For years and years Mazda MX-5 has been the benchmark to measure driving fun. This little Japanese roadster built using classic British sports car recipe is simple, honest, and undiluted. And that is why it is so great. Next year there will be an all-new model, but before that comes along, Mazda released a special edition of the current generation, known as the MX-5 Club.

In this video Carlos Lago takes the Club for a spin and ponders what make the Miata such a favorite among the enthusiasts, and concludes that it is because of the fact that even though the car has changed over the years, its philosophy is still the same.

The Miata is no longer the only fun sports car out there, though. There is the Toyota GT86 which offers the same sort of driving fun, and there is a new Alfa Spider in the works – based on the next MX-5 – that will add a bit of Italian style to the Mazda’s perfect blend of fun and reliability.