Comments on: 2009 Mazda MX-5 Review & Road Test

By: Danman2

Danman2 — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 04:49:26 +0000

My god your an unhappy bugger Talib… really. Very small nits to be picked there.. Spend another 1% of the purchase price and all fixed.. jeesh.

This has to be one of the best cars made post war. never has a model (Guiness book of records biggest seller, sports cars) made so many customers so happy for so long. They just hit so many of the targets they tried to achieve with this car.

Massive Mx5/Miata/Eunos fan clubs all around the world… Just brilliant.

By: Talib

Talib — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 16:39:40 +0000

I had a 2005 NC Series 1 MX-5 (soft-top)… it was always my understanding that the suspension in the hard-top varieties was slightly softer to cope with the extra weight; and the body was slightly wider (around the rear guards) to house the roof structure.

What’s the down side to this car? The interior has a number of annoying rattles, the stereo is pretty crap (and that’s the up-speck Bose package), and the sun visors don’t really work very effectively – nit picky gripes, but gripes all the same.

By: Ash

Ash — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 07:48:06 +0000

Clockwork..

Obviously you have never owned a Mazda MX-5?…the car is not about power, and me and the Mazda marketing department is a funny one….I wish…

I can’t help it I love my own 2009 Series II RX-8..now can I.

By: c1ockwork

c1ockwork — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 00:13:41 +0000

Wow Ash, I think you “EMPLOYMENT” at “MAZDA’S MARKETING DEPARTMENT” is pretty sound with all those “MAZDA 3S” you’ve been selling!!!?1!?

Underpowered. Yawn. If I had to have one I’d rather it not be the ‘happy Miata is happy’ version.

By: RoFlmaTiC

RoFlmaTiC — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 01:28:06 +0000

which*

By: RoFlmaTiC

RoFlmaTiC — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 01:27:38 +0000

Prefer tbe previous iteration wish doesn’t have the smile and rosey cheeks.

By: Ash

Ash — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 23:04:54 +0000

Alex,

I have to agree with you about some of the later styling on Mazda’s, but don’t blame them, blame the USA and their laws, whatever they want they get.
The fatter they are the bigger cars get, then you have the mandatory “clearances” above the engine to bonnet and the head to top of windscreen.
NOW, there are new laws coming in the US (2011) for REAR collisions that require extra strengthening, hence the larger fatter backsides on the new Mazda 3 and the “extended” rear bumper bars.

Get used to it, all cars will be slowly changing yet again once their model life is over.

By: Ash

Ash — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 22:34:50 +0000

Conrad,
Sorry, posters I may have to retract my comment on a “stiffer” suspension on the “sports” model MX-5 Roadster, I was going on the JDM sports which has Bilsteins, looks like Mazda Australia have optioned the car without them, Great!, so you pay $2700 more for Recaro’s and BBS Wheels!!??, sorry Guys..

By: Conrad

Conrad — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 13:21:14 +0000

Ash,
You mentioned that the “Sports” model has firmer suspension. Can you confirm that? This is not clear in the Mazda website.
thanks.

By: harold

harold — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 12:20:25 +0000

ASH YOU NAILED IT BUDDY

By: fasthonda

fasthonda — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 09:24:49 +0000

Very good sports car.
I don’t think it’s grossly underpowered but a Civic Type R 2L engine would’ve been perfect :
148kW @ 7,800 rpm
193kw @ 5,600 rpm
I really don’t think this type of car should be a turbo.
Who knows,maybe the next generation MX5 could be a rotary?

By: Alex

Alex — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 07:26:45 +0000

Tom, you obviously don’t understand this car so don’t bother. It’s not meant to be powerful, it’s meant to be powerful enough with the showcase being the handling and the general drive.

I love the MX-5, but I have a feeling this is the last one I’m going to love. Mazdas are getting to fat and weird looking. This still looks great, especially in dark colours and I really hope they don’t ruin the concept. They’ve managed to keep it small and nippy for twenty years and I hope they don’t spoil it.
Great car.

By: Devil666

Devil666 — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 06:44:43 +0000

Not too fond of the car, but great review.

“Mazda doesn’t like Americans.”

Beautiful. Reminds me a bit of Clarkson: just lacking 90% of your content being metaphors and insults.

By: Camski

Camski — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 06:18:19 +0000

“Bear in mind” yeah I was thinking of Yogi too =P

Given it’s rather good power to weight ratio as it is, didn’t Mazda try to fit the 2L 4 Turbo from the Mazda 3 MPS into the MX-5 but werent able to due to physical constraints? Imagine that =O

By: Falcodore

Falcodore — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 05:10:23 +0000

Just a brilliant little roadster, Full Stop.

By: Absi

Absi — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 04:40:37 +0000

i would absolutely love to have one in my driveway, but got no money … still can dream! heheh

for majority of users its got more than enough grunt.

By: MB

MB — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 03:33:58 +0000

Now if Horsley can do another decent Turbo model that would make a better car with a bit more power, the chassis could easily take more power

By: Ash

Ash — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 03:23:41 +0000

An MX-5 is NOT Grossly Underpowered, Some just do not get it, it is not meant to be a Bucking Bronco like most Sports Cars, it is a sports car that is part of you and you are part of it. An MX-5 is plenty fast enough.

Just look at the power to weight ratio’s, it is up there with many much more expensive and “so called ” high class Sports Cars.

Reviewer…If you think this Roadster has “Soft” suspension, why did you not review the “SPORTS” model??, has firmer suspension, but then you would complain it is too HARD…would’nt you?
It is called a compromise, and Mazda have done it superbly.

The Gearbox is beautiful, give it time for the car to WEAR in a bit, before you complain that it is Notchy.
Once the car is at “OPERATIONAL TEMPERATURE” the gearbox is again Superb.

The MX-5 is still the only TRUE Roadster on the market, and still the best bang for your dollar, next is the Superb Series II RX-8, another COMPLETE car by Mazda.

By: Yanzo

Yanzo — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 03:08:07 +0000

looks great fromt he front but not so much the back but interior is great. specs aren’t to shabby too

By: Bavarian Missile (.)(.)

Bavarian Missile (.)(.) — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 03:00:08 +0000

Tom it may only have 118 kw but it weighs 1152kgs,power to weight not too bad.