Mazda MX-5: A Good Car, But Not A Great Sports Car

"Road Magazine" (roadmag) 08/14/2014 at 10:03 • Filed to: mazda mx5, mazda

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The temple of the MX-5 is hardly suffering from a lack of worshippers. It's crowded with devotees from across the world getting down on their hands and knees to sing to the glory of the 'world's most popular sports car.' Yet it lacks the excitement required to be considered a great.

I am what you MX-5 disciples might call an infidel. I simply do not believe that the Mazda MX-5 is the great sports car it is made out to be, it doesn't deserves the worship that it gets. Equally, I'm not of the opinion that the MX-5 is a terrible car entirely unworthy of praise. It's a good car, but it's not a great sports car.

Now before you insist I should be burned at the stake for spreading such blasphemy, I have a case to make – starting with what I like about Mazda's little roadster.

I enjoy the handling of the MX-5. It's good, but it's not the best handling I've ever felt in a car and certainly not up to the hype – Toyota's GT86 is superior in that department. The best part of the car was the gearbox, rather addictive to use and blessed with this quality of feeling just right each time you put it to use. No wonder Morgan put it to use in their brilliant 3-Wheeler. Its character definitely hints at a previous era of motoring where things were a little bit simpler, the whole car has a spirit, and I like that in a car. Yet at no point whilst driving the MX-5 did I feel it was a sporty car.

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The majority of hot hatches on the market now perform better than the Mazda MX-5, and it certainly cannot compete with the daily usability and convenience that a hot hatch provides. Nor is it particularly well priced – as a new purchase it's expensive for what it is and if you purchase an older generation, you'll be down yet further on performance.

Performance absolutely has to be the central feature of a sports car. The Mazda MX-5 is now left behind by far too many other cars on the road; even the design isn't particularly inspiring. It simply doesn't excite, and excitement surely has to be right at the top of the list of ingredients in a sports car.

The MX-5 has long been a little bit of a fashion accessory, and perhaps that's why Mazda have never pushed it on and produced a bolder, brasher MX-5. Mazda have pandered to the fans by offering uninspired and lazy special editions for far too long, and it's continued to have been bought by those who adore its cuddliness and fashion credibility – those smarmy Topshoppers who own far too much of the latest 'London look' nonsense. Yet it is also bought fanatically by those who are told endlessly of its brilliance. I wonder who Mazda are really trying to appeal to…

Only by definition is the MX-5 a sports car and that doesn't sit right with me. It has perhaps become its own genre, desired for its cute, handbag-like status just as much as the fabled driving experience. It's become a bit of a cop out for those looking for something a bit 'sporty' and hip, a slightly lazy purchase. It needs new competitors and fresh thinking from the guys at Mazda if it's ever to become a sports car by more than just an outdated definition. Maybe the upcoming new model will do just that.

Whatever the case may be, the MX-5 is hugely popular and blessed with vast legions of followers. That's a victory for car culture regardless of popular or unpopular opinions. Cars like this are important to our oily little world, and I endeavour to respect the beliefs of any inhabitant of this place. After all, it's a good car.

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wkiernan > Road Magazine 08/13/2014 at 19:20

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"Performance absolutely has to be the central feature of a sports car." No, I think you're wrong. Handling is the central feature of a sports car.

The Tunnel > Road Magazine 08/13/2014 at 19:21

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"it doesn't deserves the worship that it gets"

These words apply much more to the Fiesta ST/Focus ST.
And i agree with the rest of the things you say about the Mazda

For Sweden > Road Magazine 08/13/2014 at 19:26

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Maybe you would be happier with a V6 Mustang.

dogisbadob > Road Magazine 08/13/2014 at 19:26

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A good car, but not a great sports car

http://media.ed.edmunds-media.com/pictures/VEHIC…

The Tunnel > wkiernan 08/13/2014 at 19:30

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ITs got to be a mix of everything mate.

PheeNoIVI > wkiernan 08/13/2014 at 19:31

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Handling is performance.

Squid > Road Magazine 08/13/2014 at 19:31

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The NA and the NB were both good sports cars because there wasn't an overwhelming need for power when they were released. Sure there are downfalls to the Miata, but you can't tell me that the FRZ twins are not the new fashion accessory.

Now the older Miatae are cheap and dead reliable which also feeds to their popularity. Sure the Miata doesn't keep up with other cars and can be beaten off the line by a mini van driven by a mom with 8 screaming kids, but it can eat up canyon roads effortlessly and with more speed than you would think.

By today's definition, the Miata would not be classified as a sports car because it doesn't have 400 horsies to pound the ground, but they are plentiful and easy to modify.

But then again in the states our available fun cars are limited and the really fun ones are extremely expensive.

Textured Soy Protein > Road Magazine 08/13/2014 at 19:32

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By your logic, all those other sports cars that were never all that fast, and are now slower than hot hatches, also aren't good sports cars.

marshknute > Road Magazine 08/13/2014 at 19:47

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"Performance absolutely has to be the central feature of a sports car."

