Great review. I was never a fan of these things. Then i took an RF for a test drive earlier this year... and bought it immediately. Best car ive ever driven, bar none.
@NobbyOnCars That's reassuring. I drove a 718 Boxster and preferred the MX5. I didn't want to get TOO ahead of myself, but what you say here about the 911 is good to know! I'm sure one of those beasts would be a better experience on a track, but for country lanes in the UK, I wouldn't swap the MX5 for anything. As you rightly say, you can't get into... 'much' trouble in these things. Thanks again for such a cracking video. You've got yourself a new subscriber.
I have the 25th anniversary edition with mods,first thing anyone should do to an MX5 is put Meister coilovers and sway bars front and rear,these mods will transform the handling because these are bad from the factory in terms of handling,far to soft and roll badly in the corners
Sports car owner for last 20 years. BMW M6, track prepped Stangs, Integra Type R, Lotus Evora GT, Evo X, you name it. Was sleptical of MX5 and GR86. Test drove both, best cars I've ever driven. Bought the 2024 MX5 in similar spec, but in the US mine has Recaros and red Brembos. Wattacar
Just bought one and it gets so much attention! The revvy 1.5 (soft top) is the best one to get and even with wind / rain, it’ll be my daily driver. I’m in love!
Greetings from England, I really enjoyed your video , laid back and informative and your enjoyment of the car was obvious. I've got a 2 lite RF ND in metallic grey and it's the most fun car I've ever owned.
I Just bought one MX5 ND4 in June this year, the 1.5 soft top, because I think, this is the MX5 to have in machine grey colour, In Portugal it´s the only version in sale, because the 2.0 version was very "attacked" with taxes and very expansives assurances and Mazda Portugal this year, stopped the importation of the 2.0 version. It´s my Third MX5, I had bought one first in 1991, in red with the Popup lights with a 1.6 engine with 115HP, the second a 20th anniversary version, in white pearl color, with chrome wheels, with 1.8 engine and 136HP, I think, and the MX5, is always a pleasure to drive. For me, this car, is the best car, in his class, in the world. Thank you, Nobby On Cars.
We have the opposite situation here in Australia. The 1.5L has been ditched so we only have the 2L. However it only costs the equivalent of 28K Euros here. Normally it is us here in Oz who have to pay crazy prices for everything but it looks like the Irish have us properly beaten on this one. 😄
In my country, it’s over 43k for a 2.0 engine, considering the average salary is 900 euros per month, which is outrageously expensive for the average person 😆
I ordered my 2024 MX-5 RF (Soul Red) in April and it arrived in September. Every time I walk past that car, I still find it beautiful. I'm afraid I've become a cliché - an old guy with a red sports car. :)
Very nice review. I have a 2011 nc2, which I absolutely love. Possibly my favourite car of all time and I've owned a lot. Liked and subscribed. John UK
I have the 2016 MX-5 - amazing car. First thing I did though was get an official Mazda dealer to retrofit Apple Carplay/Android Auto - £550. Makes a big difference to the older versions of the ND.
@@brianmulkerrins7036 It's an official Mazda upgrade (you can also get a reversing camera fitted too but I didn't do that) so the price includes the fitting as well. It's quite expensive but worth it really. Not sure if it makes a difference as its rubbish though but once it's retrofitted you can't use Mazdas built in sat nav.
I enjoyed your review and the clear passion you have for it. It's grat that the MX-5 is still in production. It's a shsme they could clean up the emissions of the 2.0.
The issue isn't emissions as such, but the CO2 output. Mazda needs to keep the fleep emissions low and mx5 being a small car with "big" engine, it falls into som sort of category, that prohibits 2.0 engine in it's current form.
Near perfect! I wish Mazda would have been generous to build one with a quad exhaust tips vice the dual exhaust tips. Even a special order with the quad exhaust tips is not available. I hope to have my 2024 RF GT Soul Red be modified using the 2025 rear lower skirt instead of cutting an area in the skirt to accommodate the extra dual exhaust tips.
Just bought a soul red crystal 2024 RF to "daily drive". I still have a 1992 NA. Was able to get my sister to take it for "safe keeping". Both are quite fun, but daily driving the 1992 NA is out of the question.
