Good review. I’ve just got a 2019 RF. 184ps… bilstein dampers and limited slip diff. Not having owned a ‘sports car’ before, I’m blown away. Such great fun, and pretty damn nippy.
I have a 2019 RF with 184. No bilsteins and no recaros. Rear end sometimes ducks in a bit and well... Handle with care then.... But damn i love this thing. Agree on seat memory tho. Tricly to get it dialled just right. Also agree on no fabric roof. RF was the reason i went with an ND instead of searching for that perfect NB with a hardtop ;)
Great video sir! Many youths are more drawn into turbocharged hot hatchbacks as they tend to have more torque at a lower RPM and appealing finance deals, but I'm glad that cars like the MX-5 and the GT86 exist - despite not selling as well. The lightweight RWD cars with a manual setup really makes the driving experience more involving and rewarding when you do things right! Keep up the great work 👍
Loved watching this in the dark days of winter in Michigan. I have owned my 2021 MX-5 RF for almost a year. It’s stored away for winter. Sure miss summer.
The weather here in Scotland has been terrible too tbh, all fun cars very much parked up just now. Makes us appreciate them more come the spring though👍 Thanks for tuning in.
Loved the video mate. I picked myself up a soft top a couple months ago, couldn't be happier (and as a 24yo I had to get in before life took over or worse, affordable petrol sports cars disappeared altogether). I have mine lowered on H&R springs and its eliminated most of the body roll, without being too harsh or looking slammed, can only recommend.
Thanks for the recommendation - couple of weeks off coming up soon so hoping to follow you down that road. Crazy how these cars appeal. I'm double your age (life stuff done) and couldn't be happier myself 👍
Nice review, I think I’ve been bitten by the bug! Good to see a review from a UK perspective, might need to come back and blame you soon for making me pull the trigger one one of these 🤣 cheers 👍🏼
Thanks 👍 I just love driving it. I try to sum up why in these videos but nothing compares to just being behind the wheel and enjoying the experience. Very special. You won't regret it for a single moment 👌 And if you do, yeah, just blame me 🤣
Great review. I've owned my MX-5 RF for around 8 months now and I love it. I very rarely see these sorts of cars on the roads as most people nowadays are just after the high performance mainstream stuff. My only minor negative point is that I just wish I could lower the roof at slightly higher speeds as its a bit of an inconvenience having to pull over and do it. I regularly post some POV driving videos on my channel if you're a fan of them.
@@pkkiller_apathy4568 Yeah I've seen those, I think it's called a Smart Top or something. It's a great mod but I just feel that it's a lot to pay for when I really think that it should be a standard option.
@@KunziDoesStuff agreed but I would rather there be more after market companies to bring the price down. I do like being able to hold tho because it makes it easier and feels safer when cleaning the drains for the hard top.
Thanks for sharing us your insight to what its like living with the MX-5 👍 glad that it so far has been an overall positive experience for you. If you ever feel like you want to have slightly more power from the engine, you might want to check out 'BBR GTi' based near Silverstone - they're a MX-5 specialist and have a 'Super 200' naturally aspirated tuning package for the NDs - as the name states, 200hp 👌
Good review thanks. I've got a 2018 2.0 Sport Nav convertible. I have also had the gearbox and diff oil changed at 3rd year service, no sign of any problems, feels smoother now. Super fun car to drive, shows you don't need loads of power to have fun. Only negatives - seats aren't great on a long journey, no where to put anything inside. Also passenger footwell is too small for tall people.
Thanks 👍 They are wonderful cars to drive, 100% agree. Getting the right seating position is tricky no doubt. Then the misses comes along and changes it all 🤣
Nice vid the rf is probably on my next car list,had an na mx5 for 4 years now a mx5 mk 3.5 2.0 tec hard top for the last 12 months and love them both,so its nice to get the perspective of some one who has a rf, 3 more year of the mk3 then well we will see
Nice review. I have a 2019 ND2 soft top. It’s a Sport Nav + which means it has a LSD, Bilstein shocks and strut tower brace. I can’t say that I have noticed any flexing in it. It has the 181bhp engine and this power, combined with the very wide and evenly spread torque makes it a very enjoyable car to drive. Yes it could have more power, but I feel what it does have is perfectly sufficient. Great fun to ring it out through the gears and enjoy the super crisp handling. Lots of people talk about MX5s having soft, roly-poly suspension. I have never found this to be the case, but mine does have the uprated shocks so I guess that makes a difference - I haven’t driven any other MX5s so I can’t make a comparison. I’m very happy with the car - it puts a smile on my face every time I drive it
Oh, I agree the handling is lovely, but IMO it's too soft. Ours is bilstein, LSD, etc, etc but since the eibach springs have been fitted and the geo set to the flyin miata parameters its far sharper and way more confidence inspiring. Small changes = noticeable improvement. Otherwise it's mega. Just want to drive and drive...the MX5 😎
A MK3?? I had a 2010 previously. Great car, had to sell when I relocated, was gutted. Took 5 years to get another, but it was worth the wait 👍 Hang on to that one if you've had it from new - perfect keeper 👌
Had the ND rag top since 2016. Which ever MX5 you own they are great cars. Not had any problems with the box Only niggle we've had was with the rag top liner just above the rear sceen as it started hanging down . It was a small fix that mazda sent out took 20 seconds to fit. Seats have been ok but I do treat the leather frequently. What would I like to have? Steering column adjustment as on the later builds the first nds only have up and down. Lets it put it this way we still love it and the niggle was tiny compared to the fun these little roadsters give to their owners.
The gearbox problems do seem very few and far between. I find the steering column ok, it's the seat position. I get the perfect spot, then Mrs Mid Life Motors uses the car and i'm back to square one again 🤷♂️ But yes, we're nit-picking, still a great car that's just wonderful to drive 👌
Good review, I have the 2017 launch addition, it's a great car to drive point and it goes, slick gearshift, however I agree on the seats mine are wearing also! unfortunately one thing I hate is the billstien dampers and lower sports suspension on the launch addition, I find the ride to harsh, particularly if you get on country back lanes, it's a bit like being thrown down the road on a stone. Also worse still at low speed they squeak like old bed springs! Iv have tried getting them lubricated but after a 50 more odd miles the squeaks come back... I'm seriously considering getting the standard suspension fitted, the current set up is annoying and exhausting on long country drives.
Thanks 👍 Good point you've mentioned about the suspension, don't find it quite so bad and not had them squeaking yet (maybe that's to come) but was out the other day in a friends ND which had coilovers (Tein) fitted and the ride/handling is sublime compared with my car, completely sold. Dear Santa...
