Thank you for discussing the auto transmission objectively for those of us who needed to hear some real feedback about it. I suspected it was good, because I own a Mazda3 and the shifting in that car is actually kind of fun. I am an impossibly small demographic - perhaps one of the only ones of my kind - who is curious about the auto Miata because I only have 1 leg, and it is missing above knee. I drove manual for years, and had to part with my 06 EVO when I lost my leg. I wish I could afford Porsche PDK transmission, but instead I’m looking at DCT hot hatches and regular ole transmissions with sport modes, just hoping to find one that lets me have a good amount of fun for my investment. It looks like this one will do the trick.
My grandfather lost his leg in the Korean War. Also above knee. He drove manual cars fine (didn’t have a choice). and now days there are tons of options for handicap controls. The real problem is getting in and out of the car.
Dude, i own a Mazda 3 with Skyactiv automatic transmision, I cant tell It works better than regular automatics, near the same as DCT, but the fact it still uses torque converter makes a little bit off slip even though it locks when reves increases. So go for it.
There are so many guys doing reviews about cars on TH-cam, a lot seemingly too professional to understand, but I happen to find yours just offers enough practical and informative information. Thumbs up
With the softop up you can store things behind the seat like a backpack for example. Just remember to remove it before folding the softop. Also at 35mph or with heavy wind don't try to close the softop as the wind will work against you closing it. You will need to lift it again and slow down so when you close it the wind won't block it from closing.
Wow, what an honest review of both cars., not only manual and automatic, but soft top and retractable hard top. like the fact that even though he owns a soft top manual, he left room for choosing which one a buyer can consider. Excellent work .
I've driven both the softtop and the RF back to back and with the roof closed, there is a noticeable difference in noise. In the RF you get more like a coupe feeling whereas in the softtop, it still seems you have streetnoises coming from all around you. As a daily driver, I would certainly go for the RF. (I own a van if there's a need for more luggage space after shopping)
@@ashleyriera-salwey1509 with the RF you have a constant buffeting noise next to your ear whereas with the softtop, you have the same environmental sounds as with the top up but louder...
Very good review. I have watched MANY reviews on the Miata and your video was informative. I learned, for the first time, that the "glove box" has different depths between the ST and RF.
Great review ,really enjoyed it ,I'm 63 , just replaced my BMW 630i sports coupe with an RF and I love it ,it's an automatic too and that means I can concentrate on enjoying the drive without the hassle of changing gears .
Really helpful comparison of a soft-top manual Miata vs hard-top automatic Miata. You covered a lot to detail which is very helpful for someone like me. I am not an expert on the mechanical workings of a car.
Nice to hear an opinion on the auto trans for once. For the decibel test I think the windscreen is doing its job. Attach the phone to the headrest and watch the numbers differ. I owned an NB and an RF, while not the same the RF was WAY louder. I live in Canada so the hardtop is better suited for winter and was worth the noise level
This was an excellent comparison between the two cars. You and your dad have been living with these vehicles and know from experience the pros and cons. Thank you.
Pretty sure that's not oil temperature when you push the little stalk above the MFD. The coolant temp gauge simply switches to a different scale (100 - 130° instead of 50 - 130°). Notice how the coolant icon stays the same when you push the stalk.
I own a '17 RF 6spd - bro-in-law owns a soft top '19 6spd. You can't go wrong with either! Gawd, I LOVE THIS CAR! So much fun on Ozark Mtn roads and an excellent alternative to my Triumph Speed Triple motorcycle when 4 wheels make more sense (winter) 😄
Very practical interview focused on hands-on practical review- cuts down on the very common technical information e.g. wheel size, height, trunk space test, etc.....
This is a good review. I own a Club RF with manual, same gray. I've never felt the body roll people complain about on the soft top, and I've driven a coupe of them. Nice mention on the Recaro seats, I really want to get some. In the U.S., they aren't offered at all. I'm sorry you live in a place where you're worried about knives so much!
Superb video - probably one of the best out there on the differences. I'm in the market for a Miata in around 2 month's time and this has been helpful. However, it is still a tough choice!
Buying this car in automatic is such a blatant error!! The manual shift is one of the best in the market!! Nice comparison, I'm surprised nobody ever thought of doing it before!!
@Ignacio - It's not an error, it's a choice. As someone further down in the thread says; they are older with bad knees - so obviously don't wanna contend with the clutch all the time. A lot of RF owners relish it as much as a grand tourer and don't obsess over the 0-60 difference and the auto's more relaxed use of the revs full range.
I agree about the manual transmission, but comparing the two cars has been done several times before, by people who are more knowledgeable then this young man.
Very good review! I have a Fiat 124 Spider Abarth with the automatic transmission (old with bad knees) and I LOVE it! I really like the Mazda's as well. I would definitely own either one of these.
@@ZOoM21 Get the MX-5. I got rid of the Spider. Had nothing but problems. Thermostat went out and the entire front clip had to be removed to get to it. All day job. The roof was rubbing against the roll bar behind my head and eventually would cause a hole in the roof. The roll bar was scarred. The dealership was no help. The alarm started going off while I was driving and I had it back to the dealership several times with no fix. I have heard good things about the MX-5 and especially the dealerships being much better. I don't think the Spider will be around for much longer. Good looking car, but nothing but problems. My experience anyway. Best of luck.
