RE: MX-5 gets a refresh

[menguin]

em177 said:

That would absolutely destroy the whole appeal of the car if they go FI in my opinion. The mx5 has always been about ragging every last inch out of a normally aspirated, revvy engine. A turbo motor just doesn't suit the cars character. I've had several Mk1's and Mk2's and will consider getting into a stripped Mk3 when the prices drop a little further.

Edit as didn't notice you said 'turbo option'

They did a turbo version of the Mk1, so it wouldn't exactly be out of character for them. I think a turbo option would appeal to more buyers - and more buyers means more cars sold, which can only be a good thing.

Yours,

A totally unbiased MX5 turbo owner

[Trevor M]

Who cares about the 2014 Miata when there's going to be a 2014 Alfa Romeo spider with all the good bits and some real Italian style and soul? And here in North America! That is very exciting news to contemplate.

[steviegunn]

menguin said:

They did a turbo version of the Mk1, so it wouldn't exactly be out of character for them. I think a turbo option would appeal to more buyers - and more buyers means more cars sold, which can only be a good thing.

Yours,

A totally unbiased MX5 turbo owner

There is Turbo history for the MX5, the MK1 BBR Turbo was UK dealer supported, the MK2.5 Mazdaspeed Turbo was US/Oz/JDM dealer supported, I had a Turbo'd MK1 for 5 years and it was a hoot, more than enough power and off boost pretty economical, a factory Turbo 1.4 or 1.6 would make a lot of sense, I still want them to do a proper hardtop version to go up against the GT86/BRZ, shouldn't be an issue for Mazda now the RX-8 is dead.

[SystemParanoia]

Kong said:

3 facelifts are starting to become normal, Audi did it with the last A3/A6 and the Aygo/C1/107 thing has recently has a second restyle as well. Cheaper than making a new car I guess!

rover was slated for doing a few facelifts

[rfn]

Hmmm..
Looks alright I suppose, but I'd argue that the Mk3.5 looks "nicer" than this new "3.75". And arguably the Mk3 looks better than the 3.5 too...

I'll stick with mine (3.5) thanks :-) Like the addition of Nav though.

[Herman Toothrot]

Question to the mk3 owners. Do they rust like the mk1's & mk2's?

I thought the mk3 ugly when it came out but now I quite like all the versions once lowered to the correct designed ride height rather than the pedestrian impact point scoring silly high ride height.

[Kolbenkopp]

Looks worse than before IMVHO. Like most facelifts really. Still not so bad overall compared to what else is out there, and better looking than the NB -- but still sad -- seeing they had it right first time. What's wrong with a not-agressive looking car?



Moving this a little bit more upmarket (A/C mandatory, more gimmicks) leaves more room for the MG guys or Lotus (one can dream) or Dacia (why not?) to slot something basic in the market?

[Kong]

va1o said:

Kong said:

3 facelifts are starting to become normal, Audi did it with the last A3/A6 and the Aygo/C1/107 thing has recently has a second restyle as well. Cheaper than making a new car I guess!

I'd disagree with that. The last A3 and A6 only received one major facelift each, the rest was just engine, spec and model year adjustments that you'd get with any car. BMW are constantly tweaking their range in between the LCIs to keep them fresh.

Well I'm talking 'facelift' in the literal sense.

2003 original


2005-6 gets the corporate goatee


2008 gets new bumper and lights


In BMW terms LCI is just their word for a facelift. They seem to be sticking with one facelift for now, apart from the old 1 series which was restyled every year for some reason!

[Verde]

Perhaps it's a 'meh' but the prior model absolutely looked like a clown car. All of those s(*&-eating grinned Mazda's were ridiculous. At least this looks like a proper, if only moderately handsome front end on an otherwise nice car. But I agree with others who note that the model is over-the-hill aged and needs a replacement. A complete re-do with only the fundamental design goals remaining the same.
V

Hammerhead said:

Craikeybaby said:

I think I'll stick with my mk3.5, other than slight tweaks in areas that I haven't noticed to be a problem it doesn't seem to be that much of a change.

