Still fun, even with a few horsepower less.
Not many people in their twenties can say, like Milan van Eck, that their first car is a Mazda MX-5. Well, the Japanese two-seater is itself more than twenty years old, but has only driven relatively few kilometers. What is that four-cylinder still doing on the roller bench?
The story of the MX-5 is a real success story. You can say a lot about Mazda, but the brand deserves all the credit when it comes to reinventing the classic roadster in a semi-retro look and with impeccable technology in combination with lots and lots of pure driving pleasure. We have known the Mazda MX-5 since 1989, when the first version came onto the market. The model code is NA. Mazda is rightly breathing new life into the roadster segment, because the only thing left for sale in that area is the old-fashioned (but very stylish) Alfa Romeo Spider. A beautiful car, but the gear lever makes long strokes and the driven rear wheels have to make do with a rigid rear axle. If you drive a Spider from that period over a bumpy road, the carriage goes in all directions; it shook like crazy. Of course, an MX-5 also has firm suspension, but it is much more inviting to go a little faster.
Milan was 1 at the time of the first Mazda MX-5
When we drove the Spider and model NA of the MX-5 as new test cars, proud owner Milan was not yet born; when it turned 1, the MX-5 hit the road for the first time. Milan is from the generation that just thinks the Mazda MX-5 is a nice car, regardless of whether it revived the roadster era. “I wanted something fun, something sporty. But also something reliable, because I am not a handyman and not a car mechanic,” says Milan. The 22-year-old student (applied psychology in Leiden) went looking and came across a BMW 135i Coupé with a manual gearbox – that car is also one of our favorites! “Yes, nice car, but a bit more expensive than the Mazda. With the MX-5 you can also drive open-top and that gives an extra dimension,” says Milan. Those are wise words for a 22 year old. Who simply goes to college by bike.
Hobby costs money, MX-5 real hobby car
“Yes, it is good to cycle. I really see the MX-5 as a hobby car. For the weekend or when the weather is nice, I take it out.” As a result, many kilometers will not be added very quickly. A hobby costs money, including an older Mazda. Milan has been the owner since May last year and until now a new radiator has been screwed into the car and the MX-5 has been given a new exhaust. Cosmetically, Milan had the car lowered and gave himself a set of new rims. He hasn’t gotten around to tuning the engine yet, and he doubts whether that will ever happen. “This 1.8-liter engine has 145 hp according to the factory, which I think is actually enough. I’m not much of a crack nose. The charm of this car is the pure driving feeling and the open-top driving.”
Milan is not the only one who thinks this way. The MX-5 puts itself firmly on the map all over the world. The car is called Mazda Miata in the United States and in Japan it starts its career as Mazda Roadster (and from 1996 Eunos Roadster).
Mazda MX-5 NB from 1998
In January 1998, Mazda presented the MX-5 NB. The appearance is being radically changed – including the folding headlights disappearing. The MX-5 10th Anniversary was released in 1999. It has, among other things, a six-speed gearbox, Bilstein shock absorbers, a strut tower brace and polished wheels. In December 2000, the NB received a facelift and the model code was changed to NB-FL. Milan’s car falls into it. There are some modifications to the front and rear and the interior also changes slightly. The 1.8-liter will now also be available with an automatic transmission. Then the engine has 139 hp; the manual variant that Milan purchased produces 146 hp. “But I am curious whether after more than twenty years he still has the power he needs.” That’s what we have Ghisbert van Ginhoven and Beek Auto Racing for. Just strap in, calibrate and measure. The Mazda performs nicely. We note 137 hp and 153 Nm, but look how beautifully flat that torque curve is, something you rarely see! Ghisbert happy, Milan happy, everyone happy. This MX-5 purrs along happily.