2016 Miata - R&T First Drive

[Imported]

http://www.roadandtrack.com/new-cars/first-drives/news/a24888/first-drive-2016-mazda-mx5-miata/

Sounds like it's an awesome drive.. and its front mid-engined!

 

[Zivic]

maybe I am crazy, but I am more excited to see/drive this car than the new corvette.

 

[manimal]

maybe I am crazy, but I am more excited to see/drive this car than the new corvette.

totaly agree. Lines are wonderful on the car and the pains they went trough in lightening looks to have payed off.


Great time to be a buyer

 

[Wuzup101]

I've never been a huge fan of the Miata, but this new one looks awesome. Wish there was a bit more power to be had out of the 2.0L though.

 

[vi edit]

2200 pounds is pretty crazy. I recently moved to central Kentucky and I have miles and miles and miles of narrow, winding beautiful country roads within minutes of my house. Heck even taking back roads to work would be an absolute blast with this. Combine it with some absolutely awesome springs and falls...yeah. Wonder if I can convince the wife we need a 3rd car again

 

[Drako]

Steering wheel is on the wrong side.

j/k - looks very tempting.

I was looking at the 2015s a couple of weeks ago at the auto show here in San Jose, and was thinking, this thing needs an update. Now I'm excited about the MX-5 again. This will be a car I will look at next year for my next roadster.

 

[MagickMan]

Looking forward to the Abarth version, should be jaw-droppingly pretty.

 

[Drako]

Looking forward to the Abarth version, should be jaw-droppingly pretty.

But it will only come with an automatic. :\

 

[ElFenix]

2200 pounds is pretty crazy. I recently moved to central Kentucky and I have miles and miles and miles of narrow, winding beautiful country roads within minutes of my house. Heck even taking back roads to work would be an absolute blast with this. Combine it with some absolutely awesome springs and falls...yeah. Wonder if I can convince the wife we need a 3rd car again

tell viswife to start posting again and we'll get her straightened out

 

[cbrsurfr]

I've never been a huge fan of the Miata, but this new one looks awesome. Wish there was a bit more power to be had out of the 2.0L though.

2.0 in the Mazda 3 is 155/150 and this is 155/148? I expected a slightly more aggressive tune for a few more ponies at least.

FRS/BRZ is 200/151... Granted those are significantly heavier cars. So at least this should outperform them.

 

[SithSolo1]

But it will only come with an automatic. :\

Works for me

 

[vi edit]

FR-S is still a bit better in the paper-race stat of power to weight. That's obviously not the be all, end all stat when it comes to cars as the Miata was never meant to be a tire shredder.

I'm curious to see the economy of these little critters. I remember at one time Mazda hinted that they could pull almost 50mpg in a Miata with skyactiv attention.

 

[JCH13]

2.0 in the Mazda 3 is 155/150 and this is 155/148? I expected a slightly more aggressive tune for a few more ponies at least.

FRS/BRZ is 200/151... Granted those are significantly heavier cars. So at least this should outperform them.

Don't look at peak numbers. Look at the torque curve. I haven't, personally, but don't assume that the tune isn't aggressive because the peak numbers are a little low, the biggest gains will be seen off-peak I bet.

FR-S is still a bit better in the paper-race stat of power to weight. That's obviously not the be all, end all stat when it comes to cars as the Miata was never meant to be a tire shredder.

I'm curious to see the economy of these little critters. I remember at one time Mazda hinted that they could pull almost 50mpg in a Miata with skyactiv attention.

Considering the NC Miata and FRS were almost exactly matched in actual performance numbers ( http://www.motortrend.com/roadtests/coupes/1305_2013_mazda_mx_5_miata_club_scion_fr_s_comparison/ one of many comparisons) I expect that the ND will be better than the FRS.

 

[Demo24]

Wow, that's one of the most glowing reviews of a new car I've seen in awhile! I had a feeling this car was going to be excellent and it's clearly proven me right! Would love to have it as a weekend/fun car!

 

[pauldun170]

2.0 in the Mazda 3 is 155/150 and this is 155/148? I expected a slightly more aggressive tune for a few more ponies at least.

FRS/BRZ is 200/151... Granted those are significantly heavier cars. So at least this should outperform them.

torque curve may have been altered to be flatter, to make it smoother throughout the rev range vs running out of head room on the Mazda 3.

In other words, when you wind it out it pulls smoothly and consistently all the way to red line vs running out of steam at 6K.
Also, there is the possibility that the Miata's number are based on regular. Mazda 3 2.0 uses premium.

 

[Demo24]

torque curve may have been altered to be flatter, to make it smoother throughout the rev range vs running out of head room on the Mazda 3.

In other words, when you wind it out it pulls smoothly and consistently all the way to red line vs running out of steam at 6K.
Also, there is the possibility that the Miata's number are based on regular. Mazda 3 2.0 uses premium.

No it doesn't. I have one, and use 87 as the manual calls for.

 

[MagickMan]

But it will only come with an automatic. :\

Just means modding companies are going to make some decent bucks converting them to a (proper) stick.

 

[cbrsurfr]

torque curve may have been altered to be flatter, to make it smoother throughout the rev range vs running out of head room on the Mazda 3.

In other words, when you wind it out it pulls smoothly and consistently all the way to red line vs running out of steam at 6K.
Also, there is the possibility that the Miata's number are based on regular. Mazda 3 2.0 uses premium.

Torque curve on the Skyactiv 2.0 was already pretty flat. Maybe they eeked a little more off the line, but I don't expect we'll see much of a difference. I guess I was just hoping for a little more oomph considering the RX-8 is dead so that leaves the Miata as their only sports car.

They should have done a 1.5T instead of the 2.0. That way the turbos already there so you just have to add a tune. :sneaky:

 

[Zenmervolt]

They should have done a 1.5T instead of the 2.0. That way the turbos already there so you just have to add a tune. :sneaky:

Eh, the Miata's never been about big power and in all honesty I think a turbo engine is a poor fit for the car.

At 2200 pounds, 155 horsepower is quite sufficient. It won't be a straight line rocket but 0-60 in the mid sixes to low sevens isn't sluggish.

ZV

 

[HitAnyKey]

Car looks great. Big improvement over the First gen in looks and performance.

Whats the deal with four lug nuts versus five? Do people really care about that stuff?

 

[MongGrel]

I actually have been saying awhile now here I'd really love to have one of these, in the hardtop.

The 2006 hatchback MX3 daily driver handles very well as is with a 2.3/5 speed auto.

First Mazda I've ever owned, I've become a bit of a fan.

Not a lot of power, but it is used properly, fun to drive and reliable.

 

[Imported]

Everything I've read.. there won't be a hardtop. Well, not a power folding one. Wouldn't be surprised to see a removable hard top sometime down the road.

 

[MongGrel]

Everything I've read.. there won't be a hardtop. Well, not a power folding one. Wouldn't be surprised to see a removable hard top sometime down the road.

Yeah there is.

http://www.fermanmazdacountryside.c...p_Auto_Grand_Touring-Clearwater-FL/2394424193

*edit* my bad, was looking at the 2015's still I guess.

I still like the hardtop 2015 looks.

 

[Zenmervolt]

Whats the deal with four lug nuts versus five? Do people really care about that stuff?

I think it's just being used as a rhetorical device to help illustrate the philosophical shift back towards simplicity and lightness.

ZV

 

[Vdubchaos]

I loved the prototype, end result is weird looking.

Not a fan and too tight for me, but Miata will remain the staple of auto racing for years to come, for sure.

I do love other Mazda models (3 and 6)