I have used my Mk4 as a daily for the last year and done 12,000 miles in it, including several multi week road trips. I very rarely open the glovebox in any car I own and the Mk4 is the same (what exactly do you need to carry that has to be at arm’s reach at all times? I am genuinely interested).
Agreed. The central cubby is surprisingly spacious too, especially if you leave the manual at home. I must admit that I’ve never actually used the cubbies behind the seats though!
Totally agree. I do use the spaces behind the seats, the manual fits in there too. Phone goes on an Airframe bracket on the dash, sunglasses in the central armrest storage, with some spare change, gum etc. CD’s (really) and anything bigger in the cubby between the seats. The cup holders even work great for me.
Mines a daily driver and at no time have I lacked space, including weekends away camping with a 4 man XL air tent. Spend a little time getting to know it and you will soon realise why the ND is a global success for Mazda so far.
I have just driven back from Poole to Bristol area this evening in my 1.5 Icon with the roof down, what a blast. At no time did I want for more power, 2nd, 3rd gear hitting 7.5k revs is just so much fun.
Soft top, or RF same great real world driving experience at sensible speeds and 50+ mpg.
Stirred up a bit of a Hornets nest with my comments, sorry guys didn’t mean it that way I was just giving my comments. I do like a car that does 50 mpg and I know it will do it which is double my Powershift one day I will drive one but at the moment still love the 3.5 and a know a lot of MX owners never liked the 3 series, but I like the fact it’s big and bulky and suits me. Anyway guys each to their own didn’t do it to upset people…
I had a an ND but just felt better in the NC so went back and will await the NE (if it ever gets built)
Just need get mine undersealed/treated soonest before the surface rust gets a grip, any one in the Oxford /Bucks / Berks area up for a group deal and is there anywhere local to us that can do it ???, so many questions to get it sorted.
Got the boot tray yesterday, drops straight in (as it should) will keep the carpets clean, Paul H.
Regarding servicing, I have taken the Mazda 3 year plan (dealer did a deal) now according to schedule it is 12 months or ?? miles (can’t remember) but to me running around with the original oil for 12 months from new I think is a lot too ask, there must be manufacturing rubbish floating around, so should there not be an initial 6 month oil and filter change (engine/box/back axle), that is what I plan to do, any thoughts, perhaps Rodders might like to comment with his experiences of Mk4’s. Paul H.
How do I change the car info at the bottom of the posts, as obviously I want to put the RF info down there ???.
Down there
Click on ‘My Profile’ at the top, and the new window that opens has two boxes on the left-hand-side - go to ‘Signature’, in the lower of the two boxes, and off you go.
Thank you Chris, PH.
Paul, servicing is 12 months or 12k miles I think. I haven’t felt a need to do anything in between, don’t track the car. I’m on 6k miles and 12 months in September so will book it in.
Today I used the MZD AIO -TI to install some updates to the infotainment system. Worked really well, I’m by no means an expert. Now got a really useful speedometer linked to GPS on the screen. Also, lost the disclaimer at boot up, enabled touch screen on the move and a few other bits and pieces. Works really well.
Hi Paddyman, thanks , yes service plan takes into account the period, just myself concerned as too what is floating around, after reading reports on the US Miata site re ND and RF problems early on in life I have elected for at least a filter and oil change at 6 months for my own piece of mind, have carried out many engine/box/back axle rebuilds in my lifetime (includes aircraft engine and prop rebuilds) regardless as how spotless the build is it always generates debri/swarf/running in crud etc, so 6 months it is for me, will advise state of oil at change as will do a magnetic scan of the oil and will report on here, rgds, Paul H.
One can easily manage without a glove box in the usual position, but does anyone know why it was omitted.
Isn’t there a strengthening/support beam that runs across the width and goes across where the glovebox would live ?.
Hello Paul. re. the rustproofing, somebody flagged up this company a while ago. I have no personal knowledge of them, but might be worth considering.
http://www.autowaxworks.co.uk/services/rust-proofing/
Parker, good morning, thank you, on the doorstep - well, quarter of a mile away, I live just over the road from them and didn’t know about them ?, will be over to see them Monday morning and report back findings, thanks again,
Who has found a cup/bottle etc that properly fits the cup holders and where can I get one, I have hawked the cup holder around when shopping (and got funny looks and asked “what the hell is that”) and still not found an implement that fits perfectly, so help !!.
I have just bought and in the process of fitting the side lights in place of the four blanks that grace the wheel arches, Red at the back, Amber at the front, come complete with buldholders and bulbs, although there is no wiring in the arches to fit) came through my Mazda dealer and were stock in Belgium (2 day delivery), part numbers as follows (pictures to follow ):
Red: NA1J-51-5J0C / NA1J-51-5H0C.
Amber: NA1J-51-5E0B / NA1J-51-5F0B
easy to fit although needs arch protector undone to get in and undo the small screw, but clips in from the front easily, guess no good if you have a red car (ND or RF) but will lokk good on my metallic grey car (and white too I guess),
Paul H.
I’m glad to see how many people are passionate about the RF. Had my first wave from a fellow ND driver today and was right chuffed that the tradition of greeting fellow MX-5 drivers lives on in the ND because NA, NB and NC drivers don’t often wave back.
On to other RF topics.
I get about 35mpg combined when I include a bit of “spirited” driving and about 45 on motorway trips. That’s with the 2l and almost always with a passenger. I am also a member of the crowd that thinks the 2L ND should have been a 200hp car. So, being an engineer, with not inconsiderable engineering resources available to me, I started to wonder about power and fuel consumption.
I can (and have done so in the past) put together a 36kW (50hp) electric drive weighing approximately 54kg with batteries and am considering doing so again for my RF. It makes it a plug in “booster” hybrid with a very limited electric range (only about 10 miles on pure electric) My question is, is there any interest in this from the RF community?
I know the costs and the technical details and will start a separate thread if I decide to go ahead, I’m just curious if anyone else is interested.
Hi team
I have had my N.D convertable for two years now very pleased with it and great fun,the other day why mine was in for service Lodge Garage[an amazing Mazda garage near Aylesbury] they loaned me a R.F very disapointed with the roof open not really down,the wind noise buffeting sound being created mainly around the air hitting the buttresses etc was very bad started about 55 by65/70 just like thunder rolling around not very nice for long journey,my full convertable N.D by comparison was nearly totally silent,also after driving both of the cars back to back i prefer a proper convertable,with roof up R.F fractionally more quiet ,someone i know locally took me in his mark 3 folding roof model,yes it is a full convertable big plus point,but the wind buffeting does not exist at all,i think from pleasure point of view a far superior car and yes it is a proper CONVERTABLE.
Not trying to stir anything up here just an opinion after very extensive test,but horses for coarses.
Roll on the mark3.5 ? it may have glovebox. Regards Simon