It's a very good car ! It's like a friend that works with you and wants to share in the fun. It's almost like it's trying to get you to do what it wants to do so it can show you it's full potential . After driving other cars , this car earns your trust as you get more familiar with it. It will teach you to be a better driver. And it does a very good job of catching your mistakes and allowing you to correct them without paying a consequence. It's also very strange that often you feel like your speeding and then look down and your almost ALWAYS at the speed limit. BE PREPARED FOR LOTS AND LOTS OF GOOD COMMENTS FROM PEOPLE ON THIS CAR , YOU WILL GET THEM DAILY ! (I would imagine it's the same load of comments as driving an exotic 200 thousand dollar car. These cars are rare , stand out and turn heads !) Also be prepared for almost every other mx5 owners to wave or flash their lights to say hello. It's a community your joining. You will enjoy low gas costs as well. (Where I am) lower insurance as well. And peace of mind knowing you own one of the most reliable vehicles you can buy ! I asked owners before buying and no one had problems. One owner of a 30 year old Miata replied " just add gas and oil " while in a McDonald's Drive-Thru. If you don't need to move large items and you don't have more than 2 people in your home , and you don't mind winter driving such a fantastic car, then just buy it. Consider your needs before purchase. Know what they are first. Can't go wrong with this car made for those enjoyable life moments.
Superb comments 👍 And so true. Just back from going out to get some coffee, the supermarket is 10mins away. Took me 2hrs 🤣 A beautiful evening (19 degrees) and still light until 8.30, wonderful drive and waves from 3 other owners. Perfect evening, perfect moment, perfect car 👌
Don’t discount winter driving . With a set of real snow tires it does great . Of course you can’t drive in 6 inch’s of snow as it will bottom out . Really fun to slide around .
Enjoyed the owners perspective. I have a 2020 RF and added the oem chassis bracing (strut tower and under body) to further reduce the scuttle shake with the roof open. Have photos of it on my instagram page if you’d like to see. I heard the same about the factory oils. I think the factory might use semi-synthetic engine oil. During the first service, mine got Castrol Edge 5W-30 fully synthetic and she runs just that much smoother now. Yet to change out the transmission or diff oils but hopefully Mazda hasn’t skimped out too much there with their factory oils. Not sure what the intervals are for those. I’m also getting more familiar with the soft and (somewhat unpredictable at more than 7/10ths) suspension and feel like there’s a learning curve, which actually makes it more of a challenge and fun to better understand. As for the high stance, the positive is there’s almost no chance of scraping the front.
Wow, great comments, many thanks 👍 The gearbox oil change is so worth it, 100% agree. Much smoother. Whilst tempted to change things, in my older age i'm definitely becoming more keen to keep the car as it came from the factory and you're right certainly don't want to scrape the front!! You're lucky having a 2020 model - bet the extra horsepower feels nice 👌 I jealous 😉
Thanks Neal for your 1 year review, I look forward to the two year review hi hi. I picked up on you mentioned about the gearbox and different updates to the gearbox over its life. I have just purchased my first MX-5 ND first registered May 2017. Could I ask please what gearbox oil did you refill yours with as I don't think here in the UK you can buy the Mazda recommended gearbox oil. My car has done very little miles over the last few years with it previous owners, I guess because of covid. The gear select on my car was a little stiff to begin with and I put that down to lack of use and it appears to be getting smoother the more I drive the car. One more subscriber :-) I'm looking forward to watching your other videos. Cheers
Thanks Paul 👍Sounds like your car will have the first (main) update like ours, which is good. IIRC we used Mobil SHC 75W-90, the fully synthetic one. You'll need 2 litres. Until the transmission is up to temp 2nd gear can still be a little tight. Once it's warm though all is well. Enjoy your new car 😎
Just discovered your channel whilst researching a new MX5 RF. I learnt more in this video than all the other myriad reviews combined, thanks. Real World experience. I'm coming from 14 years of Golf GTIs, currently in a 2018 manual 7.5GTI and am unsure whether to take the plunge to an MX5, having never owned a convertible. Test drove a new RF but found the ride a bit jiggly and harsh on Potenza S001 at 45psi initially, then 32psi. This put my wife off it, so we didn't go ahead with the purchase. Any comments or advice for me about ride, pressures or tyres?
Thanks for the kind words 👍 That's a tough one, my best mate has a 2018 GTi an its a great car, really great car. I'm probably a bit biased but the Mazda does feel a bit more of a special place to be and it's nicer just to go for a drive in. The Golf is faster and far more useable but horses for courses. Personally i've just always preferred a sports car. With the roof up the RF doesn't have a bad ride, I run 29psi all round. Roof down that does change, no doubt. Owners will pretend it doesn't and tell you changing tyres makes a difference but tbh neither is true. It seems to be worse at lower speeds. Pushing on and things do improve. It's certainly not terrible, i'd say my slk is worse, and doesn't spoil the car/experience. I can't get my misses out of the Mazda, she absolutely loves it, takes it at every opportunity, which is nice.
@@midlifemotors5050 Thanks Neil - appreciate the advice. Interesting that your Mrs loves the MX5 - I was hoping mine would too, which would've appeased my conscience somewhat! Maybe in time, if I do buy the MX5.
Great video, honest experience sharing. I own a 2.0 RF 2018 160 hp. More than enough nippy for me. As shown in this video, it's all about driving fun. Is the car perfect, no probably not, but so is none of the top spec audi's, beamers and mercs at much much higher cost. Not to mention reliability 🤔. Maybe Posches come close to perfection, but at a huge price tag as well. Ask an owner about service bills. The MX5 offers lots of driving fun at affordable purchase and ownership cost. Was not too sure about what gear box issue was solved by a service. Was it new gearbox oil that improved things?
Many thanks 👍They are a wonderful car. You're right, no car is perfect, nomatter the cost. Particularly not Porsches, they've had masses of reliability gremlins over the years. The new gearbox oil has definitly improved things. Can still be a little notchy when cold but much smoother shift when up to temperature now.
I recommend you upgrade the front sway bar and add the Eibach springs. These two upgrades will improve the handling and provide a modest drop with no penalty in ride quality as the stock Bilstein shocks are capable of handling this upgrade. This worked great for my 2016 ND Club. Cheers!
@@midlifemotors5050 the front sway bar replacement is a bit challenging due to tight clearance, but is in my opinion the most important upgrade. Please be sure to use a high quality lubricant to avoid any NVH issues. The springs will help reduce dive and squat during spirited driving and lower the car slightly and reduce that fender to tire gap. I have had zero clearance issues with the modest drop. Good luck and I look forward to your progress.
@@bobreno4042 Thanks for all that info Bob. Really appreciated 👍 Looking forward to closing up the arch/tyre gap. Thinking Whiteline arb's. Watch this space...
How is the paint holding up on the front of your car? It looks like the Soul Red Crystal Metallic paint (?) a very soft paint and very easily chipped. My brand new soul red drop top ND2 is only 3 weeks old and got 2 large chips on the front. Also, the dealer really messed up the paint prepping it for me prior to collection. Had to get a paint correction done (14+ hours, 3 stage polish) and had them ceramic coat it so it's shining like new now, no more swirl marks or scratches. The detailer also fixed the 2 chips but If I notice any more I will seriously consider wrapping the front in PPF. I believe in some countries Mazda is respraying people's cars under warranty due to the ultra soft paint getting chipped so easily. It's a pain in the you know where.
