A £4500 Mazda MX-5 Is One Of The Best Value Roadsters Money Can Buy

With the fourth-gen MX-5 due to be unveiled soon, we decided it was time to give the current version a thorough workout to see what’s what.

After spending a week with the car, we’ve been wondering just how cheaply you can pick up one of these brilliant roadsters on the used market. As it turns out, very cheaply indeed.

Production of the third-generation ‘NC’ MX-5 started in 2005, giving earlier examples plenty of time to depreciate. As a consequence, you can pick one up for under £4000. We’d pay a touch more and get a 158bhp 2.0-litre model, though, which will get you from 0-62mph in 7.9 seconds.

These earlier cars may not look quite as sharp as the post-2008 facelift versions, but you’re getting pretty much the same oily bits underneath, so you’ll have a superbly balanced rear-wheel drive chassis and an overall package that’s all about low power and big fun. But it’s not just about the driveability. The obvious practicality restrictions of a two seat roadster aside, the NC MX-5 offers a near drawback-free sports car experience.

It’s incredibly reliable, and will be cheap to run with low servicing costs and cheap insurance. Oh, and unlike the older second-gen MX-5, it’s not at risk of turning into a pile of rust.

This 2005 example could be worth a look. It’s done a reasonable 71,750 miles, has a full service history, and is up for just £4500. Go on, buy it and enjoy some summer sports car fun!