Afraid that I’m an RF wannabe at the moment, but would just say that I was impressed with the low-down boost provided by the electric motor on my hybrid Honda CRZ when I had one.
Regarding Limon’s experience with the loan RF, it seems that some people find the buttress-noise very irritating whereas others aren’t bothered.
[quote=Parker]
Obviously you would invalidate your warranty if you did it before the warranty was up. Also I would be vary wary of increasing torque/power on the ND as there has been quite a lot of discussion regarding the alleged fragility of the gearbox on the ND.
I would do it as I did before and drive the rear wheels directly. This is done by mounting a pulley each side between the diff and the CV joints and running an 18kW motor on each side. This has the major advantage of bypassing the gearbox completely. The disadvantage is that, depending on the chosen gear ratio your top speed gets limited. In the UK that isn’t much of an issue because there is nowhere that it is safe to go faster than 80-90 mph and certainly nowhere legal to do more than 70. That is outside of a track of course.
I must say that I am not that clued in to warranty law in the UK. I know that in the US and Australia the manufacturer has to honour the warranty on unmodified parts so the only parts that they could refuse claims on would be the side shafts and rear uprights. Maybe someone would care to comment on what it’s like here? Obviously something like chipping the ECU gives the manufacturer a nice big get out of jail free card on anything related to the motor, ECU, and drive train, which makes up the most expensive things to fix.
It would have to be declared to insurance which would probably bump the premium but the vehicle should then qualify as a hybrid and have zero road tax. Hopefully the two would mostly cancel.
You must be very “spirited”, I get a lot better than that. I get well over 50mpg on motorways too. That’s also the 2l with a passenger.
Hi team
My N.D 2 litre Convertable which has now done over 14000 miles just off to Spain next week,most of the time does about 48 m.p.g when spirited obv drops quite lot,this year i did the scottish 500 which was an amazing journey,at the same time i turned the trip into much longer journey driving just under 2000 miles in 6 days many diff parts scotland including island hopping,i drove there from where i live in Bucks to north of Inverness the first day a journey of approx 670 miles and got out still completely fresh not tired at all with the roof down the whole way and only 10 min stop,my average fuel consumption for the whole trip was 49 M.P.G which i think was amazing,the journey there and baqck mostly on cruise control i did at 72 M.P.H,the car is so comfortable even for very long journeys.
All best Simon
Would it really qualify as a hybrid if it’s a DIY job? With only a 10 mile range on full electric power then it’s of no real use and I just wonder if DVLA/DfT (or whoever the relevant body is) would accept such a conversion. Great if you can do it but to my mind it would still be a standard petrol engine car with a gadget attached to try and take advantage of lower VED. It’s a bit like a low tech version of nitrous injection ie gives you a short boost but of no real benefit under normal driving conditions.
Just my thoughts and not meant to be critical.
More like a high tech version of nitrous 
but I get your meaning. The advantage is no additional strain on the engine and drive train and electricity does work out cheaper than petrol. I would also point out that ‘real’ hybrids (excluding full electrics and the BMW i3) don’t typically use the electric motor for cruising conditions but as an acceleration boost and for regenerative braking which is exactly what I am proposing.
I tried to do a bit of research on the legalities last night and unsurprisingly there isn’t much info available. The guys who do full electric conversions get them approved by the DVLA no problem though. I think you would be surprised at how usable a 50hp electric is on it’s own, not going to set any records but it will keep up with traffic. I also only live 8 miles from work so it would reduce my fuel bill significantly. It can also be set to different modes. In performance mode it only kicks in at 70% throttle but ramps to the full 36kW, this would be the nitrous you talk about. In economy mode it starts to come in at 10% throttle but only provides a peak assist of 10kW so that the draw on the batteries is lower and making it more efficient.
Lastly the battery size I quoted is the smallest bank that will give the required voltage, you can extend the range at a weight penalty of approx 35kg per 10mi range (which is why a tesla model s battery is 900kg odd iirc) personally I would not want to weigh down my lightweight sports car any more than strictly necessary.For me I could charge at home and again at work, I would see a huge fuel saving and a boost when I wanted it.
