Comparison Review: Mazda MX-5 GS vs Mazda MX-5 RF - Soft-top or Hardtop?
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 29 มิ.ย. 2024
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What kind of convertible top do you prefer? Soft top or hard top? The Mazda MX-5 - or Miata as it is also known - is one of the last remaining 2-seat convertible sports cars on the market. But while the current 4th generation Mazda MX-5 is available with a range of options, the most important one to choose is what type of top to have. Hardtop or soft-top?
Both variants of the Mazda MX-5 are only available with a 2.0L naturally aspirated engine that produces 181 hp and 151 lb-ft of torque. This 2.0L engine can accelerate the car to 100 km/h in around 6.5 seconds which is very respectable.
The Mazda Miata MX-5 is available with either a 6-speed automatic or a 6-speed manual as I have here with these two demo vehicles. Honestly, the 6-speed manual is the way to go with a sports car like these.
Apart from the roofs though, the other biggest difference between the regular MX-5 Miata and the Miata RF is the price. The red MX-5 GS starts at $33,100 CAD ($26,580 USD) while the grey MX-5 RF starts at $40,100 CAD ($33,045 USD). But which one is the better one?
#Mazda #MX5 #Comparison
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Video Navigation
0:00 Intro - Don't forget to Subscribe :)
1:13 Performance - Is there a noticeable difference?
4:40 Comfort - Can I fit in them?
7:00 Odds and Ends - What gadgets do they have?
8:58 Conclusion - Which is best? - ยานยนต์และพาหนะ
Important question: Which Mazda MX-5 would you choose? Soft-top or Hardtop?
hardtop, for better design and a little bit more safety
Soft top is a convertible. Hardtop is a Mazda. Have the 2016 and LOVE it
Soft top because design still looks excellent and the top is easy to take off. hardtop is cool but the electric button will break or get stuck and it will be hell to repair.
@@vahidrezvanizadeh2611 the car is a risk to drive period, hardtop isn’t safe because ur head is close to the roof, that’s why the seats have those bars, they aren’t for show, it’s to keep ur head from getting crushed.
i always find soft top looks more 'roadster' sportier, if safety wise aside, soft top is my choice
I think this gen RF is one of the finest looking cars ever made. I am saving up to add one to my garage.
Me tooooo. Love it. What color do you like? I love the soul red but for everyday use i think the grey color would be the best.
@@lucianolucidi8624 Machine Gray Metallic for me. Red gets too much attention and color matching could be a big concern if you ever needed paint repair.
@@t.k.morris i wanted it in machine Grey but I found a usedone almost new in crystal red and i loved it. I thought same as you before buying it. But then, at least where i live, red is not so standing out and I dont feel eyes on all the time. You're right about the fragile paint. I heard also the Machine grey is very delicate. Isn't it? Anyway great Mx5
Never thought I'd be interested in a MX-5 but damn that car looks good.
They look better in person
I bought the soft top. I like the top down, and the RF doesn’t give me what I want. Not to mention the additional cost and weight. But for those who will rarely put the top down, the RF is attractive, and I assume more quiet at faster speeds. So it depends on the individual. Having a choice is nice.
I have the RF and have the room down all the time. I prefer the RF because it is quieter, will never need replaced, and cannot get torn. I have an 05 MSM but really like the RF. You are correct options are great!
@@mikekern6577 Yes, we both got what we preferred. One size does not fit all.
I'd prefer a solid fastback. Dealing with the drains in the rf seems kind of like a pain
What about cold weather? How is that?
MX-5's biggest character is lightweight and simplicity in my opinion. Thus, I would always take the soft top.
Yea I'm curious to hear from owners of the RF how the mechanics of the hard top lasted over their ownership of the car. Whether it had any breakdowns or not.
Thanks for watching!
until you can only park outside
Best car review video I've ever seen. Practical and thorough. Hopefully in his article he touches on reliability and any historical maintenance issues. Love the car. Love the review. Well done.
Thank you! Really appreciate the feedback!
Wonderful review, thanks.
Brilliant review. I have looked for years to answers to my questions and you just nailed it. Brilliant editing. Great video ❤
Thank you!
