as others said - go for it. i've got myself nb miata as midlife crisis car "just for one season, maybe two" and i'm still driving it five years later ;)
I am a grandmother in Canada and I subscribe to your channel! I learned to drive on back country roads in a push button start Corvair back in the 60s. My dad sold cars and was a car enthusiast and I inherited his passion. Just want to say I love listening to your technical but easy to follow explanations on every topic surrounding automobiles. I'm sure your mom is proud of you. P.S. I'd like to know what you think of Scotty Kilmer. He's not as techie and sharp as you for sure but he appreciates a good thing I think. Keep up the good work dear
The RF is probably easier to live with on a day-to-day basis. Since it would be nicer to drive on the highway (less wind noise, etc), and you won't have to worry about maintaining the soft top. If the Miata is your 2nd or 3rd car, then go with the soft top. If it's your only, or 2nd car, then you're more likely to consider the RF.
Yes, I do agree that it's more livable for wind noise. That said, I drove it in below freezing temps, and the hard top was extremely squeaky when cold. Haven't driven the soft top in temps that cold, but I'd imagine the cloth would dampen out the majority of that squeaking.
To be honest it barely has any wind noise. I have a 2002 Miata and even at high way speeds, the only noises are from the tires and engine (both are quite loud tho lmao). Also I believe the soft top version has more boot space. Not 100% sure tho.
I've found the soft top to be quieter. The soft top has an aluminum panel under the fabric that cuts most noise, while the hardtop seems to hold in and reverb some noise.
I drove both, including the FIAT 124 Abarth. I also briefly owned a silver NA. I've been a convertible and Miata guy my whole life (except for my almost 8 year torrid affair with a FIAT 500 Abarth), but when I drove the RF....I became a 'Hardtop all the way' guy. I already loved the looks of the RF more, but I loved how the cockpit felt with the roof up. I loved pushing that button and watching it fold away, Q Branch style. The amount of open air was a perfect amount, loved the back window that goes down too. Either way, Mazda has perfected the convertible top in both manual and electric, both in soft and hard tops. Kudos.
I think Mazda is to be congratulated on still producing a small, lightweight 'British' sportscar. The argument over which is best all comes down to personal preference. I believe you can weight up the options to all eternity. My advice would be to purchase one within budget and enjoy the car for what it is, whether it is an NA or ND. Happy motoring...
I think everyone in the car community needs to read that. Cars are a personal purchase. People seem to forget that and need to prove that their car is better.
It also depends on the prospective owner’s situation. If you’re only looking for a weekend toy I think the soft top is the obvious choice. But if you’re looking for a daily driver year round car I think the RF is probably the way to go.
I have as aggressive an nd as you can get stock (club with all the nice to have performance goodies except recaros) and I 100% disagree, you got them flipped. The advantage of daily driving a Miata is the quick access to the outside. Just put the top down with 1 hand and enjoy your otherwise boring drive. Put it up when it makes sense to avoid hazards. These cars were designed to always be wide open every day. Choosing an rf cuz you want a quiet ride or privacy means you’re looking for the car to do something it wasn’t meant for. As a weekend stunner tho, specced out rf all the way. It looks stunning. It’s just a much more compromised car for people who expect do it all cars. Anyone crazy enough like me to daily a Miata knows that it’s a sacrifice no matter what you do and that type of crazy person is probably gonna be passionate and want the best driving experience.
@@oneeyedlittleman i will say i originally got the rf in California and appreciated it a lot more when I moved to Kansas city for med school cuz it snows there. it has better insulation than the soft top, imo
@@oneeyedlittleman I have the RF as a daily but I live in a rainy and cold place. Like almost every day rain type of place. I wouldn't daily a soft top here, but I take the hard top every time the weather gives me a break
@@oneeyedlittleman i live in europe i disagree with you we need to park our cars outside under trees so then a mx5 soft top is a no go because then each year we could buy a new top while with the RF it is metal no worries at all we also live in the city where theft is an issue so having a hardtop is better since they cant cut through that with a knife.
