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OH has just put a deposit on a '19 plate MX5 RF. I had a brief go in it and it seemed v. nice. A wee bit harsh though, it's the Sport model with different suspension and wheels. Anyone got one and care to share any good/bad comments?
I haven't driven the latest mark of MX5 but used to own a Mk3
Go for the most powerful version you can get. Even the 2.0 version I had was very much underpowered for the quality of the chassis. I believe though that the latest ones so long as you get the most powerful one it feels ok.
With out wishing to be patronising, have you had a sports car before? I think you will find that the faster you drive it the ride will get better, its isn't going to ride like a Merc etc (thank fully)
They are very good sports cars, but if its your first sports car it will end up making you want something more powerful in the long run !
My mum has one (and had the soft top version beforehand) and has always loved them. Something to watch out for is there was a recall on fuel pump (I think, could be wrong) about six months ago but it took aaaaaages to actually get the parts. No cost involved, just inconvenience, so worth checkgin if it's had it done.
Post back up when you get it with how it goes. I have the MK3 power hard top and am considering a change. Mrsmidlife wants to veto anything without electric roof, but having sat in the RF (only in the showroom) it didn't give me the open car feel I love with mine.
We had an early 2 litre RF. Brilliant to drive. Wife spec'd an auto, which I was dubious of, but it was like a sequential when in fully manual mode, you just hit the shifter to change up/down. Great fun.
Lower power than later ones I think, but quick enough. Cabin was a bit tight. Very little storage, no glove box.
Used as a daily, had zero problems with it for the couple of years we had it.
There was an mx5 owners club meet at the British motor museum and I got chatting to the owner of a nice breathed on RF who used to work at our local mazda dealers. He said to go for the ND2 rather than the ND1 as the earlier one has a rep for eating gearboxes if not treated gently plus they have additional electrical regeneration? 🤔 Been looking at mx5s myself as mrs dB has changed jobs, so probs gonna need a second car again & she'd like one even if its just for couple of years, probs going mk3 though. The RFs look stunning 👍
I have the MK3 power hard top and am considering a change. Mrsmidlife wants to veto anything without electric roof, but having sat in the RF (only in the showroom) it didn’t give me the open car feel I love with mine.
Thats exactly why I didnt like my Mk3 MX5. You sit on it, not in it. IMO good sports cars you sit in and low. Unfortunately the Mk3 wasnt like that. The latest version apparently is much more like the Mk1 and Mk2 in that respect, and is a smaller car than the Mk3. Not really anything to do with the hood.
probs going mk3 though.
Dont go for the Mk3, it is widely known for being the worst of the generations, and not a true sports car.
As above the seating position is too high, it lacks character, and the standard suspension us just wrong on UK cars. They put it on stilts for some reason
Dont go for the Mk3, it is widely known for being the worst of the generations, and not a true sports car.
Cobblers. This widely held misconception will be overturned in the next few years. I think the NC will fair very well when people look back and revaluate it.
We had a mk3 for ten years that was part-ex'd for the RF. Wasn't that bad. Yes, heavier and the suspension was odd. Got that sorted with some shorter Eibach springs. But the latest ones are a return to form.
If me I'd get a manual soft top I think.
Dont go for the Mk3, it is widely known for being the worst of the generations, and not a true sports car.
It'll be Mrs dB's car, I have motorbikes for that kind of thing..
Try it back to back with a non RF. There are definite differences which some people like and some don't. To me the 'conventional' just felt a bit more nimble, a bit more keen on the turn in.
I'm afraid I disagree quite strongly with FunkyDunc about the mk3! We've had 4 '5s, and whilst I'm not sure the current mk3 is our favourite, it's still a great car. I guess the worst mx5 can still be a bloody good car. Ours is a 2.0 and I don't think it is underpowered at all. The chassis is great, and yeah, if you're doing track days with sticky tyres then I can understand you'd want more, but there's such a joy in getting the most out of a lovely chassis in a light, compact car on narrow tyres without a slug of power.
