I currently own a 2.0 Mk3.5 SE with the folding-hardtop and have really enjoyed driving/owning it for the last 3 years.
Now that used NDs are within my budget (circa £13-14k), I’m seriously considering changing to the ND - key driving factors for me are the interior (newer generation) and the looks. If I did got an ND, I’d go for the 1.5 version as I really just enjoy pootling around with the roof down and the thought of 40+mpg with a nice interior is super tempting!
Some points I’d like to seek your thoughts on have to do with the folding soft-top:
I’ve gotten used to the security of the folding hardtop of the MK3.5 and lower the roof whenever I want. Suppose I can’t lower the fabric roof if it is wet as it might go all manky and mouldy? Do I have to do some specific fabric-roof maintenance other than to get the car serviced every year?
I don’t have a garage so the car would be parked on my drive or open-air office car-park all year round. Is that not advisable for a fabric-roofed car? WHat happens to the roof in winter - can’t be opened when it’s frozen?
Security - not that I intend to leave it parked in high-crime areas; but is it common to have fabric-roofs vandalized when parked up?
To me, the RF seems like a targa and I want the full open-air experience - so that’s ruled out.
Your thoughts on the above points would be much appreciated!
A well-proofed roof will dry out quickly, even more so if you dry it off first with a microfibre cloth which takes a minute or so; having done this, dry the normally-hidden part of the roof fabric as you fold it. I keep a few MF cloths in the boot and a plastic bag to put any wet cloths in until I get home. It doesn’t take an inordinate amount of time, skill or effort to properly clean and proof a roof; just get the Renovo cleaner and proofer and follow the instructions. You shouldn’t need to do it more than once a year.
2. Keep it clean and proofed. I use a Mazda half cover and rarely have to clean it or proof the roof. Normally I don’t even wash it, just vacuum off the loose detritus and wipe it over with a damp MF cloth. But mine isn’t a daily driver. If setting off when it’s raining, or early in the day when the dew is still on the cover, I have to dry the cover off but that’s no great hardship. If you can use a half-cover especially when the leaves are falling it keeps the drains clear because all the bits of leaf etc. are kept out. I haven’t had problems with freezing; clearly the fabric will be stiffer, but if it’s that cold I would either leave it up or get the car warm first before dropping the roof anyway. The seals can be treated like ordinary door seals e.g. wiped with Gummi-Pflege.
3. It happens; but it hasn’t happened to me in 8 years of soft top ownership. I’m careful where I park it and I don’t leave stuff on display.
As above really although I have a Mk3 the same applies to the soft top roof/fabric regards cleaning proofing etc. An half cover sounds good advice.
My only concern would be security if left outside 24/7. In the office car park ok you need to trust others you work with and at home if you consider your area is safe ish, only you will know that.
I’ve got a garage so my soft top Mk3 is of no concern when it come to parking at home, when away I’m pretty careful where I park, had no problems as yet fingers crossed.
In my area I would definately go for a fixed top if I didn’t have the garage, although it’s not an high crime area it is a concern that a few scroats have been clocked trying car doors even house doors with the odd break-in.
I am with you on then Mk4. I had a test drive in both 1.5 (targa) and 2.0ltr soft top. I preferred the driving experience of the 1.5 engine, and like you I like the idea of fun + economy.
Only problem I found was that the ND has no internal storage capacity, no glove box / door pockets. Probably not a major issue if you are local driving, but we planned some longer distance “touring”. We have now gone back to considering the mk m3.5 (hard top) as a better option to replace our ageing mk 2.5, although I still prefer the look and potential economy of the ND. Our mk 2.5 is currently off the road over Winter, and by the time I get around to replacing it my heart may have won the battle with my head and we still may plump for the mk4!
nb I do like the look and “practicality” of the targa, and found the performance with the 1.5 engine was still plenty good enough for me. Only problem is id boot space is an issue ref touring then I don’t think you can use a “boot bag” with the targa version…(although I could be wrong).
I agree - the ND’s lack of a glove box & a boot which is 20% smaller than my NC’s are putting me off from considering an ND for my next car.
Don’t get me wrong, I do like the ND (especially the RF) however, for me, the reduced storage / luggage space in comparison with my NC is a major issue because the MX-5’s my only vehicle & used for holidays etc so I do need the cargo room!
Not completely accurate. No glove box or door pockets, true, but there is a storage compartment between the seats, I keep the owner’s manual, spare specs, torch, payg phone for emergencies, small camera and several micro cloths in mine, and a small compartment behind each seat for non-immediate items, e.g. first aid box. So the storage is there, just in different (and safer?) places to what some people are used to.
You might want to check out the post about gearbox failures.I think someone posted info of how to identify the possible effected cars.It scared me off buying one.,but i didn’t find this info till after i test drove a couple of ND’s.So kept my NC and put deposit on Fiata as it has the NC box.
It would certainly be handier to have a ‘glove’ box or door bins. There is the small centre box behind the seats, and the two small trim boxes although the latter are not accessible at all while travelling. The centre console box is not even big enough to hold my phone (I use a Brodit mount).
That said, we did a 10 night trip to Italy and back in September and we managed OK without a boot bag. Use soft bags - for maximum capacity forget hard luggage, even the fitted stuff.
