In The Clutches Of The Side Cheeks

2023 Author: Eric Donovan | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-11-27 05:39

A ride in Mazda's classic MX-5 promises full enjoyment. But the side cheeks of the sports seats not only cause displeasure with more corpulent drivers.

Thomas Flehmer's

ideals of beauty are more desirable than ever in these times. It doesn't matter whether you help to improve your beauty. And an intervention does not always lead to the desired success and tends to lead to disappointment. In the convertible warehouse, the Mazda MX-5 has retained its exterior for over 30 years and continues to drive around courageously with a soft top in the area. While with the steel roofs it takes up to 30 seconds before the sun can spread its full warmth inside, with the classic from Japan one movement is enough to get that open-air feeling and enjoy the ride.

Addicted to cornering

It's not the only enjoyment of the 160 hp two-seater. Even the growling of the engine, which is always clearly audible even when the roof is closed, increases the anticipation of the journey ahead. This joy will not be disappointed. Thanks to a sporty gearshift, the 1.1-ton sumo athlete can advance into the three-digit km / h range within 7.6 seconds.

The drive on winding country roads promises the most joy. This is where the chassis shows its strengths. The curves can be taken in an extremely sporty manner, without having to worry about losing control. Due to its small size, the cornering rush is comparable to a race in a kart. There are no rolling movements and the addiction to get to the next corner as quickly as possible is growing.

Better be open

These joys can also be lived out in the city - of course within the prescribed speed. On the other hand, on the motorway this pleasure ends at around 170 km / h. Until then, the wind noise and the sound of the engine are still bearable, but it is nicer to cruise between 120 and 130 km / h on the trunk road - regardless of whether the roof is open or closed.

However, open is better. When closed, the classic is so tight that it can cause anxiety. The dark fabric of the convertible top sheds just as little light as the small rear window or the side windows, which also obstruct the view to the rear. The dashboard, wrapped in black, doesn't look particularly high-quality either. Even the steering wheel crammed with switches is more likely to overwhelm the driver than it is helpful. It takes time to get used to the onset of electronics.

Shoulder blades in danger

And the Recaro sports seats aren't great either. So you're more likely to lie in the car than to sit. That might be sporty, but it's not necessarily comfortable. The very narrow side cheeks make even models à la Kate Moss sweat. If the person is a little heavier, the side parts press into the shoulder blades and spoil the joy of driving.

At least this intervention does not produce the desired effect, the normal state of the MX-5 - as far as the seats are concerned - is more of an advantage. Even if it diminishes the sportiness. But the health is spared. And the joy of the open two-seater is also guaranteed.