How many people r going to buy the new model ND

[project.r.racing]

When was the ND ever classed as a tourer?

[KevGoat]

I like it less now than when it was released. I dont think it's a serious tourer- too small. I agree with others who remarked that it appeals to younger buyers.

Have you even dríven one? ....

[Mr Morlock]

Yes I have dríven one and It did not engage me.

[Mr Morlock]

Ps for PRR my NB is a car I can go touring with enough space for two with changes of clothes and enough gear to be comfortable. Incidentally the NC had a moniker tourer and thats what a fun car should offer.

[KevGoat]

Aghhh ... damn my dying laptop and my old phone. Lost my reply to Mr.Morlock!

But anyway, Mr.M - why do you see the ND as less of a tourer than the NB? When I looked at it and test drove it I didn't see much less than my SE in luggage space and considered the ND more comfortable by comparison. As far as driving comparison, I preferred the ND's smoothness and was impressed by it's power delivery (1.5L).

[elbekay]

I don't even know wtf Morlock is on about. We have had NB > NC > ND. The ND has the same space as the NB but with much more comfort, leather, heated seats, bluetooth, stiffer chassis, easier roof, better stereo, the list goes on. As a tourer the ND is a much better car than the NB. I understand the love for 'your' car but its unjustified in this case.

[davekmoore]

Clearly if Mazda call a car a Tourer then it is one.

This also means a CX-5 Maxx Sport is ..............

[project.r.racing]

This also means a CX-5 Maxx Sport is ..............

A SUV? Which it is not. But the term SUV is thrown around a lot these days. Not just Mazda, but most brands use the label incorrectly. But it sells cars, so use it.

[Mr Morlock]

The NB has more carrying space than NC or ND and anyone who has packed their luggage will know. The NB ( and NA of course) has a big advantage because you can easily pack 2 reasonable size bags behind the seats i.e. sitting on the tonneau when the top is down. That frees up the boot. When you stop you remove the bags put up the top and put the bags back behind the seats or leave the top up. You cannot do this in NC nor ND and it obvious when travelling with others that the NB is pretty handy albeit still a small car. The ND boot is 2/3 the size of NC ( check the specs) and has very limited internal storage including no traditional glove box which is very handy. A centre cubby is not user friendly on the move.

Personally I could not care less about heated seats and the radio in the NB is luxury for me in sound.The top goes up in flash still to the envy of virtually any other rag top- brilliant- try any of the oldies- we are spoiled. I dont buy a sports car to listen to music except of the burble of the exhaust. My car feels tight to me. Bluetooth works with a little portable device on the sun visor.

Sure people will buy an ND and why not indeed if in the market for still the only affordable soft top sports car and its likely to be strong and many reckon its cool.Pricing makes it affordable. If it does mainly get a younger buyer there is nothing wrong with that either and thats almost surely what the NA was developed around- the young or the young at heart motoring enthusiasts.

SUV is an American adopted term i.e. Sports Utility Vehicle and we experimented with terms like Soft Roader before the US term was taken up . Its certainly been the growth sector and CX5 and CX3 fit the classification.

[speed]

After seeing one up close I have to say that I like the ND more and more, especially in this grey colour.

Who knows, maybe future speed will get one

[bruce]

That photo make the 5 look tiny (tinier that it actually is). VW looks huge.

[BlackLeaf]

...I like the ND... especially in this grey colour.

Agreed. I think it is the pick of the colours, though pretty hard to see on the road.

[ND-MX5GT2.0]

Finally get mine first week of June, I've never been more excited to pick up a car before! Picking up from Townsville Mazda & driving back to Cairns! Hopefully it's a nice day so that roof can stay down!!

[Guran]

Returning to the title of this thread ...

917 sales of MX-5 in 2015. All but a handful of those were NDs ... in only five months.

http://www.motormag.com.au/news/1601/au ... s-in-2015/

My prediction is that sales will mirror what they've done with previous MX-5s ... about 1500 in the first full year (2016). Possibly up to 2000 based on the 1.5L and 2.0L offer with very cheap entry pricing.

Looks like my prediction is on target so far.

Update on Australian sales data for the ND:

Jul 2015 - 37 - YTD 47
Aug 2015 - 220 - YTD 267
Sep 2015 - 97 - YTD 364
Oct 2015 - 90 - YTD 454
Nov 2015 - 221 - YTD 675
Dec 2015 - 242 - 917 total for 2015
Jan 2016 - 115 - YTD 115
Feb 2016 - 209 - YTD 324
Mar 2106 - 192 - YTD 516
Apr 2016 - 185 - YTD 701

Total sales for the 12 months from May 2015 to April 2016 is 1610 ... and the ND still has another three months to go before a full year is up. That's already better than the first 12 months of NC sales (1564 for Oct 2005 to Sep 2006). The ND should comfortably beat the 1764 sales peak of the NB (May 1998 to April 1999).

[project.r.racing]

If Mazda Australia can continue to sell 200 a month on average, I think they'll be happy.