MX-5 weight

[Ecosseven]

Afternoon all,

I flicked through a copy of the latest Autocar magazine in Tesco’s last night. It included a comparison test between the MX-5 coupe, the new GT86 and the 370Z. I didn’t read the article but had a quick look at the specs at the end of the test and was surprised to see that the MX-5 weighed more than the GT86.

GT 86 = 1236kg. (This was for the premium spec, there is also a base model that is around 1200kg)
MX-5 coupe sport tech – 1248kg.

Is the weight for the Mazda correct and does it include all fluids and, more importantly, a 75kg driver?

I expected the GT86 to be light but I’m surprised it’s lighter than an MX-5 even with the extra weight of the folding hard top.

Edited by Ecosseven on Monday 9th April 15:28

[gowmonster]

from the mazda brochure...

Dimensions and Weights
Kerb weight (kg) incl. driver (75 kg)
1.8i SE 1150 (1230)
2.0i Sport Tech 1165 (1248)
2.0i PowerShift 1175 (1261)

[Ecosseven]

gowmonster said:

from the mazda brochure...

Dimensions and Weights
Kerb weight (kg) incl. driver (75 kg)
1.8i SE 1150 (1230)
2.0i Sport Tech 1165 (1248)
2.0i PowerShift 1175 (1261)

Thanks. It's interesting that in their brochure Mazda note that the figures in brackets are for the roadster coupe. I assume that this means the figure in front of the brackets is for the soft top in which case the weight penatly for the hardtop appears to be 83kgs for the sport tech model. I thought mazda claimed the roadster coupe was only 37kgs heavier than the soft top. Have I missed something?

[gowmonster]

where do you think they claimed that? was that when the mk3 was first released? iirc they have had the 3.5 facelift since then... and if it was wikipedia then we really need to check the references...

[trackerjack]

Interesting, long ago I found out that the MX5 was heavier than my 4door Dolomite sprint and therefore not a comparison to an Elan as people sometimes state.
More like a well made Triumph Spitfire but as heavy as an MGBGT.

[Ecosseven]

gowmonster said:

where do you think they claimed that? was that when the mk3 was first released? iirc they have had the 3.5 facelift since then... and if it was wikipedia then we really need to check the references...

I can remember reading that the RC was 37kg heavier than the soft top. I ckeched the brochure in the house last night and the difference does seem to be slightly more than this.

The soft top sport tech is listed as 1173kg. (incl. driver)
The soft top 2.0 se is listed at 1165kg.
The RC sport tech is listed at 1248kg.

The RC sport tech is therefore 75kgs heavier than the soft top according to mazdas figures.

[NeoVR]

trackerjack said:

Interesting, long ago I found out that the MX5 was heavier than my 4door Dolomite sprint and therefore not a comparison to an Elan as people sometimes state.
More like a well made Triumph Spitfire but as heavy as an MGBGT.

The original 1.6 mk1 only weighed 940kg.. by 1994 that was up to 1020kg with the 1.8 - and the mk2 was around the 1100-1200kg mark too.
unfortunately its another car thats a victim of nanny state safety regulations.

However also bear in mind that the mk3 design is now 7 years old, so pre-dates the "major" push on manufacturers to make the cars lighter and more economical from the chassis-up - ill bet that the mk4 MX will be considerably lighter than the mk3.

[Ecosseven]

I e-mailed Mazda about the discrepancy in their brochure and they advised that the RC is 83 kg’s heavier than the soft top Sport Tech. 37kgs of the difference is due to the retractable hard top with the rest of the weight difference coming from ‘other components’ fitted to the RC.