By Alexandros S.
It's my 26th birthday, a cold though shiny day (a typical mid-February day in Athens) and I find myself driving my new convertible (top down) on the road from the northern suburbs to the south where my home is. I have just taken delivery of my first sportscar and I can hardly believe it. In fact I am so thrilled that I actually forget to wear the hat and sunscreen I had bought and brought with me for the occasion, leading to a lovely sunburn after an hour's drive under the mid-day sun to reach home.
You see, such days, are very special for us petrolheads. It is like taking your first step as a baby or going out on your first date. Despite the fact that I had been a genuine petrolhead from an early age, got my driving licence as soon as I turned 18, even owned a couple of automobiles, I never had the opportunity to own a proper sportscar. Cars of all types and sizes often have a "Sport" flavour, incorporating mostly visual and sometimes functional modifications that promise a "sportier feeling" but not necessarily making them sportscars. All true sportscars share one characteristic: They are designed and built with performance and driving pleasure in mind, not luggage space and comfort.
So here I am, at my place, with a sunburn (plus a matching headache) and the keys to my silver Mazda MX5 Mk2.5 "Sporty" edition. Yes, the proper thing, with an 1.8lt VVt engine, mazda big brake kit, bilstein sport suspension and a limited slip differential. At 146bhp it's certainly not a pocket rocket but the low weight, FR setup, perfect weight distribution and chasis characteristics to die for, make up for the lack of power. After all, a car doesn't have to be ultra fast to be fun and this one is such a great example.