Mine's not too bad tbh. The front is fairly stonechip free. It's the sides at low level in front of the rear wheels that seem to get it worse. PPF is a good shout but although I like a clean car I don't get too stressed about stone chips generally. I've friends with much, much more expensive cars and if you saw the state of them!! I de-swirl (is that a word??) the car each winter and that does remove some of the minor scuffs and chips. Not sure i'd want my car painted though, once it's painted it's never the same.
Enjoyed your review and continued enthusiasm for the car. How do you get on with cleaning it? I have the Machine Grey version which I find is difficult to keep shiny!
Thanks 👍 The soul red does come up well, finding Turtle wax Super Hard Shell Finish brings it up best. What the camera doesn't really show is the car is quite badly swirled - plan to machine polish over the winter.
@@midlifemotors5050 Yeah, it can become obsessive keeping the swirls to a minimum. The dust is a pain too. Best thing is to admire the car from the outside from a few steps back, lol! All the best 👍
Hi Neil - thanks for the videos. I’ve just picked up my used MK4 (2018). You mentioned the gearbox oil….what did you notice before and after the top up? Mine isn’t due a service again till January next year and I don’t know whether the gearbox oil check/change is something that is done every service anyway or if I need to ask for it.
Hi Stuart. Basically it just feels smooth a silk going into every gear now, it was a bit notchy before. Still a little tight to get 1st from stone cold, have to double clutch on occasions, but once up to temperature, all is well.
@@midlifemotors5050 Thanks for that - mine feels pretty good other than reverse which feels a little difficult to engage sometimes, but I’ve only got 3,000 miles on the clock so it may be that, but I’ll get the mechanics to check. Love the videos - keep up the good work!
The miata is a great car no one buys, but once you drive one its an eye opener. I have the original 1997na and a 2021 nd2 they are fun affordable and definitely a throw back to simpler times.
Oh, now i'm jealous, would love a MK1 - currently working on Mrs Mid Life Motors!! Had to sell my Mk3 when we re-located 😢 was a long 5 years but happy again, couldn't be without it 🤞
Nice Review. Made me laugh when you said it needs to go above 3500 revs to come on though😁🙈..I had a mk1 and the best wat to get all the power is to get it above 5000 RPM. The engines are Japanese..They are designed to Rev hard..They’re not European cars. Give it a go seriously..I daily took mine to Redline in 2nd and 3rd and the engine just got stronger even with 140000km on the clock and a 25 year old drive train..Seriously don’t worry..Give it some beans..Great video👌
Yeah, i've probably got too much mechanical sympathy tbh. Getting braver though because I think you're right, the more miles that go on the stronger/quicker it feels. Thanks for the kind words 👍
Im on my 3rd MX5 and I've gone for the RF and it doesn't disappoint.My only gripe is the lack of support on the seats. does anyone know of where I can upgrade at a reasonable cost?
What a great video - just a direct and honest review with the camera giving great perception of the ‘drive’. Do you find buffet with the RF? I’m about to buy an MX5 ND and I can’t decide between RF or regular soft top. I agree with all the things you said about the RF (security, rigidity) but can’t quite decide whether I like the aesthetic. Someone said they buffet, is that true?
Hope it helped 👍 There is a bit more buffeting with the RF, yes. Doesn't tend to start till around 65mph(ish), so can be a bit of a pain on the motorway. Get to about 75 and it goes again??!! Weird 🤷♂️ Our car lives outside and is used as much with the roof up as down (living in Scotland sees to that) so the RF was a no-brainer. If it's a weekend toy, parked in a garage, coming out on nice days then perhaps the soft top ticks more boxes. Either way your in for a treat, wonderful cars - ours has rendered my slk more or less redundant 🤣
@@midlifemotors5050 thank you so much for your comments and advice. I drove the cars the other day - for me I prefer the fully open experience of the roadster. Bought a Soul Red one. #:o) First time driving the car I was so impressed with the overall package. I’ve had some reasonably interesting cars in my time (Porsche, M3, XK/R etc) and this was one of the nicest sportscar packages I’ve driven. Yes people will think I’m mad! At first I thought I might want a Recaro edition, but having driven the Sport Nav I think it’s firm enough. The way the car leans then grips in corners is hilarious. I like there is enough power (with the 160) to be nippy and allow you to row it along. The XK/R demolished everything so brutal the fun was illegal in seconds. Roof is brilliant! Only slight concern is that I only just fit, longer journeys might be a bit bumnumbing (I’m 6’). But I’m quite excited by it! Thank you again! Subscribed natch!
@@grahamsalmons2027 Excellent choice 👍 The soul red is a fantastic colour, just be careful it is quite soft paint, getting plenty of wax on it early doors really helps. I'm only 5'10" and it fits me like a glove. Be interesting to see how you get on in terms of the space available. I know what your saying about the speed. It's more or less perfect and lets you focus on actually driving the car, so much more enjoyable/less stressful. We've an slk55 sat in the garage - thing hasn't moved since the mazda arrived!! Health to enjoy - Drive the 5 😎
How is the 1st and 2nd gear from a hill start? My Mazda 3 2.5 I have to rev it to 4k rpm then quickly shift to 2 and blip throttle just before I come off the clutch to smooth the transition other wise it feels rough due to how fast the rpms drop in this car.
It's ok. The car has hill-hold assist, so hill starts aren't an issue. If you're in a hurry, need to keep the revs up, yes. Stay above 3,500 rpm and all is well.
Hi, mate great video, just bought a RF launch model today just like yours with 609 dry miles on clock and just watched your video about the gear box issues, which has got me worried, the car is under Mazda extended warranty so will be ok for a year mine is registered late June 2017 just like yours Also is the RF launch edition lowered slightly from factory?
Don't panic too much your car will have the first, and main, update. What you may find is that the box is a bit tight when cold, the later updates helped with this. Once warm all is fine so just take your time until things warm up. Getting some decent oil in there also helps. Same suspension set-up, still can't decide whether to lower or not 🤷♂️
@@midlifemotors5050 Thanks for your reply, just going through all your videos, if you do decide to lower car I recommend MeisterR ZetaCRD I've got them on my MK3.5 NC they a absolutely fantastic as a daily and track use aswell. On my NC I've got it lowered only 15mm and it makes all the difference
@@1ABY Great info, many thanks 👍 I remember the NC having less body roll and better steering feel. Suspension change and uprated ARBs definitely on the cards. Dear Santa...🤣 Oh, is that your Capri?? Wow!!
@midlifemotors5050 Just got to convince my wife that it's a 'practical' car!!! I had a Mk1 for about ten years and apart from a clutch slave cylinder packing up, it didn't break down again. Just fancy something a bit newer now.
