If you’re thinking of your first sports car, the mk2.5 mx5 is all you need
I’ve owned this car for 7 years now and bought it with 28,000 miles on the clock for a sum of £2000.
I also own a lotus Elise s1 which is in another league compared to the mx5, however it still amazes me just how good the mx5 is.
Pros of the mk2.5:
Abs + traction control
Air bags
The handling is amazing and the car forces you to drive properly. To get the most out of the car you need to carry the speed in the corners and make sure you have your corner entry set up correctly. There are a lot of lessons I have learned from the mx5 which I have been able to transfer over to the Elise.
The steering feel and feedback is very impressive for the money you’re paying for one of these.
Running costs are incredibly cheap as parts are plentiful. Consumable items such as tyres and brakes are cheap. Insurance is incredibly cheap, I’m only paying £160 per year for 10k miles. (Unfortunately tax is high at £450) and I get around 35mpg
If you like tinkering on cars then this is also very beginner DIY friendly. The cambelt for instance is non interference so if you mess it up you’re not going to do any damage to the engine. Again the skills I have learned from looking after the mx5 has given me confidence to look after the Elise.
Overall the mx5 is the best beginner sports car you can get in my opinion. I think everyone should drive one before they move onto to something more powerful.