Faults:

Number plate light fell out.

1st & 2nd gears stiff to engage when gearbox is cold.

Slight clutch judder when cold.

General Comments:

I have gotten rid of my 'small' collection of cars that included a showroom condition Mercedes 200 W123, Triumph TR6 and my old, but amazingly reliable Range Rover. I bought the MX to enjoy my driving and enjoy the benefits of a low mileage recent used car. I have always wanted an MX5 after borrowing one from Mazda for a weekend two years ago.

The MX is lovely. I'm not into brands any longer, nor image and the MX is a stunning little car and an absolute pleasure to drive.

Because it is so good in almost every respect, the notchy 1st and second gears and clutch shudder when cold stand out more than they should. I look forward to driving it all the time. Dealer service is iffy - front desk service is good, but workshop knowledge of the car appears to be limited other than what is in their 'service instruction manuals'.

Faults:

Mazda changed the design of the clutch in 2002 I believe and it wears very quickly and creates 'high-spots'. Look for signs of juddering through the clutch pedal and ensure that you point this out to the dealer on servicing. Mazda will not identify faults that you have not pointed out which are repairable under warranty.

There is no low fuel light on this model, which may not seem like much, but you'd be surprised how helpful that little yellow light is.

General Comments:

This car is outstanding. The handling, balance, look and feel of it are worthy of the most luxurious purebred sports cars, for a fraction of the cost.

Seats are remarkably comfortable and the soft top can be released in literally 2 seconds. The level of noise through the top is no greater than a standard roof.

The Arizona model has aluminium effect windbreaker bars, interior trim and scuff plates. The interior is black leather with silver stitching, with matching sports steering wheel.

Boot space is remarkable when compared with similar cars in the class, and the standard alloys are excellent.

Buy one today.