Good stuff 👍 We had a 981S a while back and I remember reading the Porsche literature at the time and the Cayman was over twice as stiff as the Boxster!! Was shocked, but was always going to prefer the convertible 👌
Nice honest video! I've been considering an mx-5 for my drive to work. It's all highway (70 mph), would I regret driving it at highway speeds for 40 minutes each way? I'm ok with some road/tire/wind noise, I just wanted to make sure it wouldn't get annoying after a while. It's appealing because of the low consumable costs and great gas mileage... plus manual and open air feel when I've had a long day at work.
Mrs Mid Life Motors used ours as a daily for a 6 months whilst waiting for her new car, 30 miles each way. Your right, it uses no brakes, tyres, etc and will return you 40+ mpg without even trying. The ride is good, controls are light, reliability faultless and has all the latest tech you need. The cabin is tight though, not much space to stretch out, plenty of headroom on a nice day though 👍 Go for it, it's a wonderful car and it'd certainly be a good story to tell/video to make 😎
Owned multiple STs as dailies, and 40 minutes highway in a ST (up or down) was not an issue for me 10 years ago, but a little more annoying for me now since I’m on the phone more and listen to podcasts. I’ve had a 2020 RF for the past year as my daily (20 minutes each way highway.) My preference is usually ST always down, so RF was not an obvious choice for me. After a year in all seasons, I’m really happy with the RF. Roof up, I can drive all day and not be less uncomfortable than any of my sedans. My wife, who did not like being a passenger in my STs much, says this is one of her favorite cars to be a passenger in. She prefers it even to our Stinger GT2 which she really likes and picked specifically for our long highway trips. The RF is that easy and versatile (for a sports car.) For me, as a weekend car, I’d go ST, as a daily, RF all the way, no problem.
Not good 😢 Had that with my pevious MK3 so feel your pain fella. Nowadays i'm paranoyed about keeping the drains clear. Not the simplest task either tbh!!
@@midlifemotors5050 yep :) never had one before, so be good to know what you do. What's the drain cleaning steps and how often do you do it? I cleaned it out but didn't see anything blocking it :(
@@mmcguireiphone I probably do it every 6 months. On the RF I find the worst bit is below the rear window. There's a tube either side which you'll see if you half open the roof and look underneath the deck lid. If they get blocked it just overflows into the boot even though your drains appear cleared.
Whats the point of a car that can go really fast , especially in the UK, with all rhe speed cameras and speed limits , much more fun and economical to have an MX 5 with decent acceleration but not ridiculously so, good mpg and above all , fun to drive .
Fair enough👍 Though the RF is stiffer, quieter, better security, more weight over the rear wheels and, IMO, better looking. These things do matter to some people.
Just bought a 2017 RF with only 15000kms on the odometer (about 9000 miles). I've had some stupidly quick cars (Chrysler 300C SRT8, Stage 5 tuned Saab 9-5 Aero, Boxster S, Stage 3 tuned Saab 9-3 Viggen etc), but the NB & NC MX5s I've had in the past were almost an antidote to raw power. I tend to buy cars based on how they make me feel, which is why I've had so many Saabs; cars need to have personality or I get bored very quickly, no matter how quick they are. And on a test drive of the ND RF, after about 15 minutes I realised I'd been smiling the whole time, even in slow traffic. I left the UK for Australia in 2007, I'd forgotten how late it stays light in summer (and thankfully I also forgot how the sun can't be arsed hauling itself more than two inches above the horizon in winter). Here in Perth it's dark by 8pm even in summer.
The ND is great, peak MX5 in my opinion. As I age speed has become irrelevant. We’ve an slk55 which never moves these days tbh. I enjoy tinkering too and the Mazda is great for that. March and still frikkin raining here!! Longer days are coming though 😀
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Great review mate. Really helpful! Also good job with the different camera angles
Thanks. Much appreciated. Still very much learning on the camera front, but all good fun.
Good review. I’ve just got a 2019 RF. 184ps… bilstein dampers and limited slip diff. Not having owned a ‘sports car’ before, I’m blown away. Such great fun, and pretty damn nippy.
Glad you're enjoying it. They are great. Must be even better with 184bhp 👌
I have a 2019 RF with 184. No bilsteins and no recaros. Rear end sometimes ducks in a bit and well... Handle with care then.... But damn i love this thing. Agree on seat memory tho. Tricly to get it dialled just right. Also agree on no fabric roof. RF was the reason i went with an ND instead of searching for that perfect NB with a hardtop ;)
@@0fnkstr0 envious of your 184 😎
Cheers from across the pond man, great video!
Many thanks for watching, and a BIG hello from us here in sunny Scotland 👍
Great video sir! Many youths are more drawn into turbocharged hot hatchbacks as they tend to have more torque at a lower RPM and appealing finance deals, but I'm glad that cars like the MX-5 and the GT86 exist - despite not selling as well. The lightweight RWD cars with a manual setup really makes the driving experience more involving and rewarding when you do things right! Keep up the great work 👍
Thanks for the kind words. Don't get me wrong I love driving the turbo nutter hatches, but wouldn't want to own one. Manual sports car for me please ✔
Loved watching this in the dark days of winter in Michigan. I have owned my 2021 MX-5 RF for almost a year. It’s stored away for winter. Sure miss summer.
The weather here in Scotland has been terrible too tbh, all fun cars very much parked up just now. Makes us appreciate them more come the spring though👍 Thanks for tuning in.
Great video. I just got my 2017 RF about a month ago and it have been my daily driver ever since.
Fair play. Ours is parked up for a couple of months. The roads/salt round here are terrible at the moment, grrrrrrrr!!
Great review! I’ve owned mine for about 1.5 months and I’ve already put over 3,000 miles on it!!!! I love it!
Many thanks 👍 They are great aren't they, keep enjoying 😎
Loved the video mate. I picked myself up a soft top a couple months ago, couldn't be happier (and as a 24yo I had to get in before life took over or worse, affordable petrol sports cars disappeared altogether). I have mine lowered on H&R springs and its eliminated most of the body roll, without being too harsh or looking slammed, can only recommend.
Thanks for the recommendation - couple of weeks off coming up soon so hoping to follow you down that road. Crazy how these cars appeal. I'm double your age (life stuff done) and couldn't be happier myself 👍
Nice video. I bought mine a few months ago and it's super fun!
I just love this little car 👌
Great videos, thanks! My RF GT should be arriving at the dealers any day now….haven’t been (not so patiently) waiting 6 months for it
Health to enjoy your new car 👍
Nice review, I think I’ve been bitten by the bug! Good to see a review from a UK perspective, might need to come back and blame you soon for making me pull the trigger one one of these 🤣 cheers 👍🏼
Thanks 👍 I just love driving it. I try to sum up why in these videos but nothing compares to just being behind the wheel and enjoying the experience. Very special. You won't regret it for a single moment 👌 And if you do, yeah, just blame me 🤣
Great review. I've owned my MX-5 RF for around 8 months now and I love it. I very rarely see these sorts of cars on the roads as most people nowadays are just after the high performance mainstream stuff. My only minor negative point is that I just wish I could lower the roof at slightly higher speeds as its a bit of an inconvenience having to pull over and do it. I regularly post some POV driving videos on my channel if you're a fan of them.
