MX-5 Jinba Ittai
byNovember 29th, 2007 at 4:08 PM
Filed under: Sports
 |
|
Jinba Ittai, a Japanese phrase that translates to "the rider and horse as one," and Mazda has done that with the MX-5. It has been about eighteen years since Mazda came out with the MX-5, and practically the exact same car is in production. In the past the MX-5 has always been hailed as a perfect roadster, but this one, the 2007, is different. Mazda has made considerable changes to the entire car itself inside and out. Now the question is, for better or for worse? The new MX-5 has a two-liter four-cylinder engine that produces 166 horsepower, which is more horsepower than any previous stock MX-5 engine ever built. Still, that is not a lot of horsepower compared to cars such as a Beemer, but now you can feel all 166 horses. With the lower horsepower you have to change gears quite frequently, but this is not a problem. The shifter for the MX-5 has not changed, because it is a close to perfect as possible. It is an extremely short shifter and can change gears with one finger. These features bring out the “soul of a sports car.” So, in the engine and tranny of this new MX-5 have been improved. However the most noticeable and questionable changes made to this little roadster is the body. The engineers and Mazda have made this new model more chunky, wider, and more beastlier. Having the wider body means a wider inside, but the engineers at Mazda were, well being geeks about it. They shaved off twenty-three grams from the review mirror. So, if you buy anything over twenty-three grams, you have just ruined their design. The engineers did the once thought impossible, improve upon perfection. This car was famous not for what it had on the inside of the car, but what it lacked on the inside. Over the years they have been progressively adding more and more features to the inside. There was one feature that all the engineers at Mazda agreed on, that was they did not want to add anymore grip. Most companies are trying to get more and more grip out of the car each year, but Mazda is the first car company that does not want to get anymore grip. From experience driving and racing the MX-5, this car has more than enough grip to get you to the apex and out of the turn without breaking a sweet. Even with all these changes and new gadgets you can buy a brand new MX-5 for under twenty thousand dollars. With the money you save by buying this cheap sports car can be funneled right into it. What most people do not know is the MX-5 has the largest aftermarket for parts and accessories. That means you can get performance parts for next to nothing, compared to other car makes that have to custom make all performance parts. That is why the majority of them out there are being raced as either club cars or spec cars. One of my major concerns with the MX-5 is always been safety. I mean you are sitting in a tiny tub on the road with trucks, SUV’s, and semis. Without a surprise the safety has improved along with technology. Such as, the new hard top feature that protects you in a case of a roll over, and it is a convertible hard top which is what a roadster is, a convertible. Overall the new MX-5 is amazing. The engineers have made “the rider and horse as one.” While somehow keeping the humble sports car features that we have all come to love with the little roadster. Mazda has built the perfect roadster hands down, and this model proves it. If you have tell the engineers not to add anymore grip that means it is perfect. All the changes they have made were for the better, none of which were useless or just plain stupid to have. |
 |
Rate this Article
Submit a Critique
Critiques
Show Oldest First
Miata isn't a sports car.
But good article.
Take it easy and take care,
-Todd
-Todd
Sure enough I read this article, "advertisement" and as
I discovered it was a little nugget of key information.
I had to read it two more times to really understand the
content and where it was leading me. I became aware of the fact that it was just another car story to milk us
into thinking we might want to buy this 2 seater. I do
not like 2 seaters or this pitch so I give it no stars!
Sorry! Stableman