Speed Hunters Article

[RBH58]

Yep...I agree...

http://www.speedhunters.com/2017/02/when-slow-is-fast-the-mazda-mx-5-rf/

[Mr Morlock]

that was an excellent article. It does underline what Mazda have done with the MX-5 i.e. not just about the power. Of course it will not strike an accord with all, Some of us do wonder why we can buy 300KW cars with such tight speed restrictions and high detection rates.

[pcmx5]

Pretty much how I feel about my 1.5.lovely to drive and rewards your inputs,flows beautifully!You get out of it what you put in.


Peter.

[bootz]

Rather like the beige int. with the grey paint.

[RBH58]

that was an excellent article. It does underline what Mazda have done with the MX-5 i.e. not just about the power. Of course it will not strike an accord with all, Some of us do wonder why we can buy 300KW cars with such tight speed restrictions and high detection rates.

Yep. I do. in 40 years of driving neither my wife or I have come close to losing our licences up until Victoria started the "death by a thousand cuts" 3 kph speeding tolerances. In the last 5 years both of us have been down as low as our last two demerit points. Finally I woke up and I've moved from a 2011 Megane RS250 (great car but you can't go even close to it's limits on a public road) to a 2014 BRZ (for sale on carsales http://www.carsales.com.au/dealer/details/Subaru-BRZ-2014/OAG-AD-14362301/?Cr=9) and now an MX5 2.0 GT RF, which I have to say, I'm really falling for. I think it may be the antidote for "road revenue" obsessed Australia. I'm not even interested in owning a 300+kw road car anymore. If I had more time/resources to do more track days, or if I lived in civilised Germany. Sure. But Australia? Meh...

[RBH58]

Rather like the beige int. with the grey paint.

Amazing photos in that article.

[Mr Morlock]

a wee bit off topic but why change the BRZ for the Mazda- were their shortcomings with the BRZ? I do get the demerit thing- the only thing that the authorities really do well simply because of techno;ogy and someone - not Police sitting on the side of the road can act like Dick Turpin without the need for a blunderbuss. On the other hand general driving ability seems to have been flushed down the toilet - no proof statement I guess but a lot of people dont seem to have the observation skills or judgement for safe driving.

[RBH58]

a wee bit off topic but why change the BRZ for the Mazda- were their shortcomings with the BRZ?

Yes...there were shortcomings with the BRZ. The way the engine delivers power is annoying and it's not a sweet engine. It's quite agricultural actually. And sitting in the cabin was like sitting in a Fisher Price toy. When you spend time in traffic you start to notice stuff like that. The BRZ only really gelled when you had it on a tight backroad and you were spanking it and had it constantly above 5000. In that environment it was superb. Drive it like that around town and you look like a tool. So I guess that the MX5 is the nicer car 99% of the time. But that 1% of the time, when the stars are aligned and you scored 50kms of tight 2nd gear road to yourself, the BRZ is the sharper tool....especially if you've put decent rubber on it. That's the problem with many MX5/BRZ comparisons. They are compared on the BRZ's crap OEM rubber. Put the same boots on both cars and it's a different story.

[bootz]

I wonder if the 1.5l is a sweet engine, lots of people say it is.

My mk1 gti, sohc, 1.8 is a much sweeter engine than the mx-5 1.8. Less moving parts I guess.

[Vat]

that was an excellent article. It does underline what Mazda have done with the MX-5 i.e. not just about the power. Of course it will not strike an accord with all, Some of us do wonder why we can buy 300KW cars with such tight speed restrictions and high detection rates.

Yeah, can't see the appeal in that. Up until late last year, the infamous Brisbane run up Mt Nebo was at an 80 km/h speed limit which for mine was a great 'fun' speed because you just far enough into the car to make it entertaining whilst maintaining enough margin for any of the numerous surprises that road has up its sleeve. I feel a bit like I'm the one that's copped the hit for various idiots on bikes and in cars that have been some distance north of that speed limit that have come a cropper and killed themselves since the limit makes what was an entertaining drive illegal.

By comparison our W205 C250 estate is barely challenged by those speeds and could doubtless be punted at considerably more quickly, which would make for a quite disappointing discussion with local law enforcement. How something more sporting oriented and with considerably more power could be responsibly enjoyed there is a bit beyond me.