They are great aren't them. Will pop over and have a look. Thanks for the invite.
Op they make a single press switch that allows you to raise or lower the top at up to 30mph. But they are pricey at 300-350$
@@pkkiller_apathy4568 Yeah I've seen those, I think it's called a Smart Top or something. It's a great mod but I just feel that it's a lot to pay for when I really think that it should be a standard option.
@@KunziDoesStuff agreed but I would rather there be more after market companies to bring the price down. I do like being able to hold tho because it makes it easier and feels safer when cleaning the drains for the hard top.
@@KunziDoesStuff MX5Things has one too, under 200,-. Optional keyfob and windows addon. I'm gonna get one I think, but don't care bout the addons.
Thanks for sharing us your insight to what its like living with the MX-5 👍 glad that it so far has been an overall positive experience for you. If you ever feel like you want to have slightly more power from the engine, you might want to check out 'BBR GTi' based near Silverstone - they're a MX-5 specialist and have a 'Super 200' naturally aspirated tuning package for the NDs - as the name states, 200hp 👌
Thanks for watching. Great suggestion - Extra bhp is always tempting!!
Good review thanks. I've got a 2018 2.0 Sport Nav convertible. I have also had the gearbox and diff oil changed at 3rd year service, no sign of any problems, feels smoother now.
Super fun car to drive, shows you don't need loads of power to have fun.
Only negatives - seats aren't great on a long journey, no where to put anything inside. Also passenger footwell is too small for tall people.
Thanks 👍 They are wonderful cars to drive, 100% agree. Getting the right seating position is tricky no doubt. Then the misses comes along and changes it all 🤣
Nice vid the rf is probably on my next car list,had an na mx5 for 4 years now a mx5 mk 3.5 2.0 tec hard top for the last 12 months and love them both,so its nice to get the perspective of some one who has a rf, 3 more year of the mk3 then well we will see
Oh how i'd love an na 👌 Had the mk3.5 myself. Unfortunately had to sell when we relocated. Nice doggo btw 👍
Nice review. Still have the 1990 NA but love my ND.
Good choices!!
Nice review. I have a 2019 ND2 soft top. It’s a Sport Nav + which means it has a LSD, Bilstein shocks and strut tower brace. I can’t say that I have noticed any flexing in it. It has the 181bhp engine and this power, combined with the very wide and evenly spread torque makes it a very enjoyable car to drive. Yes it could have more power, but I feel what it does have is perfectly sufficient.
Great fun to ring it out through the gears and enjoy the super crisp handling. Lots of people talk about MX5s having soft, roly-poly suspension. I have never found this to be the case, but mine does have the uprated shocks so I guess that makes a difference - I haven’t driven any other MX5s so I can’t make a comparison. I’m very happy with the car - it puts a smile on my face every time I drive it
Oh, I agree the handling is lovely, but IMO it's too soft. Ours is bilstein, LSD, etc, etc but since the eibach springs have been fitted and the geo set to the flyin miata parameters its far sharper and way more confidence inspiring.
Small changes = noticeable improvement. Otherwise it's mega. Just want to drive and drive...the MX5 😎
Thanks for the review I have a 2009 bought brand new I have noticed that until car is warmed second gear be a bit ify to engage but love love the car
A MK3?? I had a 2010 previously. Great car, had to sell when I relocated, was gutted. Took 5 years to get another, but it was worth the wait 👍 Hang on to that one if you've had it from new - perfect keeper 👌
Liked and subscribed. Thanks for sharing your experience.
Many thanks 👍 Few years old that video now but the car is still here and going well 😎
I'm saving up to buy the 2024 Club RF model. That's good to hear you still have it!@@midlifemotors5050
Had the ND rag top since 2016.
Which ever MX5 you own they are great cars.
Not had any problems with the box
Only niggle we've had was with the rag top liner just above the rear sceen as it started hanging down .
It was a small fix that mazda sent out took 20 seconds to fit.
Seats have been ok but I do treat the leather frequently.
What would I like to have?
Steering column adjustment as on the later builds the first nds only have up and down.
Lets it put it this way we still love it and the niggle was tiny compared to the fun these little roadsters give to their owners.
The gearbox problems do seem very few and far between.
I find the steering column ok, it's the seat position. I get the perfect spot, then Mrs Mid Life Motors uses the car and i'm back to square one again 🤷♂️
But yes, we're nit-picking, still a great car that's just wonderful to drive 👌
Subscribed!
Good review, I have the 2017 launch addition, it's a great car to drive point and it goes, slick gearshift, however I agree on the seats mine are wearing also! unfortunately one thing I hate is
the billstien dampers and lower sports suspension on the launch addition, I find the ride to harsh, particularly if you get on country back lanes, it's a bit like being thrown down the road on a stone. Also worse still at low speed they squeak like old bed springs! Iv have tried getting them lubricated but after a 50 more odd miles the squeaks come back... I'm seriously considering getting the standard suspension fitted, the current set up is annoying and exhausting on long country drives.
Thanks 👍 Good point you've mentioned about the suspension, don't find it quite so bad and not had them squeaking yet (maybe that's to come) but was out the other day in a friends ND which had coilovers (Tein) fitted and the ride/handling is sublime compared with my car, completely sold. Dear Santa...
It's a very good car ! It's like a friend that works with you and wants to share in the fun. It's almost like it's trying to get you to do what it wants to do so it can show you it's full potential . After driving other cars , this car earns your trust as you get more familiar with it. It will teach you to be a better driver. And it does a very good job of catching your mistakes and allowing you to correct them without paying a consequence. It's also very strange that often you feel like your speeding and then look down and your almost ALWAYS at the speed limit.
BE PREPARED FOR LOTS AND LOTS OF GOOD COMMENTS FROM PEOPLE ON THIS CAR , YOU WILL GET THEM DAILY ! (I would imagine it's the same load of comments as driving an exotic 200 thousand dollar car. These cars are rare , stand out and turn heads !)
Also be prepared for almost every other mx5 owners to wave or flash their lights to say hello. It's a community your joining.
You will enjoy low gas costs as well. (Where I am) lower insurance as well. And peace of mind knowing you own one of the most reliable vehicles you can buy ! I asked owners before buying and no one had problems. One owner of a 30 year old Miata replied " just add gas and oil " while in a McDonald's Drive-Thru.
If you don't need to move large items and you don't have more than 2 people in your home , and you don't mind winter driving such a fantastic car, then just buy it. Consider your needs before purchase. Know what they are first. Can't go wrong with this car made for those enjoyable life moments.