That Soul Red really is a beautiful colour. However, theres a lot of feedback in the owners groups and forums that this colour comes with downsides. First off it chips really easily. Secondly, to repair that paintwork is apparently a nightmare in terms of matching etc. There is mention on some forum feedback that whole panels need to be repainted just to repair chips because the matching is so tricky. To some extent, that knowledge is now out there in the market, which you can easily see. Find some Soul Red MX5’s or RFs in Autotrader, or Car Gurus, and put them in your ‘favourites’, and then track how long it takes them to sell; they dont sell quick in that colour and especially RF. That colour looks superb, but the cat is already out of the bag, that somewhere down the line, that paintwork will be a headache, many many years before the engine ever is (if ever)!
Just bought a 2017 Fiat 124 18,000 mile Abarth in the UK to replace of all things my 1975 Triumph TR6 which I will be selling in the spring (I am based in Ireland in case anybody is interested) That car is mostly MX5 other than the engine and different bodywork of course. While I always liked the MX5 in all variations I always felt and still do feel that it lacks street presence because of its diminutive size. The slightly bigger 124 beautifully solves this issue for me so I always wanted one. It has made me appreciate the MX5 more though but I would never buy one over a Fiat 124.
@@BrateTebra123 oh I’m very happy with my 1.5 just want to experience what 2.0 more torqueier with lsd feels like. What’s the 1,5 difference after 2019 model?
@@BrateTebra123 actually, 2.0 after 2018 revs about the same as 1.5, but has a lot more meat midrange and pulls way harder. And gets bottom 6s or high 5s in 0-60.
Great review as always . The car shown has a designation skyactiv G which I thought was only the 1.5 and the 2.0 is a skyactiv X . Is that just the UK market ?
This fourth generation MX-5 is considered the most effort-intensive to develop among all MX-5 generations. This is largely due to the immense pressure on Mazda's engineers and designers to modernize the car while staying true to its lightweight, minimalist, and fun-to-drive philosophy. I think the new generation will not be nowhere as legendary as they will have to figure out how to includes batteries and will not spend too much time on driving experience due to the mentioned issue above. Just my thoughts...
So utterly ridiculous the 2.0 engine can't be sold anymore in the EU, it's not like there's a lot of these things on the road. The lunacy of net zero... I imagine the next engine will be a mild hybrid with the 1.5llitre, so most of the power of the 2.0 with slightly better emissions than the 1.5.
@@TRPGpilot Downgrade?? 😂😂 The 1.5 was the original engine intendent for the ND. The 2.0 was an afterthought mainly due to the pressure from the US to put a larger engine. The result was shameful.. it was only a half a second faster and it lost a bit of agility and braking power due to the larger engine. It was so disappointing that they had to do redo the whole 2.0 engine in 2019 to push more power from it in order to differentiate it more from the 1.5...
Mr wrong way round here. Bought my Tesla P85 Model S back in 2014 now 155,000 miles 10 years later I thought I fancy a change, ill still keep the Tesla as the RWD P85 despite 2.2 ton is an absolute riot to drive especially since Tesla "updated the 0-60" over the air for free as they do some 6 years into the models life. OK 0-60 went from 4.2 to 4.0 that does not tell the whole story, how was that done? Seemingly refining the traction control even more, now full on drift mode. What is staggering is how a low centre of gravity (below the wheel axles) and RWD only can embody a tank with a handling agility, still fun 10 years. Whats this got to do with the MX5? Fun is the main criteria for happy ownership, cheap to run as the Tesla (well close, the Tesla is like moped costs so thats you out Porsche) and as much fun so MG no Cyberstar for me, and any sports car has to be MGB size no electric is there yet (come on Caterham). Time to try that petrol thing Ive been hearing about. Ive just had the folding hard top MX5 GT in the same red and it ticks all the boxes, welcome to a gearbox that is how it should be a handling thats fun, oh and staggering acitive LED lights......maybe thats just me 10 year old Tesla lights erm not a good benchmark. Yep Petrol MX5s its the future
each to his own; the RF looks better but, driving it top down is a worse experience - not enough open top experience and, most importantly, much more buffeting -
Got the same car, albeit the previosu ND2 model. Probably most fun on 4 wheels you can have for this sort of money, especially used. Too bad transmission issues can be a thing. Best to stick with 18'-22' models, as they appear to be the least problematic.
