Presumably something structural.
I think the two aspects that people don’t like are the screen (which could have been made foldable) and the lack of any glove box.
Surely both solveable by the sort of talent Mazda can throw at it.
but honestly neither are show stoppers if it drives well are they, which its bound to do, because its an MX-5… and absolutely everyone who has so far says its fab. So there’s only one thing stopping me putting my order in, and its nothing to do with the lack of a glovebox… I just need to save up a bit more…
I would tend to agree, it’s about the driving dynamics first and foremost
The screen is below eye level of the road, we validated this with a few different size people at the preview event. I like the information and settings options available through the screen, it’s a modernisation of the car and probably lighter than a regular head unit type system.
The centre storage between the seats has a deeper recess than on previous cars so offers more space, there are also two cubbys, one behind each seat. Storage is there, just not in the usual space, as a consequence the passenger space is more open too.
My glovebox is eternally full of crap so I don’t think I really need one.
No room in mine for deicer as you say full of other crap.
A glove box is very useful during a trip, I use mine to store Sat Nav clamps, various charging cables etc, that I want to be able get at easily and it’s worth remember the French rules about hi-vis vests being accessible etc when travelling abroad. I am sure those with CD players use it for CDs as well.
If I have a passenger on a long drive, they invariably use the glove box for something while on the move, so cubby holes behind seats are not ideal.
The lack of it wouln’t be a deal breaker for me, but given that large purchases usually need permission from other halves - it’s not a clever move by Mazda.
Re. the lack of a glove box, I believe that, due to the very low dash top on the ND (to give the driver an increased feel of being “connected to the road” - apparently) there wasn’t room for a glove box and a passenger air bag.
Safety first of course hence the air bag’s been designed in, instead of a glove box…
Got to be honest, the ND doesn’t ‘do it’ for me and at that price I can think of better things to buy. Maybe I’ll think differently when I get to see one for real but IMHO the inside looks like any other modern small car. Looks similar to a Merc A or B class and that non-foldable screen is a mistake.
Pefectly valid observations.
I think the fact that the inside looks like other Mazda cars of this generation will help its cause, personally I like the idea of having all the modern toys it will come with, brings it up to date. As mentioned elsewhere if all the members of the Club bought one that’s 6000 sales, I’m sure Mazda’s ambition is rather more than that, hence it needs to appeal to a broad demographic who will expect that level of modernisation.
The screen seems to polarise opinion, I was far from sure from the pictures, in the flesh it serves it’s purpose well and doesn’t intrude in the drivers sight line. It probably could as a secondary display be made foldable, more moving parts to have and something to rattle.
Everything I’ve read so far has been positive. I agree the lack of glove box may be a concern to some but they’ve compromised for it else where.
Only thing that’s preventing me getting one is finding the money 
Same here, so could be seen as an opportunity to de-clutter…
As far as the non-foldable (is that a proper word ? )screen goes, yes, I do think that it doesn’t look quite right, but having sat in one I would say that it is actually not obtrusive, at least no more so than an independent sat-nav stuck on the screen or dash, and with the benefit of up-to-date tech…not had the chance to drive one yet, but would be bold enough to say that the performance & handling will definitely be the deal-breaker for most…
Hype ?..these things will sell themselves if the drive is as good as purported…
I couldn’t get to our local preview of the ND due to traffic jams caused by Operation Stack closing the motorway down our way. However the dealer has offered me a test drive in a couple of weeks. Unfortunately I drive a Mk 3.5 2.0 automatic of my own because I am disabled and have no left leg. I realise it would be very unlikely that any launch spec vehicles would be automatic, but I discover that there are no plans to offer one, ever.
Putting my own situation to one side, I wonder if this is a wise move as the automatic paddle shift in my car is great - don’t believe the reviewers - and there must be a continuing market for these in the future?
I am not disabled, but I do much prefer automatics and have been bending Mazda’s ear about this issue at the various ND previews.
My preference would be a ND paddle shift auto (lock up clutch type auto gearbox), with folding hard roof.
The current ND auto is being sold in the US and Australia (oddly enough), but strangely not Japan (so I gather).
TW Whites (Surrey) used to grey import the mk3 auto from Japan until the 3.5 powershift came along. Now Mazda UK claim these don’t sell well, but just try and find a used one and see hard it is (other than rip off dealer prices).
So I think it’s just poor marketing by Mazda UK, many people are amazed to find out that auto MX5s even exist.
Possibly some enterprising person could ship some over from Australia!
My guess is that once the inevitable hard top model arrives they may import some autos - I don’t see why not - even if they just build to order so that they don’t have to hold any stock.
Keep plugging away at any Mazda reps and they may get the message.
Meantime I am looking at getting a Toyota GT 86 auto - just missed a well priced used one by not snapping it up last week.
Disability aside, I just don’t see the point of having a sports car that has a fully automatic gearbox. For me, half the fun of driving a small sporty thing like the MX5 is going up and down the gears on twisty roads. Take that away and you might as well be driving any old hatchback or saloon. Flappy paddles I can understand but still not as much fun as a gear stick!
When it did not come in at minimum 200 BHP that was the game changer for me. Kept my NC and had it up gunned by BBR.
Paul, I think you’ll find that BBR are ahead of the curve as regards the ND…
Are you saying that Formula One cars, or Ferraris are not sporty? These are automatic or dual clutch. No third pedal.
I would want the paddle shift option of course, but on the other hand just flooring the pedal, keeping both hands on the wheel and concentrating on looking where you are going (and in the mirror) is a lot of fun and I do it every time I drive the MX5.
I really hate clutches - such a pain in heavy traffic as well.
Anyone who says a sports car can’t be automatic is just wrong. Most supercars are auto now and pretty much all Mercedes coupes, a lot of the Porsches - the list is endless.
1 in 3 buyers of the superb Toyota GT86 have opted for the paddle-shift auto version and they are not elderly or disabled people.
Many people don’t have a problem with clutches, these are sports cars. Unless its down to being a necessity I cannot imagine that an automatic MX5 is half the fun of a manual one.
Who says we all have to like exactly the same thing?
I just object to people trying to tell me that I am missing out on half the fun - it’s just not true - I have owned manual cars and also ridden motobikes and they weren’t twice as much fun!