The World-Renowned Shootout: A Battle of the MX-5s

It's time for one of our world-renowned shootouts, where we settle those pub debates once and for all. Today's matchup pits two contenders against each other, but there's a catch - our shootouts require two cars that are quite similar to go head-to-head. Unfortunately, the new MX-5 doesn't have any rivals in its class, making it impossible to find a suitable opponent.

To get around this issue, we've decided to put the new MX-5 up against itself. That's right; we'll be using a Mark 1 MX-5 launched in 1990 as the second car. This particular model proved that you didn't need a blank check and big power to have fun driving an MX-5. Finding an original one, however, has proven to be tricky until now.

We've been fortunate enough to find Suzanne, who had bought this Mark 1 MX-5 only a week earlier. She's excited to see if the new MX-5 is any quicker than hers, and she's more than happy to let us test it on the track. "I'm a massive MX-5 man," she says. "It's brilliant right enough!" We're thrilled to have Suzanne along for this adventure, as she's promised to keep an eye on us (and herself) throughout the session.

As we take to the track, Suzanne warns that we might need to be cautious - after all, our Mark 1 MX-5 weighs just over a thousand kilograms. But with its beautiful chassis and non-ABS brakes, it's clear that this car is still a blast to drive. We hit 60 miles per hour in a straight line, and it's impressive how much fun we can have without needing a huge amount of power.

As we get underway, Suzanne seems particularly eager to show off her driving skills. "Oh Oh Suzanne I feel dreadful mrs. Hill car what is it lighting this is in your own car that you paid your own good money for with some nuts to the wheel," she exclaims. "It's brilliant! It's good to see what I can do because I can do anything like this." We chuckle at her enthusiasm, knowing that she's got a natural talent behind the wheel.

Meanwhile, our host is getting ready for his own spin in the new MX-5. He mentions losing power and having trouble with the brakes - but he also notes that he's got ABS, power steering, and a big spin on this car. "I had to make up for that slight over-exuberant drive," he admits. "I drove it so hard the roof came off poor body roll." Ouch! We feel sorry for him, knowing that he pushed the car too hard.

Now that we've both had our turns behind the wheel, it's time to see which car comes out on top. The new MX-5 is ahead by point six of a second at the radar, and at the hairpin, it's still in the lead. After tallying up the results, we can confirm that the new MX-5 has won overall by just over a second.

But what does this mean for our two competitors? Will Suzanne be disappointed to see her Mark 1 MX-5 beaten by its newer counterpart? Or will she take it as a challenge to improve her driving skills and come back stronger next time? One thing's for sure - we can't wait to find out.

"WEBVTTKind: captionsLanguage: ennow it's time for the part of the show where we settle those pub debates once and for all and find out what's quickest yes you've guessed it it's time for one of our world-renowned shootouts well first up as a particularly stormy Anglesey is the new master mx-5 which gives us a problem because our shootouts require two cars that are quite similar to go head-to-head but the mx-5 hasn't got any rivals where else can you buy a sweet handling little roadster with genuine sportscar performance for under 16 grand there is nothing for it we'd have to put the car up against itself this is a mark 1 mx-5 launched in 1990 it proved you didn't need a blank check and big power to have fun finding an original one proved tricky until we found Suzanne who had bought this one only a week earlier she can't wait to see if the new mx-5 is any quicker than hers which will involve me thrashing them on the track for some unknown reason she insisted on keeping an eye on me who you Popeye or something honey ha ha that's my kind of workout you're right it's so sweet because it hasn't got a huge amount of power you can still have so much fun with it it's got such a beautiful chassis the brakes there's no ABS sometimes be a bit cautious here weighs just over a thousand kilograms and it will hit 60 miles an hour providing you can keep it in a straight line Oh Oh Suzanne I feel dreadful mrs. Hill car what is it lighting this is in your own car that you paid your own good money for with some nuts to the wheel it's brilliant it's good to see what I can do because I can do anything like this such such such such good fun I'm a massive mx-5 man it's brilliant right enough miss Masterson as far exactly Hey losing power we take one minute nine-point-six you're going to ask my boss for some new toys time for the new one first thing I notice hitting the brakes I've got ABS turning the wheel I've also got power steering and a big spin clearly I had to make up for that slight over-exuberant and drive the car heart in fact I drove it so hard the roof came off poor body roll I hate to say it actually right I think we're done I've talked about Damien yes sorry time to see which is quicker this one or you want at the radar the new car is ahead by point six of a second and at the hairpin it's still ahead winning overall by just over a second younow it's time for the part of the show where we settle those pub debates once and for all and find out what's quickest yes you've guessed it it's time for one of our world-renowned shootouts well first up as a particularly stormy Anglesey is the new master mx-5 which gives us a problem because our shootouts require two cars that are quite similar to go head-to-head but the mx-5 hasn't got any rivals where else can you buy a sweet handling little roadster with genuine sportscar performance for under 16 grand there is nothing for it we'd have to put the car up against itself this is a mark 1 mx-5 launched in 1990 it proved you didn't need a blank check and big power to have fun finding an original one proved tricky until we found Suzanne who had bought this one only a week earlier she can't wait to see if the new mx-5 is any quicker than hers which will involve me thrashing them on the track for some unknown reason she insisted on keeping an eye on me who you Popeye or something honey ha ha that's my kind of workout you're right it's so sweet because it hasn't got a huge amount of power you can still have so much fun with it it's got such a beautiful chassis the brakes there's no ABS sometimes be a bit cautious here weighs just over a thousand kilograms and it will hit 60 miles an hour providing you can keep it in a straight line Oh Oh Suzanne I feel dreadful mrs. Hill car what is it lighting this is in your own car that you paid your own good money for with some nuts to the wheel it's brilliant it's good to see what I can do because I can do anything like this such such such such good fun I'm a massive mx-5 man it's brilliant right enough miss Masterson as far exactly Hey losing power we take one minute nine-point-six you're going to ask my boss for some new toys time for the new one first thing I notice hitting the brakes I've got ABS turning the wheel I've also got power steering and a big spin clearly I had to make up for that slight over-exuberant and drive the car heart in fact I drove it so hard the roof came off poor body roll I hate to say it actually right I think we're done I've talked about Damien yes sorry time to see which is quicker this one or you want at the radar the new car is ahead by point six of a second and at the hairpin it's still ahead winning overall by just over a second you\n"