Our First Weekend with MX-5

We just spent our first weekend with the MX-5, 90% of the time with the top-down. It is really a revelating expereince motoring-wise. The MX-5 has completed our triplet collection - a sports car, a 4-door sedan and a race car, and has given the collection a fine balance. It has taken us a while to come to this point.

With MX-5, every road we have traveled many time before takes a new dimension. There was simply so much more to see, to feel and to hear. Despite the notorious air pollution in Hong Kong, we did not find any sign of the breathing problem or discomfort in our lungs.

I am happy to report that the air-conditioner has been powerful and kept the interior reasonably cool, even with the top down but the windows up. Of course most cool air escaped in the open air but with the fan level set at "2" and the vents directed to the body and face it felt cozy enough even under the sun, at least for a short while.

I have done a simple service check-up on Saturday. Engine oil and rear brake pads, windshield wiper were changed and the engine revved smoothly and we reported a bit sharper throttle response. I had the six-year old Bridgestone ER30 tires moved from the front to the rear wheels. The pair of one-year old Toyo Trampio Vimode offered much more grip, steering feel and snappy turn-in and removed any trace of understeer. However I did not like harsh ride, especially when the Toyos were not warmed up. I was planning on getting a new set of Michelin but the tire size (205/45R16) were not available in Hong Kong. I like Michelin because in every grade of their tires they always put ride comfort ahead of performance and grip. And I like that, except they don't have any stocks, regardless of models, for the MX-5.

In terms of handling, the little MX-5 has in fact made our C36 uninspiring to drive. Its light weight (1'035kg) and reasonable power-to-weight ratio were really a joy. In terms of straight-line acceleration it would not stand a chance against the C36 or the DC2. But MX-5 offers a different mix of road experience that we have long owed to ourselves. What surprises me is the way Mazda has engineered the body flex and long travel suspension together to create this amazing road holding. Of course it won't corner as hard or as quick as my DC2 under any condition but it certainly will outrun my C36 in 90% of tight and mid-radius corners. However the way that it put the tires on rough road surface of Hong Kong without any sign of traction breakaway was simply amazing. I could feel the suspension worked very hard and the body flexed and shaked but it never lost its composure and roadholding.