Why you should buy this car: The MX-5 is the bonsai tree of sports cars: a perfectly formed thrashmobile writ small. All the roadster s major controls work with infinite precision and perfect linearity. There s so much intimate feedback through the wheel, pedals and seat that the Moroni Monroney [window sticker] should include a XXX rating. For people who drive for driving s sake, it doesn t get much better than this — at any price.

Why you shouldn t buy this car: If you have a history of run-ins with solid objects, or bad luck, we suggest something a bit larger and more robust.

Suitability Parameters:
· Speed Merchants: Yes
· Fashion Victims: Yes
· Treehuggers: Yes
· Mack Daddies: No
· Tuner Crowd: Yes
· Hairdressers: Yes
· Penny Pinchers: Yes
· Euro Snobs: No
· Working Stiffs: No
· Technogeeks: No
· Poseurs: Yes
· Soccer Moms: Yes
· Nascar Dads: Yes
· Golfing Grandparents: Yes

Vitals
· Manufacturer: Mazda
· Model tested: MX5
· Model year: 2006
· Price as Tested: $27,330
· Engine type: 2.0-liter in-line four
· Horsepower: 170 hp @ 6700 rpm
· Torque: 140 lb-ft @ 5000 rpm
· Redline: 6750 rpm
· Wheels and Tires: Michelin Pilot Preceda, 205/45R-17 84W
· Drive type: rear wheel drive
· 0 - 60: 6.5 secs.
· 1/4 mile: 15.0 sec @ 91 mph
· Top speed: 131 mph
· Fuel economy city/highway: 25/30
· NHTSA crash test rating front/side/rollover: Not yet rated

[by Robert Farago]

Related:
Jalopnik Reviews: 2006 Mazda MX-5, Part 1, Part 2 [internal]

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