Superb comments 👍 And so true. Just back from going out to get some coffee, the supermarket is 10mins away. Took me 2hrs 🤣 A beautiful evening (19 degrees) and still light until 8.30, wonderful drive and waves from 3 other owners. Perfect evening, perfect moment, perfect car 👌
Don’t discount winter driving . With a set of real snow tires it does great . Of course you can’t drive in 6 inch’s of snow as it will bottom out . Really fun to slide around .
@@gregblack4581 for sure. My comment said , if you don't mind driving a fantastic car in the winter (because of the salt and water for rust).
Thank you !
Glad you enjoyed it. Many thanks for watching 👍
Nice video
Much appreciated 👍
Sooooo nice 👍🏽
In this great weather we're having, just can't stop driving it atm!! Many thanks for tuning in.
Enjoyed the owners perspective. I have a 2020 RF and added the oem chassis bracing (strut tower and under body) to further reduce the scuttle shake with the roof open. Have photos of it on my instagram page if you’d like to see.
I heard the same about the factory oils. I think the factory might use semi-synthetic engine oil. During the first service, mine got Castrol Edge 5W-30 fully synthetic and she runs just that much smoother now. Yet to change out the transmission or diff oils but hopefully Mazda hasn’t skimped out too much there with their factory oils. Not sure what the intervals are for those.
I’m also getting more familiar with the soft and (somewhat unpredictable at more than 7/10ths) suspension and feel like there’s a learning curve, which actually makes it more of a challenge and fun to better understand. As for the high stance, the positive is there’s almost no chance of scraping the front.
Wow, great comments, many thanks 👍
The gearbox oil change is so worth it, 100% agree. Much smoother.
Whilst tempted to change things, in my older age i'm definitely becoming more keen to keep the car as it came from the factory and you're right certainly don't want to scrape the front!!
You're lucky having a 2020 model - bet the extra horsepower feels nice 👌 I jealous 😉
I'd throw it into 3rd before you skip shift into 4th, def helps /w the synchros lining up
Thanks Neal for your 1 year review, I look forward to the two year review hi hi. I picked up on you mentioned about the gearbox and different updates to the gearbox over its life. I have just purchased my first MX-5 ND first registered May 2017. Could I ask please what gearbox oil did you refill yours with as I don't think here in the UK you can buy the Mazda recommended gearbox oil. My car has done very little miles over the last few years with it previous owners, I guess because of covid. The gear select on my car was a little stiff to begin with and I put that down to lack of use and it appears to be getting smoother the more I drive the car. One more subscriber :-) I'm looking forward to watching your other videos. Cheers
Thanks Paul 👍Sounds like your car will have the first (main) update like ours, which is good. IIRC we used Mobil SHC 75W-90, the fully synthetic one. You'll need 2 litres. Until the transmission is up to temp 2nd gear can still be a little tight. Once it's warm though all is well. Enjoy your new car 😎
Just discovered your channel whilst researching a new MX5 RF. I learnt more in this video than all the other myriad reviews combined, thanks. Real World experience. I'm coming from 14 years of Golf GTIs, currently in a 2018 manual 7.5GTI and am unsure whether to take the plunge to an MX5, having never owned a convertible. Test drove a new RF but found the ride a bit jiggly and harsh on Potenza S001 at 45psi initially, then 32psi. This put my wife off it, so we didn't go ahead with the purchase. Any comments or advice for me about ride, pressures or tyres?
Thanks for the kind words 👍 That's a tough one, my best mate has a 2018 GTi an its a great car, really great car. I'm probably a bit biased but the Mazda does feel a bit more of a special place to be and it's nicer just to go for a drive in. The Golf is faster and far more useable but horses for courses. Personally i've just always preferred a sports car. With the roof up the RF doesn't have a bad ride, I run 29psi all round. Roof down that does change, no doubt. Owners will pretend it doesn't and tell you changing tyres makes a difference but tbh neither is true. It seems to be worse at lower speeds. Pushing on and things do improve. It's certainly not terrible, i'd say my slk is worse, and doesn't spoil the car/experience. I can't get my misses out of the Mazda, she absolutely loves it, takes it at every opportunity, which is nice.
@@midlifemotors5050 Thanks Neil - appreciate the advice. Interesting that your Mrs loves the MX5 - I was hoping mine would too, which would've appeased my conscience somewhat! Maybe in time, if I do buy the MX5.
Did you just say “Chalk and cheese?” That made me smile.
Probably showing my age 🤣
Great video, honest experience sharing. I own a 2.0 RF 2018 160 hp. More than enough nippy for me. As shown in this video, it's all about driving fun. Is the car perfect, no probably not, but so is none of the top spec audi's, beamers and mercs at much much higher cost. Not to mention reliability 🤔. Maybe Posches come close to perfection, but at a huge price tag as well. Ask an owner about service bills. The MX5 offers lots of driving fun at affordable purchase and ownership cost. Was not too sure about what gear box issue was solved by a service. Was it new gearbox oil that improved things?
Many thanks 👍They are a wonderful car. You're right, no car is perfect, nomatter the cost. Particularly not Porsches, they've had masses of reliability gremlins over the years. The new gearbox oil has definitly improved things. Can still be a little notchy when cold but much smoother shift when up to temperature now.
I recommend you upgrade the front sway bar and add the Eibach springs. These two upgrades will improve the handling and provide a modest drop with no penalty in ride quality as the stock Bilstein shocks are capable of handling this upgrade. This worked great for my 2016 ND Club. Cheers!
Thanks for the recommendation. Couple of weeks off work coming soon so it's on the to do list 👍
@@midlifemotors5050 the front sway bar replacement is a bit challenging due to tight clearance, but is in my opinion the most important upgrade. Please be sure to use a high quality lubricant to avoid any NVH issues. The springs will help reduce dive and squat during spirited driving and lower the car slightly and reduce that fender to tire gap. I have had zero clearance issues with the modest drop. Good luck and I look forward to your progress.
@@bobreno4042 Thanks for all that info Bob. Really appreciated 👍 Looking forward to closing up the arch/tyre gap. Thinking Whiteline arb's. Watch this space...
How is the paint holding up on the front of your car? It looks like the Soul Red Crystal Metallic paint (?) a very soft paint and very easily chipped. My brand new soul red drop top ND2 is only 3 weeks old and got 2 large chips on the front. Also, the dealer really messed up the paint prepping it for me prior to collection. Had to get a paint correction done (14+ hours, 3 stage polish) and had them ceramic coat it so it's shining like new now, no more swirl marks or scratches. The detailer also fixed the 2 chips but If I notice any more I will seriously consider wrapping the front in PPF. I believe in some countries Mazda is respraying people's cars under warranty due to the ultra soft paint getting chipped so easily. It's a pain in the you know where.
Mine's not too bad tbh. The front is fairly stonechip free. It's the sides at low level in front of the rear wheels that seem to get it worse. PPF is a good shout but although I like a clean car I don't get too stressed about stone chips generally. I've friends with much, much more expensive cars and if you saw the state of them!! I de-swirl (is that a word??) the car each winter and that does remove some of the minor scuffs and chips. Not sure i'd want my car painted though, once it's painted it's never the same.