That intro is what I needed. Great video.
Thanks! My newer videos have more elaborate intros and I'm always trying to come up with something new
Loved the review. Concise, direct and honest.
Thank you!
Good Review! Picking ours up tomorrow. The RF 100 Anniversary Edition GT! Thanks!
Nice! Congratulations & thanks for watching!
Hey Tang, how is the experience with the car going? Looking fwd to have this car in the future.
I'm in Northern Illinois & have a 2016 MX-5 Sot Top Club with the Brembo / BBS package. Its my daily driver ! In the colder months the winter tires go on & its an awesome foul weather car as long as the snow does not go over 6 inches. The soft top gets washed every car wash in a manual stall with 303 Cleaner & o soft brush. In the fall the 303 Fabric Guard that comes in he kit gets applied by soft sponge brushes. I've been thru some of the most adverse weather conditions in this car & the soft top looks like the day I drove it off the dealer lot ! Just don't park under trees for shade or even winter because the filters can need cleaning more than my every 3 years. Awesome car for all 4 seasons. BTW I left my car stock height & went with 16 inch winter tires for more sidewall to handle the pot holes.
Clear and simple review, easy to understand. Nice,, you earn 1 subscriber.
Thank you! I appreciate it!
I have a 2019 soft top model. I don‘t have any experience with the Hardtop. But i can‘t imagine i would be happier with it than with my soft top. You open or close it in under 2 seconds. It‘s so much fun.
how about when it rains, any leaks ? i never own a soft top car.
Buen video muy bonitos autos ✌️😎
Great car, I get an average of 6L/100 with my 2020 ST, great video.
My birthday was the 16th and I treated myself to a grey soft-top GT for a second car. Being in the south it will be more of a 3/4 year car, but overall I am super stoked on it.
Congratulations!! 👏 👏
I have a black RF, love it! It looks better with the top on or off!
thanks for the info. i bought the soft top, and i love it.
Thank you for this very well done video
Thanks for watching!
Great info, cheers ! 🍻 ... am 6.2, but determined to go find out if I fit !
Yep, definitely sit in them and see if you fit in those seats.
Bought a 2020 RF Club in polymetal gray a few months back, so far I'm loving it! I live in Washington State so it's perfect especially when it rains half the year lol. I'm 6 foot 1 and honestly I fit just fine though if I were any bigger it wouldn't be comfortable. Highly recommend the RF!
Nice, Congratulations on your purchase! I think people up to 6-feet are perfectly fine in the MX5. It's people that are taller like me at 6'4" that have problems haha.
Thanks for watching!
@@MGReviewsBlog so there’s no chance if I’m 6’5”?)
@@jornhigh1632 probability not 😕
I am only 1,73 cm so its the perfect car for me. I love the grey color!!! I am looking for a usedone in grey color with Tobaco leather interior.
another canadian car channel. Nice!
Make sure you subscribe 😉
Thanks for watching!
5:47 Finally a benefit for us less than 6 feet tall =)
I bought the 2021 Soft top with the Soul Ref Crystal. I live in the Deep South so Winters aren’t an issue. There is nothing obstructing the beautiful view of the Gulf Coast!
Very nice choice in colour! That red pops in direct sunlight like no other red. Congratulations btw!
I hope you subscribed because I'm actually doing a comparison of the MX-5 soft top against a JCW Mini convertible.
No question. The hardtop version looks AMAZING!
...as the video states, there's more to the decision it than looks alone.
@@scootcha hardtop looks awesome!
Love my RF
Mazda didn’t listen. They just wanted it higher revving and it ended up producing more power. It was a happy coincidence. Even the designers didn’t know until the car was landing in the US.
I just purchased a 2017 RF grand touring "hardtop" 6spd manual,coolest,most fun car i have ever driven.
.. ( First Impression ). Ok . Dude , Your Look's.. You got some CrazY/NuttY Looks ( Like an Canadian version of "MR BEAN" )..lol, I love It !!.. Your clear talking , easy to Listen Too. and you have some Wit.. I'll Subscribe !!
