RE: 2019 Mazda MX-5 - official!

[Gandahar]

Nice to see a manufacturer sticking with NA and upping the rev limit to offset all those new fangled safey features they are forced to burp up at the same time. The new model still looks fantastic; see one on the road and they look like sprats gleefully popping in and out of the shoal of SUV tuna.

I just had a Nick Cackett moment sentence wise such is my love for them...........

I would agree with more colours being needed. I love smaller cars in 2018. My two car, reliable and cheap garage, would be the MX5 and







You could probably fit both into the back of the new Q8.

Not sure why Japan, a modern country at the front of technology, keeps giving these gems to us, but lets cheer them while still happens.

Edited by Gandahar on Wednesday 20th June 16:12

[monkeymark]

Always liked light weight sports cars.And roadsters in particular. Finally test drove both this (MX-5 RF) and the Abarth 124 back to back...and loved them both! Same but different if you get my drift.

RF obviously much more refined than the soft top Abarth but more blustery with the targa RF roof down. Abarth exhaust sounds fantastic. Loved the nat.aspirated power delivery of the MX-5 more though. I don't tend to like turbos and their turbo lag. Seats in both, flat and unsupportive and just hardly any easily usable (on the move) cubby holes (as in glove box and door pockets!)

So I would want an MX-5 with the Abarth exhaust but with a bit more power.

Now they are releasing this 180+ bhp MX-5 that is one more thing in the Mazda's favour. Just hope you can get the Recaro sports seats. Available as an option in the USA and other countries it seems or with certain models/packs but only ever come out on occasional "limited edition" versions here. Irritating. Why is that? When they all come from the same factory?

But I hear rumours the Abarth will be getting a 200bhp model- currently at 170 bhp as standard, even though the much cheaper Abarth 500/595 models can have 180bhp. With the same 1.4T engine. Weird.

Abarth way too expensive for what it offers but good PCH deals around. Will just wait for some youtube reviews or a review on here. Have gone electric in the last year (i3) and loving it, but always nice to have a cheap and reliable roadster for "fun and sun days" (and European Alpine pass holidays!)

[Howard-]

Krikkit said:

Surprised no-one's modded it to remove the ePAS assistance - you could even have it switch on/off based on speed if you were clever with your electrickery.

Not sure why you'd want to?

The mk1 without PAS is absolutely horrible to drive.

[Pat H]

culpz said:

Pat H said:

GroundEffect said:

Pat H said:

I would like to see a lightweight "Club Sport" version with wind up windows, no aircon, no driver aids etc.

Why? It's already a light-weight car yet brings the modern stuff that makes using them easier.

Cos I don't like modern stuff.

And it's not really that lightweight.

It would just be nice to have the choice. All I'm asking them to do is to leave some of the crap off.

My last two seater was a Caterham Seven, which was quite sophisticated enough.

So you'd like to see it but you admit you wouldn't buy it anyway?

Funnily enough, that's exactly why Mazda won't make what you specifically want; people simply won't buy it.

The MX-5 is as light as a modern car gets. If you don't like modern cars anyway then, respectfully, this conversation is pretty pointless.

I would buy one. The MX5 is one of only a couple of new cars that really does appeal.

But I would prefer one unencumbered by sat-nav, air con and all the other trinkets which don't turn me on. I'm not sure that it would be particularly difficult for Mazda to offer the choice.

I seem to recall that you could by a basic Mk1 MX5 with steel wheels etc.

But either way, the MX5 is a fantastic little thing. Mazda has got the size, styling and the powertrain absolutely right.

[tankplanker]

Howard- said:

Not sure why you'd want to?

The mk1 without PAS is absolutely horrible to drive.

Typically electric PAS intentionally damps the steering feel by removing the minor bumps passed up to the wheel (so less corrections needed for a straight or near straight course) as this is less tiring for the driver. I believe this isn't possible in a hydraulic system. Obviously the steering and geo has to be setup properly as well, lipstick on a pig and all that.

It is those minor bumps that I miss as it helps me tell what the front wheels are doing. I own a Locost 7 that has no power assist and its fine as long as you accept you need to work harder when parking, on the move it is perfectly fine.

I've also had track and road time in a S3 Exige that also has no power steering, which is about 200kg heavier than the MX-5, and the Exige was fine bar parking, which was hard work but I'd take that for greater steering feel. The Evora 400 I drove back to back with the Exige had remote hydraulic assist and it was noticeably worse for feel than the Exige (but better than the MX-5).

Is such a change ideal for all drivers, obviously not, but on a clubsport type car it would be highly desirable.

[Kawasicki]

tankplanker said:

Howard- said:

Not sure why you'd want to?

The mk1 without PAS is absolutely horrible to drive.

Typically electric PAS intentionally damps the steering feel by removing the minor bumps passed up to the wheel (so less corrections needed for a straight or near straight course) as this is less tiring for the driver. I believe this isn't possible in a hydraulic system. Obviously the steering and geo has to be setup properly as well, lipstick on a pig and all that.

It is those minor bumps that I miss as it helps me tell what the front wheels are doing. I own a Locost 7 that has no power assist and its fine as long as you accept you need to work harder when parking, on the move it is perfectly fine.

I've also had track and road time in a S3 Exige that also has no power steering, which is about 200kg heavier than the MX-5, and the Exige was fine bar parking, which was hard work but I'd take that for greater steering feel. The Evora 400 I drove back to back with the Exige had remote hydraulic assist and it was noticeably worse for feel than the Exige (but better than the MX-5).

Is such a change ideal for all drivers, obviously not, but on a clubsport type car it would be highly desirable.

