RE: 2022 Mazda MX-5 (ND) | PH Review

RE: 2022 Mazda MX-5 (ND) | PH Review

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Discussion

coppice

8,561 posts

143 months

Wednesday 11th May 2022
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Leithen said:
Ah, the usual PH review pile on. Some things don’t ever change. hehe

Would an electronic handbrake create a bit more space for the driver? One would have to sit in one to see, but surely it’s reasonable to reserve judgement before throwing the baby out with the bath water.


It's a genuine reaction from people with a different view, usually informed by experience . The ND might feel small compared to the gratuitously large proportions of most cars now, where size equates to status, but like its inspiration , the Lotus Elan, the ND's interior space belies its compact dimensions . I am 5-11 and well built , and the car fits me perfectly. But any taller and I'd struggle .

The handbrake looked intrusive before I drove it but I haven't given it a second thought since - it is simply not an issue at all.

The car has two noticeable faults - it is roly poly on corners and the steering is mediocre , quickish geared but like every EPAS car , lacking in feel. Roly poly eliminated by lowered springs (a Mazda option) but one is stuck with the steering .

edo111s

216 posts

224 months

Wednesday 11th May 2022
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coppice said:
The car has two noticeable faults - it is roly poly on corners and the steering is mediocre , quickish geared but like every EPAS car , lacking in feel. Roly poly eliminated by lowered springs (a Mazda option) but one is stuck with the steering .
After having done a full geo at BBR, the steering precision has improved considerably - though the feeling just a bit

biggbn

22,814 posts

219 months

Wednesday 11th May 2022
quotequote all
coppice said:
Leithen said:
Ah, the usual PH review pile on. Some things don’t ever change. hehe

Would an electronic handbrake create a bit more space for the driver? One would have to sit in one to see, but surely it’s reasonable to reserve judgement before throwing the baby out with the bath water.


It's a genuine reaction from people with a different view, usually informed by experience . The ND might feel small compared to the gratuitously large proportions of most cars now, where size equates to status, but like its inspiration , the Lotus Elan, the ND's interior space belies its compact dimensions . I am 5-11 and well built , and the car fits me perfectly. But any taller and I'd struggle .

The handbrake looked intrusive before I drove it but I haven't given it a second thought since - it is simply not an issue at all.

The car has two noticeable faults - it is roly poly on corners and the steering is mediocre , quickish geared but like every EPAS car , lacking in feel. Roly poly eliminated by lowered springs (a Mazda option) but one is stuck with the steering .
I am rather too chunky a day just under six foot so its good to know you fit!! I owned two mk1 mx5 and drove a StreetKa for many miles so suspect the nd would feel limo like. I really like them!!

DMZ

1,382 posts

159 months

Wednesday 11th May 2022
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As mentioned and worth repeating again, a full geo is essential on these cars. Mine was all over the place from factory. I did it when I lowered it and it was like on rails afterwards. I don't really get why Mazda is so casual about this stuff.

CABC

5,526 posts

100 months

Wednesday 11th May 2022
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edo111s said:
The ND2 2.0 ragtop is a fantastic sportscar.

Light, open top, short manual gear, LSD and rear drive which may come alive when cornering enthusiastically, great driving position, awesome night visibility if you have the led adaptive lights. Nice 4-pot revvy engine. Quite comfortable, decent luggage space - very very usable for school runs, commute, trips - and still trackable if you don't suffer from power envy.

Realistically, the opportunities to sensibly use a lot of power on England's road are very limited.

Mazda's own lowered springs and a good geometry (thanks BBR!) improve the handling and steering feel.
BBR exhaust improves the soundtrack. And they sell you power hikes if you want them...

I now have had it for 4 years after an Elise (which I ran for 10+ years) and a GT86.
All have their own compromises. I miss them both but in a real-world when having just one sportscar biggrin is already a blessing, I would not go back.

In the Elise having an adult passenger was always annoying!
I love the Mazda's cabin width compared to the Elise, so that two people can sit comfortably.
Of course, the Elise steering was not just in a league of its own, it was from another planet ! And the sense of occasion of the Elise had no price.
The GT86 too had a much better steering than the MX5. It also had the ability to turn off the assistances (bar ABS) via its pedal dance and an overall balance that made even me feel a driving super-god on track.
The engine torque dip was annoying but bearable. However it lacked an open top - my real reason to switch to the Mazda, which is just as fun to drive on the road.

