IT’S TIME TO put my assertion to the test. A few years ago I declared to fellow staffers at MOTOR HQ that I’d rather live with a Mazda MX-5 every day over a Toyota 86/Subaru BRZ. This was around the time former Editor, Dylan Campbell, was running a base model manual 86 as a long termer. It’s a car I also enjoyed plenty of seat time in. My theory being that the 86 was more of a chore at slow speeds than the iconic roaster.
Fast forward through a pandemic to current times and I’m now the ‘owner’ of a Mazda MX-5 GT RS for the next few months. Or, in a roundabout way, it’s the pseudo ‘putting my money where my mouth is’ scenario. What you should also know is that I’m 186cm tall, or 6’1” on the old scale, and currently running a body weighed down by more than a few Covid kegs. Therefore I’m going to thoroughly test the ingress and egress of the diminutive interior.
Continue reading your story on the app
Continue reading your story in the magazine
VOLKSWAGEN GOLF R
Golf R brings full-fat power and a gamut of new tricks
SNOW JOKE
AFTER A SNOWSTORM DERAILS OUR AUTOBAHN AMBITIONS, WE TAKE THE PORSCHE CAYENNE GT DOWN A ROAD LESS TRAVELLED
POLESTAR 2
An EV with performance in mind... now that's Swede
LAP OF THE GODS
IT'S AUSTRALIA'S MOST ICONIC RACE TRACK AND IT DEMANDS RESPECT. LUFFY'S HERE TO GUIDE YOU ON A HOT LAP
M DASH
HOW DOES THE NEW M240i XDRIVE SHAPE UP AGAINST A GENUINE MUNICH LEGEND - THE 1M COUPE? WE TRACE THE BLOODLINE
MAN OF SPEED
We sit down for an exclusive chat with the man who saved global GT racing. He doesn't hold back, so duck for cover
LION KINGS
WHEN IT PUTS ITS MIND TO IT, PEUGEOT 1 WINS LE MANS THE BEAUTIFUL 905 AND BRUTAL 908 ARE TESTAMENT TO THAT. CAN THE STUNNING NEW HYBRID 9X8 HONOUR THEIR LEGACY?
LAMBORGHINI HURACAN TECNICA
A short step towards a long goodbye
BLESSED IS THE EYE OF THE BEHOLDER
FERRARI'S SUPERMODEL ROMA MEETS VICTORIA'S NASTIEST ROAD. GAME ON
WHEN WE WERE KINGS
THE NISSAN R35 GT-R AND THE AUDI R8 SCORED THE ONLY DEAD HEAT IN MOTOR’S PCOTY HISTORY. NOW THEY’RE BOWING OUT OF THE AUSSIE MARKET TOGETHER
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon
Mazda's 1991 Le Mans victory is a fairy tale of fortitude and fortuitousness. Against the superpowers of sportscars, they stood no chance... allegedly
French Flair Gets Muddy
Peugeot re-enters the pickup space, but can it be more than niche?
Are We There Yet?
Decades after his first journey, editor and car aficionado Steve Smith recalls the seminal road trips of his life, measured out in cars and padkos
THE HOTTEST CARS TO LOOK OUT FOR IN 2022
The chip and supply chain shortages of 2021 have been difficult for automakers and consumers alike.
2022 Mazda MX-30 EV
100-mile range makes this one a tough sell.
FIVE AFFORDABLE SPORTY MIDSIZE SEDANS
Although SUVs dominate automotive sales, midsize sedans are still a practical choice given their roomy seating, respectable fuel economy and value. They’re also better able to provide sporty performance than a comparably priced SUV.
WAR PAINT
Ready for Battle
UNPRECEDENTED CONSTRUCTION
Mazda Toyota Manufacturing’s Huntsville, Ala. assembly plant overcomes multiple challenges to build safely and environmentally responsibly..
MAZDA NO. 1 IN CONSUMER REPORTS 2020 AUTO RELIABILITY SURVEY
Mazda beat traditional winners Lexus and Toyota to win top honors as the most dependable auto brand in Consumer Reports’ annual reliability survey.
MT GARAGE
Updates on our long-term fleet