Topic: First Drive: 2016 Mazda MX-5

[toppower]

Once again Mazda has failed to deliver what the people are asking for.  Why can't they put a real motor into to this faboulous car?

Get rid of the Electronic Gadgets and spend the money on the engine.  My prediction is that 200-225 BHP with 180+ Torque would double the sales numbers and double the fun. I'm not suggesting massive horsepower but just more so that a Toyota Sienna doesnt leave you in its dust.  Dont give me this whole "Whole Package BLAH BLAH BLAH ...not about BHP crap....." I understand the concept of balance but 155 BHP in my opinion is not a balance.  Its a joke.

Mazda has created another FLOP following closely in the shoes of the BRZ and FRS.  Don't get me wrong....I love Miatas but wish Mazda would give me a reason to buy another one.

If only the engine was as sweet as the exterior styling.....WAKE UP MAZDA !!!

[Mike]

In a straight line, the 2016 MX-5 is much faster than any MX-5 before it, including the Mazdaspeed MX-5

It's also faster than the FR-S/BRZ twins by a good amount.

I think a lot of people need to drive the car before commentating on power. I wish Mazda never released the power figures. Everyone who drove it would now be talking about how fast it actually is for such a small little car.

[johngenx]

Every review I'd read/watched has gushed about the new Miata.  No one has found it under-powered at all - in fact they've all been surprised at how fast the car is.  Cars that "need" over 200hp don't weigh 1000kg.

[Mike]

Every review I'd read/watched has gushed about the new Miata.  No one has found it under-powered at all - in fact they've all been surprised at how fast the car is.  Cars that "need" over 200hp don't weigh 1000kg.

Yeah, that's pretty much it. It's the throttle response that's so good. If Mazda did the same treatment to the 2.5-liter and left it at 185 HP, they would have a crazy fast Mazdaspeed edition ready to go. But of course, everyone would complain about the HP figure on paper without driving it.

[RayT]

In a straight line, the 2016 MX-5 is much faster than any MX-5 before it, including the Mazdaspeed MX-5

It's also faster than the FR-S/BRZ twins by a good amount.

I think a lot of people need to drive the car before commentating on power. I wish Mazda never released the power figures. Everyone who drove it would now be talking about how fast it actually is for such a small little car.

I had to look up C&D's numbers just to confirm what you said but yeah, it's the fastest Miata ever released.
Also, look at the difference in fuel economy numbers.

C&D's own test numbers:

2005 Mazdaspeed Miata
C/D TEST RESULTS:
Zero to 60 mph: 6.7 sec
Zero to 100 mph: 18.3 sec
Rolling start, 5-60 mph: 8.1 sec
Standing ¼-mile: 15.2 sec @ 91 mph
Top speed (redline limited): 127 mph
Braking, 70-0 mph: 168 ft
Roadholding, 300-ft-dia skidpad: 0.90 g
FUEL ECONOMY:
EPA city/highway driving: 20/26 mpg
C/D observed: 21 mpg

2016 Miata
C/D TEST RESULTS:

Zero to 60 mph: 5.9 sec
Zero to 100 mph: 16.2 sec
Zero to 120 mph: 28.9 sec
Rolling start, 5-60 mph: 6.6 sec
Top gear, 30-50 mph: 8.4 sec
Top gear, 50-70 mph: 8.5 sec
Standing ¼-mile: 14.6 sec @ 95 mph
Top speed (drag limited): 129 mph
Braking, 70-0 mph: 158 ft
Roadholding, 300-ft-dia skidpad: 0.90 g

FUEL ECONOMY:
EPA city/highway driving: 27/34 mpg
C/D observed: 32 mpg

[johngenx]

Just read Automobile magazine handily recorded a drama-free 0-60mph of 5.8 seconds for the 2.0L model.

[toppower]

The problem here is that the old miata was pretty slow and makes for a bad comparison.

There is no possible way that the Miata is faster by a good amount then the FRS/BRZ.  Unless Mazda geared it very aggressively.  Doing a simple weight to horsepower calculation, the Miata has more weight per horsepower.  I betting on another mid-7 second 0-60 car with a 15+ second 1/4 mile.  I'm sure it will hit 0.9 Gs in a circle and it will be fun.  My point is that it could be so much more fun.

[OliverD]

The problem here is that the old miata was pretty slow and makes for a bad comparison.

There is no possible way that the Miata is faster by a good amount then the FRS/BRZ.  Unless Mazda geared it very aggressively.  Doing a simple weight to horsepower calculation, the Miata has more weight per horsepower.  I betting on another mid-7 second 0-60 car with a 15+ second 1/4 mile.  I'm sure it will hit 0.9 Gs in a circle and it will be fun.  My point is that it could be so much more fun.

Look above. Sub six seconds 0-60 times. That's pretty damn quick.

[johngenx]

Anyone that thinks a Sienna will be dusting a 2.0L Miata better not put much money on the Sienna.

[Mike]

The problem here is that the old miata was pretty slow and makes for a bad comparison.

There is no possible way that the Miata is faster by a good amount then the FRS/BRZ.  Unless Mazda geared it very aggressively.  Doing a simple weight to horsepower calculation, the Miata has more weight per horsepower.  I betting on another mid-7 second 0-60 car with a 15+ second 1/4 mile.  I'm sure it will hit 0.9 Gs in a circle and it will be fun.  My point is that it could be so much more fun.

Last year in AutoGuide's Fun cars for Under $30,000 comparison test, I personally drove all the cars through the 1/4 mile.