Enjoyed your review and continued enthusiasm for the car. How do you get on with cleaning it? I have the Machine Grey version which I find is difficult to keep shiny!
Thanks 👍 The soul red does come up well, finding Turtle wax Super Hard Shell Finish brings it up best. What the camera doesn't really show is the car is quite badly swirled - plan to machine polish over the winter.
@@midlifemotors5050 Yeah, it can become obsessive keeping the swirls to a minimum. The dust is a pain too. Best thing is to admire the car from the outside from a few steps back, lol! All the best 👍
Hi Neil - thanks for the videos. I’ve just picked up my used MK4 (2018). You mentioned the gearbox oil….what did you notice before and after the top up? Mine isn’t due a service again till January next year and I don’t know whether the gearbox oil check/change is something that is done every service anyway or if I need to ask for it.
Hi Stuart. Basically it just feels smooth a silk going into every gear now, it was a bit notchy before. Still a little tight to get 1st from stone cold, have to double clutch on occasions, but once up to temperature, all is well.
@@midlifemotors5050 Thanks for that - mine feels pretty good other than reverse which feels a little difficult to engage sometimes, but I’ve only got 3,000 miles on the clock so it may be that, but I’ll get the mechanics to check.
Love the videos - keep up the good work!
Nice channel name ;)
Thanks fella 😎 Nice channel, I subbed. The cruise in Miami looked superb. BIG hello from us here in Scotland.
Have you tried an ND2? They changed the seat controls, and added telescopic steering column. Much easier to find the right driving position.
100% agree. But they're just too expensive for us right now 😢
The miata is a great car no one buys, but once you drive one its an eye opener. I have the original 1997na and a 2021 nd2 they are fun affordable and definitely a throw back to simpler times.
Oh, now i'm jealous, would love a MK1 - currently working on Mrs Mid Life Motors!! Had to sell my Mk3 when we re-located 😢 was a long 5 years but happy again, couldn't be without it 🤞
Nice Review. Made me laugh when you said it needs to go above 3500 revs to come on though😁🙈..I had a mk1 and the best wat to get all the power is to get it above 5000 RPM. The engines are Japanese..They are designed to Rev hard..They’re not European cars. Give it a go seriously..I daily took mine to Redline in 2nd and 3rd and the engine just got stronger even with 140000km on the clock and a 25 year old drive train..Seriously don’t worry..Give it some beans..Great video👌
Yeah, i've probably got too much mechanical sympathy tbh. Getting braver though because I think you're right, the more miles that go on the stronger/quicker it feels.
Thanks for the kind words 👍
Im on my 3rd MX5 and I've gone for the RF and it doesn't disappoint.My only gripe is the lack of support on the seats. does anyone know of where I can upgrade at a reasonable cost?
Can you still get the Recaros these days?? I find them much more supportive than the standard seats 👍
Where did you buy the clear windbreak from? Nice video..agree re seats
Thanks 👍 IIRC the windbreak was from the local Mazda dealer. Works well.
Great emotional video. I just buy a new CX-30. When will buy a second car i think will be MX5 RF. 😃
Many thanks 👍CX-30 is a great car, congratulations, good choice 👌
What a great video - just a direct and honest review with the camera giving great perception of the ‘drive’.
Do you find buffet with the RF? I’m about to buy an MX5 ND and I can’t decide between RF or regular soft top. I agree with all the things you said about the RF (security, rigidity) but can’t quite decide whether I like the aesthetic. Someone said they buffet, is that true?
Hope it helped 👍 There is a bit more buffeting with the RF, yes. Doesn't tend to start till around 65mph(ish), so can be a bit of a pain on the motorway. Get to about 75 and it goes again??!! Weird 🤷♂️ Our car lives outside and is used as much with the roof up as down (living in Scotland sees to that) so the RF was a no-brainer. If it's a weekend toy, parked in a garage, coming out on nice days then perhaps the soft top ticks more boxes. Either way your in for a treat, wonderful cars - ours has rendered my slk more or less redundant 🤣
@@midlifemotors5050 thank you so much. Mine will be garaged, but I completely what you understand about living outside. I’ll take a look! ATB
@@midlifemotors5050 thank you so much for your comments and advice. I drove the cars the other day - for me I prefer the fully open experience of the roadster. Bought a Soul Red one. #:o)
First time driving the car I was so impressed with the overall package. I’ve had some reasonably interesting cars in my time (Porsche, M3, XK/R etc) and this was one of the nicest sportscar packages I’ve driven. Yes people will think I’m mad! At first I thought I might want a Recaro edition, but having driven the Sport Nav I think it’s firm enough. The way the car leans then grips in corners is hilarious. I like there is enough power (with the 160) to be nippy and allow you to row it along. The XK/R demolished everything so brutal the fun was illegal in seconds.
Roof is brilliant! Only slight concern is that I only just fit, longer journeys might be a bit bumnumbing (I’m 6’). But I’m quite excited by it! Thank you again! Subscribed natch!
@@grahamsalmons2027 Excellent choice 👍 The soul red is a fantastic colour, just be careful it is quite soft paint, getting plenty of wax on it early doors really helps.
I'm only 5'10" and it fits me like a glove. Be interesting to see how you get on in terms of the space available.
I know what your saying about the speed. It's more or less perfect and lets you focus on actually driving the car, so much more enjoyable/less stressful. We've an slk55 sat in the garage - thing hasn't moved since the mazda arrived!!
Health to enjoy - Drive the 5 😎
Great review sir. This is enjoyable ride. Among the monster torque and ev car. @savethemanual. 😆
Many thanks 👍 @drivethe5 😉
I have a rag top, it doesn’t wobble
Good stuff 👍 The above is all IMO, and I could be completely wrong 🤣 Wouldn't be the first time!!
How is the 1st and 2nd gear from a hill start? My Mazda 3 2.5 I have to rev it to 4k rpm then quickly shift to 2 and blip throttle just before I come off the clutch to smooth the transition other wise it feels rough due to how fast the rpms drop in this car.
It's ok. The car has hill-hold assist, so hill starts aren't an issue. If you're in a hurry, need to keep the revs up, yes. Stay above 3,500 rpm and all is well.
No problem , hill assist will hold the car for 3 seconds still. Plenty of time to get off the clutch .
Hi, mate great video, just bought a RF launch model today just like yours with 609 dry miles on clock and just watched your video about the gear box issues, which has got me worried, the car is under Mazda extended warranty so will be ok for a year mine is registered late June 2017 just like yours
Also is the RF launch edition lowered slightly from factory?
Don't panic too much your car will have the first, and main, update. What you may find is that the box is a bit tight when cold, the later updates helped with this. Once warm all is fine so just take your time until things warm up. Getting some decent oil in there also helps.
