Twice in my long and questionably wise life, I have owned a truly “new car.” The first was a co-ownership deal with my ex, a Geo Tracker (Suzuki Sidekick), though to keep it real: it was more her car than mine. The second was a Volkswagen Jetta TDI I bought in 2004, which I still own and drive today. It only has 82,000 km on it, which is ridiculously low for that type of car. It is also absurdly cheap to run.
The most fun vehicle I have ever owned up to this point was definitely the Tracker. It was a nimble little four-wheel-drive soft-top, though we did splurge on the optional hardtop. I took it off-roading, drove it on long road trips, and just generally had a blast with it. The rest of my car ownership history has been, let’s say, sensible. Dependable, practical, safe. Until last week.
Last week, I went completely off script and bought a Mazda MX-5 sports car. Specifically, a 2005 NC (third-generation) MX-5 with 100,000 km on it. And, to make it even more specific, it is a JDM (Japan Domestic Market) model, which means the badge on the back proudly says “Roadster” instead of “Miata.” And the driving wheel is on the right side.
I am not even going to pretend: I fully accept this as my mid-life crisis car. But true to my stereotypical frugal Scottish roots (I am half Scottish, with the other half being Irish and English), my crisis choice is still budget-conscious. This little Roadster cost me less than a brand-new La Marzocco GS3 espresso machine. In fact, it was about the same price or even less than a used one.
I got this beauty for what I consider an absolute steal: $10,250 CAD, which works out to around $7,100 USD. That is basically pocket change in the sports car world.
A Real Sports Car
I consider this my first real sports car. But what actually defines a sports car? Since it is 2025, I figured I would ask ChatGPT:
“A sports car is a lightweight, two-seater designed for agility, responsive handling, and driving enjoyment. Typically featuring rear-wheel drive, a low centre of gravity, and an open or coupe design, it prioritizes balance over raw power. With a focus on driver engagement, sports cars excel on winding roads, offering a thrilling yet accessible performance experience.”
That is exactly what the MX-5 is.
The Roadster weighs around 1,100 kg, which is significantly lighter than my four-door Jetta at 1,450 kg. It has two seats, a front-engine, rear-wheel-drive layout, and sits incredibly low to the ground. It is powered by a 2.0-litre naturally aspirated engine that revs to 7,100 RPM, producing 175 horsepower. It also has a six-speed transmission and one of the rarest things in the car world today—perfect 50/50 weight distribution.
All of this adds up to a car that handles like a dream, accelerates quickly, and delivers a driving experience that puts a ridiculous grin on my face every time I take it out.
The Search for My Mid-Life Car
I have been thinking about getting a not-so-serious car for years. At one point, I thought my mid-life splurge would be a BMW 3 Series, ideally a diesel variant. I love the efficiency of my Jetta TDI, but it lacks power and that “driver’s car” feel. I test-drove a BMW 328d once and really enjoyed it. Plus, it was way more luxurious inside than my Jetta, which, despite its best efforts, is still just a Jetta.
More recently, I started looking at convertibles. I was never a fan of the BMW 3 Series convertible’s design, but I always had a soft spot for old-school British roadsters: the TR6s, the MGs, the Triumph Spitfires, and the Lotus Elans. Honourable mention to the Fiat 124 Spider, though reliability issues made me think twice (Fix It Again, Tony!).
The problem with those classics is that they are, well, old. Not to mention poorly built, constantly breaking down, and usually held together with hope and duct tape.
That is when I started looking at the MX-5.
I dismissed the first-generation NA model because, despite its legendary status, it is basically a shoebox on wheels. Also, I physically do not fit inside it. I tested one years ago, and it was like trying to wedge myself into a toddler’s car seat. The NB model was not much better in terms of space.
At first, I did not even consider the NC model. I bought into the online hate the MX-5 community tends to have towards the NC variant because it is the heaviest and largest of the four generations. So I turned my attention to the newer ND model, introduced in 2015. I test-drove one last year, and while it was fun, I found the interior a bit too snug, and the engine felt a little underwhelming.
