Discussion
The Hypno-Toad said:
dxg said:
All the representatives point blank refused to acknowledge the possibility of a hard top (even when the light on the dash was pointed out to them), but I still think I'll wait a bit to see what gets revealed to make an informed decision.
Having checked both the 1.5 and 2.0 instrument binnacles and the owners manual, there is NO warning light for a potential hard top. There is a warning light for the Active Bonnet Airbag which looks quite a lot like the MK3 warning light for hood issues, so it might be that both you and the representatives were mistaken. 
at the far left of the panel. It's a picture of the car with an arrow with two directions on it. I wish I'd taken a picture of my own now...
snotrag said:
Interesting when I was there that lots of the, er, older generation, appeared to be asking about the likelihood of a hardtop.
Whereas I cannot think of anything worse - the car does not need it. The softtop is tiny, it is fully lined and has a rigid top section anyway, incredibly easy to work (the best yet) and looks great. Very good quality Mohair, and a big, heated glass window.
My thoughts exactly!! The last thing it needs is a hardtop to eat into the bootspace, add lots of weight, not work when you are not at a standstill, ruin the clean lines, and add another thing that can (and does) get broken/stuck. Whereas I cannot think of anything worse - the car does not need it. The softtop is tiny, it is fully lined and has a rigid top section anyway, incredibly easy to work (the best yet) and looks great. Very good quality Mohair, and a big, heated glass window.
I think the soft top on the ND is the best one on any new car right now, as it is high quality and manual. Even the "crime" worries are unfounded - the top section is made of aluminium no-one is going to cut your soft top anyway because there is no glovebox to steal anything from!
dpop said:
snotrag said:
Interesting when I was there that lots of the, er, older generation, appeared to be asking about the likelihood of a hardtop.
Whereas I cannot think of anything worse - the car does not need it. The softtop is tiny, it is fully lined and has a rigid top section anyway, incredibly easy to work (the best yet) and looks great. Very good quality Mohair, and a big, heated glass window.
My thoughts exactly!! The last thing it needs is a hardtop to eat into the bootspace, add lots of weight, not work when you are not at a standstill, ruin the clean lines, and add another thing that can (and does) get broken/stuck. Whereas I cannot think of anything worse - the car does not need it. The softtop is tiny, it is fully lined and has a rigid top section anyway, incredibly easy to work (the best yet) and looks great. Very good quality Mohair, and a big, heated glass window.
I think the soft top on the ND is the best one on any new car right now, as it is high quality and manual. Even the "crime" worries are unfounded - the top section is made of aluminium no-one is going to cut your soft top anyway because there is no glovebox to steal anything from!
SFO said:
dpop said:
think the soft top on the ND is the best one on any new car right now, as it is high quality and manual.
+1a thing of real beauty and ingenuity
For ages now I have been wondering what new car I could get that would actually be fun to drive at (mostly) legal speeds. To me sounds like I may have found a worthy successor to my much missed 205 1.6 gti. Already talked with the missus about going on touring adventures next summer.
A 1.5L SE or SE-L sounds perfect to me. Will pay Mazda a visit in the not to distant future.
In the 1.5L is SE the only trim level you can not spec an LSD? I find the configurator a bit confusing.
A 1.5L SE or SE-L sounds perfect to me. Will pay Mazda a visit in the not to distant future.
In the 1.5L is SE the only trim level you can not spec an LSD? I find the configurator a bit confusing.
xu5 said:
For ages now I have been wondering what new car I could get that would actually be fun to drive at (mostly) legal speeds. To me sounds like I may have found a worthy successor to my much missed 205 1.6 gti. Already talked with the missus about going on touring adventures next summer.
A 1.5L SE or SE-L sounds perfect to me. Will pay Mazda a visit in the not to distant future.
In the 1.5L is SE the only trim level you can not spec an LSD? I find the configurator a bit confusing.
You can only have an LSD on the 2.0 models. Sadly it can't be speced on any 1.5'sA 1.5L SE or SE-L sounds perfect to me. Will pay Mazda a visit in the not to distant future.
In the 1.5L is SE the only trim level you can not spec an LSD? I find the configurator a bit confusing.
snotrag said:
You will, IMO. and the power, particularly if you imagine two up, with a boot full of gear. The 1.5 wont' cut it from what I've experienced. Get the 2.0 with the diff in, its hilarious and significantly faster.
I will certainly try both engines. If I do get an MX5 it will be my primary car and the wife will have a hatchback for her and shopping etc, and I will have plenty of time to my self for spirited driving. I do find it appealing wringing the most from a small but zesty engine but I shall see.Thinking about the specs and costs, is the NAV option a bit overpriced at £600? You can get a decent satnav from halfrauds/amazon for a ton nowadays with lifetime updates not just 3 years. Just wondering if a car without nav would be seen as less attractive come resell time? Personally I am loathe to opt for nav at that price or am I just being a skinflint?
Mr-B said:
Thinking about the specs and costs, is the NAV option a bit overpriced at £600? You can get a decent satnav from halfrauds/amazon for a ton nowadays with lifetime updates not just 3 years. Just wondering if a car without nav would be seen as less attractive come resell time? Personally I am loathe to opt for nav at that price or am I just being a skinflint?
The last two (non MX5) cars I've bought both have built in SatNav and it never gets used. As soon as a car is 3 or 4 years old, the sat-nav is out of date, even if the maps themselves are kept current The calculation algorithms in my Jaaaaaag, for example, put so much weight on Motorways, that it would take me off the A1 onto the M62 and then M18 before joining up with the A1 again, simply because they were motorways (and that was after I'd tweaked the speed settings so it would do 60 on a motorway and 70 on a dual carriage way)
so no, for me, a nav system on a second hand car certainly ISN'T a selling point
dpop said:
snotrag said:
Interesting when I was there that lots of the, er, older generation, appeared to be asking about the likelihood of a hardtop.