As far as I'm aware, it was 'put on stilts' to meet pedestrian safety regs. But yes, it looks awful and handles much more crisply on a ~30mm drop.
Yeah, the NC isn't perfect, but it's still very, very good.
There are three versions of the NC and the first is known to have oddly set up suspension iirc.
Quite tempted to get one myself and get some light mods done.
We have a soft top ND. 2 litre with the limited slip diff etc. love it. Drove an RF but the feeling of not being fully open to the elements spoilt things. I’m sure there’s a bit a weight penalty and even less boot space.
Haven't driven the new one but it does sound like it's not a proper mx5, ie, it's actually not already rusty on delivery. Looks to be a brilliant machine on paper though.
re hardtop vs soft I have a prht mk3 and it adds a little weight and it's a little funny looking but it's just so practical. And the RF imo looks better with hard than soft.
Since we've wandered offtopic, I have an NC1 on stock bilsteins and tbf yes they just fitted the wrong suspension, it's tall and soft and the arbs are like paperclips. On track my daily is sharper! But only an idiot would write it off for that, it's all so easily and cheaply fixed, £100 for some rx8 arbs and £120 or so for springs transforms it with loads of room to do more on a budget. The 2 litre walks the line really well, it's sensible enough for everyday use but feels so different when revved.
I like the looks of the MKIV but always think that they're too small, unlike my ever so unfashionable NC 2.0 soft top - plenty of room for a 6 footer in them. It's been a cracking buy for us, less than 3k 2 years ago, we're off to Blyton at the weekend (again) for a track day and we're taking it on holiday to Spa for the F1 at the end of Aug. Not as pretty as the NA, looks loads nicer than the NB and loads cheaper than the current model 😀
Since we're already way off topic, someone here should buy this https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/325164063854
It's been on my radar for a while but I've just bought a van.
I have the Bilsteins and shorter springs but have never got around to fitting them.
No the Mk3 certainly is not a bad car once you get Eibachs on it and the geometry sorted. I had a picture of mine on the lowered springs and it did look great.
But is just is not as engaging as a Mk1/2 (I cant comment on later variants as I havent driven)
It does completely lack character though when you drive it. I believe the later marks did bring this back though.
We borrowed a 1.8 folding hard roof mk 3 for a weekend and I was really surprised at how little I liked it. Drove London to Lyme Regis (and around) and back. That really did feel underpowered - didn't seem to matter how I drove it it never felt quick and driving it on A roads was enough to put me off ever owning an open top or sports car.
Like I said, she's put a deposit on it, so that's it. It's the 180BHP latest engine. With the roof open it did seem almost like a convertible, the back window disappears too although there is a small windbreaker thing which pops up. The boot loses a couple of litres of space, that's all. I was surprised to discover that the ND is actually smaller than the NA and not much heavier (the metal roof adds about 30Kg, I believe). I'm looking forward to 'putting it through it's paces' - when the OH isn't in it, of course!
It will be her daily driver.
A friend has a 2019 RF 180bhp he loves it, and I think the RF is possibly the best looking MX5?. I struggle to fit in it but it does have a beautiful balance and nice weighting to everything probably even more so than the MX5 NB I have sat on the drive.
TBH not fitting in properly is why I ended up buying a 981 Boxster S, glancing at your reflection in a shop window and realizing your head is above the windscreen doesn't feel safe.
And yes I did the Foamadectamy to the seat. The Boxster S is of course almost double the price and power so hardly a comparison.
The MK3 had a mid life revamp, notably to the suspension, possibly the engine as well which improved the ride. Still not as 'fun' as the earlier MKs but considerably better.
No the Mk3 certainly is not a bad car once you get Eibachs on it and the geometry sorted. I had a picture of mine on the lowered springs and it did look great.
Before and after WIM had sorted the suspension on our old one. I remember the drive home, totally transformed it. I think you'll enjoy the RF failedengineer.