Ditto. New nose cone/active bonnet = meh, so what.

Edited by Verde on Friday 23 November 22:24

[8potdave]

Thank god for that. After seeing this yesterday I thought the MX5 had gone supersized!

[marsdalebear]

ugg10 said:

Thanks for the comment 300bhp/ton, I agree, you can change how the throttle feels by changing the amount of pedal travel for a given throttle opening and with fly by wire you can even change the relationship (not just the ratio) i.e. sinusiod, straight line or squigly line etc. My issue with it was claiming that it gave you more acceleration which can only be produced by more power/torque or less mass. For everyday driving I would guess something like a modified sinusoid may be interesting, bigger travel for less throttle opening at the two ends of travel with a more linear response in the middle, just a thought.

I am sure that it says "more linear,nimble acceleration" rather than "more acceleration" Maybe a rethink is in order?

[ayseven]

Why this administrative obsession with "pedestrian safety"? Last time I was driving, I saw the pedestrians on the sidewalk, and I in the roadway. You're not supposed to run into them; it's bad form.

[g40steve]

Some of are pushing the NA performance forward already.

You will not believe how these drive with a remap, it's night & day.

Take it too another level with induction, four branch header & freeflow sports cat, then it becomes a real 'q' car

[Herman Toothrot]

g40steve said:

Some of are pushing the NA performance forward already.

You will not believe how these drive with a remap, it's night & day.

Take it too another level with induction, four branch header & freeflow sports cat, then it becomes a real 'q' car

I don't, has it been on some independent rollers to see a difference? I have always been one to modify and usually manifolds, induction, remaps or standalone ECU's you usually see 10bhp at the most with the lot without forced induction.

[vsonix]

patmahe said:

Not much difference between it and the old one on looks IMO, but why are manufacturers insisting on putting stupid gaping fish mouths on the front of their cars now. I blame the Peugeot 407, its the first car I can remember in that 'style'

designed to scoop up children/cyclists/smaller vehicles and feed them to the chipper mechanism behind the seats innit

[dasherdiablo1]

Ozzie Osmond said:

Front reminds me most of Audi TT.

MX-5 is overdue for the knackers yard.

Are you on drugs? I cannot see how this cars has even a 10% resemblance to an Audi TT.

Additionally the MX5 continues to still be one of the best regarded affordable cars available. You can have a current (okay outgoing model) shape for £6k - tell me where else you can get nimble rwd balanced handling for that money!

[Itsallicanafford]

dasherdiablo1 said:

Are you on drugs? I cannot see how this cars has even a 10% resemblance to an Audi TT.

Additionally the MX5 continues to still be one of the best regarded affordable cars available. You can have a current (okay outgoing model) shape for £6k - tell me where else you can get nimble rwd balanced handling for that money!

..Ford facing puma? (driven backwards)

[anonymous-user]

300bhp/ton said:

Well what made you want/get an MGF? As it'd be the same sort of thing for wanting an MX-5.

cheap mid engine car, and having had the 200vi wanted to compare them.

the mgf isn't highly rated but it was a fun drive.

I like the thought of a smart roadster over an mx5 which I will never buy.

the mx5 is sold as a pure rwd car, flatters the driver and handles well but with no major faults, but I like faults/characteristics makes it more humanlike, the way we carry an vermiform appendix around, we don't need, humanlike.

[oxskyline]

i will keep my mk2 thanks,the face lift is not for me.

[Andy ap]

myhandle said:

They appear to be attempting to make the front look more like the RX8.

I was gonna say the same thing but then name a car manufacturer now where all their models don't look the same. Gone are the days when cars were easily identifiable and had theyre own unique shape. Thats not to say of course that either the MX5 or the RX8 is a bad looking car.