ND test drive today a personal experience

[rpost77]

Hate to say it - but - I would not buy the ND purely on the location and position of the handbrake.

It should not be in the way. They are at least 15 cm apart from each other. I can only see it being an issue if you are one of those drivers whom put their left hand on the thigh all the time. So when you reach across, the lever might be in the way. But if you drive with 2 hands on the wheel, you'll hit your knee before the lever.

I put my left hand on the HB when stopped and rest it there and change into 1st with my thumb (NA6). This works nicely for me. When driving I have both hands on the wheel.

It's not that the HB gets in the way, per se, in the ND - just that it is too close and and too high and doesn't "get out of the way" ever (for me).

It's distracting and adds to the feeling of being cramped.

In the NA6 there is nothing crowding me in my seat and nothing in between my body and the wheel and gear stick.

In the ND the HB is there.

Do not like - should be on the other side away from me.

Personal opinion and others feel differently and that is OK.

For me it's a deal breaker. If I'm driving a sports car I should not have anything (effectively) redundant anywhere near spoiling the experience and access.

[Steerpike]

Alloy pedals (and alloy footrest) are options, in the Accessories brochure.

[feel_ixx]

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?t=1292&v=BLtw2z_mZ6w[/youtube]

Found this today - thought it might be relevant since many are looking at both quite closely - apologies if it's been posted already!

[myredmx5]

Maybe the hand brake has to be on the right because the PPF is now on the left?

[Guran]

A correction to this:

no speakers in passenger headrest. Seriously?

Both the Roadster and Roadster GT definitely have headrest speakers. However, the volume through them varies depending on what you're doing. When playing music, the headrest volume is quite low. But for Bluetooth phone calls, the sound comes almost entirely from the headrest speakers so it's like the person talking to you is immediately behind you. Makes for very easy and comfortable conversations at highway speeds. It's an excellent set-up.

[JBT]

I had the privilege of being allowed to drive a Club friend's ND 1.5 GT today. As has been said, these will sell themselves no problem. Things I noticed:

The car appears tiny despite being wider than the NC.
Engine bay - sort of "half painted" as most cars are these days but looks appealing compared with the untidy "black hole of Calcutta" that is the NC bay.
The car fits me like a tailored glove - even better than the NC.
Handbrake - what handbrake?
Tunnel lump - what tunnel lump?
Interior - OK but the materials (plastics and carpet) are the same sort of junk they put in the NC. The cup holders are OK for holding a bottle of water but weren't in the way for me. Not much storage but it is a sports car after all.
Instruments - good but I prefer the NA/NB/NC display.
MZD thingy - heard it talking but was too enthralled with the view across the instruments and bonnet to notice it was even there once the engine started.
Handbrake - releases the car just fine and holds it on my driveway slope.
Engine - very smooth and eager. Sounds great. You need to use the right gear as torque is limited but that brings me to....
Gear shift is beautiful - very smooth, light and positive - not as "mechanical" as the NC. Could have changed gears just for the fun of it. No annoying truck/diesel/growling/rattling noises coming from the tranny as in the NC.
Steering is very light and direct, but almost feels a bit twitchy sometimes compared with the NC - easy to get used to.
Suspension - supple and the whole car feels solid and firm.
Handling - like a limpet for the couple of chances we had to explore it. Sits very flat and feels nimble/alive.
Stereo etc - don't know, wasn't on, too busy listening to the car talk to me.
Boot - "half painted" inside of lid as per engine bay and probably smaller capacity than the NC.
Soft top - could be awkward to raise compared with the NC if the wind deflector doesn't fold as in the NC - does it fold in the ND?

Conclusion: I'd have one in a heartbeat but, sadly, I cannot justify ditching the NC and throwing in another $20K or so for a 1.5 Roadster....yet. Maybe I need another test drive...

[KevGoat]

Took a soul red manual GT for a drive this morning ....