I stopped reading at this point. You simply don't get it. For something to be a sports car, it doesn't have to have any objective merits. All that matters is the sensations and emotions felt from behind the wheel.

Let me put it this way: At some point in your life I'm sure you have played a game of baseball. You followed the rules of the sport and had all the right equipment: gloves, bats, balls, baseball diamond, etc. At the end of the day, however, you and your friends are not professional athletes, and your game of baseball would not be recognized as "good baseball" by any MLB coach. That said, EVERYONE would agree that you played the sport of baseball. Once more, since it was just a non-competitive game with your friends, you probably had more fun playing your game than most MLB athletes do theirs since their careers are on the line and they are playing with whatever teammates their manager could afford to employ.

The Miata is a game of pickup baseball with your best buds. It follows the basic rules of being a sports car: RWD, manual gearbox, nimble chassis, great handling, optimal seating position, etc. Sure it's not a "professional sports car," but it is ultimately more fun of a sports car because it distills all the sensations of major league sports cars into a delightfully affordable package that doesn't take itself too seriously.

The Miata is objectively inferior to its competition, but in the real world, it's the BEST!

Desu-San-Desu > Road Magazine 08/13/2014 at 19:49

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I think a common misconception is that the Cult of the MX-5 is in reverent worship of all MX-5's. In actuality, the newer the MX-5, the less praise and adoration there often is for it. There are some general exceptions, but by and large, newer MX-5's, while impressive in their technological and engineering advancements, just don't receive quite the same level of worship as the first two generations. The main reasons for this? Weight and price.

Weight is obvious. The MX-5 has gotten bigger and heavier with every subsequent generation- though it's both hoped and hyped that the soon-to-be-unveiled 4th generation will alleviate that embarrassing little niggle. The handling of the original MX-5, admittedly, wasn't impressive; primarily because the hardware wasn't impressive. Skinny tires, soft springs, and tiny engine doesn't add up well in the numbers arena, but the low weight and high level of involvement, much like the FR-S and BRZ, made it more fun than the numbers indicated.

However, that dissipates as it gains weight. A fat MX-5 isn't a 'real' MX-5 because it lacks one of the core tenants of the MX-5: being a featherweight, both physically and financially. Sure, the newer ones are lightweight compared to other cars of their era, but they're still porkers compared to the prior generation(s). And while horsepower and raw grip can be increased to a limit that's really only theoretical, weight can only be reduced so far until you no longer have a full vehicle. Like the saying goes when discussing hot climates versus cold: you can keep adding layers when it's cold, but you can only get so naked when it's hot.

As for price, it's all about the platform. Much like the FR-S and BRZ, the beauty of the MX-5 isn't its abilities in stock form- though they're still impressively grin-inducing. No, the beauty is in viewing the chassis and base car as a blank canvas of a platform. It's all about the owner's vision for 'their perfect MX-5' and how the aftermarket can cater to that vision. Affordably. This is where the older MX-5, the first and second generations, really earn their cult status. While the FR-S/BRZ is an amazing platform for customization, upgrades, and modifications, it's still a $25,000 car. On the cheap end. And the used market? Barely even exists yet.

But the used market is where the MX-5 truly earns its keep. In many parts of the county, a clean, rust-free, well-running first-generation Miata can be had for less than five grand. Examples with some wear and tear, but still sound when it comes to the chassis and powertrain, can be had for under three grand. Add about two to three thousand dollars or so in flat increase for the second generation. And just like that- you have your blank canvas. For comparative pennies.

For the same price as a base FR-S, you could have an early-generation MX-5 with enough upgrades and modifications to essentially turn it into a total world-beater, specifically tailored to your individual tastes and proclivities. Sure, it won't have some of the bells and whistles of the FR-S, but be honest- what's the first thing most of us do to said bells and whistles when we want to go for a drive? That's right. We turn them off. So just save yourself the effort and don't bother with them in the first place. Use that time, space, and money on things that will go farther towards making your MX-5 have it where it counts.

That is really where the aftermarket comes in. There is, near as can be calculated, an infinite number of parts for the MX-5. If you want to do it, there's already a part for you to get it done. It would be nigh upon impossible to run out of choices for parts and modifications for the MX-5. It's all about the versatility of the platform and what has to be one of the most, if not the most, accessible aftermarkets available. Even Honda doesn't quite match up and that's impressive in and of itself.

What this means is that anyone with the desire to make their MX-5 'better' can do so and feel secure in knowing that there is pretty much no other MX-5 out there identical to it. Special little snowflakes- that's the epitome of modified MX-5's- outside of Spec race series', of course. And how you specialize and modify your MX-5 is entirely dependent upon your priorities, preferences, and personality. More than that, it's dependent on your own definition of 'fun', because no matter how you define what 'fun' is, the MX-5 can be it.

And that's what the Cult of the MX-5 really boils down to- the Cult of Fun.

RallyWrench > Road Magazine 08/13/2014 at 20:44

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That's cool, because Track Magazine thinks they're great.