Same suspension set-up, still can't decide whether to lower or not 🤷♂️
@@midlifemotors5050 Thanks for your reply, just going through all your videos, if you do decide to lower car I recommend MeisterR ZetaCRD I've got them on my MK3.5 NC they a absolutely fantastic as a daily and track use aswell. On my NC I've got it lowered only 15mm and it makes all the difference
@@1ABY Great info, many thanks 👍 I remember the NC having less body roll and better steering feel. Suspension change and uprated ARBs definitely on the cards.
Dear Santa...🤣
Oh, is that your Capri?? Wow!!
@@midlifemotors5050 yes did own it sold it now
I'd like to know what the wind noise is like when the roof is open and what the rear view visibility is like given the presence of the buttresses.
Rear view is fine, no issues. Wind noise gets noticeable above 65/70mph. The little plastic screen behind your head helps. £220 from Mazda.
@midlifemotors5050 Just got to convince my wife that it's a 'practical' car!!! I had a Mk1 for about ten years and apart from a clutch slave cylinder packing up, it didn't break down again. Just fancy something a bit newer now.
@@timtownsend1171 Fair enough. Mrs Mid Life Motors loves it 😎 Been completely reliable just, like any mx5, check for rust
Hmm regarding scuttle shake, i have a 981 Boxster S and there is no scuttle shake, in fact the body is stiffer than closed cars
Good stuff 👍 We had a 981S a while back and I remember reading the Porsche literature at the time and the Cayman was over twice as stiff as the Boxster!! Was shocked, but was always going to prefer the convertible 👌
The body roll is easily fixed with anti roll bars front and back. No need to lower it
Ordered up Whiteline ARBs + Eibach lowering springs. Be interesting to see what happens...
@@midlifemotors5050 for sure. Hope the ride doesn’t get crazy uncomfortable. But if it does you can always go for 16 inch wheels with more sidewall
How tall are you mate? I've never seen anyone fit this nicely in the ND!
I'm only 5'10". More or less fits me like a glove 👍
its such a desirable car!
Agree, they are great cars 👍
I would like to see an mx5 with a rotary engine out of the factory
Yup, more likely to see it with an electric motor from the factory in the future now though 😢
Nice honest video! I've been considering an mx-5 for my drive to work. It's all highway (70 mph), would I regret driving it at highway speeds for 40 minutes each way? I'm ok with some road/tire/wind noise, I just wanted to make sure it wouldn't get annoying after a while. It's appealing because of the low consumable costs and great gas mileage... plus manual and open air feel when I've had a long day at work.
Mrs Mid Life Motors used ours as a daily for a 6 months whilst waiting for her new car, 30 miles each way. Your right, it uses no brakes, tyres, etc and will return you 40+ mpg without even trying. The ride is good, controls are light, reliability faultless and has all the latest tech you need. The cabin is tight though, not much space to stretch out, plenty of headroom on a nice day though 👍 Go for it, it's a wonderful car and it'd certainly be a good story to tell/video to make 😎
Owned multiple STs as dailies, and 40 minutes highway in a ST (up or down) was not an issue for me 10 years ago, but a little more annoying for me now since I’m on the phone more and listen to podcasts.
I’ve had a 2020 RF for the past year as my daily (20 minutes each way highway.) My preference is usually ST always down, so RF was not an obvious choice for me. After a year in all seasons, I’m really happy with the RF. Roof up, I can drive all day and not be less uncomfortable than any of my sedans.
My wife, who did not like being a passenger in my STs much, says this is one of her favorite cars to be a passenger in. She prefers it even to our Stinger GT2 which she really likes and picked specifically for our long highway trips. The RF is that easy and versatile (for a sports car.)
For me, as a weekend car, I’d go ST, as a daily, RF all the way, no problem.
@@kgm5330 Great info ^^^. Not sure I could argue with any of that tbh
My model 2022 should come soon
You'll absolutely love it, bet you can't wait 👍 What colour did you go for?
@@midlifemotors5050 soul red. Cheers from Italy!
@@matteomilanesi1710 Great choice👌All the best from us here in Scotland 👍
Mine just flooded :( think the rear drain is blocked so it drains into car. Hate it
Not good 😢 Had that with my pevious MK3 so feel your pain fella. Nowadays i'm paranoyed about keeping the drains clear. Not the simplest task either tbh!!
@@midlifemotors5050 yep :) never had one before, so be good to know what you do. What's the drain cleaning steps and how often do you do it? I cleaned it out but didn't see anything blocking it :(
@@mmcguireiphone I probably do it every 6 months. On the RF I find the worst bit is below the rear window. There's a tube either side which you'll see if you half open the roof and look underneath the deck lid. If they get blocked it just overflows into the boot even though your drains appear cleared.
Try using the revs. It's meant to be driven , not nannied in low revs.
Whats the point of a car that can go really fast , especially in the UK, with all rhe speed cameras and speed limits , much more fun and economical to have an MX 5 with decent acceleration but not ridiculously so, good mpg and above all , fun to drive .
100% agree. We’ve had the car over 3 years now and it just makes more and more sense 😎
have you still got it?
Oh yes, in the garage for the winter right now but still very much here 👍
Is it a 1.5 or 2.0 ??
2.0 in this one. 160 bhp, couldn't quite stretch to the 184...yet 😉
@@midlifemotors5050 160 is more than enough, mine is the 1.5 with 132 hp and is a very fun little car 👍
@@alejandrorebelde5314 I agree. Just being greedy I guess!!
None of the current Miata seats wear well at all. The leather "hammock" grand touring seats look absolutely awful after 5K miles.
Not good is it. I'm being so careful getting in and out at the moment!!
I own MX5 cabrio version and I can asure everybody that there is no wobling… it’s very rigid, car is light. Honestly, I don’t see any reason for RF
Fair enough👍 Though the RF is stiffer, quieter, better security, more weight over the rear wheels and, IMO, better looking. These things do matter to some people.
@@midlifemotors5050 RF is step away from MX5… heavier, worse weight distribution, IMO uglier… but it’s a matter of a personal preference, all good
Just bought a 2017 RF with only 15000kms on the odometer (about 9000 miles). I've had some stupidly quick cars (Chrysler 300C SRT8, Stage 5 tuned Saab 9-5 Aero, Boxster S, Stage 3 tuned Saab 9-3 Viggen etc), but the NB & NC MX5s I've had in the past were almost an antidote to raw power. I tend to buy cars based on how they make me feel, which is why I've had so many Saabs; cars need to have personality or I get bored very quickly, no matter how quick they are. And on a test drive of the ND RF, after about 15 minutes I realised I'd been smiling the whole time, even in slow traffic.
I left the UK for Australia in 2007, I'd forgotten how late it stays light in summer (and thankfully I also forgot how the sun can't be arsed hauling itself more than two inches above the horizon in winter). Here in Perth it's dark by 8pm even in summer.
The ND is great, peak MX5 in my opinion. As I age speed has become irrelevant. We’ve an slk55 which never moves these days tbh.
I enjoy tinkering too and the Mazda is great for that.
March and still frikkin raining here!! Longer days are coming though 😀