RE: Mazda MX-5 BBR Super 220 | Driven

RE: Mazda MX-5 BBR Super 220 | Driven

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Discussion

Prestonese

793 posts

104 months

Wednesday 21st August 2019
quotequote all
Porsche911R said:
RHD when I sat in them seem to have a hand brake in the way of the gear change !!!

LHD is fine ofcouse, any one have issue in RHD with the hand brake in the way !!!!
Interesting that. It never seems to be a problem for me and I have a massive watch as well! It is a plastic Garmin one by the way but those with blingy Breitling types might have more of an issue I'd imagine.

CABC

5,528 posts

100 months

Wednesday 21st August 2019
quotequote all
i had an NC (same h/brake layout) and never noticed.
agree, the pictures do make it look awkward though. I suspect David has only looked at the pictures as his elevated tastes don't reach down to 25k cars wink

i don't think the Breitling types drive mx5s.

Varelco

401 posts

62 months

Wednesday 21st August 2019
quotequote all
Porsche911R said:
RHD when I sat in them seem to have a hand brake in the way of the gear change !!!

LHD is fine ofcouse, any one have issue in RHD with the hand brake in the way !!!!
I can't see how this is an issue unless you like driving with the handbrake on. Same layout with my GT86, it works very well, handbrake is lovely a close but doesn't interfere with the gear lever. You can also rest your hand on it nicely too (keeps your passengers on edge).

Think I'm going to have to book a test drive, I liked them before, now with the updated 2.0 and BBR packages it just makes it even more attractive.

Niffty951

2,333 posts

227 months

Wednesday 21st August 2019
quotequote all
Porsche911R said:
RHD when I sat in them seem to have a hand brake in the way of the gear change !!!

LHD is fine ofcouse, any one have issue in RHD with the hand brake in the way !!!!
I took its location as an indication that it was considered one of the primary driving controls smile

fido

16,752 posts

254 months

Wednesday 21st August 2019
quotequote all
CABC said:
i don't think the Breitling types drive mx5s.
I have a Breitling and did have an MX-5 NC .. the clasp did occasionally graze the handbrake!

Trevor555

4,404 posts

83 months

Wednesday 21st August 2019
quotequote all
Porsche911R said:
RHD when I sat in them seem to have a hand brake in the way of the gear change !!!

LHD is fine ofcouse, any one have issue in RHD with the hand brake in the way !!!!
Handbrake not in the way, but your arm rests on the screen controller which changes the settings occasionally.






Mine's an Abarth, but same layout.

In fact, if the handbrake was on the other side I think it'd be a bit of a reach over to pull it up.

DoubleD

22,154 posts

107 months

Wednesday 21st August 2019
quotequote all
Trevor555 said:
Porsche911R said:
RHD when I sat in them seem to have a hand brake in the way of the gear change !!!

LHD is fine ofcouse, any one have issue in RHD with the hand brake in the way !!!!
Handbrake not in the way, but your arm rests on the screen controller which changes the settings occasionally.






Mine's an Abarth, but same layout.

In fact, if the handbrake was on the other side I think it'd be a bit of a reach over to pull it up.
Bit of a daft place for the screen controller in the Fiat, is the Mazda the same?

Niffty951

2,333 posts

227 months

Wednesday 21st August 2019
quotequote all
Trevor555 said:
Porsche911R said:
RHD when I sat in them seem to have a hand brake in the way of the gear change !!!

LHD is fine ofcouse, any one have issue in RHD with the hand brake in the way !!!!
Handbrake not in the way, but your arm rests on the screen controller which changes the settings occasionally.






Mine's an Abarth, but same layout.

In fact, if the handbrake was on the other side I think it'd be a bit of a reach over to pull it up.
Yes I was thinking surely RHD first from Japan?

Niffty951

2,333 posts

227 months

Wednesday 21st August 2019
quotequote all
stickleback123 said:
Do you have your car yet or are you still waiting?
Still waiting! Three months jail time would have passed more easily.

dxg

8,121 posts

259 months

Wednesday 21st August 2019
quotequote all
Niffty951 said:
Trevor555 said:
Porsche911R said:
RHD when I sat in them seem to have a hand brake in the way of the gear change !!!

LHD is fine ofcouse, any one have issue in RHD with the hand brake in the way !!!!
Handbrake not in the way, but your arm rests on the screen controller which changes the settings occasionally.






Mine's an Abarth, but same layout.

In fact, if the handbrake was on the other side I think it'd be a bit of a reach over to pull it up.
Yes I was thinking surely RHD first from Japan?
You'd think that, but have a look at which side of the transmission tunnel they decided to put the cat on and, hence, which one is tiny...

They prioritised the largest market - which is the States...

Trevor555

4,404 posts

83 months

Wednesday 21st August 2019
quotequote all
DoubleD said:
Bit of a daft place for the screen controller in the Fiat, is the Mazda the same?
Yes it's the same.

It is daft, I've got used to it now I suppose.

But i guess it's because of the tiny interior, not much space to put it anywhere else?