Whereas I cannot think of anything worse - the car does not need it. The softtop is tiny, it is fully lined and has a rigid top section anyway, incredibly easy to work (the best yet) and looks great. Very good quality Mohair, and a big, heated glass window.
My thoughts exactly!! The last thing it needs is a hardtop to eat into the bootspace, add lots of weight, not work when you are not at a standstill, ruin the clean lines, and add another thing that can (and does) get broken/stuck. Whereas I cannot think of anything worse - the car does not need it. The softtop is tiny, it is fully lined and has a rigid top section anyway, incredibly easy to work (the best yet) and looks great. Very good quality Mohair, and a big, heated glass window.
I think the soft top on the ND is the best one on any new car right now, as it is high quality and manual. Even the "crime" worries are unfounded - the top section is made of aluminium no-one is going to cut your soft top anyway because there is no glovebox to steal anything from!
I went for an extended drive with a 1.5 on Saturday in East Lothian. I thought it was a great car and on the twisty roads it carried its speed well and returned good MPG the entire time. I've yet to drive a 2.0 one yet but I felt the 1.5 was quick enough although I'm used to a 1.6 mk1 so not expecting the kind of speeds I get with my RX7.
I'll likely not get one for at least another year or two as I am sorted out a house deposit but will be looking for one afterwards so hopefully they'll be some good aftermarket parts made by that point
I'll likely not get one for at least another year or two as I am sorted out a house deposit but will be looking for one afterwards so hopefully they'll be some good aftermarket parts made by that point
drove a 2L Sport Nav and 1.5 SE-L today. 2L car was slightly unsettled, yet mostly at home on London roads. The engine felt strong, but not as enthusiastic as the 1.5. I suspect 2L will loosen up and feel more responsive in time. 1.5 was zingy and zesty from the very start. On reflection, you do feel the 50NM torque deficit of the 1.5. Both brand new cars.
SE-L suspension is appreciably more compliant, and much better for our terrible roads. No doubt the 16" wheels helped too.
1.5 SE-L is a peach; eager, compliant yet hangs on with great determination. Both cars lean but after that have superb body control.
Most of all, they feel light and athletic in the long distance runner sense.
To make a similar rate of progress in the 1.5 as the 2L, you need to be about 1.5k rpm higher (assuming same gear).
I was smiling a lot .. both cars seem to pivot from your bum, and the lack of inertia is wonderful.
when set for my height, I found the seat about an inch too high .. if there wasn't the inclined seat rail, it would be perfect.
2L makes more sense for me as its "operating range" is wider .. for example, it would cope better with fast motorway runs.
dealer is able to get seats and door cards trimmed in good quality (the sample book was anyway!) leather (whole spectrum of about 15 colours) for £1000 .. which works perfectly for me, as I don't want to spend £3400 just to get tan leather seats (not interested in NAV or Sport extras).
if I go ahead, it will probably be a 2L SE-L (you get the LSD and the strut brace but not the sport suspension) in meteor grey with the £1000 UK fitted dark tan leather interior. the 17" wheels of the 2L will hopefully sharpen up the standard suspension just that little bit to make the car just right. I reckon it is the sweetspot for me.
found the steering accurate, but just that little bit too light. Also a bit dull at lower townish speeds. Much better with improved feel and weighting when throwing the car around windy roads.
overall, a superb little car, in an age of bloated metal.
PS. the Sport Nav rear parking sensors looked terrible, very last century. And you don't need them, the rear of the car is about 5 feet from where you are sitting, easy to judge.
PPS. There is an alcantara red stitched accessory for the dash bit (normal plastic in SE-L; soft covering and red stitched in Sport) for around £270 (ex fitting).
SE-L suspension is appreciably more compliant, and much better for our terrible roads. No doubt the 16" wheels helped too.
1.5 SE-L is a peach; eager, compliant yet hangs on with great determination. Both cars lean but after that have superb body control.
Most of all, they feel light and athletic in the long distance runner sense.
To make a similar rate of progress in the 1.5 as the 2L, you need to be about 1.5k rpm higher (assuming same gear).
I was smiling a lot .. both cars seem to pivot from your bum, and the lack of inertia is wonderful.
when set for my height, I found the seat about an inch too high .. if there wasn't the inclined seat rail, it would be perfect.
2L makes more sense for me as its "operating range" is wider .. for example, it would cope better with fast motorway runs.
dealer is able to get seats and door cards trimmed in good quality (the sample book was anyway!) leather (whole spectrum of about 15 colours) for £1000 .. which works perfectly for me, as I don't want to spend £3400 just to get tan leather seats (not interested in NAV or Sport extras).
if I go ahead, it will probably be a 2L SE-L (you get the LSD and the strut brace but not the sport suspension) in meteor grey with the £1000 UK fitted dark tan leather interior. the 17" wheels of the 2L will hopefully sharpen up the standard suspension just that little bit to make the car just right. I reckon it is the sweetspot for me.
found the steering accurate, but just that little bit too light. Also a bit dull at lower townish speeds. Much better with improved feel and weighting when throwing the car around windy roads.
overall, a superb little car, in an age of bloated metal.
PS. the Sport Nav rear parking sensors looked terrible, very last century. And you don't need them, the rear of the car is about 5 feet from where you are sitting, easy to judge.
PPS. There is an alcantara red stitched accessory for the dash bit (normal plastic in SE-L; soft covering and red stitched in Sport) for around £270 (ex fitting).
Edited by SFO on Sunday 30th August 00:15
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