Wind deflectors...
Discussion
Hoping to do a bit of touring over the summer in my Mk.1. Not bothered by a bit of buffeting but don't really want tinnitus!
What are my options? Want something effective but not to obtrusive looking, and not silly priced.
I did think about one of the Mk.2 ones - they have luggage nets and are fold-downable, and cheap on ebay. However, my dad had one on his Mk.2 and said it was absolutely useless!
There are the fabric/clear plastic ones that hook over the headrests but they look pretty horrific to be honest!
I thought about making something with a piece of perspex bolted to the rear brace, but not sure...
Have I missed anything?
Are there any roll bars with perspex fitted? Have considered something like this as I'd like to take it on track at some stage but worried about it causing injuries when not wearing a helmet on the road...
What are my options? Want something effective but not to obtrusive looking, and not silly priced.
I did think about one of the Mk.2 ones - they have luggage nets and are fold-downable, and cheap on ebay. However, my dad had one on his Mk.2 and said it was absolutely useless!
There are the fabric/clear plastic ones that hook over the headrests but they look pretty horrific to be honest!
I thought about making something with a piece of perspex bolted to the rear brace, but not sure...
Have I missed anything?
Are there any roll bars with perspex fitted? Have considered something like this as I'd like to take it on track at some stage but worried about it causing injuries when not wearing a helmet on the road...
Had a perspex one on the previous MX5 that attached to the holes for upholstery plugs behind the seats which worked well once I used bolts+washers instead of the large plugs which came with it. One of these, though shipping might be pricey for you: 
http://www.mx5mart.co.nz/db.cgi?db=mart&uid=de...
The roll bar I had in that car didn't interfere with it but I'm waiting until I get a bar(or cage) in the current MX5 before I spend money on a windblocker that might not fit.
http://www.mx5mart.co.nz/db.cgi?db=mart&uid=de...
The roll bar I had in that car didn't interfere with it but I'm waiting until I get a bar(or cage) in the current MX5 before I spend money on a windblocker that might not fit.
Edited by GravelBen on Tuesday 22 June 06:39
MX-5 Lazza said:
The Mk2 windblocker is actually fairly effective but as with all of them they only work with the windows up. The full-height mesh ones are a bit more effective but not massively.
Lazza - were there different versions produced for mk.1/mk.2/mk.2.5? I have seen all sorts of posts about them! I have a Mk.1 with the 1.8 black cabin brace - would one fit without restricting seat movement?TBH I really don't think you need a wind blocker. I do quite a lot of M/way etc type miles, I wear a jacket with a decent collar & always drive with the pass window up & drivers fully down. Its a personal & completely hatstand theory of mine that this window arrangement induces some kind of air-dynamic witchcraft to keep things reasonably comfortable 
My car has (what i understand to be) a standard one which has been bolted onto an M shape style bar.
Despite the fact that the bottom of it is 1" above the rear shelf, it works very well but you need to have it unfolded when raising the hood or the edge of the rear window catches it.
I removed it on Sun to see what its like without it, and after a 70 mph blast this morning i can safely say it makes a big difference!
Saying that, in this weather i am liking the cool breeze around my nether regions so will be running sans blocker for a while
Despite the fact that the bottom of it is 1" above the rear shelf, it works very well but you need to have it unfolded when raising the hood or the edge of the rear window catches it.
I removed it on Sun to see what its like without it, and after a 70 mph blast this morning i can safely say it makes a big difference!
Saying that, in this weather i am liking the cool breeze around my nether regions so will be running sans blocker for a while
NiceCupOfTea said:
MX-5 Lazza said:
The Mk2 windblocker is actually fairly effective but as with all of them they only work with the windows up. The full-height mesh ones are a bit more effective but not massively.
Lazza - were there different versions produced for mk.1/mk.2/mk.2.5? I have seen all sorts of posts about them! I have a Mk.1 with the 1.8 black cabin brace - would one fit without restricting seat movement?Whether any of these fit a Mk1 with cabin brace bar I don't know.
Driving with the pax window up and drivers window down does stop the wind buffeting around your head but doesn't keep your body warm (not so important this time of year). Windows & windblocker up and you do still get a bit of buffeting around the top of your head (my head anyway - I'm quite tall) but the body stays warm.
I've got a mk2 with a fold up wind deflector thing on it (the one with speakers) and I think it makes a noticable difference when up. If i bought another one I would either make sure it had one or get one fitted. I was amazed at how little buffeting you get using it, with the windows up or down, but then my other car is a westy and that is a bit severe at speed...
tuttle said:
TBH I really don't think you need a wind blocker. I do quite a lot of M/way etc type miles, I wear a jacket with a decent collar & always drive with the pass window up & drivers fully down. Its a personal & completely hatstand theory of mine that this window arrangement induces some kind of air-dynamic witchcraft to keep things reasonably comfortable
I drive on m-ways with the driver's window just below halfway up, with similar aerodynamic theories... 
MX-5 Lazza said:
The thing is, with the "one window down" method it's "buffeting hell" for the passenger which is not good if you are doing a going touring with a partner
Indeed - we tend to alternate windows 
Not really an option for going touring though! It doesn't bother me normally, but it is a drag on the motorway...MX-5 Lazza said:
There were no Mazda windblockers on Mk1.
Are you talking about the thing you fold up behind the headrests? If so, is mine not standard on my Eunos?Learn something new every day if that's the case!
Standard or not, I can only say that it is superb at stopping buffeting.Even with the windows down it
does the job perfectly.As it's not too tight at the moment, If I push it down, the wind will actually push
it back up, so you can tell how much air it's stopping once raised.You still get plenty of air around you,
but it stops that 'being hit in the back of the head' feeling
NiceCupOfTea said:
http://www.mx5parts.co.uk/product_info.php/products_id/137That thing matey.In fact mine looks just like it.Is that the part not standard on the Mk1?
I also read somewhere that Mk1's never had cabin brace bars and none can be fitted! I should
go see if I have one of those, too I guess
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