How do tall people get on?

I'm 5' 5" and I find it snug.

Prestonese

793 posts

104 months

Wednesday 21st August 2019
quotequote all
fido said:
I have a Breitling and did have an MX-5 NC .. the clasp did occasionally graze the handbrake!
I rest my case.

Or more likely, my Garmin on my handbrake!


Mr-B

3,765 posts

193 months

Wednesday 21st August 2019
quotequote all
Trevor555 said:
DoubleD said:
Bit of a daft place for the screen controller in the Fiat, is the Mazda the same?
Yes it's the same.

It is daft, I've got used to it now I suppose.

But i guess it's because of the tiny interior, not much space to put it anywhere else?

How do tall people get on?

I'm 5' 5" and I find it snug.
I think I have only caught the screen controller once inadvertently while driving, not really an issue for me.

I am 5' 8 (and a bit) and to me the car is snug but it almost feels made to measure, as though they used someone my size to build the car around, love it. Just need to make sure I don't put on any weight.

anonymous-user

53 months

Wednesday 21st August 2019
quotequote all
Niffty951 said:
stickleback123 said:
Do you have your car yet or are you still waiting?
Still waiting! Three months jail time would have passed more easily.
When are you collecting it? Week Sunday for me!

Ali_T

3,379 posts

256 months

Wednesday 21st August 2019
quotequote all
Niffty951 said:
Yes yeeees. Keep the ND threads running.

As a long term MX-5 hater, annoyed by the gap between public opinion and my own driving experiences. I've never understood why a soggy chassis, open diff, unimpressive brakes and wheezy underwhelming engine in the NA and NB cars excited so much driving love? I typically consider drivers cars to be things like the Cayman S and Z4MC. Or if it must be low powered a 924s.

Slowly though the MX-5 seems to have been getting better and better. Like the frog in the pan being slowly boiled or the many tiny changes that make the most special 911s it seems no one has really made enough fuss about the latest MX-5. The interior now feels not like a Christmas cracker toy but feels screwed together like a mk6 golf. The body looks not only better than ever before, but like a baby Aston and with soo much or it's own character. The chassis is now stiffer, an LSD has been added, the sound proofing is bearable and the 2.0 engine at 7500rpm is strong. Almost too strong for the character of the car. It can now break traction in a turn, even at regular revs like a 3.0 Z4 and it picks up speed like a proper sports car. It is a totally different character and that comes totally unexpectedly in an MX-5 body.

I only came to drive the latest Mazda because it was around the corner from VW and I was curious, I quite enjoyed the NC. However, the ND Gen2 completely exceeded my expectations from the moment I dropped into the surprisingly comfortable drivers seat, to the moment I put my hands and feet on the controls realising how perfectly the driver slotted into the cockpit. Then finally when I opened up the throttle on the slip road and wound out to the limiter finding comfortable levels of low rpm torque extended out into real rev happy enthusiasm. The car felt a thousand miles from my memories of older MX-5s.

Now I understand this is not popular reading for old mx-5 owners and I apologise for the offense but I feel there are probably a lot of people out there who will read the media praise bestowed on the ND (as I did) through a filter of previous mx-5 experiences. That means they may very well miss out on what may well be one of the best fun track toys ever released as a factory model.

Perhaps it is exaggerated (as mentioned in your life test) by the change in the cars available around it but I recently found myself left cold by the universally loved Cayman GT4 on the road. Sure, it was of course superbly capable and on a track you wouldn't catch it in much this side of a GTR or 911 turbo but with the feeling of that experience fresh in my mind. The little Mazda just felt so much more connected, it asked for more input from the driver and gave more in return. Not only that but the chassis could be explored at speeds that actually allowed you to chase the limits of the tyres without feeling intimidated or reaching 3 figure speeds out of roundabouts.

In fact, the turn around in my opinions were so complete that I bought one! I've been waiting so long I've now sucked dry the internet of every review and track video I can find and I can't bloody wait!

If you need further convincing, don't take it from me. Watch these reviews:

https://youtu.be/TSymwd3FY-A

https://youtu.be/IxMUwhJisgg

Especially the second one just captures my feelings perfectly. Damn good driver too.

Edited by Niffty951 on Tuesday 20th August 22:27


Edited by Niffty951 on Tuesday 20th August 22:30
I sold my Giulia Quadrifoglio for the ND2. For all the plaudits and performance, you just couldn’t rag it in the real world without fear of court or a coffin. Don’t miss it at all. Absolutely love the little Mazda for all the reasons you say. A car to actually connect with real world driving. I’ve never gone out of my way to drive on a clear night with the top down until I got this little thing. Everyone should try one at least once.

Edited by Ali_T on Wednesday 21st August 21:37

Niffty951

2,333 posts

227 months

Thursday 22nd August 2019
quotequote all
greenarrow said:
I agree - I think Niffty 951's post is very fair. I bought an old MX5 NB a few years ago and ran it as a weekend car. Loved it, BUT I wasn't blind to its faults. I was somewhat shocked at how much it moved around when pushed hard and TBH I wouldn't want to drive it really fast on the sort of A and B roads it was designed for, as standard. Obviously with some suspension work, it would be a weapon. Its not the fact of it being old either, because the wife's 9 year older 205 GTI didn't roll around so much.