NervesOfThrill > Road Magazine 08/13/2014 at 21:00

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That is a fair take. I largely share the same view. I've driven them and get the fan base, but also see it as being out of proportion with the reality of the car. But hey, it is the fastest from classified ad to track car.

therotaryisdeadlonglivetherotary > marshknute 08/13/2014 at 22:39

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British sports cars, like the MG TC, were pretty much the founding sports cars, and many of them were utilizing old technology, tiny engines and tires as wide as your pinky. It was fun for the masses, not can I be the fastest on the road. For that you need to pay. The Miata follows in those car's footsteps (tire tracks?).

TwoFortified > Road Magazine 08/13/2014 at 23:56

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I've never driven one, so I can't speak specifically to it...

...but I'm under the impression it's a "bang for your buck" proposition. I mean, sure, it doesn't handle like a fuckin' Ferrari, because it is, and always has been, a Mazda. I mean damn, it wasn't even the good Mazda. It was the "Well, that RX-7 looks pretty neat, but I don't want to sink that much money into a MAZDA" car.

So, you get a cheap car that, for the money, handles better than most cars around (in the early nineties), particularly in its class, and ESPECIALLY for the price. It handles "good" but not "great"? Well, you're already halfway there buddy. A couple sway bars, maybe a strut bar or two, and you should be good to go. At least you didn't end up like us poor Nissan guys. The S13's handling is not anything to write home about (at least, not stock. They have a bit of a tendency to want to understeer).

Now if, at the end of all that, the real issue is speed...well, you're pretty fucked. But then, so were most of the cars in that class back then. I mean, pick your cheap poison. KA24, SR20, CA18, Any Honda engine, and whatever the hell they put in a Miata in, say, 1992, were all rocking in the vicinity of 130 WHP. Want any of these engines to make something a bit more respectable, like, say, 175 WHP? Either it's extensive, expensive modding, or a new engine, or a new car (maybe with an I6...preferably with a turbo or two).

For what it is and always has been, the MX-5 is a pretty good sweet spot. I mean damn, if you've got an LS1 laying about, drop that thing in there. In the meantime, I hear they are quite fun to drive.

BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires > marshknute 08/14/2014 at 05:58

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I stopped reading at the exact same point. The point of a sports car is that it's engaging to drive. Not that you can blow away any other car you meet on the road.

You do get sports cars that can blow away every other car on the road, but that's not a prerequisite.

I will agree that the MX-5 needs a turbo rotary version. That would be absolutely kickass, and give it some serious performance chops, but it's not strictly necessary.

Mr. FiSTer of Team FiST Fetish > The Tunnel 08/14/2014 at 10:06

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Woah there Mr. Chilton, this is the FiST you are talking about.

CalzoneGolem > Road Magazine 08/14/2014 at 10:07

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It is ubiquitous and that makes it the boring choice for boring people.

With-a-G is back to not having anything written after his username > therotaryisdeadlonglivetherotary 08/14/2014 at 10:10

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That's why Clarkson says the Elise might be a better sports car, but the MX-5 is the best British sports car. He makes the analogy of being at a hotel in Tokyo and ordering a British breakfast. If it's sausages, it's a British breakfast, no matter where you ordered it or who makes it. The MX-5 Miata is the best British sports car.

With-a-G is back to not having anything written after his username > marshknute 08/14/2014 at 10:12

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I love the baseball analogy, and I've used it often myself. Having a Miata is like having a glove and ball sitting around at the ready for an impromptu game of catch at any time.

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires 08/14/2014 at 10:14

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I think that's partly the reason that the Miata has never been designed to be aggressive. It has a classic design, to go along with the classic pursuit of the sport of motoring.

The 86 twins look a little more aggressive, but don't have the punch to match. For me, personally, if I'm going to own a modern sports car, I want it to handle great and give me all the feels, but I also want to be faster off the line than 90% of the cars out there. This is my let-down with the BRZ and FR-S.

GhostZ > Road Magazine 08/14/2014 at 10:14

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You have the timeline backward. Cars like the MX-5 predate the "performance car". MX-5 is a sports car, a FR-S is a sports car, a Ferrari 458 is a Performance car. It's a bit arbitrary, but the distinction clears up your article pretty easily.

Performance cars and sports cars were both big, heavy, massive cars (read: Deusenberg) until about the late 40s when lightweight, less powerful vehicles came out that were cheaper but designed to be more fum. It was generally thought that to be the fastest, a car had to simply be bigger with more power, just like a train or airplane! This is before we understood grip because of how few good paved roads were really around to test on, so track speed was generally considered a function of power/weight (and lightweight was almost never a worthy trade off) and driver skill. An advanced suspension was one that could hold lots of weight, because it means you could fit a larger, heavier engine in it.

The 30s MGs (Midget, specifically) could be seen as the origin of the sports car, as they were probably the first successfully sold car where being light and fun was more important than top speed or power.

Cars like the XK120 are probably the "missing link" between heavy luxury cruiser and fun sports car, and the true "performance car" was introduced with the E-Type, the direct descended from it.