@@r.i.peperoniiiiroh9625 You clean & fabric guard the soft top its better than the extra weight of the RF. Security ? Break your side window I'm inside your car faster than cutting thru the roof on a soft top !
I picked up the RF earlier this year and prefer the hard top for both its looks and functionality. Though the driver side blind spot issue was REALLY annoying, solved with a little convex mirror.
I always like the look of softops more just because you can tell it's a convertible from a distance.i feel like just knowing it's a convertible makes it the more interesting car
@@dougefresh2208 Agreed, I do spend a moment longer staring at a convertible. The paint matched hard top checks all the boxes in the aesthetic department, for me. Especially in the dark mica blue.. I'm in a trance looking at that colour. The soft top is very lack luster in appearance. Not nearly as sharp looking as the RF, imho. Soft top would be the better track car, for sure.
You can tell when someone does a good review when based on their description, you can decide that you want the opposite of what they want. Thank you for presenting the differences clearly and understandably and helping provide us with good information and equipping us with things to think about on a test drive. :)
All valid points in my opinion, good video. I've test drove both and the wind noise was considerably more in the RF with the roof down due to that B pillar, which is why I bought the soft top instead.
Yes the top up its sexy-------- HOWEVER, i just starred at one parked next to my tiny car-and DAM that was even sexier than my car with a soft top! The car regardless of top or not is just a CHICK MAGNET PERIOD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The RF was the MX-5 I've always desired...and reason I finally purchased one! Since I daily it all year around a soft top isn't really an option IMO. And when it looks that much better too...! :D Those marginal pros with the soft top on a perfect day compared to the all day every day usability with the RF isn't enough of an argument for me. Then you only will want to use it on those days. Now I enjoy my MX-5 RF everyday no matter the weather or the length of the drive, a much bigger win in my book. And the fact that you still can take the top down on those perfect days still is just a plus. ;)
So far this winter in the cold snowy weather the ND Soft Top Club with Michelin X-Ice I3 snow tires has been a blast to drive ! Even on sub 32 degree days I've been driving with the top down windows up & heater on full high. Being single helps with the space limits inside the car. As a daily driver this works works great for me. The people who have rode shotgun have also commented on how much they like the car. The weather has not stopped me from enjoying this car one bit. I think anybody that is interested in a performance convertible should drive a new MX-5 ND first to compare with the others. Especially a Club model with the Limited Slip Differential plus the package of Brembo brakes / BBS wheels. The car always puts a smile on my face ! I agree that Mazda did a great job engineering that retractable hard top but the soft top has a bigger fun factor.
Hard top is better up , soft top is better down. Better visibility by far on a soft top. And no wind noise behind your left ear in the driver seat. The hard top makes it better for year round and looks pretty great top up from certain angles. Not a fan of hard top up ,looking straight onto the back. But all other angles are good . The hard top is quieter too up also. hard top has wind noise behind your ear above 60 mph when the hard top is down.
I've bought one a few months ago and use it on the daily as well, and I agree with you that the RF is just better all round as an everyday sorts car. It's manageable and perfect EVERY DAY compared to only being able to enjoy it on CERTAIN DAYS. I can guarantee the soft top doesn't get the head turns that the RF does lol Also, the RF is better for when you feel like going for a drive when the weather is crap and the roads are quiet - can't do that in the soft top
Love targa roofs, hate full soft tops (would feel too exposed/flashy for one and for two they kill the lines of any car when the roof goes down). Only thing better than a targa roof is an automatic, self storing electric targa roof like the RF! Car looks less feminine too in RF format, never been interested in any MX5 while they only had soft tops. Well done Mazda!
