Wheels Australia — August 2016

132 WheelsMag.com.au

OurGarage

004960 WEEK 3

URBAN COUNTRY SPORTS FAMILY MOTORWAY

Equipment upgrade a mixed bag

TherearetwoMX-5equipmentlevels:RoadsterandRoadsterGT.

TheGT’sinfotainmentscreenisaboon,andisgenerallyeasyto

use–althoughitinsistsonsuckinginmysmartphone’scontactlist

everytime(is853namestoomanyforittoremember?).The

beefierBosesoundsystemiswellworthhaving,asisclimate

control.Asforfunctionslikeautoheadlightsandwipers,auto-

dimmingmirrorandheatedwingmirrors,they’renicetohavebut

weren’tconspicuousbytheirabsenceonthecheapermodel.

Does stepping up

to a GT raise the

temperature?

Degrees of

difficulty

CONNECTING
MADE EASY
Bluetooth phone
syncing is easier with
the big central screen
in GT spec

FOR the second half of the MX-5’s six-month

stay in our garage I’ve moved from a 1.5-litre

manual base model to the top-spec 2.0-litre GT

auto. That’s a step up in many areas, and a step

down in a couple as well, surprisingly.

I thought having extended exposure to both

drivetrains would help me choose a favourite,

but four weeks into big-bore heaven and I’m

even more confused.

Part of this is the fault of the automatic

transmission. This six-speed Aisin unit makes

day-to-day driving easier, no question, and

it’s a smooth, competent cog-swapper. But it

doesn’t suit the intent or character of this car,

even with paddles to manually manipulate.

The MX-5 is a driver’s car, and paying an extra

$2000 to be less involved doesn’t gel with the

purist’s perspective.

I can see why some might consider $2K a

fair tariff to free up your left arm and leg, but

I never found using the manual to be tiring,

even in peak-hour traffic. And that’s on top of

having to row it more enthusiastically to make

the most of the 1.5’s torque deficit. So for me

it’s a step backwards. It’s also detrimental to

the MX-5’s mechanical soundtrack, although to

be fair, even with a manual gearbox the 2.0-litre

doesn’t sound as zippy as the little 1.5.

Will I change my mind when we tackle a

Sunday drive together? I was totally convinced

by the 911 GT3 RS’s paddle-shifting ways, but

then in that car a driver needs all attention on

the rapidly approaching horizon. The MX-5’s

fun happens at a slower, more easily digestible

pace. And while my top-spec test car is a

claimed 48 kegs heavier than the base manual,

I suspect the 2.0-litre’s extra power and torque

(up 23 and 33 percent respectively) will easily

overcome that five percent weight handicap.

And slightly bigger brakes and tyres will also

help in that regard. But by opting for the auto,

I lose the manual’s limited slip diff... hmm...

But that’s for next month.

Now, what about the bells and whistles that

additional $9560 has bought me? Putting all the

mechanical differences aside, the step up from

2.0-litre Roadster to 2.0 Roadster GT is actually

$5060, which is partly justified by the more

upmarket infotainment and sat-nav system

(see breakout).

The added seat heaters in the meantime

are making Melbourne’s single-digit

winter mornings much more tolerable.

But no amount of investigative spirit

will make me go topless on those

mornings; I’m hoarding every

degree I can get.

GLENN BUTLER

MAZDA MX-5 2.0 ROADSTER GT

Date acquired: May 2016

Price as tested: $41,710

This month: 1116km @ 8.2L/100km

Overall: 1116km @ 8.2L/100km