Hello! I’m new here so hopefully this is the right spot
I’ve been researching buying an MX-5 for quite some time now, specifically a >2019 ND RF model, but now I’m second guessing myself.
I currently live in Hull, but will likely be moving to the Manchester area next year or so to be with my partner. Unfortunately, due to living in the centre I have no indoor car storage options outside of an open air multistory. My partner’s is the same story, minus the multistory.
For this reason, among a few others, I want a hardtop. I felt the ND RF would be the best option for this, but now I’m eyeing up an NC hard top model instead, due to the vastly cheaper price of entry - to see if this is even possible to have as a daily driver, especially in current (snowy) conditions.
TLDR; is there anything massive I would be missing out on by buying an NC hard top instead of an ND RF? Especially when it comes to safety, I’ll be buying the largest engine size for the LSD that comes with (I’ve heard this is good).
Newish NC owner here, and tested the 30th anniversary ND RF before I went NC. I don’t feel like I’m missing anything, especially after putting a decent headunit in the car to make up for the NC’s lack of modern satnav etc.
The RF isn’t a full convertible, so I love the fact that I’ve got a proper hard top AND can go fully roof down in the NC.
Whether it’s got less safety features is something for you to consider. Personally I actually wanted an older car with less ‘nagging’, but that’s just me
Like Soul said, the 2 litre NC (I had the Sport) with electric folding top, has the ‘luxury’ of being more secure, with the option of being fully “wind in the air”, even on cold days. With a coat, gloves, MX-5 bobble hat, and heated seats, you get the full Mazda experience.
Balance that with the ND (not RF) in my case, with improved safety and 20%+ better mpg, but with a manual soft top, and with largely similar performance.
I have previously owned both an MGF and 2 MGTFs, then moved to a NC PRHT and am now in a ND Homura. I originally went for the PRHT for the pleasure of an electric hard top, and it was a lovely experience. But with that said, the soft top is so easy to lower and raise in these, literally one handed whilst seated in the driver seat and up or down in 5 seconds, I find it actually more convenient TBH.
The soft top in the MGs weighed a ton and was a concertina affair (a much older design style of mechanism), whereas the Mazda ragtop is light and zigzags back and looks so neat when it’s down and locked in place. The PHRT was pretty refined in its automation, but even at around 12 seconds or so, it’s slow.
Yes, the points you made on the roof operation are quite valid. I made a post a few years ago, about how I was soaked in the NC when I made an emergency stop in a downpour. 12s seemed a long time. The one-handed ND on that occasion would have been much better… and a great deal drier.
Get a Smart top unit for the PRHT then one press to close or just unlatch to open then both hands are free for driving, albeit under 30mph till roof is secure. Got this gizmo after 6 years of having the Mk3.5 wish I’d got it from day one. I have to admit I’m envious of NDs economy though.
Hmm, in my experience my records show I averaged around 35mpg with the NC (the best ever was 41mpg driving like a saint), whereas the same type of journey in the ND was an average 53mpg (best ever was 62mpg with similar saintly driving). I always used Shell V-Power in the ND; only occasionally in the NC.
Agreed on the roof controller, although the MX5things unit is considerably cheaper than the SmartTop and just as good. I had this on my PHRT and it’s so much easier just unlatching and the roof opening and one shot press to close, and yes you can start moving away before the roof has fully opened… but the overall operation is no quicker, it’s still miles slower than the ragtop manual operation.
I think my point here is that the convenience of automation is not that big a deal when it’s balanced against the speed and simplicity of manual lowering. The things to consider when weighing up auto hard top (PHRT or RFB) and ragtop is really cloth versus hard cover, and with the fastback, targa vs convertible. Those are the things you should consider.
As said above, other equivalents to Smart Top are available and that’s what I got. Imported from the States saved £££ and no bother. I have a left shoulder issue so reaching behind to pull a soft top closed is not easily accomplished. Love the PRHT with its flat rear deck. As many have said it’s a shame the RF isn’t like this.
It may not matter to you, but compared to the NC, the ND is rather miserly for stowage in the cabin (no glove box). Love my NC PRHT, with the Smart top module.
when I made an emergency stop in a downpour. 12s seemed a long time. The one-handed ND on that occasion would have been much better… and a great deal drier.
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