000, which might seem steep for a small convertible. But when you compare it to other vehicles in its class, like the Mini Cooper convertible or even the Honda Civic Type R, it starts to make sense. The MX-5 offers a unique driving experience that\u2019s hard to replicate, and for many, that\u2019s worth the investment.<\/p>\n

The Future of the MX-5<\/p>\n

As we look ahead, Mazda is set to introduce a new sports car that will likely depart from the traditional MX-5 formula, incorporating hybrid technology and a rotary engine. While this evolution is exciting, it also leaves many enthusiasts wondering if the pure driving joy that the MX-5 represents will be lost. <\/p>\n

For now, the ND remains a testament to 36 years of MX-5 heritage, and it\u2019s hard to imagine a more enjoyable car for daily driving, even in the depths of winter. <\/p>\n

The big takeaway? Owning a convertible like the Mazda MX-5 as your only car isn\u2019t about perfection\u2014it\u2019s about embracing the experience. If you\u2019re willing to make a few adjustments and prioritize fun over practicality, you might just find that this little roadster can handle more than you ever expected. So why not take the plunge? You might discover a new way to enjoy your daily commute.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

\"2024<\/a><\/p>\n

How easy is it to have a convertible as your only car?<\/p>\n

\n

Culmination is one of those words that can be used in subtly different ways. We will ignore its archaic use (the reaching of the meridian by a celestial body) and delve straight into its two most popular meanings today.\u00a0<\/p>\n

One definition is the highest point of something, especially as attained after a long time. The other is the point at which something ends, having developed until it reaches this point.<\/p>\n

Subtle differences, then. It can mean best, it can mean last and it can mean a mixture of the two, as in the example we\u2019re considering here.<\/p>\n

Next year, this version of the Mazda MX-5<\/a> (the \u2018ND\u2019 for Mazda<\/a> aficionados) will have been on sale for a decade. Ten whole years for one model.\u00a0<\/p>\n

During its lifetime, it has gone through subtle changes and upgrades before culminating in this Homura-spec car. It\u2019s basically all the bells and whistles, and what I think on paper is the best model.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Up front, it gets the 181bhp 2.0-litre engine. Round the back is the simple, lightweight canvas roof \u2013 not the heavy and complex metal one you get on the MX-5 RF.\u00a0<\/p>\n

It also has 17in BBS wheels, Recaro seats, a Bose sound system (with speakers in the headrests), Bilstein dampers, a limited-slip differential, Brembo brake calipers and a track mode. That\u2019s the first meaning of culmination well and truly done.<\/p>\n

The second alludes to it being the last. Which looks like the case, at least in the pure form we know and love the MX-5. Mazda\u2019s next sports car is set to be a 370bhp hybrid, equipped with a rotary engine that generates power for the electric motors driving the wheels.<\/p>\n

Back in 2023, Mazda CEO Masahiro Moro said<\/a>: \u201cWe love the MX-5 and the world loves the MX-5. We are determined in the age of electrification to keep the joy of driving which the MX-5 represents alive.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u2018Represents\u2019 is doing a lot of heavy lifting there. Mazda\u2019s next sports car will not be awfully like an MX-5 to me. And it will most likely not wear the MX-5 badge.<\/p>\n

Anyway, enough semantics. The reason I have this MX-5 is to see if I can conceivably run one through winter as my only car.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The hardier among you might consider me to be a soft southerner after reading that sentence. But a few colleagues (admittedly soft southerners themselves) have told me they wouldn\u2019t fancy running something so small, impractical and rear-wheel drive during the winter months.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

What do I have planned? On these pages, you will read tales of track driving at night, a few comparison tests with pretty abstract rivals and, importantly, the rather less glamorous nitty-gritty of daily use.<\/p>\n

Initial thoughts? I\u2019m not a fan of the optional matt grey paint. When Audi<\/a> started doing matte paint way back in 2013, it was clever in a kind of ironic way. \u201cLook at me, spending all this money to make it look like I\u2019ve got primer.\u201d But since then the concept has grown tired.<\/p>\n