Haha, thank you?! Funny you mention Mr. Bean because in elementary school, my friends gave me that nickname Lol. Thanks for Subscribing!!
@@MGReviewsBlog I love canadians
Fell in love with the RF in a Trader Joe's parking lot when the new design came out. In that gorgeous Mazda red with just a hint of raspberry in it. Hoping the used prices will come down once a new style hits in... 2024?
Yea the next generation MX-5 should be announced within the next year or so. Mazda has been making some patent filings under the MX-5 name recently so hopefully not much longer to wait for the next one.
RF looks better and offers more security with the top up (think firearms). Soft top is slightly lighter and quicker. Plus, it has an additional small cubby space behind the driver's seat. The soft top is also a more pure, quieter top down experience. The RF is slightly quieter top up. That's about it.
Driving my MX5 RF ND2 all year round here in southern skandinavia - wintertires of course. RT is heavier but more resilient and look soooooo much better.
I have the hardtop convertible and love it !!!
Nice overview. Like much in life, choosing a soft-top vs. a hard-top is not a black or white decision. Is the MX-5 going to be a daily driver or weekender? What is the climate like where you live? Are you driving in the cold or snow? Will you be doing much highway driving? Where will you park/store the car when not driving it? All of these might factor into the decision and push you one way or the other. When inventory becomes available, I personally plan to buy the 2022 Club soft top w/Brembo/Recaro package. It will be a second car and I will primarily use it with the top down on sunny days, avoid highways when possible, and store it in the winter (we get plenty of snow in NE Ohio and RWD is a bad idea).
@jeffhyde3128 did you end up getting the car you wanted? Rear drive is fine in winter if you get proper tires, I'd be more concerned with salty roads causing rust.
@@toddsmith8608 I did! With the aforementioned options in Blood of My Enemies Red color. (AKA Soul Red) I store it in the winter to avoid snow and salt.
Good camera work
Thank you so much 😀
Yeah I completely agree, that was excellent. Subscribed!
I’ve been going back and forth on which one to buy and your video is by far the best I’ve watched.
Thank you 😊
Did you end up making a decision? Or are closer to making one?
@@MGReviewsBlogBecause this vehicle will be my primary source of transportation- I’m taking your advice and I chose the hard top. Right now waiting on car salesman to get back to me with approval of deal.
@@MGReviewsBlog I spoke to salesman and because of my (low) budget- it looks like it’s going to be soft top.
Best review i have seen so far
Great review. Which one is best? Is there such a thing? Staying one is any better than the other is like trying to convince a beer Connoisseur that a Porter is somehow better than a Hefeweizen. They’re both fantastic vehicles and all boils down to personal preferences.
Haha, that's one of the better analogies I've heard. Thanks for watching!
I have a 2018 and it is just hard not to have a stupid grin on my face every time I drive it. Just a lot of fun--responsive and great handling.
Haha, that's a great way to describe the MX-5 in a nutshell.
Thanks for watching!
Thanks, MG Reviews, for the video. What your opinion about the new Toyota GR86, comparing to Miata (RF and Soft Top)? Because I like both. I appreciate your answer. Happy New Year for you and your family.
The MX-5 is a very good little sports car. The GR86 will have tough competition and hopefully I'll be able to do an RF vs GR86 comparison sometime in the summer.
@@MGReviewsBlog Thanks a lot. I'll be waiting for this comparison... Congrats for the Channel.
Again one is not better . If you buy a hard top or soft top or the new 86 you will love it . No mistakes here I believe.
Love this car one of my bucket list
Having got a soft top NC myself, I would say the hard top as road noise is a serious problem in my MX5. Eventually one gets used to it but it is noticeable once you drive other cars.
Yea that soft top has very little insulation even compared to other soft top convertibles. Are you thinking of upgrading your NC to the ND RF?
@@MGReviewsBlog Yes I’ve found that to be the case in my NC. Very thin roof indeed. It’s very chilly out of season and there’s a good chance road noise is still an issue if the material hasn’t been thickened properly like on other cars where owners have no complaints about road noise, wind/air circulating around the cabin. I’m think about upgrading to the ND but it’s really difficult to pick what’s best now that the entire cabin isn’t opened up with the roof down with the hard top.