Even then, the NC MX-5 was faster than the FR-S. While the MX-5 does have short gearing, it's more of a problem of the FR-S/BRZ having ridiculously tall gearing.

[johngenx]

Dad and I tested the FR-S, and yeah, it's got long, long legged gears.  The Miata is SHORT - the sixth speed is not an overdrive.  People grind on Mazda for always putting such short gears in the Miata (of all ages) but I love it in mine.  Sure, I have to live with droning along at 3500rpm plus on the highway, but when you're rowing the shifter on a spirited road - they're PERFECT.

[RayT]

I betting on another mid-7 second 0-60 car with a 15+ second 1/4 mile.  I'm sure it will hit 0.9 Gs in a circle and it will be fun. 

Huh?

You lost the bet

The new Miata's "rolling start" figure is still well under 7 seconds. 14.6 quarter mile to boot.

Stop dissing the car when you don't even have your facts straight.

Just go out and drive the damn thing and see if it still feels slow.

[roundupready]

Huh?

You lost the bet

The new Miata's "rolling start" figure is still well under 7 seconds. 14.6 quarter mile to boot.

Stop dissing the car when you don't even have your facts straight.

Just go out and drive the damn thing and see if it still feels slow.

Exactly, I'm sure there will be tons of aftermarket venders making turbo/superchargers for people who still want more power.

[Fobroader]

I betting on another mid-7 second 0-60 car with a 15+ second 1/4 mile.  I'm sure it will hit 0.9 Gs in a circle and it will be fun. 

Huh?

You lost the bet

The new Miata's "rolling start" figure is still well under 7 seconds. 14.6 quarter mile to boot.

Stop dissing the car when you don't even have your facts straight.

Just go out and drive the damn thing and see if it still feels slow.

People with this kind of opinion have never driven a Miata, I have driven several and none of them were lacking in the trousers department. Yeah, on paper they seem meh, but on the road, they are a blast. This is coming from a guy who likes V8s as well......

[OliverD]

Exactly, I'm sure there will be tons of aftermarket venders making turbo/superchargers for people who still want more power.

Turbos could be tricky since the SkyActiv engine is very high compression. But yes, I'm sure there will be plenty of aftermarket parts available.

[neil]

What I do mind is they made premium manditory

According to C/D,

A lighter flywheel and tuning for premium gasoline (recommended but not required)

[/b]

http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/2016-mazda-mx-5-miata-club-test-review

Like most modern vehicles, it will run happily on 87, just not as well, and the fuel economy difference will probably be a wash with the extra cost of fuel anyway.

[RoadRageous]

I really don't understand why this is an issue.

It's been shown that if your only concern is fuel economy and fuel cost, then any vehicle with a modern computer running the engine is fine on regular.

The down side is that you may not get full performance, and may get the occasional run of pinging.

But surely this is a case of gripping your pennies a little too tightly ?

Taking a worst case, 10l / 100km, this means your overall operating costs ( which is already in the thousands annually  ) increases by about $2.00 / 100 km.

For that cost you get
- zero ethanol, and so more energy content.
- zero ethanol, and so no concerns about the long-term effects on the fuel system and engine components.
- the best detergents money can buy.
- the most performance. 

After all, this isn't a Camry, and it shouldn't even be a winter car. It is a special purpose vehicle, meant to bring zoom-zoom to your driving life.

[johngenx]

http://jalopnik.com/the-2016-mazda-miata-will-save-the-sports-car-1707333736

Highlights:

That’s thanks to an abnormal obsession with weight. Mazda employed something called the ‘gram strategy,’ which means that anywhere they could save a tiny bit of weight, they did. The seats are slightly thinner, there’s no glovebox, the transmission housing isn’t ribbed for stiffness but the casing thickness varies. It’s a fanatical devotion to building a car that has every modern convenience that is as light as humanly possible.

 

And even though it has 12 fewer horsepower than the last car, it’s faster. And more nimble. And more comfortable. And better. Better in every conceivable way. This is easily the best performance car you can buy for less than $30,000. This actually might just be the best performance car you can buy. Period.

 

The top is also a one handed operation to open or close. Pull the latch, push it back, lock it into place. I never drove the car for more than a block with the top up, but if it was to start raining, I could get that baby up in two seconds flat. Power roofs are just unnecessary.

 

Throws are short and direct. The clutch is light and communicative. Pedals are placed ideally for heel/toe action. In a world that has seemingly decapitated and quartered the manual gearbox, Mazda sees that there is room for one, an epically good one. If you want an auto in this car, you shouldn’t be buying this car.

 

The Miata isn’t built to satisfy a demand or sell like gangbusters. It’s built to show that a car like this can still exist, that driving purity (and every other car cliche) is not dead, and to show that a car company can build a car that isn’t a volume proposition, but adds value to a brand beyond sales.

 

I think it’ll inspire other automakers to care less about numbers, which are totally irrelevant in the real world anyway, and focus more on how a car can make you feel. It’s a battle cry to get away from making cars heavier and more complicated, as well as trying to make them faster than they rightfully need to be.

Here's hoping!!   

[pcsp]

A big win for Mazda. 0-60 and quarter mile times are very curious, i.e. FAST. About the same power to weight ratio as an Abarth, less torque, and over a second faster to 60. Mazda has done something right. Seems about the perfect mix of economy and acceleration.

[mnztr]

This is the first MX-5 I have really been impressed with since the NA. (which is why I still have mine) I think I will have one of these at some point in the near future. Super job Mazda!!!!