Mazda MX-5 already a big sales hit

Mazda has sold out of all 300 of the special launch editions of its new look MX-5 sports car.

Customers have been queuing on the pre-launch website for the iconic sports car which went on sale this week (November 1) with nearly 500 orders in total since the site went live in August.

By tracking orders, Mazda UK knows that men edge out women buyers by 57.4% to 42.6% while the most popular colour is red – over 50%, followed by grey at 21%.

It is also clear that the overwhelming majority are replacing their ‘old’ MX-5s with new – not surprising since members of the MX-5 Owners’ Club were given exclusive access to the car electronically from July.

Such was the interest in the new sports car in this first month of availability, that new members joined the Owners’ Club so that they, too, could start to place orders of the special launch edition.

Family doctor Keith Hancock and his wife, Sue, of Hindhead, Surrey, have ordered their second MX-5 – it’s a 2.0i Sport in Galaxy Grey - having had hours of fun in their first MX-5, bought in 2002.

"The old MX-5 had one or two shortcomings from my point of view, which the new one hasn’t," said Dr Hancock, aged 58, who is 5ft 11ins tall.

"There’s more room in the cab. I felt tight on leg room in the old MX-5 and around the shoulders. The windscreen rake is better, too. I am looking through the middle of the windscreen.

"Our new MX-5 is slightly more powerful with a lot more torque so you don’t have to change gear quite so often. I like the lines much better, it’s chunkier and more aggressive. It’s going to be great."

School assistant Carole Hunt is trading in her much-loved 15-year-old Japanese import Mazda Unos Roadster for a new MX-5 2.0i, also in Galaxy Grey.

"I love my Mazda and decided to treat myself to a new one," said Mrs Hunt, aged 58, of Camberley, Surrey. "I like the way the new MX-5 bodywork bulges over the wheels and the metal around the gear lever inside."

The launch Special Edition is based on the Sport model but with lots of extras and red leather trim.

It costs £19,995 and potential buyers are asked to place a "sensible" deposit, typically £1,000.

MX-5 pricing for the five-model range was announced as the public pre-launch website went live on August 1 starting at £15,600 for the 1.8i rising to £18,900 for the 2.0i Sport.

"We want to maintain the MX-5’s position as the affordable roadster," said Mazda sales director Jeremy Thomson. "We have 55,000 MX-5 owners in the UK who we want to keep and get them to move onto the third generation of one of the world’s most iconic sports cars."