RE: 2022 Mazda MX-5 (ND) | PH Review
Discussion
cerb4.5lee said:
cidered77 said:
on the handbrake thing - has any human being (who has any even remote interest in cars) ever in the history of the world ever ever said "ooo, i wish this car had one of those annoying handbrake buttons that activate either with a press, or a pull (but always the opposite of what you assume) and either does or does not automatically switch itself off when you move forward... rather than this nice handle i can also use to do the occasional skid"....?
I have a manual handbrake in the 370Z/M4...but truthfully I'm now at an age where they both may as well have an electric handbrake to be fair. I reckon the last time that I did a handbrake turn was about 30 years ago! I did think that handbrake turns were cool in my late teens though.
Even when I used to slide a car around quite regularly, I would only use the revs and just dump the clutch rather than pulling the handbrake up.
The current MX-5 (and to be fair all the generations) absolutely nail their brief as a usable, relatively affordable, reliable sportscar.
In the past I've owned two Caterhams and a Westfield and they were brilliant fun. However, I've owned my NC Sport Tech for almost 10 years and it has been fantastic. No plans to sell at the moment but when the time comes the only car I would consider would be a facelifted 2.0 ND. Apart from the powerful engine over the ND1 they also added telescopic steering adjustment which makes the driving position so much better.
In the past I've owned two Caterhams and a Westfield and they were brilliant fun. However, I've owned my NC Sport Tech for almost 10 years and it has been fantastic. No plans to sell at the moment but when the time comes the only car I would consider would be a facelifted 2.0 ND. Apart from the powerful engine over the ND1 they also added telescopic steering adjustment which makes the driving position so much better.
TREMAiNE said:
I presume these have electric steering and not hydraulic?
If that's the case, how much feel do these really have? I had an NA and loved it, but it was nowhere as communicative as some people think they are.
I'd really like an ND, on paper it's perfect, but I can't help but feel that the steering will feel a bit vague and unresponsive, even if the chassis itself is well sorted.
It (the whole car) can feel a bit aloof when you're not pushing but if you up the pace and cornering G forces then it comes alive, starts to move around, shrinks even more and the steering feel is quite decent. It doesn't take crazy speeds to get to this point either. If that's the case, how much feel do these really have? I had an NA and loved it, but it was nowhere as communicative as some people think they are.
I'd really like an ND, on paper it's perfect, but I can't help but feel that the steering will feel a bit vague and unresponsive, even if the chassis itself is well sorted.
take-good-care-of-the-forest-dewey said:
I've never got my head around why mazda essentially exclude about 20-30 percent of the car buying population in relation to slightly taller than average folks not fitting in them.
In a world driven by sales it seems an odd choice.
I suppose making the car that bit better for 70-80% of people at the expense of making it unusable for 20-30% is acceptable to them. In a world driven by sales it seems an odd choice.
The NC catered much better to taller people; my friend really isn't comfortable in my ND for any extended period but is fine in their NC. I'm built like a fat Japanese businessman so I'm fine
kurokawa said:
TREMAiNE said:
I presume these have electric steering and not hydraulic?
If that's the case, how much feel do these really have? I had an NA and loved it, but it was nowhere as communicative as some people think they are.
I'd really like an ND, on paper it's perfect, but I can't help but feel that the steering will feel a bit vague and unresponsive, even if the chassis itself is well sorted.
You will be disappointed. Had a NA then NC, then test the upgrade 2.0 ND.If that's the case, how much feel do these really have? I had an NA and loved it, but it was nowhere as communicative as some people think they are.
I'd really like an ND, on paper it's perfect, but I can't help but feel that the steering will feel a bit vague and unresponsive, even if the chassis itself is well sorted.
ND steering feel very light, still get some feedback but very “filtered”. If you can get over the steering feel the ND is better than the NC in many way, much like a high quality built NA.
Byker28i said:
Reviewer moans about a proper handbrake? It's one of the reasons I have two Mazdas
Hear hear. Never thought I'd see the day when someone on PH says:"you won’t appreciate having to ... use a conventional handbrake when Mazda might have saved some much-needed space by fitting an electric one."
Electric handbrakes are awful things. A car without a good handbrake, ideally fly-off, has in my view been denatured. There’s more to life than coffee-cup holders.
One of my guilty pleasures is driving on snow. Or on back roads in the rain. I don’t know how one would do either activity properly without a proper steering bar.
Sad how all the fun is being sucked out of driving.
We can now accelerate to 100mph in 2 seconds, in big inert battery barges.
