Topic: First Drive: 2016 Mazda MX-5

[ElectricMayhem]

How on earth do we compare it to 400hp Audis? 

Are you serious or just trolling?

I am trying not to respond to your puerile abuse, but nobody is comparing a Miata to a 400 hp Audi.  Statement was in response to a prior post claiming that the British car was "too much for the street."

There is also a statement that this is an economy car.  I would suggest that the minimum acceptable configuration, at least for an enthusiast, is the one with the LSD that comes to over $40k after Ontario tax.  That is about four times the price of a true economy car like the Micra.  Just by the way, that is more than I have paid for any car or bike in my life.

[DriverJeff]

My view is that you can make excuses about why your car is so slow, all day long.  But winners don't make excuses, they drive cars that can get out of their own way, and they go home to sleep with the prom queen.

Also, it is not that expensive to go to a track day.  At most, it is a couple of hours to prepare the car (change brake pads, etc.)

I've not driven a car that can't safely go 120 km/h (well, except maybe that horrible Smart EV).  Given the speed limits here in Ontario are 100 km/h at best, I'm still getting to the destinations at the same time, or ahead of anyone else -- regardless of their horsepower. 

I've driven a Hellcat, 911 Turbo S and... since we like Audis here, an RS7 over the past several months, and while all were simply awesome cars and exciting for 1-2 seconds showing their acceleration, they're comparatively boring on the twisty back roads because they're engineered for high speeds unrealistic for where we live. 

In a Miata, FR-S or Cooper S, the sensation of speed is greater and you have to earn it -- much like on motorcycles which is where I get my thrills now.  Working a shifter, clutch and steering wheel, plus keeping the revs up and actually *driving* the car makes for a bigger hero in my books. 

As for track days -- there's a good reason why the Miata is the most popular track day car out there.  It's affordable and it is fantastic on the track.  Small, light and balanced are rewarding and make you a better driver.  Letting horsepower and computers get you around the track is not a measure of "winning". 

[johngenx]

^^^^  Nails it.

[ElectricMayhem]

I've not driven a car that can't safely go 120 km/h (well, except maybe that horrible Smart EV).  Given the speed limits here in Ontario are 100 km/h at best, I'm still getting to the destinations at the same time, or ahead of anyone else -- regardless of their horsepower. 

I get this.  My DD is a manual, diesel Golf, which may well be slower than the Smart you drove.  But I still get great joy from it.

In a Miata, FR-S or Cooper S, the sensation of speed is greater and you have to earn it -- much like on motorcycles which is where I get my thrills now.  Working a shifter, clutch and steering wheel,

You can do all of that with a 2002 Z3 M, except it also has over 300 hp. 

plus keeping the revs up and actually *driving* the car makes for a bigger hero in my books. 

What I am saying is that these things are not mutually exclusive.  You can have a balanced weight distribution, RWD, pleasant noises, AND enough power/torque to get into a bit of trouble.

As for track days -- there's a good reason why the Miata is the most popular track day car out there.  It's affordable and it is fantastic on the track.  Small, light and balanced are rewarding and make you a better driver. 

"Affordable" is not really a valid performance attribute.  A Corolla S is affordable, and maybe the most "popular street car out there."  That doesn't make it a joy to drive for an enthusiast.

All y'all have fifty thousand excuses for the underpowered nature of the Miata.  Wouldn't it be better if you didn't have to make excuses because the manufacturer supplied it with a 200 hp engine?

[JacobBlack]

You confuse "excuses" with us trying to explain to you why it doesn't NEED a 200 hp acceleration.
As I've said in a previous article, horsepower is for accelerating... but who needs acceleration, when you don't have to slow down for the corners?

NoTo, can you meme that for me? Thanks bud.

[johngenx]

Wow. What a crappy thread for such an awesome car. Unreal.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[whaddaiknow]

No, keep this going. Its Friday FFS.

I'd say keep it going 2.

Now, to add fuel to the fire. I MUST admit I know nothing about the Miata (other than online reviews and such) nor have I ever driven one.
I do know that at one point I will be considering a convertible as a summer toy. The wish list (existing only in my mind for now) includes:
- V6 or V8 Mustang (no 4-pot EcoBoosts, thank you very much)
- used Boxster
- S2K
- a 'Vette would be nice.
- Z4 or SLK of some sort

The Miata is not considered for 2 reasons - being 1) snug and 2) <200HP
I will add a 3rd possible reason - I don't know what I'm missing.
I read these raving reviews about how great a package the MX-5 is but they still fail to create a spark with me.

And pushing $40k, it ain't exactly a bargain when I can get a Mustang 'vert with 300+HP for just over $30k and save a few grand, and not feel as cramped.
 

[GTABeancounter]

I'm a long time lurker (for years now) and decided to register just to comment to this cluster F"?k of a thread. Sorry.

First off, I've never owned a Miata but I do want one as a week-end toy / Summer car, and badly. I'm not a gear-head and I won't ever be racing on week-ends but there is just something so right about a car that seems to exist for no other reason than to be fun to drive spiritedly within (or at least not too far beyond) the legal limit. The Top Gear video review I found online pretty much did it for me as did reading about the fanatical approach Mazda has taken to shave weight. Not to mention the looks (launch edition with the black and tan interior especially).