Emissions? You think if every car in the EU was zero emissions that it’s going to impact the environment? Tell that to every 3rd and 2nd world country. I’m on my 2nd MX5, they’re magical with the top down on a beautiful mountain road.
European politicians and general population are absolute imbecils , that will eventually destroy themselves . Europeans are obsessed with regulations and taxes.
Mark. Now we are talking! A proper car! Classic! Driving pleasure. Not owned one. However I know several people that have. Absolutely love em. Tiny by today's standards. All that said I would take a VW Up GTi everyday over an MX5.
Great review. I was never a fan of these things. Then i took an RF for a test drive earlier this year... and bought it immediately.
Best car ive ever driven, bar none.
Jumping from a 911 into one of these does not feel like much of a lesser car when you factor the whole package (not to mention running costs)
@NobbyOnCars That's reassuring. I drove a 718 Boxster and preferred the MX5. I didn't want to get TOO ahead of myself, but what you say here about the 911 is good to know! I'm sure one of those beasts would be a better experience on a track, but for country lanes in the UK, I wouldn't swap the MX5 for anything. As you rightly say, you can't get into... 'much' trouble in these things.
Thanks again for such a cracking video. You've got yourself a new subscriber.
I have the 25th anniversary edition with mods,first thing anyone should do to an MX5 is put Meister coilovers and sway bars front and rear,these mods will transform the handling because these are bad from the factory in terms of handling,far to soft and roll badly in the corners
Sports car owner for last 20 years. BMW M6, track prepped Stangs, Integra Type R, Lotus Evora GT, Evo X, you name it. Was sleptical of MX5 and GR86. Test drove both, best cars I've ever driven. Bought the 2024 MX5 in similar spec, but in the US mine has Recaros and red Brembos. Wattacar
Just bought one and it gets so much attention! The revvy 1.5 (soft top) is the best one to get and even with wind / rain, it’ll be my daily driver. I’m in love!
Greetings from England, I really enjoyed your video , laid back and informative and your enjoyment of the car was obvious. I've got a 2 lite RF ND in metallic grey and it's the most fun car I've ever owned.
They’re incredible cars. Thanks for watching!
I Just bought one MX5 ND4 in June this year, the 1.5 soft top, because I think, this is the MX5 to have in machine grey colour, In Portugal it´s the only version in sale, because the 2.0 version was very "attacked" with taxes and very expansives assurances and Mazda Portugal this year, stopped the importation of the 2.0 version. It´s my Third MX5, I had bought one first in 1991, in red with the Popup lights with a 1.6 engine with 115HP, the second a 20th anniversary version, in white pearl color, with chrome wheels, with 1.8 engine and 136HP, I think, and the MX5, is always a pleasure to drive. For me, this car, is the best car, in his class, in the world. Thank you, Nobby On Cars.
We had an MX5 for a few years. Glorious. Loved it
We have the opposite situation here in Australia. The 1.5L has been ditched so we only have the 2L. However it only costs the equivalent of 28K Euros here. Normally it is us here in Oz who have to pay crazy prices for everything but it looks like the Irish have us properly beaten on this one. 😄
In my country, it’s over 43k for a 2.0 engine, considering the average salary is 900 euros per month, which is outrageously expensive for the average person 😆
@@Salyar 😮😭
I ordered my 2024 MX-5 RF (Soul Red) in April and it arrived in September. Every time I walk past that car, I still find it beautiful.
I'm afraid I've become a cliché - an old guy with a red sports car. :)
Who cares what people think, cliché away 😎
Very nice review. I have a 2011 nc2, which I absolutely love. Possibly my favourite car of all time and I've owned a lot. Liked and subscribed. John UK
I done bought me a brand new Kizuna for my birthday,, it's a thing of joy
I have the 2016 MX-5 - amazing car. First thing I did though was get an official Mazda dealer to retrofit Apple Carplay/Android Auto - £550. Makes a big difference to the older versions of the ND.
I was wondering about this actually. I have a 2017 and I'd love Andrpid Auto for it. Is this the best /only way to retrofit it?? Thanks 😊
@@brianmulkerrins7036 It's an official Mazda upgrade (you can also get a reversing camera fitted too but I didn't do that) so the price includes the fitting as well. It's quite expensive but worth it really. Not sure if it makes a difference as its rubbish though but once it's retrofitted you can't use Mazdas built in sat nav.
Don't tempt me Frod... Nobby!
