Is The Automatic MX-5 Just As Good As The Manual?

For the longest time in history, which is since 1989, motoring enthusiasts and journalists alike have always said that the Mazda MX-5 has the best gearbox touch in the world. I am also one of those who was able to test out a manual gearbox last year around Christmas and I was on board with how great it all was. Now, I was handed the keys to another MX-5 recently and since I reviewed it pretty much before, there was a major difference. Sitting there between the seats is a gear lever to an automatic transmission. So, my question I had to ask was this; is it just as good as the manual transmission? Let's find out after a long-winded answer since I love chatting about cars. If you want to know my thoughts on the MX-5 as a whole, here I the link to my last review. It is still relevant here.

Exterior Styling

Other than the color of this MX-5 since the last one and the scenery, this is pretty much the same design and all as the last model I reviewed. So, these pictures don't prove much except for showing off the scenery. Well, not entirely true. The MX-5 looks great like always. But if you're wondering where these photos were taken, it was up at the Adirondack Chair in Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania on Route 191.

Interior Design

As with the last MX-5, the interior still looks the same except for that automatic transmission gear lever. The seats are comfortable like before and they're heated. Funny enough, they're probably one of the better-heated seats I have sat in for quite some time.

Pricing and Options

So, how much more is this model compared to the manual version? Well, the difference in price between both models I have driven is that this one is almost $2,500 cheaper. That probably due to the extra carbon fiber on the other model. The total price of this comes to $34,565. That not too bad. The safety features and comfort and convenience package is the same as the other model, which here is the link to read it.

Performance

Now, this is really where it matters. I have said before that the MX-5 is well-balanced. Little did I really know how great it is until I took it up to the mountains where it shined brighter than police lights in a rearview mirror. On the winding twisting roads, the MX-5 was the same grandmother who is seeing their grand-kids on the holidays and hugging them. But she's the extra squeezing kind when it comes to her favorites. When in "Sport" mode the paddle shifters, although they're placed a little further from the fingertips than what I like, make the gear changes quicker than I could have ever expected. Steering is sharp. Braking is great. And ride comfort was as good as I remembered.

A Moment of Your Time

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Conclusion

So, is the automatic transmission just as good as the manual gearbox? To sum it up, no it is not. But in the same breath, I say to not underestimate it. Sure, it is not as fun as pushing in the clutch and changing the gears into the right place on your own, the flick of the paddle shifter is only a bit less of a satisfying feeling. I can appreciate what the automatic transmission can do in terms of performance. I'd still buy the manual gearbox though.

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