My hats and glasses which dont really fit in the cubby box.
[quote=AndrewJBecker]
Hi All,
I thought I would jot down some of my thoughts after a week with my RF. Maybe I’ll look back on the thread and have a good chuckle and hopefully it will be of interest to other owners and prospective owners.
So in no particular order
If I think of anything else I will add it to this thread.
Cheers
Andrew
Hi Andrew, I like and concur with your comments on the RF, I too have experienced some of the issues, especially the tyre pressure situation. Mine was delivered at 35 psi (not that I was aware of that) and the car was less than keen to stay on a bend if the road was anything but super smooth, it was like driving on marbles. I had posted the query and eventually, the tyre pressure, an accurate one at that, was key to the situation (Neither the garage nor Mazda UK, were aware of the problem). I bought an accurate gauge and found that the garage had even lowered them to the wrong settings, still too high. I now set them at 29psi and the car has much improved road manners!
Like you, I too found the gear shift to be a tad agricultural, after 4000 miles it is a little better but still notchy. The garage tells me its normal for the car.
Wind noise can be an issue with the top down (pressing the switch the wrong way!), I find that dropping the driver side widow a few inches, helps to improve it a tad.
I did have a seat leather problem on delivery but the garage promptly changed the seat covers to rectify the issue.
Otherwise great fun and 41MPG – what’s to complain about?
Rod
So am still looking fora Waxoyl/Dinitrol/undersealer in the Oxford area, local company no longer doing it, want it done before winter sets in, plus a visit to WIM is on the cards, have located the designers geometry set up and although mine on standard Bilsteins handles well just wonder how far out it is from what is recommended ?. other than that it’s awesome.
Found a Waxoyl /undersealer in Southam just North of Banbury, going to have the treatment - sill, doors, box sections underside etc, etc next Thursday, will report back when done hopefully with photos, a full days job with a 3 year guarantee.
Had a look around a Fiat 124 today, so much same as ND / RF, BUT I want a set of 124 seats in my RF, so much more comfortable, hammock like in soft leather and seemed more adjustable, want, want, want, got to go hunting for write off 124’s now, Paul H.
Look forward to your report on the undersealing Paul -that location would be convenient for me when the time comes. ( Sorry about the Banbury non-starter!).
I know what you mean about the 124 seats, and I’d agree that they’re better looking and a tad more comfortable.
Hi, Company is “Ultimate Car paint Protection” Ladbroke Road, Bishops Itchington, CV47 2RP, will be there 8AM on Thursday morning, treatment takes a day, so pick up about 4’ish, apparently no problem even if it is raining as they steam clean then blow heat dry the car before applying the Waxoyl, they also do Mercoseal but that dries to a hard coat (bit more expensive) not like Wxaoyl which is sort of self healing, plus 3 year guanantee, we shall see,
SWMBO has just read the riot act and said under no circumstances are we going to change the seats !!! even though she found them more comfortable.
Parker, close to you, they have doen a good job on mine, needs doing.
Sorry that I let your post sit for so long. I think Andrew’s comments pretty much cover my thoughts too and I have very little to add. I think I found the NA experience a little more raw/basic (which I enjoyed) whereas the ND is a bit more sophisticated. However, it still has that excellent nimble and traditional sports car feel when you want it. One thing I don’t miss about the NA is the 65mph(ish) scuttle shake.
I do find the ND quite a snug fit in both the driver’s and passenger side - possibly even more so than in the NA - but somehow I feel more comfortable in it. One of the reasons I had for parting with my NA was that I found the space inside too short for my (almost) 6’2" frame. There is a footrest beside the clutch in the ND that I personally would rather wasn’t there. If I put my foot beside it rather than on it, I can stretch my leg far further down into the footwell than if I’m using the rest and I find it more comfortable that way.
For what it’s worth, I have had my car undersealed. It won’t be of much use to you location-wise but I went to “Preserve and Protect” in Johnstone (near Glasgow). I found him via recommendations on a few different forums and Mark there certainly knows his MX-5s. I live about 150 miles from him so I dropped my car off one weekend and picked it up the next. As far as I can tell, he did a very thorough job. The entire underside of the car is a nice water-resistant Dinitrol black now (except for the parts that aren’t meant to be, of course). I’d certainly go back to him to get another car done. In fact, I’ve got a bit of work to do on my MR2 then I’ll take it to Mark to get the underside of it done too.
Thanks for those observations Enjay.
My impression on test drives was that the ND cabin is narrower than the NA’s , presumably because the doors are thicker to accommodate all the stuff inside them. Fortunately, I’m possibly the ideal MX5 size, being 5’8", so I don’t have a problem with leg room in the same way that you might.
As for going to Johnstone for undersealing, I suppose that a bus-pass tour of Scotland during the week wouldn’t be out of the question! Anyway, thanks again for your reply.
Hope I’m not nagging, but wondering what you thought of your undersealer?
Sorry for delay, just had couple of days in Wales enjoying the views, roads and hospitality of Mazdaman (late of Bicester who now is Mazdaman Wales Ltd, address details on request- pm me - no advertising aloud on here !) any way, operation is in farm , large barn type building (guess low overheads) in motorsport orientated environment, don’t expect polished floors or waitress service !, Tom and Denise very helpful, talked through every step (mine was first RF) but the work was superb, different types used, clear and the black stuff, all the various boxes, channels , panels sorted, car semi cleaned after job done, no mess left, overall very pleased, Tom will also act as taxi service to run you to Gaydon, Leamington etc whilst job is carried out, approx 4-5 hours, as before don’t expect shiny workshop but they cater fo many major car clubs and types with tremendous knowledge of where to put the stuff, am not on commission but really recommend them, I have no qualms now about the car being well protected now for all year round usage. rgds Paul H. Bicester.
Thanks for that report Paul - I’m glad that you’re happy with their work (and had an enjoyable break in Wales).
I’ll keep a record of their details for when I join the RF gang .
Yes, I think that the fit is narrower and that does perhaps contribute to the initial impression of “it’s a bit small”. However, I find it quite comfortable and, now that I’m used to it, I think that the snugness actually helps the comfort and driving experience.
As I mentioned, I find the leg room comfortable enough but if I could get an extra 1/2" or even 1" somehow, it might feel even better. I’m “leg tall” and I think I’m right on the comfortable/uncomfortable border (fortunately on the right side of it). I tried the launch edition in the showroom and the Recaro seats in that were just a bit thicker than my seats; enough that I didn’t fit. I haven’t seen anyone doing a mod on the seat or rails of an ND/Rf that might give a bit more room (yet). I’d be interested to see the results if someone does though.
As for additional thoughts on the car…
The Rf certainly doesn’t feel as open as a full soft top when the roof is open. That’s pretty much a given but it might be enough to put some people off. I like the car so much that I’d almost be happy for it not to even have a removable top at all though [burn the heretic].
I have to say that I think the styling of the ND very nice and that the Rf in particular is utterly beautiful. I think Mazda have got the looks very, very right (I know that it’s a bit Marmite around here). I honestly can’t think of another, currently available new car in what I would class as the “affordable” bracket that looks as good to me. I simply can’t find an angle where I think it looks bad and I think it looks just as good from behind as it does from the front… or any other angle for that matter. I have always loved the look of fastback cars, owned a Mk1 Capri for something like 20 years, fell in love with the original Opel GT and the 1976 Corvette Stingray (never owned either though) and many other fastbacks too. To me, the Rf captures much of that look.
I love the view from the driver’s seat. Again, I understand that it’s a bit Marmite but the high wheel arches with the nose tapering away looks great to me. From the driver’s position, the wheel arches frame the way ahead and give me a nice clear impression of where the sides and the front of the car are even though I can’t actually see the end of the bonnet. Again, it feels quite '70s Stingray-like to me
The front end itself definitely is a departure from previous models and owes a great deal to the current family look of Mazda models. Perhaps that gives the car less of a stand alone “this is an MX5 and it’s a bit different to the rest of the range” feel but I personally really like the look. When I first saw an ND, the front probably gave me the biggest shock and I wasn’t sure about it but I really like it now. A friend of mine thought it looked like a TVR (perhaps the small headlamps were part of that?). I’m not saying that it does that much but I can see where she was coming from. Now that I am used to it, I personally think it’s the nicest looking MX5 front end since the NA [prepares to duck the flak]. To me, the (necessary) loss of pop-up lights and the (albeit slight) move away from the 1960s British sports car look meant that the NB and NC didn’t look as good as the first model. The ND is clearly a further departure and I get why plenty of people aren’t fans but I think it looks great.
For the moment, the Rf is still rare enough on the road that they aren’t instantly recognised and I have had quite a few people asking me what it is. I’ve had quite a few weird guesses too. So that’s fun.
All that being said, is there anything I would change about the appearance or anything else? Maybe, but only a maybe.
I like the look of the tail lights but I think Mazda could have continued the evolution of the original oval(ish) ones. The original (award winning, I believe) NA tail lights show clear family progression through the NB and NC. Could that have continued? I don’t mind that they made this departure at all but keeping the oval shape might have kept a few more NA-NC lovers on-side. So that’s not really something that I’d want to see, merely something that could have been done. I’m also aware, though, that the departure might have been part of the whole make the range look a bit more aggressive Kodo movement that there has been at Mazda.
The Mazda connect console is… let’s be honest; weird. I get that the interior as a whole is the current Mazda style and they all look pretty similar inside. I also like the multi control, knob etc (even if I do lean on it accidentally and occasionally press the function button). Generally I like the layout of the inside of the car. To me it has actually stayed fairly faithful to the simple no-nonsense sports car feel of previous models. The salesman said that the Connect system sitting on the dash has allowed Mazda to make a fairly low-profile, uncluttered dash. Yeah, uncluttered apart from the weird tablet-looking thing sitting on there like it has been propped up on the dash. I’ve got used to how it looks and works but it does still look tacked-on to me. An actual low-profile unit built into the dash (or maybe a retractable one) might have been neater IMO. It’s not even as if the screen part contains all the electronics. There’s roughly the normal size/amount of gubbins behind the dash that I’d expect with a more regular head unit.
The rear view mirror is quite big. It doesn’t actually get in the way but, if I’ve been driving something else and then get into my 5, it feels as if it might. It doesn’t take long to get used to and perhaps it’s a feature of my height too but it just seems to be a bit “in my face” when I look across the the middle-left a bit.
As other people have mentioned elsewhere, the sun visors feel cheap. They are functional (i.e. they can actually be useful in some conditions - much more so than the ones on my NA) and they fold way against the window frame quite neatly but they are made of hard plastic with grain effect on one side only and this makes them feel quite cheap (even though they probably aren’t).
The last point is merely a musing one… what if they hadn’t made the Rf an MX5 at all? What if they’d made it, I dunno, a new RX7 or RX8, made it slightly longer and a 2+2? Would that have made it better or worse? I really don’t know. The MX5/Miata has such a well established international fan-base/market that it probably wouldn’t have made sense to try and come up with a 2+2 instead but it might have worked IMO. If nothing else it might have been a bit more tall-person friendly that way.
Oh, one thing that is worth mentioning, the space in the passenger side definitely seems more restricted than in the driver’s side. Probably an ND thing rather than RF-specific, of course. I haven’t sat in the passenger side much but I find my knees touching the underside of the dash when I do and a friend of mine who isn’t that tall (5’ 10" I guess) but who is quite (ahem) “wide” finds the space really too snug for him. A small female friend (5’ 3" and skinny) couldn’t see what all the fuss was about though.
Enjay those “cheap” RF sun visors are £ 73 each plus VAT, not bad for a bent piece of plastic. you really don’t want to see the RF parts price listing, it will make your eyes water, they have just announced a windscreen cover (goes inside screen to shield sun) has nice Maxda and RF logo on it, yours for £ 63.00 plus VAT, buy an RF and enter the realm of expensive motoring, that doesn’t even cover servicing, cost of oil & filter something in region of £ 50 plus (and VAT !) although notice that in the USA there are approvals from all sorts of different manufacturers oils, Amsoil, Mobil, Castrol etc, but guess if you want to retain warranty the Mazda oil & filter it is !.Paul H.