RE: 2024 Mazda MX-5 RF Exclusive Line | PH Review
Discussion
Muzzman said:
Have they strengthened the gearbox?
My mate sold his mk8 Fiesta ST and bought a two year old ND, he drove to the Nurburgring and pootled round that, about a month later went to Snetterton, got to 3pm and the gearbox was making a hell of a racket. Turned out it had stripped some teeth off third gear.
Took it to an MX5 specialist and he said not to track these, get an NC if you want to track an MX5. You can strengthen the gearbox but it's not cheap. The car was promptly sold and an 8.5 ST bought.
My mate loved the car though for daily driving.
I believe they fixed the 2.0L gearbox issues in 2019, when they introduced the 184bhp engine over the 161bhp oneMy mate sold his mk8 Fiesta ST and bought a two year old ND, he drove to the Nurburgring and pootled round that, about a month later went to Snetterton, got to 3pm and the gearbox was making a hell of a racket. Turned out it had stripped some teeth off third gear.
Took it to an MX5 specialist and he said not to track these, get an NC if you want to track an MX5. You can strengthen the gearbox but it's not cheap. The car was promptly sold and an 8.5 ST bought.
My mate loved the car though for daily driving.
philrs03 said:
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). mcdonaa said:
Bartimaeus said:
The PH comments section never disappoints with all the bench racers and spec sheet warriors complaining about 0-60 times or turbos or the leathers and plastics on the dashboard or whatever else.
It's pretty simple though- this is one of the last, and one of the purest sports cars that will ever be made. Who cares about how fast it is as long as it is fun and *relatively* affordable. Pure classic roadster on a bespoke platform, with a wonderful NA engine, manual gearbox, and around 1050 kgs soaking wet. 20 years from now we'll be getting teary-eyed about these.
You either understand what it's about by this point, or you never really will.
Precisely this. They in all likelyhood have never been in an ND, let alone driven one.It's pretty simple though- this is one of the last, and one of the purest sports cars that will ever be made. Who cares about how fast it is as long as it is fun and *relatively* affordable. Pure classic roadster on a bespoke platform, with a wonderful NA engine, manual gearbox, and around 1050 kgs soaking wet. 20 years from now we'll be getting teary-eyed about these.
You either understand what it's about by this point, or you never really will.
I've had mine now as a 'daily' for a few months - and its got to be one of the funnest, easiest to live with cars I've had. Heated seats, climate, carplay/android auto etc. I use it to commute, go to the shops, and have some early Sunday morning fun too. It does it all. Yes - as many on this thread have said, its not the fastest thing on the planet. Are all those same people saying the Elise is rubbish too because it only originally had 118bhp?
The ND is about 1000kg, which is unheard of these days - and you can really feel it. I have the 1.5 RF - and drove the 2.0L (184bhp) too to decide - and I chose the 1.5 - as its absolutely hilarious hammering it. It loves to rev, and the bonus is you don't have to be doing insane speeds to enjoy it, unlike the 400bhp hot hatches etc.
The RF roof is excellent too, and doesnt add much weight at all over the ragtop (about 50Kg)....but certainly improves the hood up feel and comfort.
Its mad that its only ever so slightly heavier than the original '89 NA....and lighter than both the NB and NC.
The only negative is that at just under 6 foot, I *only* just fit. Try before you buy....
Edited by Bartimaeus on Wednesday 27th March 16:50
Edited by Bartimaeus on Wednesday 27th March 16:52
Edited by Bartimaeus on Wednesday 27th March 16:55
4 years in and my 30th is still a keeper. Everything I need from a fun car, I really enjoy the 'driving a slow car fast' experience, revving it right out. And then when you do get stuck behind someone, even at 50 you are still having fun with the roof down.
I have chucked a wad at mine though, ohlins, bbr super 220, 20% shorter final drive, ap racing brakes, anti roll bars, lower seats etc etc etc. Out of the box, it isn't the car for me, but that is the beauty of an MX5, you can make it what you want.
After an elise s1 (honda conveted), two s2000s (1 supercharged), two v6 exiges, I just find this is the perfect car for me in norflok,and living next to Snetterton, it is great for the ocassional track day.
Everything I want in a car and the type of car that won't be around much longer. The price is certainly a lot higher than it used to be for them, but then everything has shot up.
