Interesting discussion developing here about automatics versus manuals. Having driven both before I was disabled I have found that the enjoyment of driving now has very little to do with just one element of a car. Taking the whole package of an MX 5 into account - performance, handling, top down driving, image, club support, specialist dealer support etc etc - the way I change gear has just sort of merged into the whole Experience.
A few years ago our local Mazda dealer lent us a paddle shift NC1 for the day to show at a local event, it was an enjoyable and lively drive and didn’t take anything away from the character of the car.
In the US a large proportion of sales are likely to be AT, they seem to get on with it just fine. I guess sales in the UK of AT models are historically very low that Mazda UK doesn’t consider it worth bringing them in and holding as stock. I would hope they could be special ordered for the UK as they are available in the US and AUS markets.
There are a few NA AT kicking round in the UK, they seem to be more common than NB or NC, everyone I have spoken to that has one seems to rate them.
If an none manual version of the car exists and Mazda UK is closing not to bring it in, then unless they don’t exist in RHD then it will be based on previous sales volume of automatics and the cost and justification of the support network that goes with that. If the ratio on manual to automatic sales has been 2 or 300 to 1 then it is not an encouragement to go to that cost.
Whoa! Back up the horses there friend, no-one is telling you that. I just expressed my own opinion about manual vs automatic. If a fully automatic works for you then that’s fine. I don’t dislike flappy paddles; got them on my daily driver although I think I’ve used them twice in the 3 months I’ve had the car. I know most sportscars and supercars have the flappy paddle auto/semi-auto gearbox which is fine but personally (and I can’t emphasise that enough) I don’t think fully automatic, as in the traditional shift into ‘drive’ and then you just put your foot down, is as much fun. However, each to their own, horses for courses etc etc.
Agreed that there is/was much more hype on Miata.net, which has been a useful resource to ogle while I impatiently wait for my Mk4 2.0L SE-L Nav to arrive!
I also noticed that the US Mazda dealers were quite proactive in providing VIN numbers and shipping info to those who pre-ordered… whereas my local dealer will only find out when my car will be ready after the official launch date on 28 August - which does not help with the wait. Fingers crossed for early September though…
Which colour did you go for?
Soul Red in the end - not that there was much choice - but I thought it looks very good with the dark wheels and trim of the 2.0 SE-L spec. It looked great at the preview event I attended as well.
Initially I was thinking to go for the “Blue” Reflex Mica but ultimately decided it was not blue enough for me!
And thats my main point, theres only one real ‘Colour’ (the rest are just Fifty shades of Grey) so every one you will probably see will be the red. Bit boring isn’t it?
yeah, some of you will have seen this pic on Facebook today posted up by Mazda UK with the tag line, “The all-new Mazda MX-5 doesn’t only come in red ;]”
But really, no offence meant at all if you are reading this but after the red the rest do all look a bit meh! Please can we have some bright colours, is supposed to be a FUN sports car…
Looks like we will have to wait for the special editions for something more colourful and the ND facelift for a glove box!
Gra
But look what happens when you have a glove box!
And the boot is big enough to put all the snow in.
Can we debate no spare wheel and not 15" wheels next, can we, can we!
Sorry but I was brought up on motorcycles and have ridden all sorts of super bikes since the 70s and they are twice as much fun, they are the next best thing to flying. I love my NC, but its tame compared to my past life on motorcycles. Thats just MY opinion of course, and I respect yours.
Mazda have sold over 1000 examples of the MX5 mk3.5 powershift in the UK. So maybe £20+ million worth
So I would have thought it worthwhile, especially if the new ND autobox is a lockup clutch (very efficient).
As I mentioned, TW Whites used to import mk3 autos unofficially from Japan, so must be a demand and profit to be had there.
There but for the Grace of God go we Pete. You cannot put disability aside if it happens to you.
14 years back, I was rendered pretty much disabled having been Tboned by a drunk driver in a Post Office Sherpa of all things.
It left my left leg and lower spine at 30% efficiency for some time. Intensive physio put me back on my feet… in time…and now I work out (at bit) at a local gym to keep it that way.
The only way I could drive an Mx5 was to get an Autobox…it’s a Mk1 1840cc and I’ve never looked back.
The 5 gave me my confidence back by slow degrees, and a bunch of Scots OC folks got me out on club runs to regain my mojo.
I was totalled in 3ltr Monza Turbo (Courtney)but before had always been a quick, safe and confident driver having had a variety of performance RWD cars.
I grant you, switching up and down the rifle bolt gears is part if the experience, but sometimes life deals you a deck and you just get on with it.
So saying, I have been on a few club events over the years, and the auto showed it was perfectly capable of “embarrassing” people with similar opinions to yours.
In addition, if you know what you are doing with them, they can also be a fun track weapon…you just need to apply different skills.
Suffice to say it has held more it’s own on a few occasions…
With the later electronic boc as mine is, pop it in S, depress the Hold button, and you get a 2 gear hooligan that bullets out of bends just as well as a manual.
Kickdown in the same position on motorways is hilarous…the instant surprise element often make white van man etc toast.
So, fair play to your opinion regarding automatics (I also have a 2002 manual Sport). You don’t know why some of us drive them though.
Which of my 5’s do I get the most fun out of? The Mk1 every time…because it’s a Mk1 probably. The manual Sport? Fine on an empty twisty…the better car on many levels…but an utter cow in traffic jams.
Don’t knock 'em till you try it.
Anyway,
Back on topic.
Easy to over think all this, but in my view the relative lethargy is a result of Mazda marketing over doing the teasers, allowing much mis-information & guessing, and generally pissing people off with claim/counterclaim of specs, due dates, colours etc. The buying public are not morons, but their marketing strategies are utterly stupid.
Bottom line is, it’s just a car and most of us have bigger life issues to get on with.
The hype is real…
