This year, it was possible to have a pleasant road trip in mid-October. « Roadtrip » to Jezerske with open roof, manual gearbox and driving the rear pair of wheels. And this is with a car that does not cost so much that the owner must necessarily suffer from a headache. The Mazda MX-5 remains a simple car that breaks free on the road.
Last year I was on trails in the Dolomites with the Mazda MX-5, but this year I stayed on the Slovenian roads until the end of the early fall period. Warm clothes, a hat and an open tarp on a nice sunny morning were all I needed while driving to Jezerske.
I was able to immerse myself in probably the last road trip of the year with an open roof, which fully reveals its essence with such a car. Coming into fall with a drive like this is always a fun refreshment and a chance to reflect on how such a compact car, crowded by today’s standards, can impress again and again.
When the clock is running very fast and I want a few more kilometers …
And it doesn’t need a few hundred « horses, » no hot engine behind the driver’s back or a titanium exhaust to thunder from behind every time you hit the gas. All you need is a well-thought-out design, a subtle and exhilarating manual gearbox, and 184 « horses » on the rear wheels.
Then the turns quickly follow each other, the clock runs unknowingly and it is not difficult to drive into the next turn. I would store such cars in a bubble for the next hundred years so that future generations can enjoy them on their days off or on their weekends.
A for a more powerful engine? Absolutely!
Mazda continues to offer two engines for the MX-5. The basic engine is 97 kilowatts, and the most powerful is 135 kilowatts. The smaller engine has a volume of 1.5 liters, while the more powerful one has a capacity of 2 liters. There is hardly a difference of a thousand euros between the two, which certainly gives an advantage to the stronger.
And not just because of the extra power and more fun, there’s also more torque, and this helps make the car more friendly. The more powerful engine has a third greater torque (205 instead of 152 Nm) and 500 rpm lower.
A more powerful engine is only available with the takumi upper. It also comes with one-inch larger rims, LED headlights, and rear cross-traffic control among the safety features. This more powerful MX-5 accelerates to 100 km / h almost two seconds faster, and, according to official data, fuel consumption per hundred kilometers is less by about half a liter.
What is a really expensive car? Prices are very relative.
For a basic MX-5, you should shell out a good 32 thousand today, and for the most expensive takumi equipment, an additional four thousand. Of course, this is not a small amount for a car that accommodates two people and can carry at most one small suitcase and some personal belongings. However, the prices for these cars are very relative.
The real pleasures of the road have no real price. They are invaluable if we can buy them a car. A true « road trip » car doesn’t have a big trunk and isn’t family friendly, nor does it sit high off the ground. Such a car will be parked at home most of the time – and of course there are also drivers who drive small roadsters like the MX-5 every day.
It’s a poor investment in home cost savings and purposeful commuting, but a great buy for personal enjoyment on the road. Even most MX-5 buyers can buy two or even three cars at home.
On the road with a little extra, and it’s liberating
With the MX-5, Mazda continues to offer one of the most affordable vehicles for road trips. She got a serious competitor with the new Toyota GR86, which, at least for the time being, is not available in Slovenia and will obviously have to be bought abroad.
The remaining « competitors », such as the Porsche 718 Boxster or Alpine A110, are much more expensive. It is true that they are more powerful and theatrical, but that is why they are more stressful. To this day, the MX-5 remains the concept of automotive minimalism, offering just as much of everything we need on the road today.
In the same way as walking in the hills, even with a car ride, the less « stuff » there are on the road, the more authentic our experience will be.
#bye #absolutely #perfect #route #video