Boxsters are undoubtedly nice, but I think for the price of a Boxster one can run both an MX5 and a VW campervan, and then I LOL ...


Edited by edo111s on Wednesday 11th May 10:08
Echo all of this. I’ve owned all these 3 cars too, and at the same time for comparison.

MX5 desperately needs mods and geo to release its potential. Still outstanding value with over 5k of mods.

SweptVolume

1,090 posts

92 months

Wednesday 11th May 2022
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As I'm seeing a few 30th Anniversaries on this thread, here's mine, bought about three weeks ago. The Recaro seats are a particular high point. Rather than fitting the new models with easily swapped BBS alloys, they should make these seats standard fit on the GT Tech models, as they're just too rare otherwise.

I didn't understand the comments about the bouncy suspension until I tackled a series of bends on a B road at about 50-60 and found the car moving about quite unexpectedly. Plenty of cars would have been faster along there, but it was certainly entertaining, and as life is not a race, I'd rather be the one at the back smiling.

Just need to get some squishy bags for the boot (or maybe the custom made luggage from the MX5 parts site).

CABC

5,526 posts

100 months

Wednesday 11th May 2022
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SweptVolume said:


As I'm seeing a few 30th Anniversaries on this thread, here's mine, bought about three weeks ago. The Recaro seats are a particular high point. Rather than fitting the new models with easily swapped BBS alloys, they should make these seats standard fit on the GT Tech models, as they're just too rare otherwise.

I didn't understand the comments about the bouncy suspension until I tackled a series of bends on a B road at about 50-60 and found the car moving about quite unexpectedly. Plenty of cars would have been faster along there, but it was certainly entertaining, and as life is not a race, I'd rather be the one at the back smiling.

Just need to get some squishy bags for the boot (or maybe the custom made luggage from the MX5 parts site).
Mazda designed a great car then finished with cheap parts. Japs are happier modding I think as well. Fit some Meisters and you’ll have a more composed ride and more comfortable. And you can stiffen to taste with a few clicks. Std suspension is bad.

Edited by CABC on Wednesday 11th May 16:52

anonymous-user

53 months

Wednesday 11th May 2022
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In fairness, the handbrake comment was followed by saying that it would free up space for something more useful. Which isn’t a bad idea in a small car.

Edit: Oh it seems this has been discussed at length already!

Kawasicki

13,041 posts

234 months

Thursday 12th May 2022
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stickleback123 said:
Om said:
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.
Agree completely.

I like a powerful car as much as the next person, but when I drive my 92bhp soot chucker shed hatchback I'm going faster than 99,999 of every 100,000 cars I encounter, I am far more likely to have to brake than accelerate further to join at the end of a sliproad, and if I can't safely perform an overtake in it then it's an overtake that probably shouldn't be made.

Almost everyone on the roads drives like an old woman, I think I could be in a Morris 1000 and still be the fastest person around most of the time.

Edited by stickleback123 on Tuesday 10th May 15:31
+1

My largish diesel estate has 110bhp, and I worry for my driving license more than I worry about not having enough performance.

jhonn

1,550 posts

148 months

Thursday 12th May 2022
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SweptVolume said:
I didn't understand the comments about the bouncy suspension until I tackled a series of bends on a B road at about 50-60 and found the car moving about quite unexpectedly. Plenty of cars would have been faster along there, but it was certainly entertaining, and as life is not a race, I'd rather be the one at the back smiling.
Most of my driving is on Highland B roads and yes, I find that my ND1 moves around a bit as well. Like you I quite enjoy that; I like the 'feedback', it makes you feel that the car is alive and how it's interacting with the road. I'm quite happy with the standard suspension and ride height. smile

All in all, it's a great little car and there's very little I'd change about it.

Court_S

12,764 posts

176 months

Thursday 12th May 2022
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I like the MX-5, I’ve never owned one but think the modern ones are cracking looking little things. I’d definitely have one if I could make a two seater work.

