Experiences for Mazda MX5

[Bibill]

Hi,

 

Tried to search for MX5 on this forum but no results. Can anyone share their experiences, both pros and cons, both auto and manual, for the facelifted 2.0l MX5? Thanks for your help.

[Weiming]

You might want to post here instead:

Miata SG

for a clearer picture.

 

From all accounts, the facelifted NC MX-5 is superior in handling compared to the original NC which handles rather poorly stock.

 

For the auto version, it comes with a folding hard top but the manual transmission is only a soft top.

[RadX]

Mazda does bring in the manual hardtop now. I am tempted to trade in my auto for it

 

ok here's my take:

 

- the car is an excellent ride in terms of handling, zoom and that little oomph when you want it.

- at corners, i do 80km/h without any problem. The tail holds well, and only in wet weather i have ever had to control an oversteer.

- fun car and the gear changes are smooth. When you need to gun, it realises that situation and downshifts.

- The paddles are fun and give you that extra edge in fast gear changes.

-

 

 

Overall, had this car for 3 years and I still live every minute of it, altho wife drives it mostly

[RadX]

oh...steering is beautiful...stiff and lovely feel, precise

[Yattokame]

had quite a long drive in a fren's mx-5

 

Quite true to their Jinba-ittai motto.

 

Need not be the most powerful car for a good driving sensation; its how well it can communicate to your senses.

 

From wiki:

 

Jinba ittai (人馬一体?, rider (jin) and horse (ba) as one (ittai)).

 

This comes the Japanese concept where the rider and horse must be as one in order for the rider to effectively deploy his weapons in battle.

 

This is the inspiration for the Mazda Miata.[1]

 

 

[Nostalgia]

This is about the pre-facelift NC - but still one of my favourite videos:

 

 

MX5 vs Greyhound challenge - Top Gear - BBC

 

[Bibill]

Went for a viewing lately and I seem to miss out the paddles on that auto MX5. The canopy is manual too, and I presume manual canopy equates to less maintenance issues and reduction of weight due to absence of canopy motors. Isn't that good for performance reasons? Very glad to see that it is a driver's car essentially, even though I find it cramped due to overweight and still amazed at how the bigger Caucasian can always squeeze in comfortably.

[Bibill]

Thanks for sharing that the design of Miata stems from the oneness of man and ride. I have driven a Toyota MR-S before and hell, how I love the grip, handling and hugging corners. Wonder if it would be better in a Miata in reality. Also, is a BMW Z4 the epitome of a roadster? Hands really itch nowsaday.

[macrosszero]

You can also consider the Honda S2000

[Weiming]

The epitome of a roadster is still the 1960s Lotus Elan. Next best thing is the Mazda MX-5 1st gen :)

 

I love the new Z4 design but man is that vehicle heavy and with so much electronic aids, methinks it is the car driving and not the driver. That is the problem with modern cars, these aids do take out a lot of the driving experience/pleasure that a driver derives from being one with the vehicle.

[Nostalgia]

Went for a viewing lately and I seem to miss out the paddles on that auto MX5. The canopy is manual too, and I presume manual canopy equates to less maintenance issues and reduction of weight due to absence of canopy motors. Isn't that good for performance reasons? Very glad to see that it is a driver's car essentially, even though I find it cramped due to overweight and still amazed at how the bigger Caucasian can always squeeze in comfortably.

 

Mazda Motors does bring in the auto with paddles. Did you view at a PI?

[Nostalgia]

You can also consider the Honda S2000

 

Gut feel is that the MX5 is an better daily-drive than the S2000, under normal traffic conditions. You'll rarely be able to reach the high revs that the S2000 needs to get near the edge of the performance envelope.

 

Of course, if you reach a smooth, clear stretch (and no speed cameras),

VTEC just kicked in, yo!

Edited September 22, 2009 by Nostalgia

[Yattokame]

The epitome of a roadster is still the 1960s Lotus Elan. Next best thing is the Mazda MX-5 1st gen :)

 

I love the new Z4 design but man is that vehicle heavy and with so much electronic aids, methinks it is the car driving and not the driver. That is the problem with modern cars, these aids do take out a lot of the driving experience/pleasure that a driver derives from being one with the vehicle.

 

I think the current Elise is more epitomical (if there's such a word).

but a bit too raw.

[Weiming]

I will take a Lotus Elan over the Elise any day if financially feasible :)

 

Amazing what a Toyota power plant can do in the right environment though. The Elise is really not very comfortable as a daily driver and I don't like the bug-eyed look nor the user-unfriendly roof.