The Pony Car vs Muscle Car debate directly parallels this, with the early Mustang being more similar to an MG Midget than an E-type.

The Transporter > marshknute 08/14/2014 at 10:15

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Considering that this article was written for a British magazine, I would say no, the author probably hasn't played baseball. Now, I bet you he could tell you everything there is to know about playing cricket and you'd still be just as confused afterwards as you were before.

Vicente Esteve > Road Magazine 08/14/2014 at 10:15

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You just went to the only place you shouldn't go on Oppo.

Flavien Vidal > marshknute 08/14/2014 at 10:18

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Try a 55hp mini cooper someday... You will see that "power" has nothing to do with "sports car". If you go to Japan you could also try the 9000rpm Suzuki cappuccino or Honda Beat (MR car) or the AZ-1 (MR too). They are all 64hp. You will understand that they are proper "sports cars" with awesome "performances" don't worry :)

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > Desu-San-Desu 08/14/2014 at 10:20

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[slow clap]

If your definition of "fun" is rock climbing or overlanding, I'd look elsewhere.

Desu-San-Desu > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com 08/14/2014 at 10:23

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Ahem.

http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/attachm…

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > Desu-San-Desu 08/14/2014 at 10:24

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Ha! How did I know that was coming?

I'd argue that, just because you can, doesn't mean you should.

Desu-San-Desu > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com 08/14/2014 at 10:26

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I ran across a story some time ago about a guy who made a Baja Miata and it was pretty freakin' sweet. I don't know if I'd try rock climbing or overlanding with one, but a Baja Miata sounds amazing.

Cé hé sin > marshknute 08/14/2014 at 10:28

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I'd be surprised if the op had played baseball given where he's from...

2tonic > Road Magazine 08/14/2014 at 10:32

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Au contraire, the "central" feature of a sports car is that it feels sporty and fun to drive.

These days too many "enthusiasts" are focussed only on objective numbers like 0-60mph times (power) , lateral acceleration (grip), and other metrics that aren't really what a sports car is about.

A Miata can be fully rung out on a simple grocery run. It's not fast (though it is reasonably quick), but you can wind out the engine constantly, which makes the car FEEL fast.

There are few modern cars that are as tossable as the Miata. A Miata doesn't have a ton of grip - but this is great! - and it's again part of what makes it so fun. Driving at the limit of adhesion, at sane street speeds, is far more fun than never building enough G to get the tires sliding around, or, having to get up to dangerously high speeds in order to slide the car around.

There are certainly faster and grip-pier cars, of all types, out there. But that doesn't necessarily make them more fun than the Miata.

Reigntastic > Road Magazine 08/14/2014 at 10:32

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Miata worship is out of control, so I like this article. People claiming you don't get it seem to have missed the point where you mentioned that the FRS/BRZ was a far better handling vehicle, at a lower price point.

Personally, I don't like convertibles, and I don't like the Miata. They're fun, but anytime you get onto the highway they're as slow as any common vehicle; the 2014 Toyota Camry puts down a better 0-60 time, by more than a second. That's pretty pathetic for a sports car.

Shit, my 250cc 27hp Kawasaki was faster 0-60 than a Miata, with the displacement of 1/8th of a soda bottle.

Reigntastic > marshknute 08/14/2014 at 10:33

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Did you not read the part where the BRZ/FRS are clearly superior on handling and price point?

Reigntastic > BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires 08/14/2014 at 10:34

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OP mentioned specifically that he found the FRS/BRZ to be far superior with handling, so I would argue he does recognize that a vehicle needs to be engaging.

Turbo rotary Miata would be cool, but that engine belongs in an RX8 successor that doesn't suck like the RX8 does.

Reigntastic > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com 08/14/2014 at 10:36

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BRZ and FRS are still cheaper and faster than the Miata.

Reigntastic > Flavien Vidal 08/14/2014 at 10:37

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Mini Cooper isn't a sports car, btw

The other two count, despite being Kei cars. I'd drive an AZ-1.

Reigntastic > 2tonic 08/14/2014 at 10:41

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OP mentions that the BRZ/FRS are better enthusiast vehicles anyways, so I don't really understand where you're going with this.

Flavien Vidal > Reigntastic 08/14/2014 at 10:41

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The other contestants at the 1964, '65 and '67 MonteCarlo rally who got beaten by a "race prepped" 75hp Austin Mini Cooper that had a top speed of 100mph with its 1.3L engine tend to desagree :)

KusabiSensei - Captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs > Road Magazine 08/14/2014 at 10:43

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The only apt comparison you make is to the Toyobaru. Because the Toyobaru is a sports car, in and of itself. Just as the Miata is a sports car in and of itself. No need to compare to other cars, because they are good enough to stand on their own.

VW GTI? No. It's trying to be everything to everyone. Golf R? No. That's just taking a compromise vehicle and trying to fix sportiness by ramping the power up to 11.

