Five-Point Inspection: 2014 Mazda MX-5 Club

4. Entry Model Isn’t the Same

It’s true that Mazda will sell you an MX-5 for $23,720 but the base model is missing components that castrate the car. . . not that it’s well hung in the first place. That’s what I meant earlier by calling the MX-5 frustratingly expensive.

At $28,665 you’re getting a six-speed manual transmission, limited-slip differential and a convertible hard top that all might as well be essential components if you ever plan on visiting a race track. And you really, really should because even for its lack of power and loosey-goosey manners, you’re never going to drive anything quite like it.