Odd looking MX5

Mr_Sukebe

Mr_Sukebe

Mr_Sukebe

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Just found this photo of a new style MX5 cc (retracting hard top version):
http://img71.imageshack.us/my.php?image=img0408sp4.jpg

It's a bit odd looking, and I can't say I find it particularly attractive. If you think that it looks like it's on stilts, you're not wrong. The standard mk3 is fairly high, and this version has even more ride height.

Having said all of that, as it's only a 37kg weight increase, I wouldn't say no to it as an option. Shame Mazda can't do a kit for a mk2.
 
Yeah, I don't like it

I saw it in the flesh at the motorshow this year and it looks just as odd. It's far too high too

Not sure I like the fact they've done it either. Surely the point of the MX5 is that it's a focussed roadster and this detracts from it. It's light for a roof but having gone to so much trouble to keep the weight down on the new one only to stick a huge chunk of metal on the top seems a shame
 
mx5.jpg


much better.
 
I agree the car does look to high, but perhaps the sports models will be lower? I am pretty sure the MK2 1.8iS is lower than the other versions, perhaps the MK3 will do the same?

I think the roof itself is brilliant and would love one for my MK2. They were making a big deal about it at the car show saying neither cabin or boot space have been reduced from the standard drop top model! I would be gutted if I had already bought a MK3 and then they released this.

For those that haven't seen the hardtop in action, here is a video my mate took at the Motorshow:
Retracting MX5 Hardtop Video 7.2mb
 
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ajgoodfellow said:
Not sure I like the fact they've done it either. Surely the point of the MX5 is that it's a focussed roadster and this detracts from it. It's light for a roof but having gone to so much trouble to keep the weight down on the new one only to stick a huge chunk of metal on the top seems a shame
Click to expand...

Just remember that it's still under 1150kg, meaning that it's at least 100kg lighter than the S2000, Boxster, Z4 etc etc.
The only roadsters that are lighter are the now defunct MR2 mk3, FIAT barchetta, Elise clones and the Westfields. As the Elise clones are not IMO suitable for year round use and regular long journeys (though I know that some Elise owners will argue with that), the new MX5 is about the lightest sensible roadster on the market.
Yes it's not that ballsy, but a turbo conversion would still leave it a lot cheaper than most of the competition and be lots lighter.
 
I think it looks good with the roof up but fantastic with it down. If I was buying it as an only car I would have the retractable hard top. If I had something sensible to use aswell then I'd stick with the rag top personally.
 
Mr_Sukebe said:
Just remember that it's still under 1150kg, meaning that it's at least 100kg lighter than the S2000, Boxster, Z4 etc etc.
Click to expand...

And compared to the S2000, Boxster and Z4 its rather underpowered ;).

Why Mazda wont sell a standard turbo'd version here is beyond me, you'd think that with all the effort put into producing the MPS range (plus the RX8) they could at least get a bit more power out of the 5.
 
The original photo appears to be on a gradient, so I don't think it's a fair indication of the cars ride height on level ground.
 
The new MX-5's ALL look like they sit to high. They are probably fine but could have done with bulkier looking whells to go with the arches!

A lot of cars are the same though these days, big curved arches and bulky looking body, even reasonable sized alloys look silly and the car looks high! Have a look at a Mazda 6!
 
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