I have chucked a wad at mine though, ohlins, bbr super 220, 20% shorter final drive, ap racing brakes, anti roll bars, lower seats etc etc etc. Out of the box, it isn't the car for me, but that is the beauty of an MX5, you can make it what you want.
After an elise s1 (honda conveted), two s2000s (1 supercharged), two v6 exiges, I just find this is the perfect car for me in norflok,and living next to Snetterton, it is great for the ocassional track day.
Everything I want in a car and the type of car that won't be around much longer. The price is certainly a lot higher than it used to be for them, but then everything has shot up.
Bartimaeus said:
The PH comments section never disappoints with all the bench racers and spec sheet warriors complaining about 0-60 times or turbos or the leathers and plastics on the dashboard or whatever else.
It's pretty simple though- this is one of the last, and one of the purest sports cars that will ever be made. Who cares about how fast it is as long as it is fun and *relatively* affordable. Pure classic roadster on a bespoke platform, with a wonderful NA engine, manual gearbox, and around 1050 kgs soaking wet. 20 years from now we'll be getting teary-eyed about these.
You either understand what it's about by this point, or you never really will.
To be fair a number of the posts were taking the mickey, mine included. I absolutely love them, and the fact that for now at least you can still buy them. Bravo Mazda It's pretty simple though- this is one of the last, and one of the purest sports cars that will ever be made. Who cares about how fast it is as long as it is fun and *relatively* affordable. Pure classic roadster on a bespoke platform, with a wonderful NA engine, manual gearbox, and around 1050 kgs soaking wet. 20 years from now we'll be getting teary-eyed about these.
You either understand what it's about by this point, or you never really will.
The MX-5 is the antidote to everything that is crap about bloated, obese, overpowered, anaesthetised gimmick-filled modern cars.
I have owned my ND2 2.0 roadster for a year and I adore the little thing more than ever. It fulfils its brief perfectly. It even makes a trip to Sainsbury’s enjoyable. In a MX-5 you can still rev out the engine & have real driving fun on modern roads at sane speeds without endangering your licence. You can’t do that in a £300k 700bhp Ferrrari, Porsche, Lamborghini or Porsche. Or even in my previous car, a M240i.
I only wish I had bought one years ago. Long may it continue. Thank you, Mazda.
I have owned my ND2 2.0 roadster for a year and I adore the little thing more than ever. It fulfils its brief perfectly. It even makes a trip to Sainsbury’s enjoyable. In a MX-5 you can still rev out the engine & have real driving fun on modern roads at sane speeds without endangering your licence. You can’t do that in a £300k 700bhp Ferrrari, Porsche, Lamborghini or Porsche. Or even in my previous car, a M240i.
I only wish I had bought one years ago. Long may it continue. Thank you, Mazda.
swilcock said:
Does it still have the horrible overdrive-style click switch at the end of the throttle travel?
Mine has this. It is a few seconds to remove the switch as it does nothing. Maybe it is there for potential incoming regs where a speed limiter is mandatory and you use it to break through the speed limit the car has detected for where you are driving? I cant see why else it is thererobinandcamera said:
Mine has this. It is a few seconds to remove the switch as it does nothing. Maybe it is there for potential incoming regs where a speed limiter is mandatory and you use it to break through the speed limit the car has detected for where you are driving? I cant see why else it is there
Isn't it for when you've put a manual speed limiter on i.e. push the pedal until it clicks and the limiter is removed. Fairly sure it was that. horsemeatscandal said:
robinandcamera said:
Mine has this. It is a few seconds to remove the switch as it does nothing. Maybe it is there for potential incoming regs where a speed limiter is mandatory and you use it to break through the speed limit the car has detected for where you are driving? I cant see why else it is there
Isn't it for when you've put a manual speed limiter on i.e. push the pedal until it clicks and the limiter is removed. Fairly sure it was that. So happens I am looking for a used example of a 2.0 ND RF.
Sure, the ragtop is lighter and the top drops in lightning time but looks at the RF, it's everything that modern blocky cars are not.
The elements of the Corvette C3 styling are there but shrunken, much like the old Opel GT. The Corvette C4 removable roof has been transformed into a miniature mechanism. It's one of the few cars left worth just looking at.