Winter is doing the car a huge favour so far. It \u2019s constantly caked in mud, which hides the paint well. I love filthy cars and will fill these pages in the coming months with the dirtiest MX-5 you may ever see.<\/p>\n

Other notes? This car is small. Really small. Shorter than the Mk1 MX-5 even. The first few times I parallel-parked it on my street, I actually had to try again, such was my brain\u2019s inability to measure quite how petite it was.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The boot is pretty deep and useful for a car of this size, but the interior space is virtually non-existent. I recently took it to see my parents and my wife had to stash a lot of our cargo (presents, bags etc) in the front with her. I think she took it remarkably well.<\/p>\n

So far I\u2019ve been on only a few other trips in the MX-5, most of them on the motorway. And I\u2019ve been truly dumbfounded by how at home it has felt there. An easy 40-plus MPG in the fast lane for one thing. Sixth gear is pretty long and it \u2019s only really pulling around 3000rpm. This is especially important to me, as my last long-termer, an Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio<\/a>, averaged 23.5mpg.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s the comfort that has surprised me most, though. It really is a pleasant place to be. When you read Bilstein dampers on the spec sheet, you think lowered and racy. But there\u2019s a proper amount of squidge I wasn\u2019t expecting, especially on such thin rubber. It\u2019s not a quiet car at speed, mind you. With the Bose stereo cranked up to a volume where you can actually hear it, your passenger is fully drowned out.<\/p>\n

Is this the culmination of 36 years of MX-5 production? If it comes anywhere close, I\u2019m in for a treat \u2013 even during the depths of winter.<\/p>\n

Update 2<\/h2>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

I was invited along by Mazda to the world\u2019s first \u2018night-time track day\u2019 in Anglesey. Yep, North Wales, in the winter. At night.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

The drop-top Mazda was perfect for the task; I couldn\u2019t think of anything better to do it in. It waltzed me effortlessly from London to Wales in comfort and with surprisingly good 40mpg-plus fuel economy.\u00a0<\/p>\n

And then on track it was an absolute peach, flattering my driving and generally just being extremely good fun, communicative and everything you\u2019d want in a track-day car that you also intend to drive home.<\/p>\n

Read the full feature here<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

Update 3<\/h2>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Before I knew it, another invite arrived. This time it was from the electro-modders at Electrogenic, wanting to know if I\u2019d like to drive their new battery-powered Electrogenic\u00a0Mk1 MX-5<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Yes, please. And it was great: proper fun, with big, laugh-inducing skids, and all wrapped up in the unmistakable first-gen shell.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Read the full feature here<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

Update 4<\/h2>\n

In the office I tend to sit next to our staff writer Charlie Martin and behind Classic & Sports Car\u2019s associate editor, Lizzie Pope.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Since getting my long-term MX-5 they have both bought NDs. Coincidence? Absolutely not. I should be on commission.\u00a0<\/p>\n

In this line of work we\u2019re blessed with driving some of the best cars around. This section of the mag is full of interesting metal week in, week out \u2013 and the MX-5 is no exception.\u00a0<\/p>\n

I\u2019ve had a great selection of long-termers in this job. But the MX-5\u2019s mixture of low-speed fun and dependable reliability has made it my favourite. It\u2019s a car that makes the everyday more enjoyable.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Some things about my MX-5 I loved immediately. The seating position and the weighting of the manual gearbox and pedals, for me, are the best in the business.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

There were other aspects that I grew to love. I thought the steering was a touch light at first, but after a few weeks, and with the benefit of driving a couple of palate cleanser regular cars in between, I realised that light doesn\u2019t have to mean uncommunicative. It just means easy.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Cons are harder to find. I\u2019m not nitpicking here when I write that the infotainment short-circuits my millennial brain: it doesn\u2019t allow me to use the touchscreen while the car is moving (there\u2019s a rotary controller for that).\u00a0<\/p>\n