This was a very good review. I have owned my 2016ND GT SoftTop for almost 3 years. I recently rented an RF for a week while on business in California. Put 1000 miles on the car in 5 days. I agree with most of this review with the exception of Top Down driving noise levels. The SoftTop is FAR FAR quieter top down and anything over 50mph. I tried everything with the RF to make it tolerable. Windows up, windows down, rear noise deflector installed and removed. Its ll the same, the wind turbulence as the wind funnels through the Arch is HORRIBLE!!!! The soft top, windows up at 80mph is quiet enough that you can make a bluetooth phone call and the person on the other end of the call cant tell your in a convertible. At 65mph on the free way, the RF top down you have to crank the stereo and still cant hear yourself think. Its by far the worst top down experience Ive had in 50 years of top down driving and 30 years of miata ownership. The upgraded stock suspension of the RF is a beautiful thing and a vast improvement when it comes to roll. The security of the hardtop is a plus but if you like to drive top down this is not a convertible and not a highway car. My NC had the PRHT, it was truly the best of both worlds. I wish they could have figured out a way to make the ND PRHT but alas, no room in the smaller car to tuck away a full retractable hardtop.
I have an RF...1/2 a foam earplug in each ear and wind noise suddenly the same as top up. Yes, you can still hear horns and sirens just as with top up and, strangely, you can hear your stereo more clearly as the plugs "flatten" the high pitched wind noise. I owned an '05 NB Mazdaspeed turbo and loved it but always used earplugs in it as well. Also on my motorcycles. Your hearing will thank you years later by protecting it now!
You might be hearing the exhaust better in the RF because it has the automatic so it doesn't have a sound tube. If you remove the sound tube in your soft top you can hear the exhaust much better.
Very good video on comparisons. Thank you. I'm in love with the automatic RF and want it as a daily driver. I live in the midwest and we get snow. What is the best choice - would you use snow tires during winter, and switch back to every day tires in the spring, or is the new generation MX5 reliable enough in snow to use good quality all weather tires year round?
The 'revolution top' model, which includes bilstein, LSD and Recaro seats, is not limited. If an owner wants one, there should be no problem ordering it. in my country, fully loaded soul red RF costs 34.980 €
In the US, the Recaro seats are not available at all on the RF. (Not sure about on the soft top.) The LSD is standard on the Club trim, not available on Grand Touring. Bilsteins are optional on the Club trim , not available on the Grand Touring. Maddening!!
AVP--thanks for taking the time to give us a nice long, real world review of these two cars. Your are lucky to have access to your dad's RF. It looks like the RF has better rear vision with the clear wind blocker compared to the plastic one on the soft top. Keep up the good work.
I have an RF. In normal driving, the rear and side visibility is fine -- top up or down. However, from certain angles, the rear buttresses can block your view. With the mirrors properly adjusted, it's not an issue when merging onto a highway. The only time I've noticed this is when coming into an intersection at a lower angle (maybe 30 to 45 degrees instead of a conventional 90-degree corner).
I'm in yr 8 right now, But when I do purchase my own car in yr 11, It'll be the mazda mx-5 miata rf. Thanks a lot for such an entertaining and informative comparison. Subscribed + Liked :) Keep it up!
If I lived in the south of France, it could only be the soft top (but I'd stay out of Marseille). However living in the UK - or Belgium for that matter - the weather decides the issue in favour of the RF.
Soft top without a doubt. It´s the real thing, and it happens to be actually more practical; also lighter too. Well, my ND is a soft top, so I might be a little byased here. But I have to say that the targa MX5 looks great with the top up. Great little sports car both.
Is there something different going on with the boot lines - the back of the RF seems to look more squashed in and pinched. I don't know if it's an illusion or just the pillars making it looks less wide than the soft top. Something doesn't look quite right but I can't figure it out. Did you test the soft top vs RF noise with and without the wind deflector and with and without windows up?
The fastback style pillars do give the RF a different look in the rear. But the cars have the same dimensions. I did not test the noise without the wind deflectors but I have to say that the one in the RF did work a bit better and nicer then the deflector in the ST.
Love your comparison on the two version of the MX-5, which is more rounded than just driving dynamics. Also love your more practical attitude about the needs for a daily driver, instead of just "sports, sports, sports!" Keep up the good work. Subscribed.
With the top down, the soft top. The RF leaves allot of bulk still up, so more wind turbulence. With the roof up, the RF gets quieter and you get the peace of mind that you don't have a soft top.
Thanks for the great video,finally a review of the auto trans,I don't know why everyone calls it a slush box,with the paddles you have the best of both worlds,also a review of the boss sound system would be nice, thank you
Great review. I’m going soft top option as i prefer the whole roof to be “gone” - shame they don’t do the hard top like that but then there wouldn’t be much difference lol. Hope no-one slashes my roof :(
I want to get the soft top, but going with an RF as I am paranoided of my roof getting slashed and I want it to be my daily driver in Midwestern winters.