For those saying, “hard top all the way” I don’t believe have ever driven the soft top. THE NUMBER one selling point of the soft top is, like you said, the ease and speed of putting it up and down. It’s a convertible and I find that I use the top MUCH more than I ever did convertibles with powered tops. Even on short drives to the store. Soft top all the way for me! (I have a 2016 ND Club)
@@Daniel-rw2gy it’s the time involved for me. I was at a stop light and decided to put my soft top down knowing I’d get it done before the light changed to green for me. I’m not sure the RF would be done moving by then. My husband likes the looks of the RF better though. Sorry for responding a year after your comment, TH-cam just recommended this to me today.
It's faster until you are screwing around on a 10f degree day and realize that the soft top has shrunk, and is now 2" shy of closing. So you have to run the heater in full blast and sit there for twenty minutes. Thats one of the reasons I bought my (NC) PHT GT. I'm looking at the RF now, only because the reverse baseball cap is getting older, and I wan't something newer. (Its still a fantastic year round car.)
Should've just offered a removable Targa top I think. Less components , less weight, but with the advantage of having a hardtop when you're not trying to get baked by the sun. Still an awesome car just a little more compromise for my tastes; but I can appreciate seeing RF's on the road plus the selling point of a retractable hardtop.
Honestly, been there, done that with the del-sol..... it's not all it's cracked up to be, and that funky space to store it eats into cargo space. Also, Vargas ALWAYS leak. My PHT GT doesn't. (I assume the RF won't as well.)
I actually doubt that. The demand for hard tops for NA miatas has never been greater and no one is making clean looking aftermarket tops. OEM tops in "good" condition are routinely selling for 900-1000 and even ones in horrible condition still fetch 600-700. If no one sees the value in creating hard tops for the 200k or so NA Miatas, I seriously doubt any manufacturers will invest in creating one for the 15k or so NDs.
I'm aware of the aftermarket tops available for the older miatas. They're fiberglass, are often just shells with no finish, usually come with a terrible plexi rear window and just generally look like crap. The OEM are the only ones (in my opinion) worth buying. But then, I've never understood the want to put a hardtop on a convertible in the first place.
I plan on getting an ND this year and it will be a soft top. Mostly because the RF seems to be just another thing to go wrong mechanically speaking and i plan on keeping it for many years. If it was just a lease i would get an RF. Sure, cloth tops can wear out, but to me thats more predictable than if your RF gets stuck up or down or even worse, in the middle of being retracted or put up. With the soft top, there's just less to go wrong.
For me I think I'd still go with the RF for a number of reasons. First, this generation is pretty well known for noticeable body roll but the RF has less of it because of that frame across the rear. Less body roll equals more confidence in the corners equals faster corners. Secondly, I would use this car as a daily driver, with a lot of miles spent on the highway. The RF with the top up is significantly quiter which makes a difference when you have the commute that I have (about 50 highway miles each way). Lastly, the cool factor is undeniable. Cloth tops are such a dated feature but that RF is going to turn heads. For me it's a no brainer. RF Club with the Brembo package. But I'm waiting for 2019 for the power bump and the telescoping steering column since I'm 6 ft tall. Good vid man.
I live in a area with a lot of pollen falling down during the year and I can imagine the soft top collecting that stuff, folding and unfolding, creating a little cloud of dust every time I put the top up or down. With the hard top I imagine it would stay on top of the roof a little more and be a lot more manageable. I'm also worried about pollen staining the cloth top and me trying to wash it off.
Nice review. Figured I would share why I went with the RF because of the following: 1. Theft and protection from someone cutting the top 2. Quieter with the top closed 3. Looks cool transforming 4. We get crazy weather here and I don’t want to deal with a soft top and rain 5. Not having to replace the soft top when it fades out
I own an RF and 2 cheap things that makes the car even better and pretty cheap to do. Remove the clear plastic wind deflector for better, more open top like air flow(it just pops out/lift it up). 2nd buy the mods4cars SmartTop controller for the hard top to remove the limitations put on by Mazda.
