IOL Motoring Staff
Johannesburg - When Jesse Adams of our print sister publication Star Motoring road-tested the all-new fourth-generation Mazda MX-5 in mid-October he had all the facts and figures at his fingertips - except for the most important number of all.
The little roadster hadn’t yet been released in South Africa and the price had not yet been firmed up.
Well, now it has, and your new MX-5 will cost you R389 800, including VAT - bearing in mind that only one derivative is available in South Africa, tricked out with just about every bell and whistle in the Toyo Kogyo playbook.
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To refresh our memories, the new MX-5 Roadster has a two-litre petrol four rated for 118kW at 6000 revs and 200Nm at 4600rpm driving the rear wheels via a six-speed manual ‘box.
Standard kit on the SA-market MX-5 includes keyless entry and start, a nine-speaker, 203 watt Bose audio system with Bluetooth hands-free phone and audio capability, internet radio integration with a seven inch touchscreen display, auto aircon, heated mirrors, cruise control, automatic LED headlights and daytime running lights, rain-sensing windshield wipers, hill hold, idle stop, black lethe trim with red contrast stitching, a limited-slip differential and 17 inch alloys.
The fabric top even has an assist spring to help you raise or lower it while sitting comfortably in the cocpit; when it’s up it’s locked in place with just one clip and when it’s down it stows neatly ‘below decks’ to create a classic barchetta silhouette.
All of which is backed up by a three-year unlimited distance warranty, a three-year service plan and three years’ roadside assistance.