Star Lord the soft top is really hard unlike the old dats style, have a look at it! You’d be hard pushed to slash it! I love mine. Only thing I don’t like is cleaning it 😂 good luck
Star Lord drive them both top up and down, I’m happy I chose soft top, cheaper too. I love it. I think more blind spots in hard too. Good luck - you’ll be happy with whatever you choose - great cars :)
I very much liked the comparison between those both quite sexy cars. Before I'd seen your vid (watching how the RF got some smile on your face whilest you mentioned the exhaust's sound) I never ever would have considered an automatic sports car - but now: why not?
Thanks for a very interesting comparison. I'll be in the market for a 2020 as soon as they become available here. It appears that I can't go too far wrong regardless of whether I go for a manual or automatic, soft or RF. The manual is an easy decision, but selecting the top is causing some lost sleep. Do you know how tolerant Mazda is of modifications? If I add coil-overs or a roll bar is that likely to compromise the warranty?
Well my Mazda dealer has been pretty ok with my mods. It all depends if the warranty work is related to your modifications to the car. If they are, they might not want to cover the work under warranty, otherwise they normally will not give you too much of a hard time.
Sorry but you can't compare the 6 gears manual transmission with the automatic. With that being said, really great test drive. You point out a lot of details missed by other reviews. Thumbs up for that
Hello ! I wanted to ask you for advice on the purchase. I found the mx-5 1.5 December 2019 soft top km 0 at 23.500 ... but I was / am interesting with the 2.0 sport 160 hp RF also because I have to travel there at least once every 2 months (about 550 km) and I'm worried about the noises of the hood etc. At this price the 2.0 RF will never find it ... The 1.5 l I tried and tried again, it pushes less but it is a pleasure. I was also undecided on the canvas for the travel question. What do you suggest me?
Hi, well in my opinion a soft top will not be an issue for your longer trips. And if you really want you can get the 1.5l engine tuned to the same level of around 160hp. So I think a soft top 1.5l will be ok for your situation.
That was a really nice and detailed comparison! I personally drive a soft top MX-5 ND and i noticed that the water temperature reaches its operating temperature really fast! But there is no oil temperature gauge in the soft top. Can you tell me how long it takes in the RF until the oil is fully warmed up? My car takes about 1km to warm the water up and i wait at least 4km more before i drive harder. What is your experience with that?
+Carsten H. Well indeed I have that same issue not knowing when the car is at operating temperature. I will take a look when the RF shows the temp as ok. Normally I also drive about 5km to warm up the engine fully. But I will check that :-)
It typically takes about 15 minutes for the oil to be above 80°C (a safe temperature for fully loading the engine) from a cold start for a petrol car without an integrated manifold cooler like the MX5. You can ±5mins on that depending on ambient temperature & load the engine is seeing during that warm up time. So it takes a lot longer for the oil to be up to temperature when compared with the coolant.
awsome honest and neutral revue both great cars im going for rf as wkends away no more worries on knife crime also automatic still great fun with less work ......great revue friend
Love the soft top but these don’t last more than 5 years in the heat in states like Florida and are a pain to keep maintained in the long run in comparison.
Great review!. Im trying to decide between soft top and RF and this was soooo helpful. What about seats, does Recaro are comfy for a daily/GT car? And does they affect headroom? Im' 6,1 and every half of an inch matters :)
In my opinion the Recaro's are more comfortable then the stock seats and are actually great for GT driving. Also headroom does increase slightly with them fitted.
Must admit, the RF is the better drive as the suspension is better, and wind noise isn't much of an issue.....People would be surprised by the auto & don't rule it out without driving one........Only point to correct you on is the roof is not metal, it's a light-weight composite, hence its a lot lighter than you would expect......Other than that a decent fair review I'd say!.
Do you know if it will be eventually possible to retrofit the RF cluster into the softtop?(as the softtop is also getting the color display for MY2018)
from around 25:50, I show a chart of DB levels and also talk a bit more about I experienced the wind/road noise. Also, a lot of people have already left some comment from their own experience, so maybe that can help you as well.
+Fabien Jacques thank you for enjoying the videos. The antenna I use is just a shorter one I picked up from mx5-parts.co.uk but I am actually thinking to yest if "the stubby" antennas are better for DAB singnal strength. And also they look to fit a bit better in the product pictures.
Actually, found these : www.moss-europe.fr/marque-et-modele/mazda/mx-5-mk1/exterieur/accessoires/aerial-stubby.html www.mx5parts.co.uk/short-rubber-aerial-mk4-p-3791.html (that one you used) www.aliexpress.com/item/OEM-PART-8-CAR-ROOF-RADIO-MAST-WHIP-ANTENNA-GENUINE-For-Z3-Z4-For-HONDA-S2000/32808197256.html?trace=msiteDetail2pcDetail
Long term expense and ease of care: RF wins 100%. Look up R048/16A. Frame hoops are eating into and fraying my top after 1 year (2019 model, proper care followed according to owners manual), was told it was normal wear. I expect replacing it after maybe 5-10yrs, not in 1-2yrs.
