So I’m sitting in my local Mazda dealer waiting for my NC to be serviced and MoT’d and there in the centre of the showroom is one of the new ND Z-Sport models. First thing that strikes me is the cherry red roof. Not bad and quite eye catching, but then you get up close and see the sand colour interior. What’s with that? It just doesn’t go with the rest of the colour scheme. Is Mazda so wedded to their unimaginative limited colour schemes that they couldn’t try something different? Cherry red seats would look stunning but much like the recent Icon, Mazda seem to think that mixing and matching from their drab palate of colours is the way to make an otherwise ordinary car stand out and justify the extra expense. It’s another triumph of mediocrity over creativity.
Now I’m the first to admit I’ve never been a fan of the ND but Mazda are never going to win people over by simply using different combinations of the same limited set of colours. I guess that’s the downside of the mass production car industry. As ever, it’s horses for courses and no doubt there will be fans of the ND who will say it’s me that doesn’t see the beauty and creativity of the Z-Sport. Possibly, but unlikely. I admit I’ve not driven one but I can’t believe it is any different to the standard ND (which I have driven) So that just leaves looks and colour combination. I just wonder when Mazda will produce a genuinely special edition of the MX5…
Mazda has fallen into the european car trap of dull as ditchwater colours and design.
I really like the RF and the prospect of a bit more poke in the 2019 model has piqued my interest even more, but from all I can glean the colour palette has not changed. Three whites, dull blue, grey, black and an uninspiring red which leave me totally underwhelmed.
This isn’t a regular euro-box, a small sporty car should have a bright colour option, even the Germans have a great range of colours on their little sporty cars, it’s time Mazda woke up!
Although I love my ND I agree with you totally on the colour combination on the Z-Sport, they seem to have bought up the until world stock a sand coloured leather which they think goes with any colour combination, well it doesn’t, it makes it a complete dog’s dinner! As you said that colour combo was screaming out for red seats!
PS: How about an Emerald(?) green body, light brown hood, bronze wheels, sand leather upholstery might suit that.
All of this is a matter of personal opinion. There will be people who love the combination on the ZSport.
However as a previous owner of the original NC ZSport I think the ND ZSport tarnishes the badge. The NC combination was stunning, the ND is diabolical.
I love my Soul Red ND with sand leather. I just had to have that combination and nothing else would do for me. All the other colours leave me cold.
Would be interesting to know how many of each colour they actually sell. I’m sure there are some bad sellers that could be dropped and replaced with something a bit more exciting.
What about when the driver’s seat wears and discolours faster than the rest of the light coloured interior? That’s my biggest problem with light colours! When that happens it makes the whole car look tatty.
Mazda leather is pretty hard wearing. My missus has the 6 with white leather. It’s 6 years old and done close to 60k miles and still looks good as new. My old Discovery 4 suffered from dye transfer and that was after 4 years and 20k miles.
I must admit that Chris RS combo looks good in the flesh.
Very good point. Mine has now got 13k on the clock and while the leather is still looking good the stitching on the drivers side bolster is looking a little grubby. You can clean and treat the leather but difficult to clean the stitching. Maybe the red stitching on black leather will fair a little better. Feel free to be a bit smug on having the cloth seats Countryboy!
Did you really have to post that picture pjr? I remember it being posted when the ND first came out its depressing seeing it again.
i just don’t understand Mazda. The five is never a car they are going to make much if any money on so its a tool to promote the brand. You want people to notice it on the road. To look twice so it makes people think about the mazda brand. No offence to anyone with an ND they are a great looking car but the colours are unimaginative to a point where you don’t look twice. I know a lot of people don’t like the 124 but in Abarth spec you can’t help but look at it. I see a 500 Abarth and I can’t help but do a double take. Does its existence help promote Fiat’s 500 sales. I reckon so. Where then is Mazda’s stand out from the crowd version ND?
People stop and look at my Kuro. Like the stripes and black accents grey seats or not people do notice her. They do the same with my mates 25th… Why have the sport blacks / graphite / kuro’s / 20th / 25th that stood out for the NC disappeared With the ND.
The dealers have been advised that the existing stock have not been tested under the new Fuel Consumption / Emission Test standards that comes into effect 1 September 2018.
Mazda Europe have not registered the cars under the regulations to be allowed to be sold for another year.
All the new stock that will be sold from 1 September 2018 and there was a week or so ago around 150 to 180 cars that dealers could order have a + after their specific model name 1.5 SE+ for instance. These are the cars that can have a 68 plate rather than a 08 plate unless two different dealers were lying to me which is possible in the motor trade.
So I see I’m not alone. I’d like to see a genuinely special edition, one where it’s not simply a case of a rehash of colour combinations, adding black wheels or heated seats etc. How about one with a turbo- or super-charged engine, bang in a 3 litre with some decent horses, put on a body kit, do something different with the interior, go for a bold and completely different colour scheme and interior. You get the idea. Have a limited run of say only 500 in the UK. Now that would get the enthusiasts excited I’m sure and might ignite some real interest in the ND. Who knows, maybe they’ve got that up their sleeve for the 30th anniversary, but sadly their form in recent years suggests that’s not very likely. It’s a shame that being the maker of the best and biggest selling sportscar in the world Mazda can’t come up with something truly special once in a while.