It's been said so often, but it really does look so much better than in photos!
One big external criticism I have is the wheel arch gap - it's ugly!! Really spoils the look for me. And that sparks a big issue for me, because I really loved the suspension and I would be extremely hesitant to change anything. Not sure it would be enough to stop me buying one, but it seriously detracts from what is otherwise a great looking car.
Boot looked harder to pack than in my SE, but would hold as much I reckon. ND's is deeper than the SE, but there's lots of shapes around it's edges that intrude.
Loved the dark rims with the red! Great looking wheels!
Roof mechanism is amazing! One hand up or down - easy!! Love the hard panel.
Climbing in, the seats felt really nice. The extra side bolster made the seat feel a little smaller than my SE seats, but they are very comfortable.
Liked the look of the door trims and the painted panel is really nice.
Interior doesn't feel as "dark" as all the others I've had.
The MZD screen did not make as negative an impact on me as I imagined it would! It doesn't intrude whatsoever on vision, but is exactly where you want it when looking for information.
Didn't play much with any of the electronics. This one had Bose fitted and sounded ok (what little did listen to). Nice to have headrest speakers again - they do make a difference. GPS works as well as you'd expect.
Keyless entry and push start is nice.
SE's exhaust sounds better! The ND's is nice, but I much preferred mine when I started it up and took it for the same run ...
The 1.5 pulled better than I expected. Reasonable torque down low, but is happier above 4500 rpm. Revs beautifully, easily. It's like going back to the NA6 - it virtually begs you to rev it. Lovely.
So quiet inside the car!! My SE sounded (and felt) agricultural afterwards! ... didn't take long to get back used to it though
I'd want an Auto - but damn, after driving this one it would be hard not to get a manual!! The gearbox is easily the best I have ever dríven! Never missed, or even felt like I'd miss, a change, up or down. Light, smooth, short and precise. The clutch is very light, with very forgiving take up - my SE felt like I was doing leg lifts after the ND's!
Steering was strange. Precise and light, but something was missing. Can't explain it ... nothing that was really negative, just umm .... yeah ...
Steering wheel looks nice, but it didn't feel as nice as my SE's. It's been mentioned that it's a too thin and I'd agree with that. Being very new, it was also very slippery! Once again, wouldn't take long to get use to it.
Not sure why so much fuss over the handbrake. I'd also prefer it on the other side as in my SE, but it never got in my way. Not a biggy for me.
I was ready to hate the transmission lump that's been talked about. Noticed it as I climbed in - in fact was pretty much looking for it! - but didn't notice it at all after that.
Under the bonnet looked tidy, not cluttered or daunting as many cars are these days.

The car in one word - Refined.

So ... climbed back in to my SE and took it for the same run ...
Felt like more room inside mine, not sure how that is.
Seats not as grippy on the sides, but straight away are just as (if not more) comfortable.
Seemed a nicer seat/wheel/pedal fit for me than I managed to get in the ND - not much, just slight differences that made it noticeable when I climbed back in mine. Interesting, as I spent a long time getting the ND position right.
Prefer my dash - looks like a sports car. Made the ND's look more ordinary, too much like too many other cars.
Start mine up - exhaust note is so much better - needs downpipe & Nitro 3"
Then I noticed all the other noises coming from the engine bay - needs downpipe & Nitro 3"
Steering wheel felt so much nicer than ND's. But do like the look of the ND's!
Felt like I had to apply so much pressure on the clutch! Never noticed this before.
Felt notchy and long to place into first! Then that standard crunch in to second ... oh dear ...
Gearbox in this model is just crap, let's just face it.
Then ... start to hear the turbo sounds ... ah yeah ... love the turbo sounds ...
Suspension is very harsh by comparison over the little bumps, but once on to the flowing parts of the road at higher speeds it felt great again. The ND's suspension leaves this for dead in virtually every way.
I'd never noticed before how noisy my suspension is
Whole car seemed so noisy now!
The 58/60kph shake is now so much more annoying!!
Every rattle is now so much more annoying!!

So, after finally getting my low K Velocity Red SE, would I buy the ND instead?

No.

If I could afford to keep the SE AND buy an ND - within a heartbeat.
But, considering the cost differential, I can't see that I gain much. In fact, I reckon I lose a lot.
Gain in an ND is, as mentioned further up, refinement.
Loss in an ND, is feeling less like I'm in a sports car, because refinement has never been a strong point of sports cars.

[Nevyn72]

Took a soul red manual GT for a drive this morning ....

So, after finally getting my low K Velocity Red SE, would I buy the ND instead?

No.

If I could afford to keep the SE AND buy an ND - within a heartbeat.
But, considering the cost differential, I can't see that I gain much. In fact, I reckon I lose a lot.