Hey, ik heb u horen zeggen dat het windgeruis etc. ongeveer hetzelfde is in beide, terwijl ik vaak lees dat de RF een pak stiller is. Zijn de meeste dan gewoon aan het overdrijven? Vraag het omdat ik nogal veel autosnelweg rijd en wat schrik heb dat de softtop kakkeluid zal zijn. Thnx man
De RF zal door het stalen dak wel iets stiller zijn maar het rolgeluid tussen de 2 modellen blijft hetzelfde. En soms kan deze meer overheersen. Zou een testrit zeker aanraden 😉
Idk why I needed this video to show me what the temp gauge button changed did, oil temp! Couldn’t figure it out 😖 To clarify there is no oil symbol when you push the button.. just temp symbol.
Yes indeed but my indication that it would be oil temp is actually wrong as someone pointed out to me. The button just makes the temp scale of the gauge change. Not which temp is shown. My apologies for the miss information.
Well done for such a great review. I’m sure in Belgium it’s as cold, windy and wet from November to March as it is here in the U.K. Do you find the soft top usable during the poor weather; or do you hide it away over winter? My heart says take the more beautiful soft top but my head says go for the year round usability.
The soft top is definitely useable over winter. For example my car is currently serving as my fiance's daily driver. The only I do is keep my soft top protected for the harsher weather. There are multiple products like the Soft top protectant from Chemical guys or now you even have ceramic coatings for soft top. I am actually running a ceramic coating on mine this winter.
Out of all the reviews I've watched, you are the only one to point out the storage difference in those compartments. Wow Thanks!
+Jay Macro Photos thank you, that was the point of the video to show all the noticeable differences that an owner needs to know about the cars. :-)
Jay Macro Photos I was going to say then exact same thing. Only review to mention it. Good job!
I didn't know about those compartments until I saw this review
Here Here!!! Ditto!! Great review thanks man!!! OH btw your Totally not annoying like alot if the other reviewer's 😎🤙🤙✌️
Ryan Butterfield p
Thank you for discussing the auto transmission objectively for those of us who needed to hear some real feedback about it. I suspected it was good, because I own a Mazda3 and the shifting in that car is actually kind of fun.
I am an impossibly small demographic - perhaps one of the only ones of my kind - who is curious about the auto Miata because I only have 1 leg, and it is missing above knee. I drove manual for years, and had to part with my 06 EVO when I lost my leg. I wish I could afford Porsche PDK transmission, but instead I’m looking at DCT hot hatches and regular ole transmissions with sport modes, just hoping to find one that lets me have a good amount of fun for my investment. It looks like this one will do the trick.
Glad I could help man. I can ensure you that the auto does not lose much of the cars fun characteristics 😉
My grandfather lost his leg in the Korean War. Also above knee. He drove manual cars fine (didn’t have a choice). and now days there are tons of options for handicap controls.
The real problem is getting in and out of the car.
Dude, i own a Mazda 3 with Skyactiv automatic transmision, I cant tell It works better than regular automatics, near the same as DCT, but the fact it still uses torque converter makes a little bit off slip even though it locks when reves increases. So go for it.
BAD ASSSSSSS my dude
I actually opted for the auto 86 over the manual, probably cheaper than a miata and just as if not more fun
There are so many guys doing reviews about cars on TH-cam, a lot seemingly too professional to understand, but I happen to find yours just offers enough practical and informative information. Thumbs up
+Lance Li thank you glad you enjoyed it
With the softop up you can store things behind the seat like a backpack for example. Just remember to remove it before folding the softop. Also at 35mph or with heavy wind don't try to close the softop as the wind will work against you closing it. You will need to lift it again and slow down so when you close it the wind won't block it from closing.
Wow, what an honest review of both cars., not only manual and automatic, but soft top and retractable hard top. like the fact that even though he owns a soft top manual, he left room for choosing which one a buyer can consider. Excellent work .
Glad you liked it!
Me and my dad also have Mazdas. Mine is 2017 Mazda 6 and my dad has 2020 Mazda cx-5. Love Mazda
I've driven both the softtop and the RF back to back and with the roof closed, there is a noticeable difference in noise. In the RF you get more like a coupe feeling whereas in the softtop, it still seems you have streetnoises coming from all around you.
As a daily driver, I would certainly go for the RF. (I own a van if there's a need for more luggage space after shopping)
This information really surprised me - it seems really weird that soft top would be comparable to hard top in terms of noise.
@@Voxator no soft tops are loud af
And top down ?
@@ashleyriera-salwey1509 with the RF you have a constant buffeting noise next to your ear whereas with the softtop, you have the same environmental sounds as with the top up but louder...
@@ChrisVanderheeren the buffeting sound might be a huge dealbreaker
Very good review. I have watched MANY reviews on the Miata and your video was informative. I learned, for the first time, that the "glove box" has different depths between the ST and RF.
I have looked all over the place for DB levels of these 2.
Thanks a bunch!
Great review ,really enjoyed it ,I'm 63 , just replaced my BMW 630i sports coupe with an RF and I love it ,it's an automatic too and that means I can concentrate on enjoying the drive without the hassle of changing gears .
Really helpful comparison of a soft-top manual Miata vs hard-top automatic Miata. You covered a lot to detail which is very helpful for someone like me. I am not an expert on the mechanical workings of a car.
