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Motoring journalist and author Paul Guinness has been testing sports cars for more than 20 years for leading British newspapers and magazines. Here he picks the five best open top roadsters
Click to view Top 5 Open Top Sports Cars.
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Best Year-Rounder (Mazda MX-5 Coupe Cabriolet) |
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 The evergreen Mazda MX-5 has taken an intriguing new turn with the launch of the Coupe Cabriolet. If the thought of long, cold winters has so far deterred you from buying a traditional two-seater sports car, the MX-5 Coupe Cabriolet might just change your mind. |
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Now in its third generation and selling better than ever, The Coupe Cabriolet is a fitting tribute to the machine that brought the sports car scene back to life at the end of the 1980s.
Ranging in price from £18,210 to £20,710 depending on whether you opt for 1.8- or 2.0-litre power, the MX-5 Coupe Cabriolet features a clever metal roof that electrically folds away out of sight when the clouds part and the sun shines through. Once the cold weather returns, you can enjoy the cosiness of a proper roof over your head. Handy, isn’t it?
It’s not a new invention, of course. Other manufacturers have been doing the same thing for a long time, starting with the original Mercedes-Benz SLK all those years ago. But this is the first time the idea has been employed on such an affordable two-seater sports car. And it transforms the Mazda MX-5 into an even more accomplished all-rounder as a result.
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Fast Feel |
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Today’s MX-5 buyers have a choice of either 1798cc or 1999cc DOHC 16-valve power, the latter offering a highly useful 156bhp at 6700rpm. Even the smaller-engined (124bhp) version boasts a top end of 122mph, hitting 60 in 9.4 seconds. Opt for the 2.0-litre, though, and you’ll find up to 130mph at your disposal, with the 0-60mph sprint time reduced to just 7.9 seconds.
There are, of course, quicker sports cars on the market right now, but the Mazda MX-5’s eager nature and all-round fun appeal means it feels faster – and is therefore far more enjoyable to pilot enthusiastically – than any official figures might suggest.
The MX-5 has always retained its traditional front-engine, rear-wheel drive approach to life, a layout that its many fans seem to appreciate. The car has evolved and improved a great deal, and is now a far more sophisticated product than Mazda ever intended way back in the 1980s. But that’s the way much of the sports car market has gone in the 21st century, and Mazda has done well to keep pace with changes in buyers’ demands. The launch in 2006 of the Coupe Cabriolet derivative was the latest proof of Mazda’s ability to spot a niche and exploit it.
And when it comes to all-year-round open-top motoring, this is without doubt the best buy of today.
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TYPICAL PRICES - £18,210-£20,710/$20,435-$27,460
For currency converter click here |
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