We’ve decided to take the 2014 Sport Venture for our Eurothrash this year, rather than the Triumph as I’ll be heading away a few weeks later on my own on the bike.
Although we’ll have more luggage space in the car than on the bike, I wondered whether we could fit a decent luggage rack rather than simply strapping on one of my waterproof (motorcycle) stuffa bags directly onto the bootlid (with a mat).
The official Mazda rack - through the My Mazda bit on the website - listed for mine says it’s for the soft top only?
Any suggestions? I’m after quality and practicality firstly before price.
I think that Mazda are either worried about the boot lid addition whatever it is interfering with the movement of the rear flat panel that moves when the hood is in operation or they cannot find a way of displaying the third brake light when the additional load is in place.
Hmm. Given it’s the afterthought brake light and the two ‘main’ ones aren’t hidden, I’d rather Mazda didn’t worry about me and simply said they could accommodate me.
Besides, if I recall correctly the high level brake light is in the same location on the soft top as the roadster.
Stop thinking about yourself, Mazda cannot sell a car or bits for one that does not display the warning lights they have to fit by law, that includes the high level brake light.
Re read what I said, I did not say anything for sure, I said “I think”.
I have been told by a Mk3 droptop owner there was a wiring kit to make the third brake light work the luggage rack on the droptop. I assume that rack was supplied with a third brake light on it.
If it is such a bother to you, stop attacking people on here who are trying to help and phone up Mazda and give them a piece of your mind.
I don’t think that they have to fit a high level brake light by law; but if they do fit one then it has to work.
Indeed there is. My query - if you read what I said… - was whether it was only for the soft top after all, given it comes up as an accessory for the Roadster.
Excuse me? Who’s attacking who here? It would appear it’s you attacking me. And yes, I’d already raised this with Mazda via their website to see what they say.
I’ve discounted a boot rack in the past as too much of a palaver with the rear deck, also a boot bag is similarly restrictive as well (albeit easier to remove) unless you can guarantee rain or sunshine for the whole journey taken
I think the bootbag might work with a waterproof one that I already have for the bike (and likewise straps), but I was worried about chaffing (oo-er) from the straps if we went with that option.
Going for a ‘proper’ rack looks more the piece too rather than a (literal) lash-up.
And if you do contact the dealer they may get back to you and let you know or they may not and if they do they will probably tell you a load of old rubbish as I did with my two local dealers when I was after the sill bungs for my NC3 which I had just paid good money to for a full service, it took me six phone calls to people that knew exactly what I was after untill it came to actually sending them to me by which time they didn’t know what I wanted.
It took me a phone call to tell them my car would never come back to their dealership again to get what I wanted plus another three calls because they had forgot.
I have a PRHT and the standard Mazda boot rack clashes with the mechanism when you open the roof hence why its only on shows as compatible with the soft top. There is a company that does a rack that is okay with the PRHT operation in an unloaded condition (not I guess when it has your luggage on it). I have travelled to the south of France, Brittany and Holland as well as trips in the UK with a boot bag (www.boot-bag.com) which sits on an anti slip mat and have never had an issue with any marking of the paint through vibration or movement of the belts so would recommend them. One word of warning though with the bag is that we went through some pretty torrential rain for a sustained period and the bag did manage to leak through in the zip area, not massively but enough to make some things damp so we err on the safe side now and have everything in a really large plastic bag inside the boot-bag just in case.
Personally I think the loss of the high level brake light visibility is minimal compared to the number of cars you see with three bikes on the back blocking all lights and registration numbers! never been stopped or commented on that the high level isn’t visible by any authority in any country (so far).
Just to clarify I have no link or affiliation to boot-bag just a satisfied customer.
I am astonished by the way in which this discussion has degenerated into a slanging match! However, let me inject some common sense - the problem with a boot rack on the PRHT roadster is not the brake light but the fact that a laden boot rack will obstruct the action of the PRHT cover - with who knows what consequences. A tightly disciplined crew might maintain rigorous checks before trying to open the roof, but one lapse of memory could be very expensive! I am not surprised that Mazda discourage the use of additional rack storage on PRHT models
That’s the issue though: when I log into MyMazda and select the MX-5 and then the Accessories tab, it takes me here: Discover the MyMazda App | Mazda UK{My VIN}
That’s where it then shows the rack but says it’s for vehicles with the soft top but it doesn’t say for soft top only and like I said, it’s in the links for accessories for my MX-5, hence the confusion/query.
Back to the original question, in my opinion if you can live without a rack or bag then do so. The turbulance is a nightmare, rear view is restricted and whatever you use will look cumbersome and spoil the lines of the car.
You also need to think about sudden changes in the weather and the possibility of theft.
We did the South of France with a rack and suitcase, what a pain, never again.
Since then we have done numerous holidays without the rack and all has been perfect.
Pack carefully and you will be surprised just how much you can get in the boot.
When we get ours back from the bodyshop - vandalised whilst we were on holiday - we are going to try a ‘dummy’ pack and see what we can actually squeeze in there. We may be able to take the flattened tote bag for any purchases we make over there.
Hi, first of all enjoy your trip around Europe in the car it’s great fun.
Now your query, as an ex biker who travelled around Europe and Africa two up (Wife) over a number of years with only a couple of panniers and a top box you’ll be surprised how much more room there is in the 5. We managed many 2-3 week trips without any trouble with 3 SOFT “duffle” type bags in the boot positioned North/South and still had room around the wheel arches for other bits and pieces and coats/jumpers on top of the bags. We even managed to bring a number of bottles back with us on the way back to blighty.
Also remember hotels have speedy laundry services as well and as my wife points out to me as we tend to move on each day, the people at the next hotel don’t know what you dressed in the night before!
Good luck with your trail pack and be surprised how much you can get in and likewise do without!
In which case you’ve got multiple choices and you’ll easily be able to fit 7 days worth of clothes etc. into the boot AND have access to the laundry service at the hotel.
Also worth mentioning that we always take a few pegs, a small “camping” washing line that can be hung either in the bathroom or discretely on the room balcony of the hotel and a small bottle of travel wash for any small bits and pieces we might need along the way that can easily be dried overnight.