The little slow MX5, with its proper handbrake and low-torque n/a engine, has forgotten more about fun than an EV will ever know.
LBW2020 said:
i love the looks of these cars, just wish it had about 250hp and 250 ftlb, then i think they would be truly epic.
You could do what I have done with an ND2, BBR super 220 na tuning kit and then grab the rear end from a manual 124 Abarth from a breakers, that will give you 20% boost in torque at the wheels. It goes well now 
robinandcamera said:
You could do what I have done with an ND2, BBR super 220 na tuning kit and then grab the rear end from a manual 124 Abarth from a breakers, that will give you 20% boost in torque at the wheels. It goes well now
Lovely car. What wheel/tyre sizes are you on? Was considering the 220 conversion myself, but been convinced otherwise. Take it it's been fine for you?
Crap article by the way, totally pointless.
horsemeatscandal said:
Lovely car. What wheel/tyre sizes are you on?
Was considering the 220 conversion myself, but been convinced otherwise. Take it it's been fine for you?
Crap article by the way, totally pointless.
Thanks. Wheels are an 8J et35 with 215 45 cups. I have a track set of 9J et45 with 235 40 17.Was considering the 220 conversion myself, but been convinced otherwise. Take it it's been fine for you?
Crap article by the way, totally pointless.
Conversion has been pretty damn good. I have found my emissions are way out though so I am going to BBR this week to investigate. I have my suspicions the sports cat has started to fall apart in some way. Other than that very happy with it.
Edited by robinandcamera on Tuesday 10th May 17:54
Om said:
cidered77 said:
and interesting question is "how slow is too slow"....
...generally for me i look for sub 8 seconds even for the family car, then i know it won't be a pain in the arse. You need that in order to keep up with modern cars, and be able to overtake without stress, pull onto motorways/dual carriageways without a second thought, etc
I don't want to sound like I am having a go at the above poster, but my Skoda Fabia 1.2 has 69bhp, weighs about 75kg more than the ND 1.5 (and does 0-60 in about 15s apparently) yet is more than capable of keeping up/ahead of the majority of modern cars and of overtaking with ease if someone is dawdling on the country lanes. I wouldn't give a moments thought when pulling onto a motorway or dual carriageway. You just need to look ahead, be in the correct gear for the situation and be prepared to rev the engine. The advent of 2 ton soundproofed behemoths with diesel like torquey turbo engines and a reluctance to change down does seem to have skewed people's expectations of how to cover ground apace and the manner in which you can do it....generally for me i look for sub 8 seconds even for the family car, then i know it won't be a pain in the arse. You need that in order to keep up with modern cars, and be able to overtake without stress, pull onto motorways/dual carriageways without a second thought, etc
I know of course you *can* drive safely with less power, my point is that today with the number of big heavy powerful things on the road i look for that level of performance as a benchmark. Don't need it faster - even with a lottery win i wouldn't put am AMG engine in the merc estates i used to run before the wife insisted we get an SUV, and think a V8 in a Defender 2020 would be nuts. I just want that benchmark to avoid ever having to really think twice.
NGK210 said:
It's disappointing that there's an underlying tone of contempt in this article, for what is a purpose-built RWD sports car with 'lightweighting' at the core of its design.
Meanwhile, PH seems to be devoting ever-increasing bandwidth to SUVs. Oh dear.
It used to be on PH that the MX-5 was the answer to most questions Meanwhile, PH seems to be devoting ever-increasing bandwidth to SUVs. Oh dear.
cerb4.5lee said:
I have a manual handbrake in the 370Z/M4...but truthfully I'm now at an age where they both may as well have an electric handbrake to be fair. I reckon the last time that I did a handbrake turn was about 30 years ago!
I did think that handbrake turns were cool in my late teens though.
Even when I used to slide a car around quite regularly, I would only use the revs and just dump the clutch rather than pulling the handbrake up.
I did think that handbrake turns were cool in my late teens though.
Even when I used to slide a car around quite regularly, I would only use the revs and just dump the clutch rather than pulling the handbrake up.
I often wonder if there are any MX-5 ex-owners out there who don't still hold a soft spot for these little cars. Certainly not the best car I've owned, in fact not even the best little roadster I've ever owned (step forward MR2 Spyder) but they just do driving so very well-and for PH'rs they take to subtle improvements just as well too-just in case it's not as you wish from the factory.
Mazda need to be commended for keeping with it, we'll miss it when it's gone.
Mazda need to be commended for keeping with it, we'll miss it when it's gone.
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