I want a 2019 RF more power to negate the extra 113lbs for the roof and you get the backup camera which helps with the blind spot from the pillars in parking lots.
The RF is for introverts who want to feel like they have a convertible. Lol slightly more privacy when everyone around you is in f150s. I think it’s nice to have something behind you.
The RF GT in Canada hits $47K (with the Brembo package) which is insane in my opinion. I much prefer the look of the RF but can't stomach its ticket price.
Great review & your review of the ST ND Club ( calling it one of the best cars under $50,000 ) was one of the reasons for my test drive ! I bought the 2016 ND Club with Brembo brakes / BBS wheels. The RF was never at the dealer because every one of them was already sold off the truck at my Mazda dealer, that was in 2017 March soon after the RF Launch. So glad that choice was not available to me ( except to wait & pay way more $$$ over the ST) ! The Soft Top is so much better with the top down. In the RF the wind hits the back roof line & causes wind turbulence which makes it not only more enclosed but louder than the ST top down. This is the way Miatas were meant to be driven .... top down ! So much more fun in the ST ! I also enjoy the tail coming lose which snaps back with throttle applied , easy to control. Top up its noisy but I've also read complaints from RF owners about whistling wind noises when on the highway above 65 mph. Performance was the reason I bought this car & the Club delivers such driving thrills. I agree you can't go wrong with either but performance is in the ST ! Snow tires are on / Weather tech mats in ... ready for the 1st winter in a convertible ever ! Thanks EE !
Thanks for those great points in comparing the soft top and RF. Nice job! Ironically you actually convinced me to go with the the RF. I came across 2 other small differences between the ST and RF: the glove box between the seats is about half the size in the RF (might be a big deal since this space is so small anyway!), and the trunk is a slight bit smaller too in the RF (can't remember the numbers but something like half a cubic foot maybe). Anyway, thanks, this was one of the most concise and yet informative comparisons I have seen. rb.
Totally agree! My NC hardtop gives me that immersive experience and I wouldn't want to lose that. Then you close the roof and it becomes a fighter jet cockpit. God I love my car!
I like both of them! The RF is fancier because it has that Batman-like moving hoop on top but had I had to choose, I'd choose the soft-top! No mechanisms, no time to open and close, less weight... Simple solutions are always better! But that requires having a garage to park it, in that respect having an RF or bying a hard top for the Soft-top Miata may be a better solution!
Not true ! Been driving a 2016 MX - 5 Club soft top in all weather including some of the coldest days thru snow & ice the soft top does a great job of protecting the interior. There is extra care involved in keeping the soft top in good shape though. Not a big deal.
@@VOOODOOO37 There is more road noise but nothing that would make me say deal breaker. With the top down & windows up there is less noise than the RF with the targa down. The RF is quieter with the roof up.
Just get it already! I've owned the soft top for 10 months, engaging driving EVERY. SINGLE. TIME. It also gets better and more responsive after the first service with the miles/kms on it, engine settled.
As an ND Club soft-top owner... I agree! Although I absolutely love the look of the RF though and the ability to lower the rear window. I miss my old '92 that had a zip out rear window, it was nice to put down for extra ventilation without lowering the top fully.
Here in 2021, the steering wheel is tilt/telescopic. There's an aftermarket seat frame mod that lowers the seat almost 2 inches, and an aftermarket mod that allows you to put the top up or down at a higher speed, and raise or lower the top and windows with the key fob
I would also choose the softop over the RF because if you’re driving with the roof open in the RF the buttresses generate a lot of wind noise at highway speeds - the faster you go the louder it gets. Also, there’s slightly more cargo space in the trunk with the softop with 130 litres versus 127 litres for the RF. Plus, not many people know this, but the softop version has one cubbie hole behind each seat, and the RF only has one cubbie hole - I forget whether is the driver or passenger side that there’s a cubbie hole missing in the RF.