With top down motoring the soft top feels totally open whereas the rf feels claustrophobic
I didn't really feel claustrophobic in the RF but the soft top is definitely the more "open air experience" of the two.
Mk3 hard top is much better 👍
@@rongrant6341 yes at least it converts to a roadster rather than a targa .
Was looking for you to mention this in the video but you lose the feel of an open convertible in the RF. It feels more like a bigger sunroof than a convertible.
Still feels like a convertible for me and the RF looks much cooler. Nicer styling RF plus still a basic open air feel. I own this model and love it. I have it in the Soul Red and I get tons of compliments. Manual RF GT with the Red exterior is the best. For an even cooler look get the Recaro/ BBS package, but that will cost another $5k and doesn’t make much difference in ride. The Recaro seats look good but they are not as comfortable as the standard leather ones
There are also 2 moderate sized storage compartments behind the seats.
The RF does have a bit more body roll. I noticed my wife's NC GT hardtop was slightly better on body roll compared to her 2019 RF. My son's RF is the same. Easy fix with some springs as well as better wider tires and wheels.
A family of Miata owners. Nice!
So the RF has a stiffer suspension but more body roll due to having a higher center of gravity? Weird
@@0xdawg754, Yeah, it also has a slightly shorter wheelbase. I noticed it sits higher than the NC, NB, NA. The ND seems to body roll more. It still handles great, but in comparison, the NC handles better at high speeds. I have had the NC to the limit, it felt stable. The others still feel good, but are light and easily affected by the wind. Well more so than the NC GT.
This is an NC vs ND issue, not a hardtop vs soft top one. Jason Camisa has a long episode on Carmudgeon about the Miatas and frequently points out this difference.
"Bildstein" should be pronounced like the english word Building without ing plus sht-i-n. Great review btw.!
For a review like this you should have found a NC PRHT- power retractable hard top. Best of both worlds. A true convertible when open, with the benefits of a hard top when closed.
It could be something I could try in the future. I have a friend who owns an RF so I'll just have to find an NC generation now...
The RF is ways better, it has less body roll and I also enjoy putting the top down every morning. I think what I love the best (besides the looks) is the fact that on my way home on the afternoon, I can put my top up and have a coop with minimal road noise and better cooling. I really do not get the complaint of the noise with the RF top down, I have it down every morning going 75-80mph no problem 🤷🏾♂️, I am early in my 30s and used to commute on motorcycles for most of the year, so maybe if you are way older that might pose an issue but if you are I your 50s this is a non issue. Okay, I have to mention the looks, literally everyday someone is looking at my car or waving next to me only to ask what car it is, definitely a head turner.
But the soft top version is what the NA was born with.
Guy´s do ya´lls soft top make hood noises when is up and going over bumps? Mine makes them... a bit too much... feels as if something was loose at the top... :( Wanted to see if ya´ll are going through the same...?
Hardtop is awesome.. the process when open n close are cool, its like superhero car😂
N softtop will dirty from dust etc, or has bed smell after rainy or another wet things,
That RF is awesome for no-garage-owning people like myself who want to use it as a daily.
With the flying buttresses, I was concerned about blind spots. After having a '19 RF for a 24 hour test drive, the reality is this...if you have any blind spots in that car, you don't have your mirrors positioned correctly. Point blank and period.
And it has blind spot sensors too so no excuses, haha
I’ll wait 13 seconds and get the hard top I’m patient hehehe
to get an idea of how you fit, what is your inseam?
The rf looks so much better
I think they should do it the same as they did with the na and nb, have a removable hardtop and a soft top
I got an na myself and it’s the best car I ever bought
If you want a small city car that has driveability like Miata take Mazda 2 but not 75hp, 90 or 115!it's like Miata with 4 doors. I'm 180cm and it's great
Sure, the blindspot alert plus the Euro style split mirrors help, but both blindspots still exist. It's the driver's side blindspot, requiring you to lean forward before looking over your left shoulder, which could be a dealbreaker. Mazda could have reduced it by making the doors longer, a la Audi TT or Porsche Cayman, which reduces considerably the need to lean forward.