I enjoyed your review and the clear passion you have for it. It's grat that the MX-5 is still in production. It's a shsme they could clean up the emissions of the 2.0.
The issue isn't emissions as such, but the CO2 output. Mazda needs to keep the fleep emissions low and mx5 being a small car with "big" engine, it falls into som sort of category, that prohibits 2.0 engine in it's current form.
Great review 😊 (still have my NB)
Near perfect!
I wish Mazda would have been generous to build one with a quad exhaust tips vice the dual exhaust tips. Even a special order with the quad exhaust tips is not available.
I hope to have my 2024 RF GT Soul Red be modified using the 2025 rear lower skirt instead of cutting an area in the skirt to accommodate the extra dual exhaust tips.
Any one have any idea where to find front License Plate Holder ?
Just bought a soul red crystal 2024 RF to "daily drive". I still have a 1992 NA. Was able to get my sister to take it for "safe keeping". Both are quite fun, but daily driving the 1992 NA is out of the question.
Great review and just reinforcing my decision to buy the UK RF Homura model in machine grey. Counting the sleeps to delivery in March.
Enjoy it!
Loved mine super little car.
That Soul Red really is a beautiful colour. However, theres a lot of feedback in the owners groups and forums that this colour comes with downsides. First off it chips really easily. Secondly, to repair that paintwork is apparently a nightmare in terms of matching etc. There is mention on some forum feedback that whole panels need to be repainted just to repair chips because the matching is so tricky. To some extent, that knowledge is now out there in the market, which you can easily see. Find some Soul Red MX5’s or RFs in Autotrader, or Car Gurus, and put them in your ‘favourites’, and then track how long it takes them to sell; they dont sell quick in that colour and especially RF. That colour looks superb, but the cat is already out of the bag, that somewhere down the line, that paintwork will be a headache, many many years before the engine ever is (if ever)!
What is the BBS wheels size ?
Just bought a 2017 Fiat 124 18,000 mile Abarth in the UK to replace of all things my 1975 Triumph TR6 which I will be selling in the spring (I am based in Ireland in case anybody is interested) That car is mostly MX5 other than the engine and different bodywork of course. While I always liked the MX5 in all variations I always felt and still do feel that it lacks street presence because of its diminutive size. The slightly bigger 124 beautifully solves this issue for me so I always wanted one. It has made me appreciate the MX5 more though but I would never buy one over a Fiat 124.
I badly want an RF, but it will have to be a secondary car as I live where we can see snow for nearly half the year.
Or winter tyres
In the video are u driving in slow motion purposely or is it an eu dictatorship 20mph zone
I brought a 2015 1.5 just few days ago, such a revvy little car, I’m really curious what the 2.0 is like compared to mine
1.5 is just the engine what do you need, the best and most fun for this car.
The 2.0 is half second faster and it revs nowhere near the 1.5. The 1.5 is the better choice especially for model years 2015-2019
@@BrateTebra123 oh I’m very happy with my 1.5 just want to experience what 2.0 more torqueier with lsd feels like.
What’s the 1,5 difference after 2019 model?
@@BrateTebra123 actually, 2.0 after 2018 revs about the same as 1.5, but has a lot more meat midrange and pulls way harder. And gets bottom 6s or high 5s in 0-60.
@@hojnikb exactly why I sad it is better to get the 1.5 only for 2015-2019 models
Is the Club model very load with top up?
Great review as always . The car shown has a designation skyactiv G which I thought was only the 1.5 and the 2.0 is a skyactiv X . Is that just the UK market ?
Hi William, I have a 2 litre RF in Australia and our 2 litres all have the ‘Skyactiv G’ designation on the back. Maybe different in the UK ?
There is no SkyActive X in MX5
Skyactiv-X was never in any of the MX-5s
An affordable sports car for sure
Oui je l’aime beaucoup ❤ et j’en ai une !!!! Longue vie à elle
Has someone told Dara O'Briain that he should desist in driving around chasing and naming storms?🌧🌨🌦
This would be a nice car if it was big enough for me to fit into with the roof up.
The thing is do you buy now or wait for the next generation?
I’d buy this, could be the last MX-5 without some sort of battery.
@ I can’t see how they would screw up the formula though.