By the time the neurons in my brain (eventually) engage and the neurotransmitters trigger thoughts about not touching the screen, my greasy little digits are already prodding away. I have been conditioned by 20 years of touchscreen phones, and I suspect many others have.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Admittedly I probably am nitpicking, though, when I complain that the windscreen washer bottle is a touch small at 1.2 litres. Not ideal for hacking around in winter.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Finally, we\u2019ll get round to the question we posed at the start: how easy is it to run a convertible as your only car in the depths of a British winter? Easy. For me. And I\u2019d go as far as saying it would be easy for most childless readers who don\u2019t regularly need to transport anything particularly large.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Bonus question: is this the spec to go for? At the office, we regularly talk specs. And, as you might imagine, we often disagree. A few of us think all electric cars<\/a>\u00a0should basically be the least powerful spec possible; others say we\u2019re missing out on all the huge torque. Some of us insist there\u2019s still room for diesel; others remind us that modern petrol hybrids can offer basically the same economy.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

But for the MX-5 top-rung Homura spec just makes sense. Recaro seats? Spot on. Even comfy on long journeys. Track mode? Simple, easy to use, flatters your driving and you can make use of it all the time. BBS wheels? Amazing \u2013 nothing else to note.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Yes, it\u2019s \u00a335k \u2013 which sounds a lot for an MX-5. But a Mini Cooper<\/a> convertible is \u00a328,000, or \u00a330k-plus if you actually want anything inside it. A Honda Civic Type R<\/a> is \u00a350k. At the beginning of this test, I posited that the latest ND was the culmination of 36 years of MX-5 expertise. And it is.<\/p>\n

The next generation of Mazda sports car is promised to keep the atmospheric engine\/rear-drive formula. But even so, I don\u2019t envy the engineers tasked with besting this ND.<\/p>\n

Mazda MX-5 Homura\u00a0specification<\/h2>\n

Mileage: At start\u00a0<\/strong>6086\u00a0At end\u00a0<\/strong>8028<\/p>\n

Prices: List price new<\/strong>\u00a0\u00a334,835\u00a0Price as tested<\/strong>\u00a0\u00a335,435\u00a0<\/p>\n

Options:\u00a0<\/strong>Aero grey paint \u00a3600<\/p>\n

Fuel consumption and range: Claimed economy<\/strong>\u00a041.5mpg\u00a0Fuel tank<\/strong>\u00a045\u00a0litres\u00a0Test average\u00a0<\/strong>39.1mpg\u00a0Test best<\/strong>\u00a042.5mpg\u00a0Test worst<\/strong>\u00a025.8mpg\u00a0Real-world range<\/strong>\u00a0387\u00a0miles<\/p>\n

Tech highlights: 0-62mph<\/strong>\u00a06.5sec\u00a0Top speed<\/strong>\u00a0136mph\u00a0Engine<\/strong>\u00a04 cyls in line, 1998cc, petrol\u00a0Max power<\/strong>\u00a0181bhp\u00a0Max torque<\/strong>\u00a0151lb ft Transmission<\/strong>\u00a06-spd manual, RWD\u00a0Boot capacity<\/strong>\u00a0130\u00a0litres\u00a0<\/p>\n

Service and running costs: <\/strong>Service costs<\/strong>\u00a0None\u00a0Other costs<\/strong>\u00a0None\u00a0Fuel costs<\/strong>\u00a0\u00a3306.63\u00a0Running costs inc fuel<\/strong>\u00a0\u00a3318.61\u00a0Cost per mile<\/strong>\u00a016 pence\u00a0Faults<\/strong>\u00a0None\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":63423,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"Default","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-63422","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-featured"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.globalvillagespace.com\/tech\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/63422","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.globalvillagespace.com\/tech\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.globalvillagespace.com\/tech\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.globalvillagespace.com\/tech\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.globalvillagespace.com\/tech\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=63422"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.globalvillagespace.com\/tech\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/63422\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.globalvillagespace.com\/tech\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/63423"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.globalvillagespace.com\/tech\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=63422"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.globalvillagespace.com\/tech\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=63422"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.globalvillagespace.com\/tech\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=63422"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}