To my mind, the TT is the perfect sports car design, combining a hatchback's luggage carrying capacity with the rear seatback down in the coupe version and a 2 + small 2 passenger capacity with the rear seatback up.
In my opinion the blind spot sensors are more of a secondary blanket of security. The mirrors should be properly positioned so that as soon as a vehicle disappears from the mirror, its front bumper should be visible to you when turning your head left to check the blind zone. You shouldn't need to lift your shoulders off the seatback to check your blind zone.
Which of them should I buy since my place is always summer.. is rf good for a hot climate or the ragtop?
If you're in a consistently hot climate, then save the extra bit of money and take the softtop over the RF hardtop. You won't be disappointed.
Thanks for watching!
Agreed NC to ND, it got smaller inside. Closer to the NA.
And may the RF (And the PRHT before it) be the closest a Miata gets to a hard top coup. Maybe a fast back T-Top Miata...
I could have gone either way but in the end I'm glad we bought a GT RF. While driving I'm not aware of what is behind me; I have to turn my head quite a bit to see the fastback parts.
I really like the automatic roof operation.
The car is more secure with the top in place.
On very hot days the AC with the top in place makes the cabin comfortable. We have about 6 weeks of over 100 degree days in the summer here.
The cabin is quieter with the roof in place.
I think the hard top will outlast the soft top.
I don't care about the extra weight because I don't race my car.
I really like the looks of the RF.
In spite of all of that I drive almost 100% with the roof off. Rain is about the only condition that will call for the roof.
How is the noise top down in the RF?
I definitely love soft tops, but safety is an issue, like people breaking in. At least in my neighborhood. I’ve owned two NA miatas, never put the top down. I think I prefer the hard top because of this, I’ll never put it down, don’t have to worry about the button breaking haha xD
Yep, definitely more secure with the hard top and it's not that big of a sacrifice in terms of "open top driving" compared to the soft top.
Thanks for watching!
You are spot on and the security is the best and really only advantage of the hard top. its much noisier when the top is down then the soft top but if your not planning on driving top down alot then security for sure wins out. The mech is very similar to what they used in the NC PRHT. I had one for 8 years and had the top up and down every day, As complicated as the whole thing is I never had a issue with it. A friend bought my 08 NC PRHT and now 13 years old top still functions like new! I follow the Miata forum religiously and the 5 year old RFs arent reporting any top issues either.
@@rbroberts61 What is or were the top issues of concern? Button? Switch? ???
Tony, I think you misunderstood my comment. I was saying there have been really NO reported issues with the Retractable Hard top.
Appreciate your thoughts, but for me, I would ONLY want a hard top. Reasons--they look about ten times better, again, to me. Next, sound abatement, listening to music inside, and conversation. And, weather protection--and security and safety. I simple see ZERO reason for a convertible vehicle of any kind.
It was Soft Top for me. I thought about it and I decided that full open cockpit is best. I was correct. I love my 2023 MX-5 GT with the top down.
I want both. Does anyone know where they sell conversion kits to install a hardtop on the sport version of the ND.
Yes, that lite blue color is fine.
I have the 2017 GT RF. Use it mostly as a warmer weather car, but take it out weekly in cold weather with top down and the heater on. Have test driven the 180 HP 2021 and didn’t notice much of a power increase in normal driving. The power and torque hit together at about 4000 RPM, but I don’t see the need to be driving around revving the engine and burning extra gas. I will say that the newer engine is extremely smooth, smoother than my 2017.
Love the car in all ways, but being the little car does make it vulnerable to parking lot mishaps. Glad I have the side and rear warning system.
That’s because the ND1 makes the same (a little bit more by 1-2 ft lbs) torque until 6000 rpm than the ND2. The extra power is only above 6000 rpm, but mostly they are the same (source: flyin miata dyno tests).
People get so hung up on the weight and power of these cars, but in a blind test below 6000rpm you wouldn’t be able to tell the difference.
It is smoother though because of the new dual mass low inertia flywheel in the ND2, and the new throttle mapping.
the transmission can be made even BETTER by combining it with any of the short throw kits on the market for these. Seriously makes a perfect trans feel even better somehow.
wow good to know. any link???