Glad you enjoyed the ND so much - I really must try one!
I can definitely get behind those comments. If you're going to tune something your pounds are going to stretch to a lot more performance in something lighter and already cut out to be a drivers car. The owner of HKS Europe used to drive an NA or NB with I think about 400hp or something ludicrous like that. I thought that was a great choice.

If you are going to test drive an ND make sure it's the 184hp. That first drive that opened my eyes to the ND merits was in a 184. I then went looking at 160hp cars thinking a 20% saving had to be worth 24hp in a car where performance isn't the be all and end all.

I just couldn't bring myself to do it though. If anything I preferred the 1.5 engine to the older 160 2.0. The 160hp felt no less strong between 4500rpm and 6000rpm than the newer car but that narrower and lower torque band had a huge effect on driving character. To my backside it felt like the 184 had noticeably more 'pick up' below 4500rpm and then once you get into that final 1500rpm to 7500 it was miles apart. It just somehow tipped it over the line from sufficient to quick.

Not to mention the tuning difference it will likely make with lighter pistons, rods & flywheel + bigger valves as standard. That beautiful OEM look Edlebrock supercharger coupled with a BBR header and tune for uk fuel should make for quite a weapon if I ever need.. a little something extra wink

Byker28i

58,819 posts

216 months

Thursday 22nd August 2019
quotequote all
fido said:
chrismc1977 said:
If you are talking Integra R B18C your figures are somewhat out.

Peak power for the JDM models was made at ~8000rpm with rev limiter at 8500- despite what might have been seen on the Rev counter or what Wikipedia says.

Oh & all made from under 1800cc too...
It was a great engine no doubt, but even allowing for the 200cc advantange, just compare the torque curve with a 2.0 Skyactiv which is much flatter and peaks earlier (151 lb-ft of torque at 4,000 rpm). I never got 40mpg from my DC2 but it's very repeatable in an MX-5, no doubt helped by the 6th gear.
HOW?
I drive ours everyday, 32.7mpg over the month...

Byker28i

58,819 posts

216 months

Thursday 22nd August 2019
quotequote all
Mr-B said:
I think I have only caught the screen controller once inadvertently while driving, not really an issue for me.

I am 5' 8 (and a bit) and to me the car is snug but it almost feels made to measure, as though they used someone my size to build the car around, love it. Just need to make sure I don't put on any weight.
We've got the NC, but a Mazda 6 with that screen controller. Never used it in 6 years of having the car. Not sure why it's needed in the MX-5 with the screen so close?

Byker28i

58,819 posts

216 months

Thursday 22nd August 2019
quotequote all
Niffty951 said:
greenarrow said:
I agree - I think Niffty 951's post is very fair. I bought an old MX5 NB a few years ago and ran it as a weekend car. Loved it, BUT I wasn't blind to its faults. I was somewhat shocked at how much it moved around when pushed hard and TBH I wouldn't want to drive it really fast on the sort of A and B roads it was designed for, as standard. Obviously with some suspension work, it would be a weapon. Its not the fact of it being old either, because the wife's 9 year older 205 GTI didn't roll around so much.

Glad you enjoyed the ND so much - I really must try one!
I can definitely get behind those comments. If you're going to tune something your pounds are going to stretch to a lot more performance in something lighter and already cut out to be a drivers car. The owner of HKS Europe used to drive an NA or NB with I think about 400hp or something ludicrous like that. I thought that was a great choice.

If you are going to test drive an ND make sure it's the 184hp. That first drive that opened my eyes to the ND merits was in a 184. I then went looking at 160hp cars thinking a 20% saving had to be worth 24hp in a car where performance isn't the be all and end all.

I just couldn't bring myself to do it though. If anything I preferred the 1.5 engine to the older 160 2.0. The 160hp felt no less strong between 4500rpm and 6000rpm than the newer car but that narrower and lower torque band had a huge effect on driving character. To my backside it felt like the 184 had noticeably more 'pick up' below 4500rpm and then once you get into that final 1500rpm to 7500 it was miles apart. It just somehow tipped it over the line from sufficient to quick.

Not to mention the tuning difference it will likely make with lighter pistons, rods & flywheel + bigger valves as standard. That beautiful OEM look Edlebrock supercharger coupled with a BBR header and tune for uk fuel should make for quite a weapon if I ever need.. a little something extra wink
Isn't that down to the 100kg or more they shaved off the newer model, so 20bhp more and lighter

Simon Owen

798 posts

133 months

Thursday 22nd August 2019
quotequote all
Some very interesting observations on improvements in steering feel in the new car in the videos further up the thread.

I would be fascinated to see if this is significant .... and an aftermarket fix for the Mk 1's ?

A simple steering rack swop could be worthwhile ?