2016 MX-5 Miata thread
Thread Starter
Lexus Fanatic
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 94,328
Likes: 236
From: Virginia/D.C. suburbs
... for most healthy adults (and even most teens) , the Miata's ingeniously simple, easy-to-use ragtop sets an industry standard. ...
Compare that, for example, with the former Pontiac Solstice/Saturn Sky, which required four or five different physical functions when raising/lowering the top and usually involved getting out of the car.
Compare that, for example, with the former Pontiac Solstice/Saturn Sky, which required four or five different physical functions when raising/lowering the top and usually involved getting out of the car.
i'd rather have cute and happy over mean and angry looking.
and the smiley looks worst in white of course.
Lexus Champion
Joined: Jan 2005
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From: Makati, Philippines
Well, OK.....Maybe for those who have arm or shoulder problems and can't work the top by hand. But, for most healthy adults (and even most teens) , the Miata's ingeniously simple, easy-to-use ragtop sets an industry standard. The former dual header-latches above the windshield are now down to one larger one in the middle, and the whole system folds right back into its well with a simple flick of the wrist and shoulder. At the D.C. Auto Show, sitting in the driver's seat, I used to unlatch and drop the top for spectators there in three seconds, start-to-finish (no, I wasn't working for Mazda). Then I'd bring it back up and secure/latch it in another three seconds. The last couple of years, I've been able to do two seconds dropping it, and three seconds back up....no, I am not kidding.
Compare that, for example, with the former Pontiac Solstice/Saturn Sky, which required four or five different physical functions when raising/lowering the top and usually involved getting out of the car.
Compare that, for example, with the former Pontiac Solstice/Saturn Sky, which required four or five different physical functions when raising/lowering the top and usually involved getting out of the car.
But still, I believe that Retractable Hard Top beats Soft Top ANYTIME hehe
Lexus Champion
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 4,592
Likes: 31
From: TN
Well, OK.....Maybe for those who have arm or shoulder problems and can't work the top by hand. But, for most healthy adults (and even most teens) , the Miata's ingeniously simple, easy-to-use ragtop sets an industry standard. The former dual header-latches above the windshield are now down to one larger one in the middle, and the whole system folds right back into its well with a simple flick of the wrist and shoulder. At the D.C. Auto Show, sitting in the driver's seat, I used to unlatch and drop the top for spectators there in three seconds, start-to-finish (no, I wasn't working for Mazda). Then I'd bring it back up and secure/latch it in another three seconds. The last couple of years, I've been able to do two seconds dropping it, and three seconds back up....no, I am not kidding.
Compare that, for example, with the former Pontiac Solstice/Saturn Sky, which required four or five different physical functions when raising/lowering the top and usually involved getting out of the car.
Compare that, for example, with the former Pontiac Solstice/Saturn Sky, which required four or five different physical functions when raising/lowering the top and usually involved getting out of the car.
That top on the Camaro was perhaps the 2nd best bit of engineering on that car behind the LS1 V8. Even after 12 years and 100k miles, it still looked brand new, sealed like a new top, the motor worked perfect, it was just a really slick, well engineered piece of kit. Only problem was it was kind of ugly folded down, but they did have a hard cover that fit over the folded top. I just wish the quality control/engineering that went into that part of the car extended to the rest of the car.
Thread Starter
Lexus Fanatic
Joined: Oct 2003
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From: Virginia/D.C. suburbs
I wouldn't necessarily say a joke. It just couldn't compare, in ease of operation, with the Miata's ingeniously simple design.
True, other convertibles may have thicker, more heavily-insulated soft-tops. But the whole purpose of the Miata was simplicity, reliability, and a re-creation of the sports-car driving experience of the 50s/60s-vintage British/Italian roadsters. That would also include some noise, even through the roof.............though, of course, not the annoying water-leaks as well.
But the 1st/2nd gen Miata top was IMO a cheap piece of crap compared to the standard insulated, multilayered, cloth powered top on my 1998 Z28 Camaro.
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And the new one is to have refinement of the current model with weight similar to the first one, I don't mind the new one with current car HP, but a bit more power should make Toyota and Subaru go back to drawing board and make a better twin.
Joined: Feb 2008
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From: I.E Southern California to SA,Texas
Mazda will officially introduce the next-generation of its popular MX-5 roadster on September 3rd at one of the world’s most famous racetracks: Laguna Seca.
Officially known as Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, the unveiling will come during an annual Miata enthusiast event known as Miatas at Mazda Raceway.
WHAT WE KNOW: 2016 Mazda MX-5
“We’re excited to make this official, to announce that the newest member of the MX-5 Miata family will be arriving soon,” said Jim O’Sullivan, president and CEO, Mazda North American Operations (MNAO). “Along with our colleagues around the world, we continue to celebrate the MX-5′s 25th anniversary and look forward to sharing even more news in the near future.”
Mazda will in fact host several simultaneous global reveals of the car, with debuts also occurring in Japan and Spain.
In March, Mazda revealed the car’s new Skyactiv chassis at the New York Auto Show, announcing that the 2016 MX-5 will be both smaller and lighter than the current model. The car will weigh at least 220 lbs less than the current car.
Officially known as Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, the unveiling will come during an annual Miata enthusiast event known as Miatas at Mazda Raceway.
WHAT WE KNOW: 2016 Mazda MX-5
“We’re excited to make this official, to announce that the newest member of the MX-5 Miata family will be arriving soon,” said Jim O’Sullivan, president and CEO, Mazda North American Operations (MNAO). “Along with our colleagues around the world, we continue to celebrate the MX-5′s 25th anniversary and look forward to sharing even more news in the near future.”
Mazda will in fact host several simultaneous global reveals of the car, with debuts also occurring in Japan and Spain.
In March, Mazda revealed the car’s new Skyactiv chassis at the New York Auto Show, announcing that the 2016 MX-5 will be both smaller and lighter than the current model. The car will weigh at least 220 lbs less than the current car.
Link Here
the 2016 MX-5 will be both smaller and lighter than the current model. The car will weigh at least 220 lbs less than the current car.
2015 Mazda MX-5 "will look nothing like" its predecessor - report
Will be introduced on September 4th
Mazda Australia Managing Director Martin Benders has revealed the 2015 MX-5 “will look nothing like" its predecessor.
An in interview with The Motor Report, Benders said the model would have a more "evolved version" of the Kodo design language that is used on everything from the Mazda2 to the CX-5.
Benders declined to go into specifics but the company has already announced the model will ride on a SKYACTIV-CHASSIS that will enable it to weigh 220+ lbs (100+ kg) less than its predecessor. The model will also have a lower center of gravity as well as a front mid mounted engine and rear-wheel drive.
The MX-5 will be unveiled on September 4th so we should expect to learn more in the coming weeks.
Mazda Australia Managing Director Martin Benders has revealed the 2015 MX-5 “will look nothing like" its predecessor.
An in interview with The Motor Report, Benders said the model would have a more "evolved version" of the Kodo design language that is used on everything from the Mazda2 to the CX-5.
Benders declined to go into specifics but the company has already announced the model will ride on a SKYACTIV-CHASSIS that will enable it to weigh 220+ lbs (100+ kg) less than its predecessor. The model will also have a lower center of gravity as well as a front mid mounted engine and rear-wheel drive.
The MX-5 will be unveiled on September 4th so we should expect to learn more in the coming weeks.