I love my S60, and its pretty fast for a family car. But its also heavy and bad on gas and really only FUN when I accelerate to merge on the highway. When I bought it I figured I might as well get the turbo 6 because they'd eventually get killed off by ever tightening environmental regulations anyway and I'd may as well enjoy one when while I still could. There are times where I actually miss my first car, a '93 Civic Si Hatch, I think it had 125hp and you had to get close to redline (7200 IIRC) to wring everything out of the little motor but it was fun, and I only got two tickets the 9 years and 240K KM I owned it. FUN CAR!

Anyhow, the point I wanted to make is that it seems the car's harshest critics seem to bring up the same points including some or all of the following...

-A used boxster, S2000, M3 etc. would be more fun.... yes and I could have bought a used M5 when I got my new S60, so what? Apples & Oranges right.
-Mazda has underwhelmed with a sub 200hp car.... yes, but its the fastest mx-5 yet and the 200hp (or close) vehicle will surely come one day in the form of the Mazdaspeed version.
-The competition is faster, bigger, cheaper etc... no, this car, if we are being honest is in a class of one, name the other sub 2500lb convertible RWD 2 seat roadster that MSRP's loaded at just under 40K? (oh, and it has to be new)

Honestly, I applaud Mazda for having the audacity to release this thing with less hp than before. They obviously have a hit on their hands and I'm reasonably certain their target customer doesn't care that this car is slower in a straight line than a V6 Camry, 10 year old M3, whatever.

Cheers


 

[Sir Osis of Liver]

^

[aquadorhj]

^

http://www.autos.ca/forum/index.php?topic=93411.msg1116528#msg1116528

[Sir Osis of Liver]

 

[JacobBlack]

Okay all, I split this into two topics, because this one is about the MX-5.
I don't want to silence ElectricMayhem though, so I split his "You're a corrupt douchebag Jacob" posts into another thread.
Now, back to the car. 

[DriverJeff]

Okay all, I split this into two topics, because this one is about the MX-5.
I don't want to silence ElectricMayhem though, so I split his "You're a corrupt douchebag Jacob" posts into another thread.
Now, back to the car. 

Oooh... where's that one?  I'd like to contribute to the Jacob Douchebaggery posts. 

[5 Wheel Drive]

Well that wasn't the 11 pages of Miata talk I was expecting...

I haven't read a single bad review of the new car yet.  And that includes European reviews of the 1.5l version.  In Richard Hammond's piece, he was having a blast with it.  In my show-n-shine thread from last fall when I bought my '97, I said that my first Miata, a '90, was the only car I ever regretted selling.  And that's why I wanted another one.  I absolutely love the car.  It's not the fastest, it's certainly not the most luxurious.  But it just feels right.  It makes me take the long way to and from work every day. 

[johngenx]

http://www.80svideos.tv/play.php?vid=809

[Snowman]

IMO HP is not my issue with the MX-5, its the power to weight ratio. At 15 lbs/hp it wont make me happy regardless of handling ability. IMO it needs to be around 12.

[johngenx]

IMO HP is not my issue with the MX-5, its the power to weight ratio. At 15 lbs/hp it wont make me happy regardless of handling ability. IMO it needs to be around 12.

Said by many until they get smoked by a little "hairdresser" car on the track...

 

I'd love to drive an ND back to back with an S2K - hopefully after demand cools and dealers have some I can line up such a thing with Dad's assistance.

[GTABeancounter]

IMO HP is not my issue with the MX-5, its the power to weight ratio. At 15 lbs/hp it wont make me happy regardless of handling ability. IMO it needs to be around 12.

This is a fair comment, though in the context of the mx-5 I'd argue that horsepower is the issue. How on earth could they make the car any lighter without driving up the cost considerably or alter the gearing anymore than they have? I'm astonished the car mags are recording such low 0-60 times to begin with.

I believe the mx-5 is actually lighter than a 4c, so horsepower IS the issue if you need acceleration you could feel in your gut before the mx-5 can become a compelling option Hopefully the inevitable mazdaspeed version delivers!

Anyhow, most reasonable car fans would never question the comment you've made above. What did get tiring earlier on in this thread was the repeated criticism of the mx-5 (and to some extent it's "fans" for defending the car) on the basis that other choices were "better" and/or the mx-5's fans don't "get" performance/sports cars.

[dirtyjeffer]

But winners don't make excuses, they drive cars that can get out of their own way, and they go home to sleep with the prom queen.

the original quote, from the movie The Rock (starring Nicholas Cage and Sean Connery) is:

Losers always whine about their best.  Winners go home and the prom queen.

don't try to sneak that by us. 

[dirtyjeffer]

You confuse "excuses" with us trying to explain to you why it doesn't NEED a 200 hp acceleration.
As I've said in a previous article, horsepower is for accelerating... but who needs acceleration, when you don't have to slow down for the corners?

generally, torque aids in acceleration and horsepower aids in top speed.