This is pretty much where I'm at...... The ND is a great car..... I just can't see that I'm getting that much more than my SE.

Now, to have both (assuming the 2.0L does what I believe), well.....

[speed]

Took a soul red manual GT for a drive this morning ....

So, after finally getting my low K Velocity Red SE, would I buy the ND instead?

No.

If I could afford to keep the SE AND buy an ND - within a heartbeat.
But, considering the cost differential, I can't see that I gain much. In fact, I reckon I lose a lot.

This is pretty much where I'm at...... The ND is a great car..... I just can't see that I'm getting that much more than my SE.

Now, to have both (assuming the 2.0L does what I believe), well.....

Suspect you will still miss the turbo.

General observation: I can't help but note the numbers of people saying that they would buy in a heat beat, yet are not buying...

If the 1.5 came in turbo form for 40k plus on roads, would that sway you?

[pcmx5]

[quo

General observation: I can't help but note the numbers of people saying that they would buy in a heat beat, yet are not buying...

If the 1.5 came in turbo form for 40k plus on roads, would that sway you?[/quote]

No not me but if the ND had a decent rear axle ratio I would have one"in a flash".love just about everything else about it,even like the small engine,rev it out philosophy but at the moment am annoyed that they had the chance to build a great car and almost did it but stuffed it!!

Peter.

[KevGoat]

If the 1.5 came in turbo form for 40k plus on roads, would that sway you?

That's a good question ...

The ND, even in present form, would be very capable and comfortable as a main car, which it would need to be for me if I was to purchase one. I couldn't afford one plus own a spare car. It's more refined nature would make it very liveable for everyday use, not that I drive everyday.

On the other side, I'm enjoying my SE (and each of my 5's so far) because it is a spare car and as such I can mess with it, learn stuff I've never done before. I hadn't done much mechanically before I first got my NA6 a few years ago, apart from basic servicing and I had never dríven a turbo prior to the SE, so it's all new to me and I'm enjoying learning and playing with it. I wouldn't feel comfortable playing with a new car, so the question I'd have to answer for myself is would I enjoy it as much and for how long?

[JBT]

General observation: I can't help but note the numbers of people saying that they would buy in a heat beat, yet are not buying...

If the 1.5 came in turbo form for 40k plus on roads, would that sway you?

No not me but if the ND had a decent rear axle ratio I would have one"in a flash".love just about everything else about it,even like the small engine,rev it out philosophy but at the moment am annoyed that they had the chance to build a great car and almost did it but stuffed it!!

Peter.

None of the above would affect my decision. It's just fine as it is for what it is. Another 50rwkw and 70nm would make no difference to me. IMO, the ND is the best MX-5 Mazda has ever done. My decision is based on finances. If I could upgrade for $10K, there would be a Roadster in the garage now.

[Lokiel]

KevGoat, your comments about the ND's steering wheel prompted my thoughts on it when I sat in Frank's car at a QLD Club run:

I noted that the ND's steering wheel is thicker than the SE's but is also very spongy/soft.
My DD SP23 has a thicker leather steering wheel which is quite firm and makes my SE's wheel feel quite bony in comparison.
Of the 3 steering wheels, I definitely prefer the SP23's thicker/firmer steering wheel, feels nice and chunky; if I'd had a Mazda 3 when I re-covered my SE's steering wheel, I would have padded its thickness to match the thickness of the Mazda 3.


KevGoat: "Gearbox in this model is just crap, let's just face it."
Yep, anyone who thinks the NB's 6-speed gearbox is "OK" is kidding themselves or just doesn't know any better; I'm glad to see Mazda finally ditched it in the manual for one that the MX5 deserves. Mazda should make a lot of money licensing it to other manufacturers in place of the Aisin 6-speed crap-box we've had to suffer.

[KevGoat]

I noted that the ND's steering wheel is thicker than the SE's ...

Seriously? Seemed other way round to me, maybe just familiarity ... or maybe just trying (unsuccessfully) to convince myself I don't want one haha?

[Nevyn72]

Suspect you will still miss the turbo.

Actually I suspect not....

The 2.0L version has almost the same power/torque numbers as an SE (in factory trim), slightly less weight, the same 6500RPM redline and a similar bias towards low end torque.
Hence why I think I wouldn't be gaining very much, if anything in terms of performance.

Given a likely ~$35K changeover for the trim spec I would be looking at well.......