I'd rather spend my $$$ on other modifications than a short shifter. The OEM is pretty nice right from the start. Now a axle back exhaust like the active Flying Miata Hush O Matic is what to spend your $$$ on instead. Well worth it !
@@ag4allgood I switched to the race pipe muffler delete and it woke the car up by the perfect amount. All other exhaust was stock, and it was very cheap and easy to mount. Highly-higly recommend.
You'll just have to trust my when I say the short shift kit transcends the cars shifting feel. It was heavenly. Like, back to NA-tier 'clicking' in to each gear.
@@UpToSpeedOnJaguar Any video or info on the muffler delete?
Crazy thought: raise (or lower) the RF top BEFORE you drive away! Or after you come to a stop. Works for me.
I'm just showing how slow 10 km/h actually is. I'd probably do it at a stop light too.
That's the only choice you have with the soft top.
@@OOICU812 you can raise or lower the soft top while driving at city speeds no problem.
ok i have a question. Is the soft top safe when it comes to snow. I ask cause im located in NJ and I dont have a garage to park the miata and winter here we get snow and sometimes i think the soft top would cave in if there would be a blizzard or is the soft top strong enough to hold such amount of snow. I do see that the soft top is a much easier use as far as timing goes when it comes to opening and closing rather than the 13 second wait for the hard top to open or close.
I saw a commercial but not sure where if it was on tv or the internet but it was a commercial advertisement of a car cover that removes the snow completely off of the car when removing the cover and ready to drive. I thought hey thats a neat tool. And you can take the cover everywhere and cover the car if its still snowing. You know how they announce on the news, the radio that reminds people to clean the snow off your car before driving.
That's a good question. I never drove the MX5 soft-top in the winter. Hopefully a fellow owner might be able to comment on this?
I've only driven the RF during the winter but it didn't snow. It was just sub-zero temperatures. The roof creaked from the seals as the ice built up on it while driving but once the cabin warmed up and melted some of the ice around the rubber seals, it was back to normal noises. ie, tire and a bit of wind noise.
@@MGReviewsBlog well, I hope someone will answer my question before I decide to buy a Miata. Sorry I do not own a Miata just yet but was asking. Right now I am going through the process of having my drivers license reinstated and when I get my drivers license, i'll surely be ready to purchase a Miata.
On such a lightweight car 50 extra kilograms is an awful lot. It is a 5% increase in weight. Hence the hardtop is 0.3 second slower from 0-62 Mph.
Soft top 100%. The madness of all that machinery in the hardtop is unnecessary. Plus - something is bound to go ‘ clunk ‘ with all fancy machinery.
Very true. I'm not sure how that hard top will still perform say 10 or 15 years from now. Thanks for watching!
How’s your rotary phone?
@@grisa12345 ha ha - it’s still working and tons of cash in the bank are music to my ears. lol
@bobcat baldfat drunkbeater And so what if it fails. Get it fixed and move on. Avoiding technology and in this case the significant benefits of the folding hard top, because “one day it will fail” is no way to live your life. I raise and lower my top like it’s a power window, and I have 5 years of warranty to enjoy it before I give it a moment of thought.
@@grisa12345 Five years? Extended or factory warranty?
What about wind noise / buffeting with the top down comparison? In my test driving I can’t say I ever noticed or cared about this ‘issue’ but a lot of people kick up a fuss about it.
With the tops down and side windows rolled up, the soft top felt as though it had a little bit more buffeting. But it's the other way around with the side windows rolled down.
