ROADSTER RIVALS

When the MGF met the car it had benchmarked itself against more than any other in 1995, it was clear that Mazda finally had itself a strong rival. There were other roadsters introduced at around the same time to take a slice out of the MX-5’s pie, but none was quite as close to the bone as MG’s sub-£20,000, mid-engined slice. It’s a rivalry that has continued over the years, with the Mazda retaining a slightly higher floor on values on account of its household name and reliable reputation. However, as the market really does turn into a modern classic one, both are on the up and time is running out if you’re thinking of buying one cheaply.

Mazda MX-5

Everyone thought that the little two-seater sports car was dead, but just as hot hatches had swept into a market sapped of energy, so too did the Mazda MX-5 arrive as a shining light in a rather dull