Nice to hear an opinion on the auto trans for once. For the decibel test I think the windscreen is doing its job. Attach the phone to the headrest and watch the numbers differ. I owned an NB and an RF, while not the same the RF was WAY louder. I live in Canada so the hardtop is better suited for winter and was worth the noise level
This was an excellent comparison between the two cars. You and your dad have been living with these vehicles and know from experience the pros and cons. Thank you.
Glad to hear that the auto transmission is good... Most racers use sport mode on the track rather than the manuel auto...But I love the paddles
Is manuel mexican?
Pretty sure that's not oil temperature when you push the little stalk above the MFD. The coolant temp gauge simply switches to a different scale (100 - 130° instead of 50 - 130°). Notice how the coolant icon stays the same when you push the stalk.
Excellent comparative review. All the details without being tedious. Great presentation skills.
I own a '17 RF 6spd - bro-in-law owns a soft top '19 6spd. You can't go wrong with either! Gawd, I LOVE THIS CAR! So much fun on Ozark Mtn roads and an excellent alternative to my Triumph Speed Triple motorcycle when 4 wheels make more sense (winter) 😄
This is one of the best Miata reviews I've seen. Thanks very much.
Thank you, glad you enjoyed it!
Very practical interview focused on hands-on practical review- cuts down on the very common technical information e.g. wheel size, height, trunk space test, etc.....
This is a good review. I own a Club RF with manual, same gray. I've never felt the body roll people complain about on the soft top, and I've driven a coupe of them. Nice mention on the Recaro seats, I really want to get some. In the U.S., they aren't offered at all. I'm sorry you live in a place where you're worried about knives so much!
This review deserves a lot of views!
Superb video - probably one of the best out there on the differences. I'm in the market for a Miata in around 2 month's time and this has been helpful. However, it is still a tough choice!
Buying this car in automatic is such a blatant error!! The manual shift is one of the best in the market!! Nice comparison, I'm surprised nobody ever thought of doing it before!!
+Ignacio SA thank you, glad you enjoyed it
@Ignacio - It's not an error, it's a choice. As someone further down in the thread says; they are older with bad knees - so obviously don't wanna contend with the clutch all the time. A lot of RF owners relish it as much as a grand tourer and don't obsess over the 0-60 difference and the auto's more relaxed use of the revs full range.
Please buy what you want .
I agree about the manual transmission, but comparing the two cars has been done several times before, by people who are more knowledgeable then this young man.
Getting the automatic just for the lolz
Very good review! I have a Fiat 124 Spider Abarth with the automatic transmission (old with bad knees) and I LOVE it! I really like the Mazda's as well. I would definitely own either one of these.
Tinstar2 I’m not sure which one I should get, the MX-5 or the Spider Abarth. They’re both really good looking, and hopefully both drive nice.
@@ZOoM21 Get the MX-5. I got rid of the Spider. Had nothing but problems. Thermostat went out and the entire front clip had to be removed to get to it. All day job. The roof was rubbing against the roll bar behind my head and eventually would cause a hole in the roof. The roll bar was scarred. The dealership was no help. The alarm started going off while I was driving and I had it back to the dealership several times with no fix. I have heard good things about the MX-5 and especially the dealerships being much better. I don't think the Spider will be around for much longer. Good looking car, but nothing but problems. My experience anyway. Best of luck.
@@Tinstar2 Oh wow I didn't expect that. I will definitely be getting the MX-5 then. Thank you for replying!!
Hello
please make a video on the infotainment. And how inspect a used MX-5 before buying.
All the best Shaun of NYC
imagine having sunglasses on your head while squinting in the sun.
This was a very good review. I have owned my 2016ND GT SoftTop for almost 3 years. I recently rented an RF for a week while on business in California. Put 1000 miles on the car in 5 days. I agree with most of this review with the exception of Top Down driving noise levels. The SoftTop is FAR FAR quieter top down and anything over 50mph. I tried everything with the RF to make it tolerable. Windows up, windows down, rear noise deflector installed and removed. Its ll the same, the wind turbulence as the wind funnels through the Arch is HORRIBLE!!!! The soft top, windows up at 80mph is quiet enough that you can make a bluetooth phone call and the person on the other end of the call cant tell your in a convertible. At 65mph on the free way, the RF top down you have to crank the stereo and still cant hear yourself think. Its by far the worst top down experience Ive had in 50 years of top down driving and 30 years of miata ownership. The upgraded stock suspension of the RF is a beautiful thing and a vast improvement when it comes to roll. The security of the hardtop is a plus but if you like to drive top down this is not a convertible and not a highway car. My NC had the PRHT, it was truly the best of both worlds. I wish they could have figured out a way to make the ND PRHT but alas, no room in the smaller car to tuck away a full retractable hardtop.
I have an RF...1/2 a foam earplug in each ear and wind noise suddenly the same as top up. Yes, you can still hear horns and sirens just as with top up and, strangely, you can hear your stereo more clearly as the plugs "flatten" the high pitched wind noise.
I owned an '05 NB Mazdaspeed turbo and loved it but always used earplugs in it as well. Also on my motorcycles. Your hearing will thank you years later by protecting it now!
Just bought a 2018 RF-GT 6 speed love it!
Congrats! 😁👌
Don’t put stickers on the windshield. There is a uprising that you want no part of.