I bounce back and forth often between driving my ND Soft top and renting The RF for weeks on end at least a few times a year from Enterprise when Im visiting my Folks in Florida. If you do back to back comparisons its plain to see that the RF, under any conditions is far worse then the soft top when it comes to wind/road noise and buffeting with top down. The RF was not designed to be a Targa and the wind funnels over the windshield and is directed through the Buttress where it makes a lot of noise. None in the Soft Top (ST). At 80mph, top down you can talk on the Speaker phone and no one knows your in a convertable. In the RF you cant hold a conversation with the person in the car with you at 80 nor hear the radio with the top down and dont even bother to try and use hands free calling. So just compairing those couple of things is a nice indication of noise. The buffeting in the RF is horrendous! If your new to convertables then you might think its OK but all Ive driven for 50 years are convertables and the RF stands out as the worst Top down experiance of anything Ive ever driven including my 1969 convertable VW Bug. The buffeting and turbulance like the sound can be witnessed easily as well. Try driving the RF and The ST in the rain with the top down! I know it sounds goofy but heres what ya get. In the ST and all of the previous NA, NB, NC if your driving top down at anything over 50 and get caught in a shower as long as you keep moving you will stay dry The airflow is smooth, no buffetting and the rain passes over the car in the airstream....Bone Dry! Try it in the RF, windows up, top down and then youll see just how bad the airflow is in the car. Not only will you be soaked but every inch including the instrument panel and even the inside of the windshield is drenched within seconds. The rain gets forced into the cabin where it spins around like a cyclone in the RF. Youll be forced to pull over and youd be better off just standing there in the rain, you'll be dryer! Everyone thinks that it should be quieter inside when all closed up considering its a hard top but thats not true either. The RF, Like the NC PRHT has a fiberlglass top. Neither the ST nor the RF have any sound deading materials....."Gram Stradagy" cant afford the extra weight. All of the road noise resinates into both the RF and ST. But just like in the NC, The RF top doesnt absorb and disapate any of the noise, in fact in aplifies it and its louder than the Soft top. I drive nearly exclusively top down. I live in AZ and my top has almost never been up except for washing. I do drive a couple of times a year 9 hours on the freeway From Phoenix to San Clemente Ca and will go the entire ride with the top down in the ST and love it. I have a limit of about an hour in the RF before I just cant take it anymore. The wind, the noise the buffeting is all exhausting and you cant even hear the radio to help make the time go by. Im very involved with the Miata Forum and it always makes me laugh when the RF owners say that the RF isnt so bad then they follow it up by sharing the info about the brand of ear plugs they wear when they take the car over 50mph. NO JOKE! Chck out the forum, pretty funny to hear them defend the cars crappy top down experiance and follow it up by saying they wear Ear Plugs.
PS. If you drive an RF its a great car and Im not trying to slam it, just stating what I observe but I can give you a tip. REMOVE THE WIND BLOCKER, it actually makes a difference. It works great in the ST but in the RF its makes the buffeting much worse and does nothing benificial. It basically does the opposite of what its intended for. Stick it in the trunk and forget you have it!
wait whaaaa u can get the red leather with the brembo package for 2020? i thought it was all one package with brembos and recaros
On the RF, yes you can. But you can also opt for the Brembos with the Recaro seats as well but it's a package only on the lower GS-P trim.
@@MGReviewsBlog woah i had no clue, that spec is absolutely beautiful!
Soft top, please !!
i prefer the removable hard top of the old miatas
If I had the soft top, I would haft to park it in the winder, so I got the RF, and I love it.
Nice! Any issues with the RF in the winter? I briefly had one a few years ago and it the top would always squeak in sub-zero (celcius) temperatures until the cabin warmed up a bit.
I have the RF as a daily driver. For the winter is the hardtop the better choice for me
Nice! Any issues with the top during winter during sub-zero (celcius) temperatures?
I think you can actually get a little mod that allows you to do the RF top at up to 30mph
wow any link?
The correct pronunciation for the shock absorbers is Bil-shtAin. Bil like the name Bill and stAin with A like in Apple word. I've been working in Germany at the stossdampfer production ThissenKruppBilstein factory......so I know a thing or two about.....
And by the way, the main body of the shock absorbers made by Bilstein is produced in France at Valourec steel factory....
Years from now when we look back, the RF would be the more special of the two. I would get this one for this gen because of this. Also owning both a s2000 and turbo nb I could tell you how much of a pain getting holes in the soft top is and how costly it is to replace. With the soft up the look is not my cup of tea would end up buying a hardtop for them anyways. Just my two cents.
personally i like the soft top.