You buy a GTI because you'd like a Golf with a little more power and a little more controlled suspension on the limit. You buy a Golf R because you are Jeremy Clarkson-esque with your desire for power, no matter the compromise.

You don't buy a Toyobaru or a Miata because they slay dragons on the drag strip, or stick like an RX-8 to the corners. You buy them because they are what they are, and because they are unlike anything else...in the world.

You buy them, because driving them makes you smile, and makes you want to do one more lap...and then love it more as you drive home.

Car and Driver wrote in a comparison between the Toyota MR-2 Spyder and the NB Miata:

We wrote in our first Miata road test way back in September 1989 that the Miata made us cheer. It still does.

And that...is all that matters.

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > Reigntastic 08/14/2014 at 10:44

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Marginally - still slower off the line than a Camry. It is a great platform (very hard to "add lightness" after all), and I prefer coupes to convertibles.

I think a well-used and maintained BRZ would be a great first car for my kid(s).

Reigntastic > Flavien Vidal 08/14/2014 at 10:45

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It can be a fast car, but it still isn't a sports car.

A car may be a sporting automobile without being a sports car. Performance modifications of regular, production cars, such as sport compacts , sports sedans , muscle cars , hot hatches and the like, generally are not considered sports cars, yet share traits common to sports cars. They are sometimes called "sports cars" for marketing purposes for increased advertising and promotional purposes.

Wikipedia.

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > Reigntastic 08/14/2014 at 10:46

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Who care if it's a sports car? Because racecar.

http://todofondosdemotor.com/wp-content/upl…

Flavien Vidal > Reigntastic 08/14/2014 at 10:48

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Ok, I thought the E30 M3 was a sports car, my bad lol

The number of seats is not what defines a sports car... The first sentences of the definition being "A sports car ( sportscar ) is a small, usually two seat, two door automobile designed for spirited performance and nimble handling."

"Usually" being the key here. The Austin Mini Cooper is a car with spirited performances, 4 seats, two doors and it has a really nimble handling... It is a sports car. So is the M3 eventhough it is a "sports sedan"

Reigntastic > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com 08/14/2014 at 10:49

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Used market is already sub-20k for the FRS, I figured I'd buy one used myself in a couple of years at about 50% depreciated.

I've driven some seriously expensive cars, and I can't understate how spot on it is to drive. Handling compares favorably to Porsche, BMW, Corvettes, you name it. Best steering feel in any entry level car on the market today.

I'm sure we can both agree that it's a crime that the FA20 in the WRX isn't in the BRZ from the factory, considering it's the same block with slightly lower comp. pistons, and a smooth twinscroll turbo that makes power starting at 2k rpm.

Reigntastic > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com 08/14/2014 at 10:51

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It's interesting that the Mini's that see rallytime now have AWD instead of FWD, considering what a great layout FWD is for racing.

I care, though. I like to drive sports cars, not lightened economy cars.

Reigntastic > Flavien Vidal 08/14/2014 at 10:52

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E30 M3 was a two door FR, idk where you've been the last 20+ years

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > Reigntastic 08/14/2014 at 10:57

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I'd prefer to drive a sports car as well, but I'd drive the piss out of a Mini.

Reigntastic > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com 08/14/2014 at 10:59

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Yeah, I drove the piss out of my Wolfsburg Jetta too. I'd describe it like eating a meal without carbohydrates. Fun, but not satisfying.

Flavien Vidal > Reigntastic 08/14/2014 at 11:00

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It's a 2 door sedans, WITH 4 SEATS slightly prepped. It's a "prepped sedan". It does not fit your definition of a sports car. The car it is is based on is not a sports car (neither is the base mini) and it has been prepped by the factory to be a great sports car, like the Austin Mini Cooper.

You can also say that the Peugeot 205 T16 is not a sports car maybe since by your definiton it's a "hothatch"?? Or the FWD MG Metro used in rallying maybe?? and what about the Daihatsu Coopen? It's like the Cappuccino, but FWD... So it's not a sports car??

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > Reigntastic 08/14/2014 at 11:00

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I'm still holding out hope that the BRZ STi will become a thing.

I've sat in a BRZ, but I still need to drive one.

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > Reigntastic 08/14/2014 at 11:02

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I drove my '05 Mazda 3s hatch like I stole it for 7 years and 90k miles, lots of fun, but you're right, I wasn't satisfied.

marshknute > Reigntastic 08/14/2014 at 11:05

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You don't seem to understand that the Miata is more fun than the Toyobaru, and therefore the better sports car, regardless of objective merits.

Here, let MotorTrend explain.

Jonny Edge (@thejonnyedge) > The Tunnel 08/14/2014 at 11:06

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Agree with you on that. Fiesta ST is a good car, but not a great car. I never got much enjoyment from the Focus ST, and I can't stand cars with poorly put together interiors, which is exactly what the Focus ST had.

marshknute > Cé hé sin 08/14/2014 at 11:06

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Yeah, didn't realize that until after I posted. Since he's British, he can just substitute the word Quiddich in place of baseball.