It's an easy choice.If you want a convertible get the soft-top,if you want a targa-top get the RF.I bought the soft-top and it's Funtastic!
You might be hearing the exhaust better in the RF because it has the automatic so it doesn't have a sound tube. If you remove the sound tube in your soft top you can hear the exhaust much better.
+Jenny M good point, gonna need to look into that. Thank you
Cool video man. I'm looking forward to buy an rf miata. I like the way you showed the differences
glad you enjoyed the video :-)
Fun and informative video, thanks and greetings from the Netherlands! Will be leasing an RF early next year...
+André Geuze thank you, enjoy your RF :-)
I'm really thinking of changing and as you said the safe option (Hardtop) but my mind is made up thanks a great detail review has helped 100%
4:33 you can see people walking buy in the car paint reflection, and even one lady stop and watch haha
It seems like the soft top has more headroom than RF
Btw thanks for the review👍🏽
Actually it does not . The RF has a few inches more clearance compared to the GT ST
Very good video on comparisons. Thank you. I'm in love with the automatic RF and want it as a daily driver. I live in the midwest and we get snow. What is the best choice - would you use snow tires during winter, and switch back to every day tires in the spring, or is the new generation MX5 reliable enough in snow to use good quality all weather tires year round?
The 'revolution top' model, which includes bilstein, LSD and Recaro seats, is not limited. If an owner wants one, there should be no problem ordering it. in my country, fully loaded soul red RF costs 34.980 €
+Roy Rki well it is not available on all countries. I have heard people say they can or cannot have certain options.
In the US, the Recaro seats are not available at all on the RF. (Not sure about on the soft top.) The LSD is standard on the Club trim, not available on Grand Touring. Bilsteins are optional on the Club trim , not available on the Grand Touring. Maddening!!
The best review yet of both versions. Great job!
Thank you glad you enjoyed the video :)
Beauty and thanks for great review. Now, loving automatic. Cheers
AVP--thanks for taking the time to give us a nice long, real world review of these two cars. Your are lucky to have access to your dad's RF. It looks like the RF has better rear vision with the clear wind blocker compared to the plastic one on the soft top. Keep up the good work.
+Outrider157 thank ypu glad you like the video. Actually I did not notice much difference in visibility between the two wind blockers.
I have an RF. In normal driving, the rear and side visibility is fine -- top up or down. However, from certain angles, the rear buttresses can block your view. With the mirrors properly adjusted, it's not an issue when merging onto a highway. The only time I've noticed this is when coming into an intersection at a lower angle (maybe 30 to 45 degrees instead of a conventional 90-degree corner).
the RF has a huge blind spot due to the side panel my lotus Elise suffers from the same but my ND soft top is great
I'm in yr 8 right now, But when I do purchase my own car in yr 11, It'll be the mazda mx-5 miata rf. Thanks a lot for such an entertaining and informative comparison. Subscribed + Liked :) Keep it up!
how will u pay for it? I gather ur in aus and so I am I so I'm curious on how ur gonna do it
Lots of Maccas brotha
@@craigstevenson7708 daddies money prob
Very good comparison. I have the soft top Touring but no recaro seats.
👍🏻👍🏻🦅🦅🇺🇸
If I lived in the south of France, it could only be the soft top (but I'd stay out of Marseille). However living in the UK - or Belgium for that matter - the weather decides the issue in favour of the RF.
Soft top without a doubt. It´s the real thing, and it happens to be actually more practical; also lighter too. Well, my ND is a soft top, so I might be a little byased here. But I have to say that the targa MX5 looks great with the top up. Great little sports car both.
How is soft top more practical? I would definitely choose rf over soft top in winter :D
Is there something different going on with the boot lines - the back of the RF seems to look more squashed in and pinched. I don't know if it's an illusion or just the pillars making it looks less wide than the soft top. Something doesn't look quite right but I can't figure it out. Did you test the soft top vs RF noise with and without the wind deflector and with and without windows up?
The fastback style pillars do give the RF a different look in the rear. But the cars have the same dimensions. I did not test the noise without the wind deflectors but I have to say that the one in the RF did work a bit better and nicer then the deflector in the ST.
Love your comparison on the two version of the MX-5, which is more rounded than just driving dynamics. Also love your more practical attitude about the needs for a daily driver, instead of just "sports, sports, sports!" Keep up the good work. Subscribed.
Fab video. Many thanks from the. UK. …
Excellent video, very honest, informative review with super effective descriptions and examples of each vehicles characteristics...
Excellent review. Your English is spectacular. Thank you.
Thank you glad you enjoyed it :-)
Did you answer which one is quieter with the top down? not sure you did
With the top down, the soft top.
The RF leaves allot of bulk still up, so more wind turbulence.
With the roof up, the RF gets quieter and you get the peace of mind that you don't have a soft top.
Thanks for the great video,finally a review of the auto trans,I don't know why everyone calls it a slush box,with the paddles you have the best of both worlds,also a review of the boss sound system would be nice, thank you
+wayne miller thank you, glad you enjoyed it, will try to make a video about the sound system.
