Why is the MX-5 the price it is?

[SuperMazdaKart]

Surely not engine out for spark plugs in the 86? Mind you having done a V6 Camry rear bank of plugs I am amazed how much of a PITA Toyota (and presumably any manufacturer) could make a little thing like that.

Googled, no, not engine out but looks painful still.

Ease of maintenance is definitely high on my list and something that would steer me away from the 124. Surely must be more crammed in its engine bay having a turbo and all the associated hardware?

Could be worse. Could be a Nissan Z32 300ZX twin turbo.

[JBT]

5h1tty jobs are 'Dealer jobs' in my book....

Yep. Changed the plugs etc. in the Mazda6 and MX-5 myself but needed at least one day, special thin walled plug socket tool, 3/8 extension, torque wrench, disassembly and reassembly of half the engine compartment etc. etc. for the BMW. Dealer did it in under 4 hours from drop off to pick up, including vacuum and wash, for $170 with club discount.

[Mr Morlock]

You only buy an MX-5 if you want a sports car- at least in my view. Top down - driving is more like a surgical instrument than a larger sedan and driving experience for "enthusiasts". Hard tops - sporty - 86 has to be the best around and well built. MX-5 practicality- well not really but high on the fun factor. Agree with JBT - a paddle shift auto in an NC has to have many things in favour if living in a metropolis stuffed with people and cars. Getting in and out- comes down to size weight and fitness - nearly all sports cars are challenged with bodies dropping down and getting up from a lower seat height. How to tell ; drive a few and if it's not exciting or a buzz move on. Pricing - the new ones are much cheaper like most cars with reduced pricing but not everyone is smitten with an ND. Whatever MX5 you buy they do what most cars do- depreciate.

Insofar as cost is concerned an MX-5 is probably no better in quality or parts than say a Mazda 3 but the difference is in the volume. The more cars that are sold allows better buying prices for components and materials which might be used only on the lower volume product.Volume sellers may run daily but low volume cars may be scheduled less often with more line sets up etc. Also design and tooling costs are more quickly defrayed i.e. amortised for a volume seller compared to a limited volume car. You only guess at what Mazda do with calculating end cost but they certainly are now more aware of the competition. The 86 really gave Mazda a rocket.

[Maverick]

Hi. Just joined up as I'm toying with the idea of an MX-5 as a second car. Got a question which people seem to find hard to answer sensibly. I don't know a real lot about MX-5's. Pretty much just google review reading and what's on the Mazda site.

Couple of easy questions first:
1. I presume being low you're more likely to get dazzled by other car headlights? That must just be one of the prices you pay for not joining the SUV craze.

2. For the more seasoned - how's the low height for getting in and out? Do you end up doing a Jeremy Clarkson and looking like a right knob?

3. Given that my normal car is manual and I like having an auto for when I want a lazy drive - is the auto version still fun, or is it really not worth bothering with? Ideally I would have an auto normal car and manual fun car, but I have the normal car very well sorted. I've almost always had manuals, but recently got a cheap, oldish luxury car which is great to drive when I just want to waft and be lazy in comfort.

I do know a fair bit about cars though having always fixed, fiddled and serviced my own since school (well over 30 years). I do everything but wheel alignments, exhaust welding and can't be stuffed doing body work as I can now afford to pay someone else to do a better job than me.

So the question (and no, I'm not trolling. I really want to know) - For the top model you can go over $50k (using Mazda site prices). Even entry level is $38k. I don't get it? Isn't it just a 1.5/2 litre Mazda put together a bit differently? Doesn't seem to be anything stunning in the spec's or kit they come with (apart from the electric roof, so ok lets say $5k for that). How's it different to a $23k Mazda 3 as far as cost to make or quality? Only things I could find were LSD and TPMS. I get that it's a different type of car. Is it higher spec? Ok, it's rear wheel drive, maybe that adds a bit. It's small, so actual raw materials would be similar to a 3 I would think. Made in Japan. Are the more mundane Mazda models made in cheaper countries (some, yes)? Could you argue the quality is better in the MX-5? Are the bits better because it's a sports car? Lighter weight and better engineered? Mazda make very few claims of 'special'-ness on the site. Light transmission, first car with that type of steering. Other than that it reads very similar to the 3 page.

Lower volume of sales would add cost per unit, but that much? Why isn't the top model $35k? Entry level a bit more than a base 3 - mid 20's? Is it just a 'mid life crisis' tax? Charging as much as the market will bare? The other thing could be they pretty much have that market segment sewn up (if you consider the MX-5 and 124 as one). Closest thing would be the Toyota 86/Subaru thing.

At least with the Abarth they give you a bit of recognisable fruit – Brembos, Bilsteins, a turbo engine (seems debatable wether that's better) with a rorty exhaust (which can become annoying).

Now I asked that on Whirlpool and pretty much didn't get a sensible answer. So asking owners and presumably car enthusiasts - are there bit's of the Mazda you look at and think 'now that's really well designed', or 'look what they've done to knock a bit of weight off that'?

Regardless of the couple of negatives with an MX5, once you've owned one your addicted to a sporty fun car. Came a time I thought I would try another brand, none good enough, the MX5 is the benchmark.....
No other car ones close, the MX5 is pleasure/fun to drive, I find myself always taking the longer route home..
I ended up with 3 MX5's, very addictive cars...


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[NA6089]

At 70 years of age I have only a little difficulty getting in or out of our NA. Once in however it's the most enjoyable drive. I find myself not only going the long way but looking for twisty bits to remind myself that the car can outperform me on any bit of road anywhere.

If that mindset is not where you are then the MX5 isn't for you, unless you're after a pretty car to cruise to the café in. Yes it does that nicely and you'll look so cool unfolding yourself and escorting your partner for a caffeine hit. But you can do that in almost anything, the 5 needs to be dríven and dríven hard on great roads.

[bruce]

If we need to persuade him to buy one, he just doesn't get it (which means he shouldn't buy one).