Jonny Edge (@thejonnyedge) > Squid 08/14/2014 at 11:07

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'By today's definition, the Miata would not be classified as a sports car'

That's kind of what I'm hinting at in the article, leaving the reader to consider that.

Jonny Edge (@thejonnyedge) > KusabiSensei - Captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs 08/14/2014 at 11:08

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It's certainly not bang for buck when bought new.

Reigntastic > Flavien Vidal 08/14/2014 at 11:09

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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sport_com…

M3 shared the chassis of the 3 series, but had a different engine, suspension, wheel hubs, transmission, differential, brakes, you name it.

The only exterior body panels the standard model 3-series and the M3 shared were the hood, roof panel, and sunroof.

Calling a two door a sedan is like calling a four door a coupe. Typical BMW.

Otherwise, saying it's a prepped car because it shares a chassis is like saying the 370Z is basically a QX70 despite one being a sports car and the other being an SUV.

Jonny Edge (@thejonnyedge) > For Sweden 08/14/2014 at 11:10

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V6's are the engines I get the most pleasure from. I'll be looking closely at the arrival of the Mustang in the UK, I can't wait to see how it is received.

Jonny Edge (@thejonnyedge) > Textured Soy Protein 08/14/2014 at 11:11

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GT86?

Jonny Edge (@thejonnyedge) > 2tonic 08/14/2014 at 11:12

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The MX-5 does not feel sporty to drive to me. It feels a bit too soft and a bit too ponderous.

Reigntastic > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com 08/14/2014 at 11:14

1

BRZ STi will inevitably be some suspension/exhaust package for a nice $5k markup and a pink badge, I won't hold my breath.

I've driven a manual and auto FR-S on the street, and I've driven a manual BRZ at Autocross and on the street as well. Fantastic little car, go out and test drive one, you won't be disappointed.

The gearbox has short throws that are firm and smooth, the engine isn't torquey but however is incredibly responsive and comes alive above 4k RPM. I'll bitch about the power output all day long, but even then I love the BRZ. Because of the tires it comes with, it has plenty of power for hooning. Really my only complaint is that the clutch is pretty light, but I'm used to my aftermarket clutch in my MR2.

Jonny Edge (@thejonnyedge) > Vicente Esteve 08/14/2014 at 11:14

0

haha! Should I remember not to share my opinions in future then?

I wouldn't give the nod to publish anything of mine if I thought it was going to only infuriate the masses. I thought carefully about what I wrote here.

Jonny Edge (@thejonnyedge) > NervesOfThrill 08/14/2014 at 11:15

0

'But hey, it is the fastest from classified ad to track car.'

Good point.

Reigntastic > marshknute 08/14/2014 at 11:17

2

I've driven both at Autocross and on the street, including multiple generations of Miata, including a MazdaSpeed. You're just wrong, you would know that if you had driven the competition too. How is handling an objective merit? Sure, I can quote skidpad numbers, but to me handling is all feelz.

Why pay more for an inferior driving experience? Cognitive dissonance must be killing you.

Jonny Edge (@thejonnyedge) > marshknute 08/14/2014 at 11:19

0

Firstly, it's my opinion. I don't have to 'get' anything. This is how the car made me feel, and this is the conclusion I came to. I had more fun in an old Honda S2000 than a new Mazda MX-5.

It doesn't filter down all the sensations of a top-level sports car. It feels lacking coming out of corners and the body is a bit too soft. I had a better time in a Suzuki Swift Sport to be honest, that had a little bit more character. I didn't have a bad time driving the car, I just didn't feel it lived up to the 'major-league' billing that it gets.

Thank you for reading around half of my article, and I applaud your use of a lovely anecdote. I changed baseball to cricket, I hope you don't mind.

Nothing > Road Magazine 08/14/2014 at 11:20

0

While NC Miatas are supposedly good (I wouldn't know, I've never been in one), the Miata hype clearly centers around the NA and NB. You can get quality used examples inexpensively, a huge aftermarket, and stupid simple to work on. Never mind the fact that they're the classic sports car layout. Would I spend $25k on a Miata? Hell no. Would I spend $900 on a project Miata, drop a few more $$ into it and have a great little car? I already have. I'm not going to pretend it's the greatest car, but it sure is a lot of fun.

Nice click bait though.

Jonny Edge (@thejonnyedge) > therotaryisdeadlonglivetherotary 08/14/2014 at 11:23

0

I'd like to point out I'm not a huge fan of mega-power. The Morgan 3-Wheeler was one of the best cars I've ever driven (post on the left hand side I believe).

This article is really saying the MX-5 is showing its age, lacking in pace to the point it's not exciting to drive and actually, I don't believe it to live up to the hype the community around it creates. Nothing more than that. It's a good car, it's just not the legendary car it's made out to be.

Jonny Edge (@thejonnyedge) > BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires 08/14/2014 at 11:28

0

My Morgan 3 Wheeler review shows I don't just love pure power. In fact, I don't enjoy driving many hugely powerful cars as you simply can't use them to their potential on the roads I live on (Devon, sure I mentioned before).