Great review. I’m going soft top option as i prefer the whole roof to be “gone” - shame they don’t do the hard top like that but then there wouldn’t be much difference lol. Hope no-one slashes my roof :(
I want to get the soft top, but going with an RF as I am paranoided of my roof getting slashed and I want it to be my daily driver in Midwestern winters.
Star Lord the soft top is really hard unlike the old dats style, have a look at it! You’d be hard pushed to slash it! I love mine. Only thing I don’t like is cleaning it 😂 good luck
@@kateescudero1315 yea cleaning was the other part. Idk I'm 50/50 right now.
Star Lord drive them both top up and down, I’m happy I chose soft top, cheaper too. I love it. I think more blind spots in hard too. Good luck - you’ll be happy with whatever you choose - great cars :)
How hard is it to keep the soft-top warm in the winter?
Merci beaucoup pour votre vidéo.
I very much liked the comparison between those both quite sexy cars. Before I'd seen your vid (watching how the RF got some smile on your face whilest you mentioned the exhaust's sound) I never ever would have considered an automatic sports car - but now: why not?
Thanks for a very interesting comparison. I'll be in the market for a 2020 as soon as they become available here. It appears that I can't go too far wrong regardless of whether I go for a manual or automatic, soft or RF. The manual is an easy decision, but selecting the top is causing some lost sleep.
Do you know how tolerant Mazda is of modifications? If I add coil-overs or a roll bar is that likely to compromise the warranty?
Well my Mazda dealer has been pretty ok with my mods. It all depends if the warranty work is related to your modifications to the car. If they are, they might not want to cover the work under warranty, otherwise they normally will not give you too much of a hard time.
your vids are aweome！！ really informative， love them
btw， where are you from ？
+Leslie Lai HK glad you enjoy the videos, I am from Belgium.
Lucky you got a chance to drive both versions we ever you want "hey Dad can I have your car keys?"
Sorry but you can't compare the 6 gears manual transmission with the automatic. With that being said, really great test drive. You point out a lot of details missed by other reviews. Thumbs up for that
Very nice review! I wish you would do a review of the 2019 miatas going at top speed (stability, etc.)
Then I would stay be sure to subscribe because that video is in the works right now 😉
AVPOnTheRoad Fantastic! Can’t wait 😊!
Yes please get arrested for the sake of us viewers. It’s the least you can do for our free watch content.
The bilstein suspension strut tower brace is more stable for higher top speed
Hello ! I wanted to ask you for advice on the purchase. I found the mx-5 1.5 December 2019 soft top km 0 at 23.500 ... but I was / am interesting with the 2.0 sport 160 hp RF also because I have to travel there at least once every 2 months (about 550 km) and I'm worried about the noises of the hood etc. At this price the 2.0 RF will never find it ... The 1.5 l I tried and tried again, it pushes less but it is a pleasure. I was also undecided on the canvas for the travel question. What do you suggest me?
Hi, well in my opinion a soft top will not be an issue for your longer trips. And if you really want you can get the 1.5l engine tuned to the same level of around 160hp. So I think a soft top 1.5l will be ok for your situation.
That was a really nice and detailed comparison! I personally drive a soft top MX-5 ND and i noticed that the water temperature reaches its operating temperature really fast! But there is no oil temperature gauge in the soft top. Can you tell me how long it takes in the RF until the oil is fully warmed up? My car takes about 1km to warm the water up and i wait at least 4km more before i drive harder. What is your experience with that?
+Carsten H. Well indeed I have that same issue not knowing when the car is at operating temperature. I will take a look when the RF shows the temp as ok. Normally I also drive about 5km to warm up the engine fully. But I will check that :-)
Same model the Water will always get hotter first (its physics) However you can safely say your oil will be up to temp within 2 k
It typically takes about 15 minutes for the oil to be above 80°C (a safe temperature for fully loading the engine) from a cold start for a petrol car without an integrated manifold cooler like the MX5. You can ±5mins on that depending on ambient temperature & load the engine is seeing during that warm up time. So it takes a lot longer for the oil to be up to temperature when compared with the coolant.
awsome honest and neutral revue both great cars im going for rf as wkends away no more worries on knife crime also automatic still great fun with less work ......great revue friend
Love the soft top but these don’t last more than 5 years in the heat in states like Florida and are a pain to keep maintained in the long run in comparison.
Do you live in Florida? The other guy says otherwise.
Very good vidéo, and between 1.5 and 2L best choice? Thx
Thank you, I prefer the 2 liter as it has a bit more torque down low which is very helpful while cruising in lower rpm
He is from Belgium based on the license plates on both Miatas
Obviously the hard top is better because that's the one I got 😂
Great video, thanks! How did you get black Mazda badges?
I got new oem badges and got they sprayed gloss black. Then I swapped them out.
Great review, how do you find the foot well space ?
Driver side is ok, but the passengers side can be a bit awkward with the transmission hump you have in the floor.
Overall there is enough space.
Really nice comparison. Awesome!!!!!
Sehr gut gemacht 👍
Great review!. Im trying to decide between soft top and RF and this was soooo helpful. What about seats, does Recaro are comfy for a daily/GT car? And does they affect headroom? Im' 6,1 and every half of an inch matters :)
In my opinion the Recaro's are more comfortable then the stock seats and are actually great for GT driving. Also headroom does increase slightly with them fitted.