The reviewer did seem a bit I different to it, but I guess if you’re to big old SUV’s and Uber-saloons it’s probably a bit of a shock to the system.

Mayonaishe

12 posts

72 months

Thursday 12th May 2022
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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 smile


Love this!

fido

16,752 posts

254 months

Thursday 12th May 2022
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My wish-list would be:- 1. Electronic dipstick - Mazda ones always unreadable anyway. 2. Oil pressure/temperature gauges.
The handbrake is fine.

Mezzanine

9,148 posts

218 months

Thursday 12th May 2022
quotequote all
Mayonaishe said:
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 smile


Love this!
Me too. Great looking car.

MikeDB1

235 posts

73 months

Thursday 12th May 2022
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leakymanifold said:
You've never had a day at a rally school then I guess. It is the first thing they teach you and it's then used all of the time.
Rather depends on what the rally car is. Once I migrated past Escorts in 1981, I rarely used it again.

As for the MX-5, I have to say the 184bhp in the ND weight gives pretty good performance. And on some roads it can match my Impreza on time. For trips to the Scottish Highlands it's just about perfect.


Lonoxe

174 posts

31 months

Thursday 12th May 2022
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Used to turn my nose down on this until circumstances forced me to drive my wife’s car to the station for a few months. It’s a delight on country lanes but 30 odd quid?

coppice

8,561 posts

143 months

Thursday 12th May 2022
quotequote all
fido said:
My wish-list would be:- 1. Electronic dipstick - Mazda ones always unreadable anyway. 2. Oil pressure/temperature gauges.
The handbrake is fine.
Agree re 2 - I like to know the oil temp, especially . Dunno about 1 - my MX5's dipstick 'works ' alright .

TameRacingDriver

18,046 posts

271 months

Thursday 12th May 2022
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jhonn said:
SweptVolume said:
I didn't understand the comments about the bouncy suspension until I tackled a series of bends on a B road at about 50-60 and found the car moving about quite unexpectedly. Plenty of cars would have been faster along there, but it was certainly entertaining, and as life is not a race, I'd rather be the one at the back smiling.
Most of my driving is on Highland B roads and yes, I find that my ND1 moves around a bit as well. Like you I quite enjoy that; I like the 'feedback', it makes you feel that the car is alive and how it's interacting with the road. I'm quite happy with the standard suspension and ride height. smile

All in all, it's a great little car and there's very little I'd change about it.
My NC only has the Eibach springs, but the reasons above are exactly what I like about it. Everyone tells you to go for coilovers and thicker ARBs but I always wonder if that will just make the car more planted, and actually a little bit less fun and interactive?

As for the ND, I *love* the look of them, but honestly, I don't know if I would bother paying all that money to upgrade from my NC, mine is also a launch edition so arguably the prettiest NC1 available anyway. It's already rocking the BBR Super 200 kit and so has plenty performance for the roads, so it's not like I'd be getting a performance bump, and the noise it makes with the BBR kit is very pleasing biggrin The car is an utter riot for what I paid for it quite honestly.

Seems like it would be a lot of money to get better looks, but allegedly lose some steering feel. However I could see myself in a BBR modded RF one day cool

Edited by TameRacingDriver on Thursday 12th May 18:28

CABC

5,526 posts

100 months

Thursday 12th May 2022
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TameRacingDriver said:
My NC only has the Eibach springs, but the reasons above are exactly what I like about it. Everyone tells you to go for coilovers and thicker ARBs but I always wonder if that will just make the car more planted, and actually a little bit less fun and interactive?
no, get a go in one with Meisters or other quality coilovers. well judged mods can make it more interactive, while more composed.
no 5 fan wants Audi grip, but the oem parts aren't always best. hell, on the NC1 they just jacked the ride height by a few centimetres to comply with eu laws. result was a total joke. although you could buy one of those secondhand sure in the knowledge it hadn't been thrashed laugh

Pro Bono

586 posts

76 months

Thursday 12th May 2022
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cidered77 said:
But - 30 grand now? i paid just under 25 after discounts.... inflation affects everything i guess, but does it put it in range of a lot of serious hot hatchbacks. which do compete with this car even if on paper they don't.
If someone wants a convertible then they've already decided they don't want a hatchback.