I have the same rf! Same year, colour and seat colour
Nice! Enjoying it?
@@MGReviewsBlog rf is more practical yk? like u will enjoy it w/roof and w/o but the soft top, u will just enjoy it w/o roof
It's probably been mentioned already, but the Bilstein shocks are not inherent to the RF vs ragtop; they are optional.
Always liked the Miata. Just too small for me. No glovebox? Boo Hiss! However I bet I’d learn to love it. ❤️
It has the storage space between the seats (and two smaller ones behind the seats) which is big enough to hold the two "cupholders" along with the owner's manual.But yes, it is a very fun car to drive!
I didn’t get the Miata- I’m 6ft and it was was too tight. I loved the car - I hated that I couldn’t get it. I ended up with Mustang convertible- not as cool- but tons more space.
In the Mazda store there aren't the seats red wine like your RF, where did you bought them
The red Nappa leather seats are part of the Exclusive Package (that's what it's called here in Canada) and is only available on the GT trim with a few select exterior colours. It may be different for other markets or just not available at all in other markets around the world :/
Thanks for watching!
I would choose the traditional convertible MX-5. I bought a 2019 Fiat 124 Spyder and loved it which is a MX-5 under the different styling and with a smaller engine. But my wife wanted a red Camaro RS convertible which we both hated and sold it.
yea, the Camaro is a totally different car to this MX-5. How has the reliability been with that 1.4L turbo multiair engine?
@@MGReviewsBlog I had no touble at all with the Fiat. I've been sorry I traded it off from day one.
I am afraid you are lacking the major comparison which is the driving experience top down. Due to the buffetting in the RF in higher speeds driving without a top in RF becomes unbearable. RF is more as a coupé and occassionally a targa unlike a soft top when you drive it top down at all times but rain. 2s roof operation supports this idea, whereas with RF you wouldn’t drive the car without a roof that often due to the roof operation time and mentioned buffeting. Soft top for me. I’m 6f 2.5. For taller drivers recaro seats are better as you sit lower
I didn't notice too much bad buffetting in the RF. I did drive it on a highway with the roof off but the windows up. Maybe with the windows down, I can see that being a problem. But you're right on the top and like I said in the video, the RF top takes an eternity compared to the soft top.
Thanks for watching ✌
@@MGReviewsBlog as an owner of the RF, highway wind is bad with the windows down. and drops significantly with the windows up. also does a good job keeping the warm air in.
I assume people who complain about the minimal buffeting have never been on a motorcycle. The 13 second operation time doesn’t dissuade me from putting the top down almost every day this summer either. It’s 13 seconds.
the RF top down noise level also depends on which way the wind is blowing. if you're driving with the wind, it tends to be not quite as loud and 65 MPH is not horrible. against the wind, and 50 MPH is really loud. there are other considerations for hard/soft top of course. i have the RF, but i'd really rather have one of each.
@@chuckcornelius194 you and me both haha
NICE！
Thanks!
Choose a hard top NC instead, best of both worlds! The RF to me is a bit weird, i don't see it as a true convertible. I really wanted a hard top convertible for security and noise reduction. Yeah the manual soft top roof is faster but you get to make the Transformer noise with the power roof :D
Unfortunately I've never driven the FC hardtop. But I can understand your comment about the RF not being a true convertible because of those buttresses still being there.
I have a NC, drove a ND RF, the cabin is too small, and the targa is too closed for me, also I hate the screen on top of the dash. I prefer the NC.
Soft tip looks tighter
Was this video shot here in Vancouver?
Good eye! Yes, I am based in Vancouver, Canada 🇨🇦
The Targa top look best
Definitely a soft top
I just bought a 2021 Red sport softop. Its for fun and its more than enough. Besides the RF just makes you feel like you have a sun roof. The Softop is actually very much more viceral and you feel the warm air around you on a sunny day. All i need now is a sunny day.Come on Summer
Nice, congratulations on your purchase!
Not a fan of the RF’s looks with the top up or down. Don’t like the attempted fastback look. The convertible is a beauty either way.
Wish it had more leg room like a boxster.
Me too. It just needs an inch or two