Hydraulic PAS systems are also tuned to dampen road feel.

[unpc]

GroundEffect said:

Pat H said:

I would like to see a lightweight "Club Sport" version with wind up windows, no aircon, no driver aids etc.

Why? It's already a light-weight car yet brings the modern stuff that makes using them easier.

You do know that in nearly all cases electric windows are lighter than wind up ones?

[RmarshP]

But have they added a glove box. My wife won't let me buy one until they do.

[tankplanker]

Kawasicki said:

Hydraulic PAS systems are also tuned to dampen road feel.

Yes, crappy tuned steering on cars has always been a thing. The NC isn't perfect but its a lot better than the ND so its not like I'm comparing a Jazz to a MX-5. Hydraulic doesn't have the same level of (potential) control over that as an electric system for variable damping depending on speed, steering wheel angle, etc.

[anonymous-user]

The wife's NA has just gone due to rust. Our NA was a UK 1.8 with no power steering and was excellent fun & a daily driver. Steering was fantastic once moving. Covered 2k miles a year. (Mrs works local!)
A basic ND would work for us! Can see us buying one of these in a couple of years. Will be another NA in the interim.

[Housey]

It looks like they have sorted the tip toes ride height

[Mannginger]

tankplanker said:

Love mine. I keep meaning to take it to BBR to get a bit more power and sort out the suspension as it sits a little high/is a bit bouncy...

Do it!

[VeeFource]

This new MX5 would be top of my list but it's still the ongoing rust issues that kill it for me. Next to no corrosion protection is fair enough on a cheapo supermini but not on a £20k odd enthusiasts car.

RmarshP said:

But have they added a glove box. My wife won't let me buy one until they do.

Blimey! Good job you're not into motorbikes then. Surely you could get the salesman to throw in a free bumbag instead?

[bloomen]

The launch price of the original 30 odd years ago was over £31,000 today after inflation. Presumably exchange rates are a factor but they only put the price up £800 several years after when the mk2 launched.

[Kolbenkopp]

Pat H said:

But either way, the MX5 is a fantastic little thing. Mazda has got the size, styling and the powertrain absolutely right.

And on top of that it is relatively cheap, good depreciation and is reliable. No wonder there's pretty much no more competition (a part from the FIAT clone). I wasn't a huge fan of the looks at launch, but seen them in the flesh it has really grown on me.

And agree with Gandahar regarding the 2 car garage. That Suzuki looks ace in green BTW, just needs some steelies now . I think what stands out with both the Jimny and the MX is that they stayed close to their original design brief. Just honest products with a clear design brief that the manufacturers fettle and improve over the years.

[Otispunkmeyer]

Master Bean said:

fido said:

Now make it a tad bigger so it can fit my 6ft2/3 frame.

I'm 6ft 4 and fit.

I'm 6ft 2 (3 on a good day) and I can't fit. Seat as low as it will go. Head is on the roof in the cloth top and in the RF I have to physically scrunch down otherwise my head is pressed right up (gotta tilt it or hunker down ).

So whilst I technically fit in the normal MX5, I didn't feel very comfortable with the commanding view of the sun visor and windscreen frame.

I don't have a particularly long body either.

Are there seat rails you can buy that are lower?

[Otispunkmeyer]

monkeymark said:

Always liked light weight sports cars.And roadsters in particular. Finally test drove both this (MX-5 RF) and the Abarth 124 back to back...and loved them both! Same but different if you get my drift.

RF obviously much more refined than the soft top Abarth but more blustery with the targa RF roof down. Abarth exhaust sounds fantastic. Loved the nat.aspirated power delivery of the MX-5 more though. I don't tend to like turbos and their turbo lag. Seats in both, flat and unsupportive and just hardly any easily usable (on the move) cubby holes (as in glove box and door pockets!)

So I would want an MX-5 with the Abarth exhaust but with a bit more power.

Now they are releasing this 180+ bhp MX-5 that is one more thing in the Mazda's favour. Just hope you can get the Recaro sports seats. Available as an option in the USA and other countries it seems or with certain models/packs but only ever come out on occasional "limited edition" versions here. Irritating. Why is that? When they all come from the same factory?

But I hear rumours the Abarth will be getting a 200bhp model- currently at 170 bhp as standard, even though the much cheaper Abarth 500/595 models can have 180bhp. With the same 1.4T engine. Weird.

Abarth way too expensive for what it offers but good PCH deals around. Will just wait for some youtube reviews or a review on here. Have gone electric in the last year (i3) and loving it, but always nice to have a cheap and reliable roadster for "fun and sun days" (and European Alpine pass holidays!)

It's not the same engine. Abarth 595s have the older T-Jet variant whilst the 124 spider gets the, newer? MultiAir job.

You're right though, they should definitely bring it up to 200!

[p1stonhead]

This in RF spec please!

[Kolbenkopp]

RmarshP said:

But have they added a glove box. My wife won't let me buy one until they do.

Good news! They have -- between the seats. Box is not huge (but bigger than it looks in the pic).

You can even 3D print a little shelf for it if required:


https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:2248535

[renmure]

I'm another in the "I love my Mazda" corner.
I had my NC for 5 years and wasn't really looking to change it but was really taken by the new shape of the ND and thought the Soul Red looked like a great colour so went for it. It's corny to say but, in terms of 2 seat convertibles alongside the MX5 in the garage I've Ferrari and Porsche Spiders and whilst they are obviously better, faster and more exotic I can't think of many occasions I've felt I'd chosen to go for a run in the "wrong" car when I've been in the Mazda.