Then, this winter, I decided to give the NC another look. I got a ride in one back in November and immediately fell in love. It felt just right. The guy would not let me drive it, but I got to sit in the cockpit, and despite being a tight fit, it worked for me. I also started to appreciate the styling, and very soon ending up liking it the best of the four generations of MX-5s. The NA and NB models were a bit too cutsey, feminine and cat like. The NDs are lots of angles, aggressive, almost anger. The NC has the round cuteness of the NA model, but more muscular haunches and a wider, low profile stance. I was sold on the look, sold on the fit, sold on the features, and sold on the performance.
So, I started hunting for one. Though this is supposedly the least popular MX-5 series, they aren’t cheap and are getting more expensive every year. A good condition, sub 90K kilometers version in my market commands $16,500-$19,000 for the 6 speed manuals, and almost as much for the Automatics.
Then a friend suggested I look at the JDM market. “But that means a right hand drive!” I said at first. Immediately, I realised that actually would work for me. It would make the car more unique in my neck of the woods, and it would also harken closer to the romanticism of the true British sports car ideal I had in my head. I could get that sports car feel, but have a vehicle way more mechanically sound as well.
JDM market it was, and almost immediately, I found a 2005 model (the first year for NCs in Japan) in Copper Red Mica with 100,000 km on it. The colour in particular hit me like a hammer: one of the most beautiful reds I’ve ever seen on a car. Rare too, as Mazda only used it for 3 years on the MX-5 (they changed to a colour called “Soul Red” in 2008, which isn’t as lustrely deep as the Copper Red is)
The problem was, this beauty of a JDM imported MX-5 was 150km and a ferry ride away from me. It was also a 6 speed automatic with sports tiptronic (more on that in another post).
Didn’t care. The car had to be mine. Besides, the last time I drove a stick regularly was 25 years ago, and when I test drove the NA model, I was really scratchy with the gear shifts (the ND I test drove was also an automatic). I didn’t want to have to re-learn it again and drive on the right side. So I arranged for a mechanic I know in Vancouver to give it a full pre-purchase inspection. It passed with flying colours. I made an offer, and last Thursday, I traveled to Vancouver to buy it. It’s now sitting parked in front of our Victoria home, and I’ve already put almost 750kms on it.
Driving a Sports Car on Vancouver Island
I live in one of those places in the world where a sports car seems right at home. Vancouver Island, has some of the best roads you could ask for. You do not even need to drive fast to have fun. The views are incredible, the roads twist and turn in all the right ways, and the weather is usually decent enough to drop the top. We even have (or had) a few dual-lane highways with 120 km/h limits, which is about as fast as Canadians are allowed to go without feeling rebellious.
After 3 days of long distance driving the MX-5 between Vancouver, Harrison Hot Springs, and then back to Vancouver Island (that was about 500kms of my travel in the car so far), I’ve had another four days driving the car locally, mostly cruising the winding backroads around Saanich and the lower peninsula. I am still getting used to it, and that will take time.
What I can already say is that this little Roadster is an absolute rocket. It sticks to turns like it is on rails, and reaches 130 km/h by the top of third gear. I have only done that twice, both times on a 100 km/h highway, because explaining my “enthusiastic driving” to a judge does not sound fun.
I love the low-to-the-ground feel of the car. I’m already getting used to how to get in and out of the car without looking like a complete uncoordinated fat dork. I love the positive feedback through the steering wheel, and how the car seems to find extra energy and big torque as soon as you get above 4500RPMS (all the way to red line at 7,100RPM). The steering wheel has paddle shifters, and if you put the automatic in Manual mode, the Roadster won’t shift for you until it redlines the RPMS; you do the shifting, just like a manual transmission, but don’t need to worry about a clutch.
The acceleration pulls a full G, which is something I have never experienced in a car I own. The brakes, despite being 20 years old, still stop the car with 1.4 Gs of deceleration. I found that even more impressive than the acceleration.
I should clarify that I am not reckless. On backroads, I rarely go over 80 km/h, and on the highway, I stick to 110 like everyone else. Since we cancelled our U.S. travel plans this year (it’s not safe for Canadians to travel in the USA lately), the Roadster is my vacation budget for the next few years. That just means Beata and I will take a lot of day trips and enjoy every kilometre. We’ll even bring one of our two dogs with us on many of the trips (sitting on Beata’s lap, of course).
I think I can live with that. Zoom Zoom!