For weekend trips we have used two airline carry-on sized wheel cases - centred in the well of the boot, they fit on top of each other with space behind and to the sides for soft stuff.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts John! Mine is also unlikely to be a daily-driver in winter. But I will get a half-cover once I get the car
I did a test-drive in the ND yesterday and loved the concept of unlatching the roof and opening it with one hand! Seems to capture the essence of a convertible beautifully! Once thing I noticed was that with the roof down; there’s a pockets for rubbish to collect between the folded roof and the body-work which I wasn’t expecting.
So if you ever wash your car; you don’t wash the roof at the same time? Just vacuum and wipe? What happens with bird-poo? just wet and wipe-away or do the acids tend to mark the fabric if left for a few hours? Any idea?
Another question I had was driving the car in a heavy-downpour - do you ever see water seeping in any place through the roof?
I’ve had 2 NDs, 1.5 and 2.0, 2.0 better on Mway but 1.5 definitely more fun on the twisties. No problems with water ingress. Opening and closing the roof; look out for scratching the roll hoops this is a classic problem on the ND and there is a TSB to fix it. The original sales demo and blurb showed the roof being opened and closed from the inside but they retracted this and now the advice is to flick the latch then open from the outside. Taking care to not to push the leading edge into the roll hoops and pushing down on the back to ensure there is plenty of clearance. I only changed my second ND to a Mazda 3 for practical reasons and miss it as a daily driver.
No problems with anything marking the roof but then always cleaned it off quick, as other posters have said keep some cleaning equipment in the boot.
In terms of space we took our 1.5 to France and back for 10 days with no massive space issues. It was a bit cozy on the way back with the wine but that was our choice However, agree that the missing glovebox is frustrating.
We have driven in monsoon rain and the hood did not let one drop of water in, a revelation having come from Caterham ownership where a ‘soggy bottom’ was a regular and rather unpleasant experience.
As for cleaning, if the hood is dry vac and wipe over with a damp mitt, dry with a microfiber cloth then vac again. If wet wipe with a mitt and dry with a microfiber cloth and vac when it has dried out.
I have done that but usually, as I start off outside the car, I do it from there. The manual says to push down on the rear window when folding; I sometimes need to do that to help the fabric move over the hoops hood frame, especially when it hasn’t been opened for a while.
It’s easy to close from the driving seat which is more important. And quicker than an electric one.
Yes I include it in the wash if it has been plopped on, and give it a good rinse. But as it usually has the cover on when parked at home, that’s the exception not the rule.
The worst of it will mark anything I suppose; but it usually looks OK.
Again just be careful you don’t slide it up the roll hoops. It would be a good idea to check the clearance and look for scuff marks on any pre-owned ND and get this fixed if necessary.
hi i have a RF 2.0 did NC 500 over 10 days yes you are right storage is no existence inside, what i did was to take out the tyre repair kit put it behind the drivers seat, made more space inside the boot…i could get 2 airplane cabin bags on wheels with space both sides and behind that gave us plenty of room for a change of cloths each day ( no fancy cloths for going out at night but we had no intention of going out ) we manged ok i put some nets inside to keep your sun glasses, sweets or what ever plus door pockets , once mazda as got over we can produce a light car they will put these pockets back in a call it a face lift
Once I get the car; I need to get myself a half-cover and some roof re-proofer/cleaning products.
Regarding the storage side of things; I have more than a few squishy bags as we did a 12 day road-trip in the MK3.5 through Europe and loved it! One thing I forgot to check on the MK4 when I test-drove it: the storage space behind the seat-back? How big is this? Can’t find any decent photos on the internet.
I’m going to take a look at a couple of late-2015/early-2016 1.5l SE+L cars this weekend around the £13k mark so can’t wait!
Regarding the gearbox issue, I have the VINs of the affected car so will check them. I only plan to buy from Mazda approved stock so I will double-check this point.
the space behind the seats is ( almost) nonexistent, but it is easily usable to carry some clothes on a coat hanger - trousers, frocks or even a suit - covered with a lightweight suit carrier.
I used a long cable tie round the base of the hoops and then hung the coat hanger on this, you have initially push the seat forward, but it then goes back and secures the clothes nice and flat. Even with the roof down there is no flapping etc.
Did this on a 7 day tour of Scotland’s West coast in July roof off all the way, and had un-squashed clothes all week!
I think the OP was probably referring to the cubby holes behind each seat rather than the space available behind the seat (which if like me you are 6ft 3ins) then there is none. Cubby sizes are pretty good, they are effectively like sack containers though so not the most practical to put just anything in, but a fair size each.
If I were buying another ND, on top of being aware of the gearbox issue (I think at your price point all available VINs will be effected) I would also be ensuring the car has had the roof rubbing and door molding TSBs applied.
Cars built up to 6 September 2016 will have had the first version gearbox.
It’s the gearbox serial number that will answer the question - it might even be a replacement. Cars with chassis numbers up to 120215 with gearboxes up to 6TJ09 00496 have the ‘unmodified’ (first) version.
That is not to say that I wouldn’t buy a car with the original box, failures are still the exception rather than the rule especially on the 1.5.
I would however put a value on a full, dealer, service history and I would want to keep that going. If you ring around for quotes you will find some dealers materially cheaper than others. I’d like to think that FSH would be essential for an approved used car, but I would still check.
However, agree that the missing glovebox is frustrating.
