When I went to pick up my dad at the hotel in Wheeling, I looked at him, his two bags and the small trunk of the 2008 Mazda MX-5.
He’d just finished with a work conference and was going to spend the weekend with me in Chicago before heading home to Florida. Thus, he had a large garment bag with wheels and an overstuffed computer bag, also with wheels.
2008 Mazda MX-5
Engine: 2.0-liter DOHC 16-valve 4-cylinder
Transmission: 6-speed manual
Horsepower: 166
Torque: 140 pound-feet
Wheelbase: 91.7 inches
Length: 157.3 inches
Height: 49 inches
Width: 67.7 inches
MPG (city/hwy): 21/28
Base price: $27,780
As-tested price: $29,960I had a niggling suspicion that my dad would fit in the trunk better than his bags would.
Lucky for him, my dad has a knack for packing the trunk of a car. It took us a good 15 minutes to cajole, push and outright stuff the bags in the back. But they fit. Which I thought was impressive since the MX-5 only has 5.3 cubic-feet of cargo volume.
The best thing, however, is that the power hard top on the test vehicle didn’t take up any extra room in the trunk. So, even though we were filled to the brim with bags, we could still cruise with the top down.
The MX-5 is a perennial favorite of mine. When the weather is just right, which it has been for the last several weeks, there’s nothing better than dropping the top and cruising through Chicago.
The test vehicle was a Power Retractable Hard Top (PRHT) model. So dropping that top was a relatively easy matter: Unhook the latch, press a button and voila! Topless.
I have a friend who owns an MX-5 with the manual soft top, and it’s virtually as easy to deal with as the power hard top. It’s certainly quicker and can even be done while sitting in the driver’s seat. … Unlike some other manual soft tops out there (Cough, Solstice and Sky). I do have to admit, I’m a little short to deal with the manual top on the MX-5 painlessly, but my friend who’s about 5-foot, 8-inches has no difficulty whatsoever.
Because of the nice spate of weather, I didn’t do too much driving with the top up. But we did have a quick smattering of rain that required top-up driving. As you would expect, there are some blind spots because of the tiny rear window, but since I drive by my mirrors, I didn’t find this to be a problem.
Since the MX-5 was all-new for 2006 and the PRHT model was new for 2007, not too much has changed for the 2008 model year. The three enhancements of note include: an in-dash six-disc CD changer in the Touring and Grand Touring models, manual driver’s seat height adjustment and a standard tire pressure monitoring system.
At first glance, the MX-5 has happy connotations, due primarily to the headlights and grille, which appear to form a smiley face. Overall, the exterior design is simple albeit attractive. In its own way it’s both sexy and aggressive.
A horsepower rating of 166 may not seem like a lot, but combine that with a weight of 2,527 pounds, and you have a highly flingable vehicle. On ramps and passing maneuvers were sheer pleasure. Acceleration is enough to snap your neck back, and the ability to pass in traffic is as simple as a downshift. Hear the engine rev up, and away you go.
You may have some more rough-and-tumble roadsters out there, but the MX-5 has guts if you drive it like you mean it.
The Hunter Green paint on the test vehicle was so dark that it almost looked black. It was very rich looking, sparkling in the sunlight and complementing the tan interior quite nicely. This is one of the best interior/exterior combos I’ve seen on an MX-5, and it took some of the car’s cuteness out of the equation.
The interior of the MX-5 is simple and starkly attractive. The black lacquer on the dash is shiny and slick. The controls are intuitive and easy to use, and the redundant audio controls on the steering wheel of the Grand Touring model make life even easier once you get your presets programmed.
The test vehicle was as a Grand Touring model ($27,780) that added enough options to take the price over $29K. Options included Sirius Satellite Radio ($430), the Suspension Package ($500) and the Premium Package ($1,250). The as-tested price of the MX-5 test vehicle was $29,960.
Though the test vehicle was a top-of-the-line, whistles-and-bells kind of vehicle, you don’t have to spend almost $30K to get behind the wheel of an MX-5. In fact, the base SV model with a five-speed manual transmission rings in at $21,305. The Sport model adds air conditioning and an optional six-speed automatic transmission with a base price of $22,305. The Touring model has a base price of $24,600 and adds 17-inch aluminum alloy wheels, steering wheel mounted audio controls and a standard six-speed manual transmission. The Grand Touring Model, priced at $25,910, adds heated leather seats, a Bose audio system and leather shift knob.
Whether you opt for the bare bones MX-5 or take it all the way up to the Grand Touring model with the PRHT, this is a fun and comfortable car that offers plenty of spirited driving. And, as long as you don’t have too much luggage, you can take a nice road trip with a passenger in the front seat … rather than the trunk.
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