I took the plunge and bought a new 2019 MX-5 at the beginning of September. And here’s an important point very few of the reviewers know about: the base model, the Sport, is many thousands cheaper than the loaded-up Club and Grand Touring models in Mazda’s press fleet, and it gives up nothing in terms of real-world performance. If you can do without automatic headlights/wipers, lane assist, and heated leather seats, and are a genuine sports car enthusiast, you should take a hard look at the Sport model. Forget that ridiculous folding steel roof on the RF package - that’s strictly for the Miata-as-fashion-accessory crowd who also order the automatic transmission. I got my Sport for under $25k and it does not deprive me of a single thing I consider important in an MX-5. It’s got exactly the same upgraded powertrain as the loaded-up models, and since my autocross days are behind me, I feel no need for a limited slip differential. Similarly, I don’t need the extra-stiff Bilsteins or fancy BBS wheels. My Sport’s 16” wheels come with high-performance summer tires that really grip, and the chassis is sufficiently stiff for me to drift either end at will and under perfect control. The manual transmission is a true, close-ratio 6-speed: final drive is 1:1, no overdrive, and according to a UA-cam video of this car at Nurburgring, the car will achieve 150 mph. And it will give you 30+ mpg in the bargain. For everyday driving, the Sport continues to deliver the goods. Its stock sound system is surprisingly good. So is the HVAC - the air conditioning will get you through hot California summers with the top down, and the heater makes it possible to do drives on Hwy 1 in winter with the top where is should be - down. The Sport has what you need for long trips: cruise control and comfortable seats. That the seats are cloth rather than leather is to my mind a plus. They don’t get sticky hot in summer or freeze your butt in winter. The manually adjusted seats offer a thigh support control, essential if you have long legs. It comes with the fully adjustable steering wheel that finally makes the MX-5 liveable for six-footers. If you’re into the driving experience, the MX-5 Sport gives it to you at a red-hot bargain price, with nothing you don’t need and everything you crave in an MX-5.
You can't say that car entusiasts don't want all the options on a car. For those that wants the most sporty equipped version should go for CLUB not SPORT.
I liked this comment. It is my struggle on getting one, I want the Bose in seat speakers, but the rest of GT pack is less important to me. I agree, the important part of the 2019 and onwards benefits all come with the sport. That being said, the the extra thousands didn't matter, I would go GT :)
As a new RF GT owner, i agree with this to a certain extent. Then again i live in the north eastern area of USA. I love the look of the RF with the top down and up, its all preference really. Lane departure is probably the first thing i ever had to turn off. 100% agree i can live without a lot of these extra features. I also agree that the BBS/Recaro/Brembo package is too expensive of an add on. Tires are the biggest difference maker when it comes to a car. Bigger difference that suspension or brakes. HANDS DOWN. Leather vs cloth is also preference, Mine came with leather seats and i will say. I never had the sticky issue, It did get hot but nothing that was slightly bothersome. Again this is all the preference of the driver. I will agree that my friend who also has a sports trim, the car is the same, drive the same, its such a great car! The differences are purely aesthetic and nothing else.
The club comes with the LSD and brembo 4 piston brakes which is head and shoulders above the sport. The blistens arent that great, I would upgrade to coilovers. The only advantage of the sport is that it's cheaper, that's it. It's not sportier and handling wise, it's behind the club but above the RF.
Spectacular video, Forrest! I really like how you practically took us along with you on this trip. It definitely seemed like you had an absolute blast. Also, that higher RPM seems to make the new MX-5 Miata even more fun to drive and fully "rev out". I honestly cannot wait until I can attend these press events someday as well. Those press events always seem so awesome! As always, from one car reviewer to another, keep up the great work!
I enjoyed the vacation vlog just as much as the car! The new Miata seems awesome and I’d also have to go with the RF myself. Happy for ya man, keep up the great work!
Awesome video, Forrest! The insight information from the presentation was super cool and the overall review was perfect! Hope it's not going to be the last one like this!
