RE: 2024 Mazda MX-5 RF Exclusive Line | PH Review

[Mr-B]

Mr Miata said:

Mazda keep on launching limited editions every week to keep interest in the old dog going. Usually the limited edition is a token effort, like a paint scheme and a badge.

£35,000 for a 9 year old design. No thanks.

Compared to modern hot hatches, 184bhp is under powered.

Edited by Mr Miata on Wednesday 27th March 02:08

username doesn't check out, must be a Russian/Chinese bot.

As above, missed the point. Cars today are too good, 400bhp hatches must feel frustrating going passed schools at 20mph, speed bumps at 15mph, avoiding potholes and speed cameras everywhere, you would have more fun in a Twizy thrashing the tits off it everywhere.

[highway]

These cars are amazing on fuel. Perhaps because they are so light? The roof is an excellent design, the gear change is superb. Cars are well appointed now with BOSE, cruise, Car Play etc. The cabin is tiny and the engine lacks torque.
They don’t feel anything like a hot hatch to drive either. They are a mint chocolate chip car in a world of vanilla ice creams. Love it or hate it. Pity most drivers will never even try one

[jhonn]

I love mine! OK, it's a 2018 ND1 RF 2 litre and hasn't all the latest gear like the one featured, however it's really fun to drive and I've never thought, 'What this thing needs is more power'. Same colour too - it's subtle and doesn't show the dirt.

I was chatting to the owner of an Aston (One 77?) on the NC500, admiring his new and very impressive car. As I watched him gingerly leave the stony, rutted car park and slowly navigate his way down the narrow loch side road it reaffirmed my thought that, right here, right now, I wouldn't swap my MX-5 for his Aston. Still feel like that - there's no sports car out there that I'd swap it for.

Wife and I are heading off through Europe next month on a 3 week road trip - luggage space is going to be a bit tight, but we'll manage, it's going to be great!

[mcmigo]

This is all the sports car you will ever need. I was lucky enough to have an A110 for 3.5 years, a fantastic car but it was not really any better than an MX5 for zipping about in and of course you can get the roof down in your MX5.

These remain a bargain at this price, I would also take one over an Aston or similar as the sheer joy of driving a small, lightweight, sweetly handling roadster cannot be bettered:

[edo111s]

I still prefer the lighter ragtop.
Lower the springs, put on a good exhaust and a thick steering wheel and you’ve got more fun for £ than almost anything.
I just love mine and can’t think of anything to replace it with.

[Bispal]

_ppan said:

Bispal said:

A proper NA / manual / rwd / lsd sports car for around 1 tonne, with all the toys you need (Ac / cruise / heated seats) and non of the nonsense you don't.

Mazda should be applauded for doing all this in such a lightweight package. If a hot hatch is faster so be it, who cares when you have the wind in your hair, a delightful manual gearbox, don't need to pull into the hedge when a bloated SUV comes the other way and can feel every one of those missing 450 kilos every time you change direction, brake or accelerate.

And...you can wring it's neck but you don't need to to have fun in an MX5! That's one of the biggest plusses if you ask me.

Bispal said:

The only other manual / na / rwd convertible is a 718 Boxster and they start at £55k, oh but wait, Porsche just killed it. Looks like you are looking at the last of the breed, a true survivor, and for good reason.

Have a look at the 718 weight

I know, I own both, an MX5 for fun and a 718 Spyder for touring Europe. I just don't think the MX5 has enough boot space for 3-4 weeks touring, the 718 does. The MX5 'is' more fun though.

[Hugos]

Same performance figures as a 35 year old Lotus M100

[philrs03]

Hugos said:

Same performance figures as a 35 year old Lotus M100

Id be interested to see how well an M100 holds up to some of the use cases I’ve put my MX5 through. I.e 300 mile round trips with a track day in between, being comfortable enough for long journeys, bulletproof reliability (prior to BBR cocking it up) and generally just a point, squirt and forget motoring experience.

My NC is still hands down my favourite performance car I’ve ever owned. Including a Mk1 Focus RS, Impreza P1, JCW R53 mini to name a few. It’s absolutely mega to drive (albeit the standard suspension is pants when you compare it to how it is now with a good set of coilovers), especially with a few relatively cheap and easy improvements. Bushes and coilovers being a P1 I’d suggest on an NC!

I’d love to have a spin in an ND, I’m strongly considering buying a new Homura. They look great and if NC ownership is Anything to go by, this will be even better.

[highway]

PH regularly run articles about how great BBR conversions are. My car had their conversion. I was unimpressed.

[Mannginger]

That's interesting. I had their Super 190 package on my MK4 and thought it was great. Really elevated the car while keeping true to the original ethos.

[Jon_S_Rally]

theicemario said:

It would appear the MX-5 has fallen prey to the primer grey pandemic. Sad

Maybe some people like grey? And it's not like it's the only colour on offer, so your point is rather, well, pointless.

[sideways man]

What’s the opinion on the RF roof?
I’m guessing it’s reliable, but does it destroy what little boot space there is.
And is it draughty when down. I drove a targa corvette and it was horrible at any speed above city work.

I do like the look of an RF…

[Wardy5]

The RF roof mechanism doesn't impact on boot space. It's an excellent design, as is the PRHT folding roof on the previous Mk3, which I own.

I just wish I could get on with the RF design on the Mk4. Felt more like a targa to drive to me.

[S600BSB]

Fabulous as always. Keep them coming Mazda!

[jhonn]

Over 50mph with the roof down on the RF there is a bit more noise/buffeting than the soft top - it's not unbearable though; with the roof up it's very quiet/comfortable.
When I bough mine I had driven both, the only 'deal' that was available was for the RF - if I had the choice again, although I prefer the purity of the soft top, I'd still probably go for the RF.

[rjfp1962]

Still loving my 2018 ND2 2 litre SportNav+, 3 and a half years after buying it..

[_ppan]

Bispal said:

I know, I own both, an MX5 for fun and a 718 Spyder for touring Europe. I just don't think the MX5 has enough boot space for 3-4 weeks touring, the 718 does. The MX5 'is' more fun though.

Both have their merrit

[Bispal]

highway said:

PH regularly run articles about how great BBR conversions are. My car had their conversion. I was unimpressed.

I've owned 3 MX5's, spanning 18 years and over 120k miles, including a BBR. IMHO the BBR turbo spoiled the overall composure of the car. I would now just buy a quicker car if that's what I wanted. The MX5 has everything perfectly in proportion and that's why its such a great car. On hard roof 'v' soft-top, its soft-top for me every time, the hardtop version looks very odd and complex compared the the simplicity of the soft-top.

[philrs03]

highway said:

PH regularly run articles about how great BBR conversions are. My car had their conversion. I was unimpressed.

I’m unimpressed to say the least, unfortunately just entering into some legal stuff with them WRT to my 225 conversion. Shame, it’s great (when it worked).

[Wab1974uk]

Mr Miata said:

Mazda keep on launching limited editions every week to keep interest in the old dog going. Usually the limited edition is a token effort, like a paint scheme and a badge.

£35,000 for a 9 year old design. No thanks.

Compared to modern hot hatches, 184bhp is under powered.

Edited by Mr Miata on Wednesday 27th March 02:08

You'll have far more fun thrashing a lower powered car, using all the revs in most of the gears, compared to something with far too much power that keeping your foot pinned can only last a few seconds.