CD Article: 2006 Mazda MX-5 GT

[Giant Dwarf]

Never driven the new ones so all I can comment on is the styling. 

Dislikes:
The front lights look a little weird to me.  Too round and cartoonish.
The rear clear lights are horrible.  Put on the red with clear turn signals.
The way the exhaust just hangs there.  Not really an integrated look.
Position of the cupholders in the doors....imagine closing the door with a half full can of pop in the doors?  Splash.
Sits a bit high...large fender gaps.

You know, from within the car, none of those dislikes came to my mind whatsoever earlier today.  I wouldn't use the cupholders for anything other than a closed water bottle or (more likely) my cell phone. 

The large-looking fender gaps are exaggerated by the really low-angle photography everyone seems to shoot.  The car is quite low when you're right up to it and makes the wheel gap much less noticable. 

My kudos to Mazda are stronger now having driven one.

[mdxtasy]

I'm sure the driving experience of the new Miata is stupendous.  However, the view from the outside is still somewhat mixed on my part.  Having never driven such a machine, I still don't like the front lights, the rear lights, and the exhaust placement....

[Benhaze]

I would be very interested in hearing opinions from anyone owing a new MX-5 or that had the opportunity to drive one since the post was first opened in November of last year.

According to Mazda.ca, there is a GT Performance option package available for the GT that bundles the limited slip, the stability control and the sport suspension which is very good news and would address concerns stated in previous posts.

[84im]

I've heard the same thing, but I've just been to Mazda.ca (build an MX-5) and there was no mention of a handling package for the GT (that I could see).

[Benhaze]

I also noticed it is missing from the build & price menu 

But you can find it under the feature and under the pricing tabs ($1355) from the MX-5 vehicle screen. I need to bring the Mazda6 for service in the near future and I will verify this with the dealer.

[dorin]

I do wish they would have used a more conventional 17" tire size, but Mazda frequently uses oddball tires sizes.  They should STOP that practice.

What's so oddball about 205/45R17 tires? 

[johngenx]

225/45-17 is a common size that has tons of tires available from many makers.  Having a large range of tires is nice...

(recall the 195/55-15 tires on the Proteges, how many people got stuck by that size...?)

Oh, and we owned an MX-3, and it had a stupid 205/55-15 tire size that was tough to find.

[dorin]

205/45-17 seems easy enough to find though. TireRack has 20 different choices available.  Not that I'm against 225/45-17, but could there be a reason why Mazda prefered the narrower size?  The wheel diameter is only 2.92% larger, but maybe there are clearance issues?

I never really had an issue with the 205/55-15 on the MX-3.  I easily found that size and they're also essemtially the same diameter as 225/50-15.  In the end I used the 15" wheels as winter rims and got 16" and later 17" ones for summer.

[Seafoam]

I would be very interested in hearing opinions from anyone owing a new MX-5 or that had the opportunity to drive one since the post was first opened in November of last year.

According to Mazda.ca, there is a GT Performance option package available for the GT that bundles the limited slip, the stability control and the sport suspension which is very good news and would address concerns stated in previous posts.

I was at the dealer yesterday checking them out. This package does exist on the GT but the website has not been updated under "build your mazda"

On another note the sport suspension is not all it was cracked up to be.The shocks are bilstein's but the springs are similar to the base model.The previous miata was sold with a true sports package. There has been much discussion of this on "Miata.Net".Some owners of sports package cars that track their cars have ditched the oem springs for aftermarket eibach units,this lowers the car a bit more.

 

[Benhaze]

205/45-17 seems easy enough to find though. TireRack has 20 different choices available.  Not that I'm against 225/45-17, but could there be a reason why Mazda prefered the narrower size?  The wheel diameter is only 2.92% larger, but maybe there are clearance issues?

I never really had an issue with the 205/55-15 on the MX-3.  I easily found that size and they're also essemtially the same diameter as 225/50-15.  In the end I used the 15" wheels as winter rims and got 16" and later 17" ones for summer.

Wider tires don't perform as well in the rain and with the light weight of the MX-5, there is probably little benefit to go to a wider tire on dry. The 45 profile by itself is already agressive enough. And as you mentioned, now the vehicle has been designed with the 205, there could be clearance issues going wider.

[ghost]

the new mx5 look so jacked up vs the NB. And believe it or not when parked next to one another the new NC are noticeably bigger than the NB. I for one prefer the MS miata. once you get intoxicated with the turbo and it's tuning capabilities, it's hard to go back to NAs.
I find the NB's bodysheel a bit more appealing whereas the NC looked very awkward. It's still a good looking car but somehow the shapes don't flow together vs the fluid like NBs. I've seen a few in Vancouvery already.

[84im]

The NC definitely needs after-market springs to bring the wheel wells closer to the top of the tires.
I like the NC, but I wouldn't sell my monster to get one.

[Seafoam]

I think it's going to be hard to find many on the roads anyway. The dealer i was talking to said there were only 1700 MX5s available to Canadian mazda dealers for this model year. Don't know how good that information is though.

[84im]

On Miata.net posters are already talking about sizable discounts on NCs.
Chances of similar discounts in Canada? 

[Benhaze]

                  

 Like winning the lottery... 

[Seafoam]

We always get screwed.

[dorin]

On Miata.net posters are already talking about sizable discounts on NCs.
Chances of similar discounts in Canada? 

Okay, what's an "NC"?

[ghost]

internal model code.
like the E46 is to the previous gen 3-series, e90 the current gen....or 996 for the previous gen 911 and 997 for the current gen 911.... you know the drill.

[dorin]

And which model is the NC, the new one or the old one?  I'd assume the old one...

[Seafoam]

And which model is the NC, the new one or the old one?  I'd assume the old one...

NC is 2006 MX5 [no longer called miata for some reason]
NB 99-05 miata
NA 90-97 miata [popup headlights] there was no 98 miata sold in North America