I really like the RF as well and might end up getting one. Right now I have a 2004 MSM with the FM BE package, FatCat suspension, 16" wheels, better tires, etc. My car is still totally reliable and I worry about losing that nervous immediacy that you get with a tastefully modified car. I might succumb at some point, but for now I'm staying put.
Great review, made me very homesick - lived in the 805 & 831 for 15 years before moving jobs, miss those roads! North of SF has just great roads. That telescoping steering wheel is huge.
Great Review, thanks for taking the time to explain the Car. It's truly a very beautiful Car. Pound for pound there is nothing like it in the World that comes close.. :)
Great video the car is awesome and the back ground view and scenery going to San Francisco is just fantastic. I love this car since the very launch of the latest generation with the RF. I wish I would be able to drive both cars with this new additional power.
You lucky dog ! The best roadster in the world just got better and faster and you got to drive it. Watching this makes me wanna trade in my 3 for an RF. Also, I was wondering if the speakers are still built into the headrest? And how does the sound system sound?
Fernando Hrnd Disagree, the 86 is a great alternative, super flat cornering, and all the benefits of stowage. Owned a Miata and an FR-S, they are both great cars.
Great video! You must have gone near where we live in the next town to Monterey. I was in a market research group for the Miata in 1990. My first thought on seeing the (masked) model was, "What is it and where can I get one?" Now I'm nearing 70 and my wife wants me to get one. I'm not sure I want a car I have to drive near the red line as my daily driver, although I do love the car. At least they've made some changes to make it more livable daily... I'll have to see.
Hoping the dual mass flywheel doesn't compromise transmission/clutch feedback, noticed the gear lever still vibrates at speed which is a good sign... Does it still feel good?
I'm late to the game here. Nice video but when you get to the part where you're back in Texas and giving your final wrap-up, please edit out the bloopers where you repeat your intro.
How did the difference between the Brembo brakes on the Club version and the standard brakes on the GTS version feel?? Is the Brembo & BBS option worth it? Did either of the versions, that you drove, have the Recaro seats?
Thanks for explaining why they never put the tilt/telescoping wheel in before. Did you pick up that little nugget from Dave Coleman? Sounds like something he would mention.
You prefer the RF huh? Did you ever get bothered by the blind spots? It seems like the targa top has a lot of blind spots, both to the rear diagonal, and the above rear as it has a cross bar. Not a pr, in your opinion?
The Mazdaspeed Miata is a legend... No way this new car is better than a well sorted MSM, especially at that outrageous price!... You should change the title.
Forrest's Auto Reviews Although it weighs less than the MSM, the beefed up suspension and bracing makes the MSM a much better car on the twisties. On top of this, there is plenty of room to safely increase the power to about 240hp at the wheels(not crank)!!. Stock engine, clutch, transmission, even the axles are reinforced to hold more power than stock. I doubt the toothpick rods they are using on this new version will hold that much more power reliably. They are at the limit on this engine. BTW, this was a good blog, not a review of the car itself.
It was nice that you included the presentation by Mazda, but I'm surprised they didn't show the power and torque curves of the latest model. It would be nice to compare the NC, ND (155 bhp) and ND (181 bhp) curves on the same chart. Do you have this footage? Did you notice much difference in speed when you were driving alone, compared to when you had a passenger on board? Also, could you feel a difference in speed between the RF and the soft top? After all, the soft top version has a power-to-weight ratio about 10 bhp/tonne more than the RF. You mentioned that it feels faster than a Subaru BRZ, but how does the steering feel compare? I drove an MX-5 in 2016 and an RF in 2017, and found the steering to be too light with little feel. I haven't driven newer models with a revised steering tune, but the BRZ's steering was much nicer I thought. How do you think this updated MX-5 compares with a Honda S2000 in terms of speed up to ~80 mph? Does the ND's new engine have a nice bark at higher revs like the S2000? Thanks for the great video.
what a pisser. i bought a 2017 RF club in feb 2018. if i had known about the new engine coming i would have waited. all i was hearing about was the sky active-X engine, which wasn't going in the MX-5 anyway. oh well, the ND1 is still a great car, and i'm not one that's routinely revving it out anyway. and not worth taking the depreciation hit to sell now.
What these youtube car reviewers never talk about is the problematic manual transmission they've had through the entire ND line so far. Who wants to give up free trips, hotels and trinkets you get by not bringing up the negatives.
Head to the Miata forums, has been a major topic of conversation since the ND was introduced. There are some there who are on their third transmission. Seems to have died down. forum.miata.net/vb/showthread.php?t=603239
Read those posts again. While those produced after Oct 2016 where more reliable there are plenty of people who still got bad transmissions after that, including a few that went through more than one. We can give Mazda some credit for replacing them without putting up a fight.
Wasn't the 2016 model the one with this problem? 2017 engine and on has had this problem fixed. It you are bringing this up you should mention with numbers. Just mentioning you saw it in a forum seems vague to me.
I took the plunge and bought a new
2019 MX-5 at the beginning of September. And here’s an important point very few
of the reviewers know about: the base model, the Sport, is many thousands
cheaper than the loaded-up Club and Grand Touring models in Mazda’s press fleet,
and it gives up nothing in terms of real-world performance.
If you can do without automatic headlights/wipers, lane
assist, and heated leather seats, and are a genuine sports car enthusiast, you
should take a hard look at the Sport model. Forget that ridiculous folding
steel roof on the RF package - that’s strictly for the Miata-as-fashion-accessory
crowd who also order the automatic transmission.
I got my Sport for under $25k and it does not deprive me of
a single thing I consider important in an MX-5. It’s got exactly the same
upgraded powertrain as the loaded-up models, and since my autocross days are
behind me, I feel no need for a limited slip differential. Similarly, I don’t
need the extra-stiff Bilsteins or fancy BBS wheels. My Sport’s 16” wheels come
with high-performance summer tires that really grip, and the chassis is
sufficiently stiff for me to drift either end at will and under perfect control.
The manual transmission is a true, close-ratio 6-speed: final drive is 1:1, no
overdrive, and according to a UA-cam video of this car at Nurburgring, the car
will achieve 150 mph. And it will give you 30+ mpg in the bargain.
For everyday driving, the Sport continues to deliver the
goods. Its stock sound system is surprisingly good. So is the HVAC - the air
conditioning will get you through hot California summers with the top down, and
the heater makes it possible to do drives on Hwy 1 in winter with the top where
is should be - down.
The Sport has what you need for long trips: cruise control
and comfortable seats. That the seats are cloth rather than leather is to my
mind a plus. They don’t get sticky hot in summer or freeze your butt in winter.
The manually adjusted seats offer a thigh support control, essential if you
have long legs. It comes with the fully adjustable steering wheel that finally
makes the MX-5 liveable for six-footers.
If you’re into the driving experience, the MX-5 Sport gives
it to you at a red-hot bargain price, with nothing you don’t need and
everything you crave in an MX-5.
You can't say that car entusiasts don't want all the options on a car.
For those that wants the most sporty equipped version should go for CLUB not SPORT.
@@hanse81 why club and not sport?
I liked this comment. It is my struggle on getting one, I want the Bose in seat speakers, but the rest of GT pack is less important to me. I agree, the important part of the 2019 and onwards benefits all come with the sport. That being said, the the extra thousands didn't matter, I would go GT :)
As a new RF GT owner, i agree with this to a certain extent. Then again i live in the north eastern area of USA.
I love the look of the RF with the top down and up, its all preference really.
Lane departure is probably the first thing i ever had to turn off. 100% agree i can live without a lot of these extra features.
I also agree that the BBS/Recaro/Brembo package is too expensive of an add on. Tires are the biggest difference maker when it comes to a car. Bigger difference that suspension or brakes. HANDS DOWN.
Leather vs cloth is also preference, Mine came with leather seats and i will say. I never had the sticky issue, It did get hot but nothing that was slightly bothersome. Again this is all the preference of the driver.
I will agree that my friend who also has a sports trim, the car is the same, drive the same, its such a great car! The differences are purely aesthetic and nothing else.
The club comes with the LSD and brembo 4 piston brakes which is head and shoulders above the sport. The blistens arent that great, I would upgrade to coilovers. The only advantage of the sport is that it's cheaper, that's it. It's not sportier and handling wise, it's behind the club but above the RF.
Spectacular video, Forrest! I really like how you practically took us along with you on this trip. It definitely seemed like you had an absolute blast.
Also, that higher RPM seems to make the new MX-5 Miata even more fun to drive and fully "rev out". I honestly cannot wait until I can attend these press events someday as well. Those press events always seem so awesome! As always, from one car reviewer to another, keep up the great work!
I own a 2019 MX5 RF Club and cannot get enough reasons to drive it somewhere else. What a joy of a car. Your review was spot on👍🏻
I enjoyed the vacation vlog just as much as the car! The new Miata seems awesome and I’d also have to go with the RF myself. Happy for ya man, keep up the great work!
Wouldn't touch an RF myself, only interested in convertibles.
No its not.
Robert Drake it’s a “hard top convertible” rather than a soft top
More like a T-top. If there's a window behind you, it doesn't qualify as a convertible in my book.
Robert Drake it’s a Targa basically . Like Porsche targa .
Awesome video, Forrest! The insight information from the presentation was super cool and the overall review was perfect! Hope it's not going to be the last one like this!
I really like the RF as well and might end up getting one. Right now I have a 2004 MSM with the FM BE package, FatCat suspension, 16" wheels, better tires, etc. My car is still totally reliable and I worry about losing that nervous immediacy that you get with a tastefully modified car. I might succumb at some point, but for now I'm staying put.
I love my 2019 Mazda Miata. I would love to do a review from a female’s point of view. I LOVE MY MIATA!!!!
i'd love to read/watch it
Wow, looks like an amazing trip! That's really awesome! Keep it up man, some of the best videos out there!
You are coming up from a journey of humble beginnings. Subscribed! I am excited to be a part of your success.
Indeed, I was looking for impressions on the 2019 ND and ended up here. Loving the content, style and valuable comments. Subbed already! :)
Great video for a great car! New to your channel and I'm really digging your style. Loved seeing those coastal Cali views.
Great video Forrest, really loved the vlog style content!
Hey I really like the part where you showed us the whole tour, not just the car.
Awesome review! I like this style of video.
Great review, made me very homesick - lived in the 805 & 831 for 15 years before moving jobs, miss those roads! North of SF has just great roads. That telescoping steering wheel is huge.
So rad man. Pumped you got to do this!
Congrats again on this opportunity! You're an inspiration to me and my small (growing) channel!
I give Cali a lot of crap, but it sure is a cool place to drive. Loved the video.
Great Review, thanks for taking the time to explain the Car. It's truly a very beautiful Car. Pound for pound there is nothing like it in the World that comes close.. :)
I love my NA Miata, but I do really love these new 2019 NDs! You're a lucky duck.
Everyone should own 2.
Cool Video! Really nice work! Keep on driving for us!
1st time on your site. I have a 2006 NC MX-5 base. Thinking about upgrading to the ND RF after watching your video. 😎
This was such an awesome video to watch. Well done!
Awesome vid!!!
Awesome job Forrest!
Great video the car is awesome and the back ground view and scenery going to San Francisco is just fantastic. I love this car since the very launch of the latest generation with the RF. I wish I would be able to drive both cars with this new additional power.
Great work, Forrest! Thanks for the experience!
You lucky dog ! The best roadster in the world just got better and faster and you got to drive it. Watching this makes me wanna trade in my 3 for an RF. Also, I was wondering if the speakers are still built into the headrest? And how does the sound system sound?
This car just made the Toyobaru worthless
A true sports car only has 2 seats... For that purpose the Camry has more confty rear seats lol ...
Fernando Hrnd Disagree, the 86 is a great alternative, super flat cornering, and all the benefits of stowage. Owned a Miata and an FR-S, they are both great cars.
@@fertube3801 tell that to Porsche which has the same 2+2 configuration as the 86/brz. Or are you saying Porsche's are not sports cars too. 🙄
miata is the better car but IMO 86 looks way better. Miata's just too tame to me.
Not if you need to put a young one in the back.
Holding the engine at such high revs just made me think "run Forest run".
Great video! You must have gone near where we live in the next town to Monterey.
I was in a market research group for the Miata in 1990. My first thought on seeing the (masked) model was, "What is it and where can I get one?"
Now I'm nearing 70 and my wife wants me to get one. I'm not sure I want a car I have to drive near the red line as my daily driver, although I do love the car. At least they've made some changes to make it more livable daily... I'll have to see.
Thanks, I'll have to consider that model!
Hoping the dual mass flywheel doesn't compromise transmission/clutch feedback, noticed the gear lever still vibrates at speed which is a good sign... Does it still feel good?
Forrest's Auto Reviews Thanks that's great to hear!
It feels so goood!!
Thx for the review, awesome views.
Another good video. Thank you.
I'm late to the game here. Nice video but when you get to the part where you're back in Texas and giving your final wrap-up, please edit out the bloopers where you repeat your intro.
Thanks for the review! Do stop riding that clutch though ;)
How did the difference between the Brembo brakes on the Club version and the standard brakes on the GTS version feel?? Is the Brembo & BBS option worth it? Did either of the versions, that you drove, have the Recaro seats?
Such a beautiful location to drive a great little car.
Awesome, close to how I would spec it.👍
17:17 Miata perks
I am thinking about being a new soft top Miata, my only concern is that I am a road trip person. Are the seats comfortable enough for long road trips?
I'm sold, I want one. I still like my NC, but I'm truly jealous.
Great video ty. Subbed.
Awesome dude! New subscriber! Haha do you know which exact beautiful roads did you take? All highway 1?
Bro you have what has to be one of the best jobs in the world lol
Thanks for explaining why they never put the tilt/telescoping wheel in before. Did you pick up that little nugget from Dave Coleman? Sounds like something he would mention.
Hi sir i came from 2025 and u are going to be a famous youtuber
How did you like the Recaro seats vs the standard seats in the ND? Worth the upgrade package to get them?
Awesome!
Badass trip man
Noice vid! Any word on new pricing for each trims and the GT-S? Also whats the mpg now?
JeffGoat213 new Gen isn't too much more something like a 500-750 dollar increase in price mpg is the same
Epa mpg is up 1 mpg from before.
The gts package is only a other 750 over the standard GT. Perfect spec imo for a daily driver.
Is it possible to give bad impression about the product after this treatment?
would not trade my NC for that slow fellow :D
Ouch. Mazda just severely devalued the 2018 and older NDs.
what color would you get for the miata? Also, I personally don't like the black roof. It makes it look less clean imo.
I just bought a 2017 ND1!
You should let people know, that the cig. lighter, is deep under the dash, on the passenger side.
This car has a cig lighter?
I grew up in Pismo Beach!
You prefer the RF huh? Did you ever get bothered by the blind spots? It seems like the targa top has a lot of blind spots, both to the rear diagonal, and the above rear as it has a cross bar. Not a pr, in your opinion?
@@forrestsautoreviewsofficial Great. Thanks.
The Mazdaspeed Miata is a legend... No way this new car is better than a well sorted MSM, especially at that outrageous price!... You should change the title.
Forrest's Auto Reviews
Although it weighs less than the MSM, the beefed up suspension and bracing makes the MSM a much better car on the twisties. On top of this, there is plenty of room to safely increase the power to about 240hp at the wheels(not crank)!!. Stock engine, clutch, transmission, even the axles are reinforced to hold more power than stock. I doubt the toothpick rods they are using on this new version will hold that much more power reliably. They are at the limit on this engine. BTW, this was a good blog, not a review of the car itself.
