72 AUTOCAR.CO.UK 24 APRIL 2 019
he cheapest new MX-5
is the £19,495 1.5 132
SE convertible, but why
spend that when you can
spear a four-year-old 2.0 SE-L Nav
rag-top for £10,995? Why subject
yourself to the curse of depreciation
when there’s a perfectly good MX-5
down the road on which the leeches
have done their worst?
Okay, it’s done 53,000 miles and,
for all we know, it’s had a couple of
owners. It’ll have a few scratches and
maybe the brake calipers look a little
tired. On the f lipside, it’s a Mazda-
approved car, which means it’s
passed a multi-point inspection and
has a 12-month, unlimited-mileage
warranty and breakdown cover.
The Mk4 MX-5 launched
in 2015. Even smaller,
almost as light despite
having more kit,
ju s t a s pr e t t y i n
an edgier way
and with a lower
centre of gravity,
it drew favourable
comparison with its
Mk1 forebear. Purists
preferred the slightly
lighter and revvier
129bhp 1.5 over the 158bhp
2.0 but took the 2.0-litre home
anyway because it’s usefully quicker.
And then there were the trims.
Basic SE came with cloth seats
and valve radio, SE-L got climate-
controlled air-con, DAB radio and
a colour touchscreen, while Sport
added rain-sensing wipers, rear
parking sensors, BOSE sound system
and leather. Most buyers plumped
for the full-fat 2.0 Sport (see above);
better still, the Nav version.
Later in 2015, Mazda scratched
its special-edition itch with the
2.0 Sport Recaro based on the 2.0
Sport Nav. Limited to 600 cars, it
has the aero bodykit, special alloys,
an Alcantara-trimmed dash and
Recaro chairs. The 1.5 Arctic special,
with silver body detailing, followed
in 2016 and the 2.0 Z-Sport in 2017.
B e a r i n m i nd t h at a s t he M X-5 M k 4
ages, condition and originality will
trump any special-edition premium.
Also in 2017, the hard-roofed RF
(for ‘retractable fastback’) arrived.Its removable centre section leaves
the rear buttresses intact. It’s more
convenient and quieter at a cruise but
it ’s he av ie r, mor e e x p e n si v e a nd , t o
these eyes, not as pretty.
In 2018, the argument for buying
the 2.0-litre Sport became stronger
still when its rev limit rose by
700rpm and power went up
to 181bhp, bringing the
0-62mph time down by
almost one second to
6.5sec. Meanwhile,
across all versions
the steering
wheel became
telescopically
adjustable.
I recently bought
a pre-registered,
approved used 2018/68-
reg 2.0 184 Sport Nav
convertible with 500 miles on the
clock. Finished in Machine Grey it
cost £21,500, or £4250 less than the
new, undiscounted price.I’ve since noticed the radiator
is dented and the rear wing shows
evidence of a small paint repair
- blemishes not disclosed when I
bought it. The rear numberplate
was delaminating, too, and I had to
buy mats for the car. The experience
shows that approved used schemes
still have a way to go, but as a way of
avoiding the leeches, a used MX-5
Mk4 is definitely the way forward.
An approved used MX-5 can save you thousands over a new one, says John Evans
In theory a 1.5 is the
purist’s choice, but
more 2.0s are sold
T
MAZDA MX-5 MK 4
JAG UA R XJ 3 .0 D V6 PR E M I U M LU X U RY
£634 per month, £3806 deposit, 48 months,
8000 miles per year
An A8 bests it on build quality but in all other respects
the XJ has nothing to fear from its German rivals.
Unlike them it oozes charm while offering an up-to-
date and sophisticated driving experience.
AU D I A8 50 T D I Q UAT T RO S L I N E T I P
£686 per month, £4118 deposit, 48 months,
8000 miles per year
Performance, comfort and serenity meet superlative
build quality and a practical, well-equipped interior. By
the slenderest of margins it is just eclipsed by the Merc
S-Class, whether you’re driving it or being driven in it.
MERCEDES-BENZ S350D AMG LINE
£696 per month, £4174 deposit, 48 months,
10,000 miles per year
Not as seductive as a Jaguar XJ but otherwise the
S-Class is just about the champion in this class.
It does exactly the job it was created to do, and in
our book, praise doesn’t come much higher.
TOP SPEC PICK
2.0 SPORT
On top of Sport’s added
in-car comforts, 2.0-litre MX-5s
specified in the top-level trim
got a limited-slip diff and
sports suspension with
Bilstein shocks and a
strut tower bar.
AS GOOD AS NEW
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