This fourth generation MX-5 is considered the most effort-intensive to develop among all MX-5 generations. This is largely due to the immense pressure on Mazda's engineers and designers to modernize the car while staying true to its lightweight, minimalist, and fun-to-drive philosophy.
I think the new generation will not be nowhere as legendary as they will have to figure out how to includes batteries and will not spend too much time on driving experience due to the mentioned issue above. Just my thoughts...
So utterly ridiculous the 2.0 engine can't be sold anymore in the EU, it's not like there's a lot of these things on the road. The lunacy of net zero... I imagine the next engine will be a mild hybrid with the 1.5llitre, so most of the power of the 2.0 with slightly better emissions than the 1.5.
1.5 is just the engine what do you need, the best and most fun for this car.
@@jordipi7652 Stop trying to justify a downgrade of an engine which the 1.5 is.
@@TRPGpilot Downgrade?? 😂😂 The 1.5 was the original engine intendent for the ND. The 2.0 was an afterthought mainly due to the pressure from the US to put a larger engine. The result was shameful.. it was only a half a second faster and it lost a bit of agility and braking power due to the larger engine. It was so disappointing that they had to do redo the whole 2.0 engine in 2019 to push more power from it in order to differentiate it more from the 1.5...
Mr wrong way round here. Bought my Tesla P85 Model S back in 2014 now 155,000 miles 10 years later I thought I fancy a change, ill still keep the Tesla as the RWD P85 despite 2.2 ton is an absolute riot to drive especially since Tesla "updated the 0-60" over the air for free as they do some 6 years into the models life. OK 0-60 went from 4.2 to 4.0 that does not tell the whole story, how was that done? Seemingly refining the traction control even more, now full on drift mode. What is staggering is how a low centre of gravity (below the wheel axles) and RWD only can embody a tank with a handling agility, still fun 10 years.
Whats this got to do with the MX5? Fun is the main criteria for happy ownership, cheap to run as the Tesla (well close, the Tesla is like moped costs so thats you out Porsche) and as much fun so MG no Cyberstar for me, and any sports car has to be MGB size no electric is there yet (come on Caterham).
Time to try that petrol thing Ive been hearing about. Ive just had the folding hard top MX5 GT in the same red and it ticks all the boxes, welcome to a gearbox that is how it should be a handling thats fun, oh and staggering acitive LED lights......maybe thats just me 10 year old Tesla lights erm not a good benchmark. Yep Petrol MX5s its the future
And how is your SOH on the Tesla for all the naysayers?
The MX5 is a cool little car. Better with the hard folding roof though.
I agree. I've had both but the RF is more usable day to day 😜
I bet the weight difference is worth it for nvh and convenience. Plus, one can just go on a diet if they are really concerned with weight, lol.
@Dongzzzzzz no difference
@@chrisblay But it was designed to be a legit convertible not a car with a T-top.
each to his own; the RF looks better but, driving it top down is a worse experience - not enough open top experience and, most importantly, much more buffeting -
Got the same car, albeit the previosu ND2 model. Probably most fun on 4 wheels you can have for this sort of money, especially used.
Too bad transmission issues can be a thing. Best to stick with 18'-22' models, as they appear to be the least problematic.
Without doubt the most fun for the money.
Emissions? You think if every car in the EU was zero emissions that it’s going to impact the environment? Tell that to every 3rd and 2nd world country. I’m on my 2nd MX5, they’re magical with the top down on a beautiful mountain road.
How can you say no to this!
Ah yes, the EU, always knowing what is best for its citizens. Let's give the 2 litre engine a final salute.
If you think the Irish government is ripping you off, check the Dutch prices: the entry level 1.5 costs € 43,290 over here
Damn, I bought a brand new entry level 1.5 MX5 in 2023 for 26k euro here on the Balkans...
63k voor mijn rf met automaat dat dan wel weer ;-)
thats a robbery holy crap
Too bad it isn't a car for tall driver.
Are Europeans unable to vote for politicians who will repeal excess regulations?
European politicians and general population are absolute imbecils , that will eventually destroy themselves . Europeans are obsessed with regulations and taxes.
Ze EU natzi dictatorship doing its thing in Ireland again & there was me thinking the Gestapo lost ze war
Mark. Now we are talking! A proper car! Classic! Driving pleasure. Not owned one. However I know several people that have. Absolutely love em. Tiny by today's standards.
All that said I would take a VW Up GTi everyday over an MX5.