Maintaining your MX-5
When the first-generation Mazda MX-5 was launched in 1989, it was an attempt to recapture the glory days of the small classic sports car – something it did remarkably well. Hearkening back to machines like the Lotus Elan and MGB, the MX-5 was both enormously fun and very simple. And it’s tried to remain that way ever since, even though, naturally, some extra complication has crept in with each new generation.
The third series, as here, was in production from 2005 to 2015, making it the longest-lived of all the types so far. There were two facelifts, the first in 2008 and the second in 2013, along with a number of special editions. The engines used were Ford 1.8-and 2.0-litre double overhead camshaft motors with chain-driven cams, as also used in contemporary Focus and Mondeo models. That meant tried-and-tested power sources that were also easy to work on – no pointless complexity here. The rest of the car was also quite simple too, even if Mazda was a little too fond of clothing things in covers, as you’ll discover when you come to check the gearbox oil level.
Despite our 2.0-litre example here being 14 years old, it’s covered just under 50,000 miles, and seems to have been well looked after. Cars fitted with a 1.8-litre engines are pretty identical to their larger-engined siblings. There were no problems encountered during our service.