 

The MX-5 spearheaded the revival of the roadster (or more accurately 2-seater convertibles) that gave rise to the Z3, Z4, SLK, TT, S2000, Solstice, Elise (possibly) etc.

[Duvall]

AND the manual has IHS which the auto doesn't!! With this, the car makes a nice throaty sporty sound in the cabin while being LTA-legal...

 

I had the NA. Changed to NB. Didn't like NC1. Now will wait for a year or 2 for NC2 owners to take the 1st depreciation hit! hahaha...

 

Is Mazda bringing in the one 6-speed manual with LSD? 6-speed has a more relaxed gearing on h'way. And LSD is ABSOLUTELY necessary for corners! hahaha...

 

Most value for $ roadster has to be MX-5! Z4, S2K etc all too expensive.. Maintenance is for BIG pockets too... And the other FWD open-tops are rubbish. MRS stopped production. S2K stopped production. Whereas MX-5 has sold a million pieces worldwide! Coz it's cheap to buy (relative to other RWD roadsters), cheap to maintain, cheap to service, cheap to drive (low FC), cheap to repair (buys parts from Fong Tat), good-sized boot, fast retractable hard-top, lots of tried & tested perf parts from US...

 

A pity Mazda SG decides to price the MX-5 at an unrealistic pricing. And they don't stock the 6-speed manual.

 

My advice? Don't EVER go for a test-drive if you don't want to buy it. After test-driving, you will keeping wanting to buy one! hahaha...

 

I own a 300bhp TC beast. But it is the MX-5 that makes me wake up @ 3am to take a drive to NO WHERE! It's that fun!

 

For those who think the Elise is better? It is. ONLY on the track. As a daily driver?? Massive headache!

 

Mazda does bring in the manual hardtop now. I am tempted to trade in my auto for it

 

ok here's my take:

 

- the car is an excellent ride in terms of handling, zoom and that little oomph when you want it.

- at corners, i do 80km/h without any problem. The tail holds well, and only in wet weather i have ever had to control an oversteer.

- fun car and the gear changes are smooth. When you need to gun, it realises that situation and downshifts.

- The paddles are fun and give you that extra edge in fast gear changes.

-

 

 

Overall, had this car for 3 years and I still live every minute of it, altho wife drives it mostly

Edited September 22, 2009 by Duvall

[RadX]

AND the manual has IHS which the auto doesn't!! With this, the car makes a nice throaty sporty sound in the cabin while being LTA-legal...

 

I had the NA. Changed to NB. Didn't like NC1. Now will wait for a year or 2 for NC2 owners to take the 1st depreciation hit! hahaha...

 

Is Mazda bringing in the one 6-speed manual with LSD? 6-speed has a more relaxed gearing on h'way. And LSD is ABSOLUTELY necessary for corners! hahaha...

 

Most value for $ roadster has to be MX-5! Z4, S2K etc all too expensive.. Maintenance is for BIG pockets too... And the other FWD open-tops are rubbish. MRS stopped production. S2K stopped production. Whereas MX-5 has sold a million pieces worldwide! Coz it's cheap to buy (relative to other RWD roadsters), cheap to maintain, cheap to service, cheap to drive (low FC), cheap to repair (buys parts from Fong Tat), good-sized boot, fast retractable hard-top, lots of tried & tested perf parts from US...

 

A pity Mazda SG decides to price the MX-5 at an unrealistic pricing. And they don't stock the 6-speed manual.

 

My advice? Don't EVER go for a test-drive if you don't want to buy it. After test-driving, you will keeping wanting to buy one! hahaha...

 

I own a 300bhp TC beast. But it is the MX-5 that makes me wake up @ 3am to take a drive to NO WHERE! It's that fun!

 

For those who think the Elise is better? It is. ONLY on the track. As a daily driver?? Massive headache!

 

yeah...jus luv the rawness of the engine...and RWD makes for the fun.

 

quoted teh normal rate but haven negotiated yet. Not sure if the LSD option is in but manual have to indent

[Yattokame]

For those who think the Elise is better? It is. ONLY on the track. As a daily driver?? Massive headache!

 

Me! me!

I will still want an Elise! LOL!

I want a massive headache! LOL!

 

it's just my dream car since I first test drove one in my uni days.

[Duvall]

Hee... Dream car and real life are quite diff... Tat's y most of the Elise owners I know have it as a 2nd car... Try getting in and out of it 5 times a day... EVERYDAY....

 

After I had one for a week while my friend was away... all the "grand illusions" disappeared! hahaha...

 

Me! me!

I will still want an Elise! LOL!

I want a massive headache! LOL!

 

it's just my dream car since I first test drove one in my uni days.