It’s better ,sorry . They call it evaluation. Way better. Sorry .
Or evolution if you spell good.
How is the wind buffeting windows and top down? How is the stereo? Thanks 🙏🏻
i have a question: what do they do with all these( used) cars after you guys have left??
God damn I need one.
I wonder if auto improved. Yes you can’t have Miata in auto but if live in congested areas like nyc; manual is harder to deal with.
Good Job!
7 minutes before actually seeing a vehicle... a bit rough. Good thing for fast forward.
I would like to ask if the engineers described or explained the changes to the automatic transmission?
Brooo let me get that fancy pack.
17:05 I wonder how you got that shot?
That was a really cool shot!
I just bought a 2019 RF its the only red one in the state of hawaii. How lucky am i?
Damn lucky
zackychan financial YASSS!!!! RF or Soft?
It was nice that you included the presentation by Mazda, but I'm surprised they didn't show the power and torque curves of the latest model. It would be nice to compare the NC, ND (155 bhp) and ND (181 bhp) curves on the same chart. Do you have this footage?
Did you notice much difference in speed when you were driving alone, compared to when you had a passenger on board? Also, could you feel a difference in speed between the RF and the soft top? After all, the soft top version has a power-to-weight ratio about 10 bhp/tonne more than the RF.
You mentioned that it feels faster than a Subaru BRZ, but how does the steering feel compare? I drove an MX-5 in 2016 and an RF in 2017, and found the steering to be too light with little feel. I haven't driven newer models with a revised steering tune, but the BRZ's steering was much nicer I thought.
How do you think this updated MX-5 compares with a Honda S2000 in terms of speed up to ~80 mph? Does the ND's new engine have a nice bark at higher revs like the S2000?
Thanks for the great video.
Anyone know the name of the road? Such a cool place to try a car out.
How do you do rev matching so fast?
25:29 raaaaamchargers
Done any Porsche reviews?
what a pisser. i bought a 2017 RF club in feb 2018. if i had known about the new engine coming i would have waited. all i was hearing about was the sky active-X engine, which wasn't going in the MX-5 anyway. oh well, the ND1 is still a great car, and i'm not one that's routinely revving it out anyway. and not worth taking the depreciation hit to sell now.
Not that big a deal overall. You can’t feel the dif everywhere. I would be happy with yours .
It wasn’t very clear...was the RF the Club version?
The mirrors are black as well on the Club.
with all due respect.... this is more of a vlog.
at 9:00 I see you giving the 'shaka' sign, any relation to Hawaii?
@@forrestsautoreviewsofficial lots do it in Cali also !
You must have felt at ease doing it!
Sep 29. Mazada maita white
Cool, would you be interested in using my music for free? Love to see more!
It’s similar to corvette
Squirrel! 👀
They chose you because you wear “extra extreme tight pants” all the time
Litty
Oooh boy you cute
What these youtube car reviewers never talk about is the problematic manual transmission they've had through the entire ND line so far. Who wants to give up free trips, hotels and trinkets you get by not bringing up the negatives.
Head to the Miata forums, has been a major topic of conversation since the ND was introduced. There are some there who are on their third transmission. Seems to have died down. forum.miata.net/vb/showthread.php?t=603239
Robert, you're talking about ancient history, i.e. 2016 units. It is *not* "through the entire line" as shown by your own link.
Read those posts again. While those produced after Oct 2016 where more reliable there are plenty of people who still got bad transmissions after that, including a few that went through more than one. We can give Mazda some credit for replacing them without putting up a fight.
The great almighty Honda Odyssey van had an 11percent trans failure rate. The nd much lower than that and fixed mid year.
Wasn't the 2016 model the one with this problem? 2017 engine and on has had this problem fixed. It you are bringing this up you should mention with numbers. Just mentioning you saw it in a forum seems vague to me.
Dont ask me whats up? your the one doing the video
Too loud!
Such a boring review