But then the MX-5 did what it does best. With the roof down, sea breeze wafting in and seat heaters cranked, she was soon won over.
She even granted me permission to open up the taps and make the most of the local roads, reminding me all over again why I fell in love.. with the car, that is.
The MX-5 has since ferried us to various Christmas markets up and down the country, as well as to the Cotswolds for a day.
The view from the passenger seat is that the MX-5 is a “sweet” car, comfortable enough not to frustrate on those longer runs, and with a good enough stereo to keep our singalongs going on longer roads. More boot space would be nice, but it would hamper the “cute” looks.
A car for life, not just for summer
Any concerns I might have had about parking a soft-top convertible outdoors, without access to a hosepipe to keep it clean, have been assuaged over the past nine months.
The MX-5’s fabric roof is reassuringly hefty and its finish hasn’t been affected by my admittedly middling level of care.
Through sub-zero frosts, whip-crack winds and sopping-wet storms, I’ve become convinced that my MX-5’s top will endure just as well as the rest of the car.
Driving it is just as enjoyable when it’s tipping it down outside. Sure, I can’t get the roof down as often, but greasy roads widen the envelope in which I can make the most of its wonderfully balanced chassis. The chatty steering and roly-poly damping telegraph the limit of grip very effectively, giving plenty of confidence when conditions are far from ideal.
To flip a seasonal adage about dogs, I feel this isn’t just a car for the summer but one for life. It has become a part of my family just as much as any four-legged companion might have, and I can’t see myself getting rid of it unless life demands something more practical.
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