Must admit, the RF is the better drive as the suspension is better, and wind noise isn't much of an issue.....People would be surprised by the auto & don't rule it out without driving one........Only point to correct you on is the roof is not metal, it's a light-weight composite, hence its a lot lighter than you would expect......Other than that a decent fair review I'd say!.
Thank you glad you liked it. Also thanks for pointing out the roof material, I actually did not know that yet. 😅
Great comparison! As only an owner can do. Nicely done good sir👍👍👍 DB comparison not what I expected. Stopped video to compare👍👍👍 Good analogies.👍👍👍
Very nice review !very insightful thank you so much ! Great input!
You are welcome, glad you enjoyed it!
Great and fair presentation...thanks
The word you're looking for is "region".
Great vid:)
+J Zerballs haha indeed thank you, glad you enjoyed it :-)
Do you know if it will be eventually possible to retrofit the RF cluster into the softtop?(as the softtop is also getting the color display for MY2018)
Well I would certainly like that. Maybe with some updates or different modules the cluster would work. Lets hope :-D
gotta enjoy those smooth belgium roads :))
Well I would not call Belgian road smooth :P . The roads in Germany or the Netherlands are 10 times better.
Excellent details. Thank you
Did I miss it? Where do you talk about wind noise with the top down? People are saying the RF is really loud with the top down, too loud.
from around 25:50, I show a chart of DB levels and also talk a bit more about I experienced the wind/road noise. Also, a lot of people have already left some comment from their own experience, so maybe that can help you as well.
Thanks a lot for doing this. Watched almost episodes. What antenna do you used as a replacement for the original "whip" antenna ? Thanks.
+Fabien Jacques thank you for enjoying the videos. The antenna I use is just a shorter one I picked up from mx5-parts.co.uk but I am actually thinking to yest if "the stubby" antennas are better for DAB singnal strength. And also they look to fit a bit better in the product pictures.
Actually, found these :
www.moss-europe.fr/marque-et-modele/mazda/mx-5-mk1/exterieur/accessoires/aerial-stubby.html
www.mx5parts.co.uk/short-rubber-aerial-mk4-p-3791.html (that one you used)
www.aliexpress.com/item/OEM-PART-8-CAR-ROOF-RADIO-MAST-WHIP-ANTENNA-GENUINE-For-Z3-Z4-For-HONDA-S2000/32808197256.html?trace=msiteDetail2pcDetail
Nice video! More of these please
I found your video very informative. Thanks
Nice Comparison. Great job!!!
I want a mx5 ND RF. I have a 89 NA, but i plan to get all generations of the mx5
Sounds like an awesome plan! I would also love to own a clean NA one day. Cheers man.
Hi! Is there any difference regarding the open air feeling ? Is it more evident in the spider or you don't notice the difference? Thanks!
Very nice review, thank you!
Really great video, tnx
Thanks for this video. I wonder about noise level at RF with top and windows down up to, let's say, 90 km/h. What is the air turbulence at targa then?
If you have a chance to buy it again which one would you buy and which specs
Good review! Thanks.
What a great review! Nice job!
+DustyCowdog thank you, glad you enjoyed it
Great review except for the window stickers!!! He he
Great video! But why wouldn't you need to change the suspension if you got the GT?? 🤔
Do you mean for the RF or the US GT accessory package?
Long term expense and ease of care: RF wins 100%. Look up R048/16A. Frame hoops are eating into and fraying my top after 1 year (2019 model, proper care followed according to owners manual), was told it was normal wear. I expect replacing it after maybe 5-10yrs, not in 1-2yrs.
Hey, ik heb u horen zeggen dat het windgeruis etc. ongeveer hetzelfde is in beide, terwijl ik vaak lees dat de RF een pak stiller is. Zijn de meeste dan gewoon aan het overdrijven? Vraag het omdat ik nogal veel autosnelweg rijd en wat schrik heb dat de softtop kakkeluid zal zijn. Thnx man
De RF zal door het stalen dak wel iets stiller zijn maar het rolgeluid tussen de 2 modellen blijft hetzelfde. En soms kan deze meer overheersen. Zou een testrit zeker aanraden 😉
@@AVPOnTheRoad Mercikes ;)
Idk why I needed this video to show me what the temp gauge button changed did, oil temp! Couldn’t figure it out 😖
To clarify there is no oil symbol when you push the button.. just temp symbol.
Yes indeed but my indication that it would be oil temp is actually wrong as someone pointed out to me. The button just makes the temp scale of the gauge change. Not which temp is shown. My apologies for the miss information.
skip to 0:39 if you're not here for the techno
Nice job! one of the best reviews
Well done for such a great review. I’m sure in Belgium it’s as cold, windy and wet from November to March as it is here in the U.K. Do you find the soft top usable during the poor weather; or do you hide it away over winter? My heart says take the more beautiful soft top but my head says go for the year round usability.
The soft top is definitely useable over winter. For example my car is currently serving as my fiance's daily driver. The only I do is keep my soft top protected for the harsher weather. There are multiple products like the Soft top protectant from Chemical guys or now you even have ceramic coatings for soft top. I am actually running a ceramic coating on mine this winter.