However, I concur with the condemnation of the colour palette, dull grey, machine grey, black, wishy washy blue that looks grey and white. Only the dazzling Soul Red metallic and the newer dark blue metallic succeed in showing off the lines. All IMHO.
May be impractical but it will not be for long journeys and we have a little Panda for the humdrum stuff.
Sure, the ragtop is lighter and the top drops in lightning time but looks at the RF, it's everything that modern blocky cars are not.
The elements of the Corvette C3 styling are there but shrunken, much like the old Opel GT. The Corvette C4 removable roof has been transformed into a miniature mechanism. It's one of the few cars left worth just looking at.
However, I concur with the condemnation of the colour palette, dull grey, machine grey, black, wishy washy blue that looks grey and white. Only the dazzling Soul Red metallic and the newer dark blue metallic succeed in showing off the lines. All IMHO.
May be impractical but it will not be for long journeys and we have a little Panda for the humdrum stuff.
swilcock said:
Yeah that's what it's supposedly for, but I've been told it's emissions related, i.e. they don't test emissions beyond the switch. It's not a big deal to remove but can't believe it doesn't get more of a mention in reviews because it feels horrible.
It’s not mentioned because you need to be a bit special to care about it. If you don’t like it don’t press the pedal that far?As said, it’s there to quickly override the speed limiter.
Ours is still going strong. It’s an early car but tbh a few friends have later cars now and they all drive pretty much the same.
We’ve done the eibach springs and flyin miata geometry set up which does really reduce the body roll when pushing on, without harming the ride.
The main issue with the mk4 is that, yes, they rust just as badly as all the others. Ours is in being treated and protected right now.
It’s perfect for the coastal roads up here on the west of Scotland and I love that the rf is more of a targa setup than a full on convertible.
The price of a new one these days though seems fairly steep to me. But then maybe I’m just out of touch, a Yaris is £45k!!
We’ve done the eibach springs and flyin miata geometry set up which does really reduce the body roll when pushing on, without harming the ride.
The main issue with the mk4 is that, yes, they rust just as badly as all the others. Ours is in being treated and protected right now.
It’s perfect for the coastal roads up here on the west of Scotland and I love that the rf is more of a targa setup than a full on convertible.
The price of a new one these days though seems fairly steep to me. But then maybe I’m just out of touch, a Yaris is £45k!!
LuS1fer said:
So happens I am looking for a used example of a 2.0 ND RF.
Sure, the ragtop is lighter and the top drops in lightning time but looks at the RF, it's everything that modern blocky cars are not.
The elements of the Corvette C3 styling are there but shrunken, much like the old Opel GT. The Corvette C4 removable roof has been transformed into a miniature mechanism. It's one of the few cars left worth just looking at.
However, I concur with the condemnation of the colour palette, dull grey, machine grey, black, wishy washy blue that looks grey and white. Only the dazzling Soul Red metallic and the newer dark blue metallic succeed in showing off the lines. All IMHO.
May be impractical but it will not be for long journeys and we have a little Panda for the humdrum stuff.
I couldn’t agree more about the dull colours. The orange 30th anniversary cars looked fantastic & were very successful so it’s baffling why Mazda went back to being so boring. My MX-5 was only ever going to be Soul Red. Sure, the ragtop is lighter and the top drops in lightning time but looks at the RF, it's everything that modern blocky cars are not.
The elements of the Corvette C3 styling are there but shrunken, much like the old Opel GT. The Corvette C4 removable roof has been transformed into a miniature mechanism. It's one of the few cars left worth just looking at.
However, I concur with the condemnation of the colour palette, dull grey, machine grey, black, wishy washy blue that looks grey and white. Only the dazzling Soul Red metallic and the newer dark blue metallic succeed in showing off the lines. All IMHO.
May be impractical but it will not be for long journeys and we have a little Panda for the humdrum stuff.
edo111s said:
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.
Agreed, I think the RF looks a bit strange compared to the soft top.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.
horsemeatscandal said:
Wardy5 said:
What did you replace it with?
A 22 year old Honda Accord which of course sounds a bit silly on paper but it's quicker, more practical, more comfortable, handles better, sounds nicer and is subjectively much more interesting/cooler. The Mazda beats the Honda on MPG and electric things working properly.Out with the old:
In with the far older:
Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff