I think i’ll go for an RF next time, if and when I can afford it, coz I’m getting lazy in my old age, we used to have a Peugeot 307 cc hard top convertable years ago, great car, pull over, press a button , job done, although it was getting old, and very uneconomical , and I always worried about the electric top developing a fault and jamming halfway through the opening or closing sequence 
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I have a NC PRHT and I would like to see if the RF gives the same open air experience from the driver’s seat…
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Roof down in winter is fantastic !
(sometimes with the heated seats and heater on 
)
Furka Pass, 17 Oktober 2019 
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That road looks pretty icy!!! Great scenery though!!! Did you climb that peak on the right while you were there??? 
In a word NO in my opinion.
Have the same as you currently👍
This should get the comments flowing 
NB or NC would be very difficult, but the ND is easy from within the car.
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This is interesting as I quite like the idea of an RF maybe sometime in the future ( I have a mk3 at the moment ) but did wonder what the feeling of being "out in the open " was like with no roof and the windows down but the rear window section still in place, compared to the rag top completetly folded away 
horses for courses I suppose
I could never lift my roof up sitting in the car with my last NC always managed to throw it back to open easy enough , but had to get out of the car to lift it back up. Perhaps we need some weight training Barrie. 
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I’ve got plenty of weight already! 
Barrie
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I have commented before on this subject and did look to buying one perhaps.
To me it’s just a big sun roof.
My golf estate had a fully opening glass panoramic roof which isn’t a lot different.
Yes of course some love it.
Personally I think Mazda made a mistake going from the MK3 PRHT to the RF as to me it’s lost the point in my opinion.
Again, a really good looking car roof up, but not in down mode.
Perhaps a marmite car. 
As you say and agree each to there own. 
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Ultimately it will come down to how many they sell. The move to a hard top itself was seen as controversial. If Mazda sell enough, it will continue, if they don’t the buyers have spoken!!
Personally I would rather have a full convertible, but then I do not use it all the time. However I have had a few convertibles and the roofs seem ok in all weathers to me. The security issue is only really relevant to a hard top, not a “coupe/targa” type car…
If you follow the proper manufacturer procedure (which Mazda say is to lower ST from outside the car) the RF is way quicker.
RF
Stop car
Press button for 13 seconds
Drive off
Whereas
ST
Stop car
Engage handbrake (As you have to vacate driver seat)
Switch off ignition (as you have to etc…)
Undo seat belt
Clamber out
Awkwardly lean in to undo roof clamp (Edit…oops Mazda say you should have done this before getting out)
Extremely carefully fold back the roof ensuring the hood doesn’t rub on the seat bars
Press down the roof clamp
Exhaustedly drop back into drivers seat
Put on seat belt
Restart engine
Release handbrake
Finally drive off…
Just sayin…
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Roof down only when it’s warm and sunny…
Ooh, I just noticed the sign for MK3 MX5 hire in Dittisham! 
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Ah, well, you’re assuming one starts off in the car. However, most often I lower the roof before I get in, which takes less than 13 seconds. So all that palava about stopping, setting handbrake, seat belt, clambering out etc doesn’t apply.
And when it starts tipping down, you can raise the roof in 3 seconds from the driving seat. So ST wins in normal use:)
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Agreed…but that 3 seconds is cheating and if I was the dealer I would invalidate the warranty on your soft top…lol
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And if you have a SmartTop module fitted to the PRHT on your NC, then the process becomes:
- Unlatch roof
- Drive away while roof does its thing
And when you get close to wherever you’ll be stopping:
- Press Close button briefly
- Park car while roof does its thing
- Close windows
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SWMBO has got it down to around 10 secs, especially when the rain is ruining her hair.
I never move from the drivers seat😄
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You’re a very brave man .
She’s quicker than me, I need to think about every move I make before actually doing it, the old bones.
Well that’s my excuse.
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I know exactly what you mean Mick oh to be young again.
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