I don't want to blow away other cars on the road, I want to be excited. The MX-5 just wasn't. I enjoyed my drive in it and it was a pleasurable journey, but it didn't live up to the hype it gets. Didn't even get close.

Turbo version would be good, hybrid even better. Rotary I'd say not so much as I believe the rotary is dead technology. I don't believe we will ever see another rotary car on the market. Hold me to that!

Jonny Edge (@thejonnyedge) > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com 08/14/2014 at 11:30

1

'If I'm going to own a modern sports car, I want it to handle great and give me all the feels, but I also want to be faster off the line than 90% of the cars out there. This is my let-down with the BRZ and FR-S.'

I don't understand where you're coming from. The BRZ and GT86 aren't fast enough, but the Miata is? Might have to clear this one up for me if it's not too much trouble.

Jonny Edge (@thejonnyedge) > The Transporter 08/14/2014 at 11:31

0

Played baseball once (hit a home run?), but prefer cricket. Slower pace. Funny that isn't it?

Jonny Edge (@thejonnyedge) > Flavien Vidal 08/14/2014 at 11:32

0

The Mini Cooper isn't a sports car.

Being 6ft 2, I don't think I'd fit very well in a Cappuccino!

Jonny Edge (@thejonnyedge) > Reigntastic 08/14/2014 at 11:33

0

I felt the GT86 handled better than the MX-5. Talked to me more and the car felt like it had more potential. That car wasn't quick either, but it had just about enough. I'm a fan of the 200-250bhp power bracket.

Jonny Edge (@thejonnyedge) > marshknute 08/14/2014 at 11:37

0

I disagree with MotorTrend. I didn't find it more fun. This is funny because before publishing it I asked a few people around me what they thought of the MX-5, and none of them actually preferred it to a GT86. British/American taste difference perhaps?

Jonny Edge (@thejonnyedge) > wkiernan 08/14/2014 at 11:39

1

...and for me, a GT86 handles better!

Patrick George > Road Magazine 08/14/2014 at 11:40

53

I don't agree with this at all, but I'm still sharing it to the FP because it will spark a good discussion

It has perhaps become its own genre, desired for its cute, handbag-like status just as much as the fabled driving experience. It's become a bit of a cop out for those looking for something a bit 'sporty' and hip, a slightly lazy purchase. It needs new competitors and fresh thinking from the guys at Mazda if it's ever to become a sports car by more than just an outdated definition. Maybe the upcoming new model will do just that.

Tell that to all the people who race them every weekend...

Jonny Edge (@thejonnyedge) > TwoFortified 08/14/2014 at 11:41

1

The Mazda MX-5 is too expensive to buy as a new car. In fact, I don't see many new MX-5's on the road at all.

If we're talking about £2,000 used cars, sure - it's about all you can get.

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > Jonny Edge (@thejonnyedge) 08/14/2014 at 11:42

1

I never said the Miata was fast enough (for me), but I feel like the design of the car doesn't give any pretense that it is a fast car (only a fun car). The 86s are a bit more edgy and aggressive and, to my eye, this suggests than they're faster than they actually are (I feel the same about the Veloster, which, beside the point, is also very ugly). This is all highly subjective, clearly.

I'm very glad that the BRZ exists and that Subaru and Toyota managed to bring such a focused sports car to market and have success with it. I'd be even more glad if they offered a BRZ STi and FR-S TRD with more power to complement this very capable chassis.

mcseanerson > marshknute 08/14/2014 at 11:42

0

Same here, stopped reading as soon as I read that line. Sports cars are about feel not performance. By this logic the Challenger Hellcat is the best sports car.

Sweet Trav > Road Magazine 08/14/2014 at 11:44

0

Completely agreed.

Jonny Edge (@thejonnyedge) > Reigntastic 08/14/2014 at 11:44

2

Yeah, I feel it is. Endless 'MX-5 is always the answer' stuff is borderline cultish, and actually not a good viewpoint to take.

It just didn't feel sporty to me!

Desu-San-Desu > Patrick George 08/14/2014 at 11:46

31

I already wrote a long reply to the original article, but it can be summed up with this: The guy who wrote this apparently misses the point of the MX-5 and sports cars in general. In my opinion? He's just another spec-sheet snob.

stoke > marshknute 08/14/2014 at 11:46

1

I'd like to point out the absurdity of assuming that a British motoring journalist has played a game of baseball.

sumfoo1 > Road Magazine 08/14/2014 at 11:46

2

I don't like them either... but even i think this article is trolling.

IPFreely > Road Magazine 08/14/2014 at 11:46

2

Road Magazine trolls Miata enthusiasts for attention.

Jonny Edge (@thejonnyedge) > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com 08/14/2014 at 11:47

0

Ok so you prefer the Miata because its design doesn't make false promises? I'd say the 86 doesn't just look it, it feels more edgy and aggressive around corners, and feels like it has more potential in the right hands.

I'm not a fan of the Veloster's looks, but by all accounts I've heard it to be a decent car. Zaman has actually just reviewed it for the website.

