Today's cars come with a vast array of toys and extras to relieve boredom.
Many happy hours can be spent, for instance, trying to find the button that switches off the traffic information. Or stopping the search from hunting down obscure radio stations that think Russel Brand is a comedian.
Elsewhere there is air suspension to play with, reversing cameras, computers that could have flown Apollo 13 without the need for Tom Hanks and, even though I have never met anyone who uses it, cruise control.
And if you get too distracted there’s a Citroen that wakes dozy drivers by assaulting them in the bottom with a pneumatic hammer.
But not in the Mazda MX5 roadster.
The MX5 takes harks back to good, old fashioned, two seater, missionary position motoring. Pass the cloth cap, Alice.
The original 1300cc MX5 was a phenomenon. It became the world’s best selling sports car and took us back to the days of MG Midgets and Spitfires without the premature death element.
It was also a tiny bit limp wristed, inclined to come over all hairdresser and fluffy.
Not the roadster. It’s been to the gym, flared its arches and developed some interesting bulges
Beneath the skirts there is a choice of six-speed two-litre or five-speed 1.8i. Neither are frighteningly fast but both are fun. Do you remember fun?
The 1800cc takes 9.6 seconds to reach 60mph but it is rock solid, suitably raucous open topped motoring. There is, you should be told no room inside for anything except two seats.
Oh yes, the top. How fast can you get it up? So simple and so quick, manual release and two button operation. Brilliant.
The Roadster does have some equipment. There’s a computer to tell you what century you are driving in, traction control and electric windows. But there’s no need for Citroen style buttock battering.You will feel the cats eyes if you cross them. All of them.
The thing is the technology is hidden behind good, solid engineering and non-digital styling that many techno-nerd drivers would see as poor value at £19,500.
Those who know will see it as simple driving pleasure.
How quickly can you get it up?
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