Good morning all,
I am looking to buy the MX-5 RF Sport Nav model but am unsure on the engine size. I know the RF is heavier than the soft top due to the electric motors and all but is this really noticeable so the 2L should help pull it along.
Is there a noticeable difference between the 2 as the 1.5L is cheaper?
Is the 1.5L more than enough to pull the extra weight?
Does the 2L have a bigger/louder sound?
Which engine size would you buy and why?
Thanks in advance, future MX5 owner
The 2.0 is noticeably faster than the 1.5. If you are driving on the motorway a lot this is a big difference - mine is my daily car and does long road trips in the summer. The 1.5 struggles to get up inclines without shifting down.
I have a 2.0 soft top and was given a 1.5 as a courtesy car - I found the 1.5 felt very slow in comparison, even on normal roads. It also feels very soft and wallowy in comparison. Having said that, I had a 1.5 on one of Mazda’s launch days and found it great fun around back roads.
They sound similar from what I can tell. If I were going for a weekend car, I would give the 1.5 serious consideration.
We have the 1.5 which is more than adequate in the convertible but the 2.0 has a bit more acceleration and is a little smother. I guess that the 2.0 was picked to go with the auto gearbox, which we cannot have!
I think it is down to how much you want to spend? Many of the road tests gave the 1.5 more plaudits but I have not seen to many in service reports on the car after its a year/eighteen months old etc.
I guess you have looked on the USA MX5 site which includes so much entirely on the 2.0. Changing the subject it seems to me in hindsight that the 124 plus the turbo got the better engine!
You need to drive both and see for yourself really
Save your money, buy a Mk3 instead!
Drove pre-launch versions of both at the Mazda VIP day in Berwick.
The conclusion I came to was it’s best to look at the engine sizes as latter day Mk1 1.6/1.8 experiences insofar the 1.5 was, to me, better “fun” given you need to give it some beans ( through the twisties) to get the best out the excellent chassis whereas if the car was going to be a daily to include dual carriageway/motorway miles, the favoured choice for me would be the 2ltr.
It’s horses for courses, but I would advise carefully considering how the car is going to be used. I can promise you, the 2ltr is far quicker in the right hands & in real life than the figures suggest. The 1.5 is hardly lacking either, but it does relish and responds well to being extended up the rev range. In short…Mazda got both bang on…which does not help you much!
Bottom line is the 2000cc car is considerably quicker…but do you need it? As said, get both out. The 1.5 may raise your eyebrows.
YOU need/must try both, the dealer should be more than willing to help.
For the extra cash you also gain bigger brakes front and rear, bigger wheels and wider tyres and the limited slip diff.
Then YOU have to decide what is right for YOU.
I think that’s absolutely right. I had decent, unaccompanied back-to-back test drives in both (roadsters) , driving the 1.5 second so as to show it in the worst light. I bought a 1.5.
I don’t care about the 0-60 time, which doesn’t mean that I don’t want to extend the car. The 1.5 revs out beautifully, and begs to be driven - neither is the car for anyone who likes a wall of torque but the 1.5 is clearly less flexible and a decent incline means dropping a gear or three.
The 2.0 is a little ‘easier’ to drive in that sense, and clearly faster when pressed. The ride of the Sport Nav 2.0 I drove had noticeably harder suspension than the 1.5, as expected.
I concluded I was having the same fun about 10mph slower in the 1.5 than in the 2.0, with a bit less bone-shaking.
For an easy drive, I expect the 124 Spider with the turbo would beat either MX-5. But most of us want a car that needs to be driven, not a loping GT. I would not have wanted the Fiat with that engine, even though I think it looks stunning.
I can see why the 2.0 would suit some people better - for a bit more accessible grunt on the road, or for the track. Drive them and see.
Give each one a good test drive then decide
I would have the 2 ltr.You can never have to much power.Even this ain’t that quick really but it’s the one I would pick
Test drive both (if you can) over a variety of road types. Then decide which one suits you requirements best. Anyone who says this one is better than that one is purely expressing their choice for their requirements, nothing more nothing less. In the end it’s your money and your decision alone as most posts have intimated.
Good evening all,
Thank you for all of your responses today. I have managed to test drive both engines and, to be honest, I didn’t really notice the difference. Therefore, I have decided that the engine size is not a factor that I need to take into consideration.
The only issue/problem is which colour to choose from?
Grey I think is the nicest followed by the white then red.
What do people think of the Mica Blue colour? I like it
Thanks again all,
Lloyd
Finally what you must do is get a paint protection coating as I am sure many will agree with me that the paint work chips far to easily. Ours is 18 months old with 7000 miles and it has far more chips than our 09 Saab with 83000 miles.
Eeny, meeny, miney, mo? Seriously though, my ND is red, love it, would never have white, gets dirty as soon as you move it, quite like grey, but at this time of year it just blends into the dull grey surroundings, so that leaves… TA DA … Mica Blue!
Additional: Why don’t you hold a national referendum? Save you the trouble of making a decision!
Additional additional: Heck! No it wouldn’t. You’d have to decide whether to accept the result or not.
Nuts. nothing in life is simple!
So let’s recap. After test driving both engines you don’t mind whether it’s a 1.5 or 2.0.
You quite like the grey… or white… or red… or blue.
You will be happy whatever you end up with so shop around and get a blinding deal. There will be a dealer with a car in stock that hasn’t sold because of engine or colour or both. If it’s one of the many combinations that you like you are in a great position to barter.
Get a red 1.5.
It’ll be quicker than any 2ltr.
Hi all,
I’ve just ordered my mx-5.
Went for a 1.5L SE-L Nav mx5 soft top in grey.
Thought through the options and budgeting etc and came to the conclusion that the extra cost isn’t worth it!
Managed to test drive all options: RF and soft top with both engine options too. Found the 1.5L the most fun to drive.
Picking it up on the 3rd of March 
Just a long wait to go 
Regards,
Lloyd
Excellent choice! Same model as mine, but different colour.
Be aware you WILL have fun!
That’s fine by me