I think one thing we all agree on is the GT86 TRD was a massive, overpriced let down.

Dream Theater of the Absurd > Road Magazine 08/14/2014 at 11:47

1

Hope you're wearing your Nomex!

phDiesel > Patrick George 08/14/2014 at 11:47

1

You can make anything into a race car. It just so happens it's sort of cheap and already rear drive. It's a good platform.I see what he means though. and if we are being honest are Mazda Spec Race cars THAT fast? Is there lap time to price ratio proportionate? Genuinely curious

stoke > Road Magazine 08/14/2014 at 11:49

1

I'm sorry, but if you're British, and trying to argue that small sports cars should be a) bold and brash and b) judged on their performance merits, your fathers and uncles who drove MG's and Morgans and Triumphs and Austin-Healeys would like a word.

IPFreely > Patrick George 08/14/2014 at 11:49

6

So you put this Trollpiece on the front page for the "discussion".

briannutter1 > Road Magazine 08/14/2014 at 11:49

1

Some people are looking for a pleasant drive. Others want something more thrilling and scary. I found the Miata to be a bit of a wet noodle compared to my c5z. Fun, but the engine wasn't particularly rev-happy and I would like it a lot better with a Honda B/K/F series engine. To each their own though.

stigshift > Road Magazine 08/14/2014 at 11:51

1

Your article, sir, is bullshit. Sincerely, a 1990 NA Miata owner.

Davos Swinney > Road Magazine 08/14/2014 at 11:51

0

So a 10-year-old NC Miata doesn't handle as well as a brand new GT-86? Color me shocked. When you compare an older car to a newer one there's a good chance that it won't be quite up to snuff. Fifth Gear put at MkI GTI up against a brand new diesel Golf and the diesel mopped the floor with it.

TwinCharged - Is Now UK Opponaut > marshknute 08/14/2014 at 11:51

0

People seem to forget the original point of sports cars, especially when they first started out. Ever listen to The Ballad Of Lucy Jordan ?. The lyrics go like this: "At the age of thirty seven, she realised, she'd never ride through Paris, in a sports car, with the warm wind in her hair."

The crucial wording there is warm wind. Warm wind in her hair. Not tornado. Personally, I don't think sports cars are meant to be particularly fast. You're supposed to enjoy the sensation, not be torn apart by it. Fast in an open top car rips your hair follicles apart and makes you look like Jeremy Clarkson. Fast hurts!

Personally, I'd prefer an MG TF over an MX-5 (because so British ), but there's no discounting the fact that the MX-5 is one of the best you can buy.

IPFreely > Jonny Edge (@thejonnyedge) 08/14/2014 at 11:52

1

Now you're trolling Ford owners to boot?

Corinthian Leatherface > Road Magazine 08/14/2014 at 11:53

0

"Performance absolutely has to be the central feature of a sports car."

I guess we can cross almost every Triumph, MG, Alfa Romeo spider, and Mercedes SL off the "sports car" list. They won't run with a hot hatch like a Renault Megane RS.

Mark Jacob > Road Magazine 08/14/2014 at 11:54

1

Not that I'm the biggest fan of the Miata either, but I refuse to acknowledge the words of a man who calls himself "Jonny Edge".

SantaRita > Road Magazine 08/14/2014 at 11:54

0

Part of the beauty of it is that the Miata adheres to an older type of sporting definition, updating the simplest possible configuration to adhere to our modern safety standards, but by no way ever trying to be the fastest or best handing...remember, it's a convertible (no surprise the FRS is stiffer) and the Rx7's little brother...so while it may not have the 0-60 time of a turbo hatchback, it has a very honest and complete level of feedback which is far more educational than torque-steering full boost in said hatchback. Are their faster cars that handle better? of course. Are they this dead simple...not a chance. Will the next one be faster than the hot hatches? Probably not even close, but that's not the point really, just as it never has been with this car. Instead it's primal clay, moldable to any configuration easily. With minor prep, people race these and win.

Crossed > Road Magazine 08/14/2014 at 11:56

0

I think it needs stiffer dampers and stiffer suspension to make it corner flatter then it'll get the feel you want. But I'm totally fine with the way the suspension is stock and prefer it that way. It feels like you're getting closer to it's limits at lower speeds so you don't have to drive and wait to your favourite road, just even in city. I went from economy car to FRS recently I that's the single most thing I miss, FRS is still feels exploitable in city but not everywhere anymore. And I miss that.

Corinthian Leatherface > Reigntastic 08/14/2014 at 11:57

8

I would've agreed with you, until I took a new Miata around the autocross course at Lime Rock. The car was absolutely predictable and obedient to the limit, and beyond. Perfectly controlling a four wheel drift at 45 mph is not something a Camry can do.

Dan Carney > Road Magazine 08/14/2014 at 11:57

1

Case well stated. Now burn him.

THREEEBOWEL > Road Magazine 08/14/2014 at 11:57

0

Hip? Is Jonny Edge 95 years old?