With a removable roof and the chuckability of a Frisbee, everyone loves a roadster. Very few cars can subsidise more sentiment of independence than a well-heeled Mazda MX-5 or MG F, but which one is worthy of your garage space this winter? Time to find out…
Thanks to bonkers legislation from America, the affordable roadster was all but dead by the time the era of shoulder pads and Dallas came to an end. Sure, Caterham and Morgan struggled through with composure and vehicles that continued to allure a tiny market share, but for fun on a budget there was very little to be had, bar some third hand British creations with all the reliability of a politician.
Things are very different today, with a huge selection of drop tops available for very little money, often under a grand, but one particular roadster is responsible for the second-coming and has an almighty following as a result - the globally adored Mazda MX-5.
The MGF owes its existence to the Japanese superstar, although it’s no tracing-paper copycat, with an altered take on the two-seater format MG made its own throughout the 1950s and 1960s. However, for your money and affection, can the plucky Brit see off the colossal giant that is world’s best-selling soft top? It’s Ale against Sake in this week’s Clash of the Classics.
Looks
No one can seriously say the MGF isn’t pretty; because it is. It looks like a playful puppy, darting about, seeking a belly rub, with big eyes begging for your approval. There is no aggression or drama to be found with a neatly balanced shape and face you can give a name to, entering your heart like a fast-found friend. Captivating all that we Brits love about our cars, it’s easy to see why the MGF sold in huge numbers.
Yet, it looks heftier, and ultimately slower, when compared to the MX-5. The Mazda draws on the sporty and sharp lines of the Lotus Elan, with bulges in the right place and millimetre precise measurements including a gentle dip along the doors and faint impression of a waistline over the back wheel arches. Unlike the MGF, the MX-5 still looks fresh today, with those pop up headlights a serious and cool bonus.
Power
There is a minuscule 4bhp between these two cherished models, with 114bhp offered from the Mazda and 118bhp from the MG. Where there is a difference however, the MGF can sprint to 60mph nearly one full second faster than the MX-5. The Brit also holds a higher top speed, capable of propelling two people to 120mph, leaving the Mazda behind as it wheezes to little over 110mph.
Handling
We won’t beat about the bush with this, as we can wager you know the champion for this round. Yet, what is surprising is that the end result is no whitewash. Ok, we will admit that the suspension system on the MGF is remarkably close to the infamous Austin Allegro, but on a dry, twisting road the little MG grips like you wouldn’t believe. It requires serious limit pushing to engage an oversteer-based slide, and even when screeching around on full tilt the body doesn’t roll badly.
The MX-5 is aided by near-perfect weight distribution and ingenious suspension design that no one has bettered since – no number of aftermarket kits can enhance the experience any better than Mazda have provided themselves.
Although it’s an incredibly close run round, the Mazda wins out in the end due to the lack of excitement in the MGF’s suspension. It’s been said that the driving familiarity of the MG is more virtual reality than reality, akin to playing a round in Forza or Gran Turismo – this may well appeal to some, but not to us.
Interior
The Mazda is certainly scrubbed with the retro-brush, trying to inter the magic from history’s previous successful roadsters. What this means is that the MX-5 comes across as minimalistic, looking a tad boring to those first jumping into the cabin. The MG, on the other hand, offers higher showroom appeal with snazzy seat covers and a more aesthetically pleasing dashboard – but it doesn’t claim this round for one very good reason: the Mazda is far more comfortable.
Although the MX-5 is a mere inch lower, it somehow accommodates taller and wider people. The crux of the MGF’s failure boils down to an intrusive bar located at the base of the backrest – which has been known to leave a lateral crease across a rather sensitive area of the body. The phrase ‘ass-shelf’ was pretty much coined thanks to the MGF.
Living With Them
Both of these cars are adored, and as you can image therefore have various owners clubs up and down the country. They are both cheap to run, with MPG figures averaging between 34 and 36 miles per gallon and parts availability is brilliant.
However, the MG holds a nasty little secret, as while the MX-5 is brilliantly simple and allows drive-way DIY on nearly every aspect of the vehicle, the MGF quite simply doesn’t. Due in no small part to the complicated suspension set up on models pre-2001 and engines playing hide and seek under the mid-engined position, potential DIY jobs have killed these cars off in frightening numbers, with many owners still rocking back and forth in the corner of their shed.
Verdict
For those craving a classic, both the MX-5 and the MGF offer fun, looks and access to friendly support clubs. If you don’t fancy the idea of flaking bodywork, troublesome electrics or out-dated (or lack of) driving aids from older classics, these fit the bill better than any of their immediate rivals.
However, although we adore the MGF to an almost criminal point, the MX-5 offers a good old-fashioned driving experience that the little MG simply can’t match. Pair this with a more comfortable interior and those epic pop-up headlamps and our winner is apparent.
Long live the MX-5. But you should buy an MGF too, just to keep your MX-5 company – honestly, you won’t regret purchasing either of these beauties.
Get a look at the Mazda MX5s for sale on CCFS.