We test drove the RF - but we both agreed on the soft top - my partner bought it. We can live with the noise in the soft top with the top up, but not in the RF with the top down. I absolutely love driving this car, which our friends think is amusing, because I have driven Cadillac, Mercury and Continental cars from the 1970's all my life - and still do.
It would definitely be better if the hard top went all the way down. But the answer in this case is you win either way, because Miata =V A new NSX targa would be interesting. I like the older ones but still it'd be cool to see on a newer NSX as well. May help them sell a few more.
All the cars with completely folding metal roofs, are very phat ass ugly looking. This is the best solution. Small structure to remove, makes the back end design look really good, roof up or down. It's the best compromise.
I had tried to get a 2022 RF but it wasn’t possible to order one anymore nor did any dealer in 300 mile radius have one. Instead I got a 2021 soft top and initially was a bit bummed, but after having it for a couple months I completely love it and now prefer the soft top. I think the black roof adds great contrast to the look and I drop the top even if weather looks a bit temperamental (which is all the time here in FL) because I know I can put it up in an instant if I need. The roof being so fast and easy gives me way more open sky time than if I felt like I’d have to pull over to put it up or down.
I wish the ND had taken the same approach as the NC's power retractable hard top. I'm not a big fan of the NC but they absolutely nailed the power hard top.
Today, I just tried this car. Amazing experience! Still thinking about it. You look at this car and you think "what a cutie", but you start the engine and you understand that this "little car" is a badass. Great car! Maybe the weirdest thing is the transmission. You need to be aggressive to change gears. It makes you feel that you're really driving a badass. I was not used to this maybe because I never drove a sports car.
Skøut Or maybe a hot one with six weeks of heavy pollen. With the RF, there is less excuse for sitting in the garage waiting for “a great day for a convertible.”
I’m in England, my wife has the ND soft top. I have a baby AMG, the MX-5 is such a great smiles per mile car. I try and use it as much as possible, it’s really like a motorbike but with a nice seat. And when it’s cold and shitty it’s still a nice place to be. Heated seats and great A/C make it comfortable all year round.
You don’t see the outside when you’re driving. Besides styling preference is subjective. I like the NC 2 styling best followed closely by the NA, then NB and lastly the ND. I think the ND looks like a kids toy car. Exaggerated lines much?
I agree with you - until thePRHT stops working as mine did. Both Mazda dealership and 2 MX5 specialists quoting huge sums to fix a sector gear with a broken tooth. You have buy the entire frame which is over AUD 1000. So for now my MX5 is a coupe only - still a great drivers car and I still enjoy driving it every trip. I do miss the open roadster experience.
I do too. The Miata ethos has always been simplicity, lightweight, low power RWD roadster. The complicated origami-folding hard-top suits cars like the large & luxurious Mercedes SL just fine, but it is almost a slap on the face of what a Miata should be.
I definitely believe the added 130lbs or so on the back helps with the car's stability, mainly the rear feeling planted but I also recall reading that Mazda retuned the suspension on the RF (regardless of trim) to eliminate some of that body lean and tossability that the soft top exhibits. Any thoughts on that?
Yes, thoughts! - they only increased the rear spring rates in line with the additional weight - therefore, it wasn't 'retuned the suspension on the RF (regardless of trim) to eliminate some of that body lean and tossability that the soft top exhibits' - the overall wallowyness remains the same and was also deliberate; Mazda wanted the sensation of knowing you were pushing on etc.
@@Dr.IanPlect Agree with your view Dr. Yea the way the back tires let loose is the way you know you hit a limit. It actually teaches you to be a better driver by letting up on the gas or giving it more gas will quickly correct the rear end. The weight & price penalty of the RF is not worth it as my Club soft top is quicker off the line than the RF.
The older version in the NC with the PRHT is best because you get both the hard top experience and a complete convertible experience. Plus it’s fast enough and fun. In addition you can get a great deal. Used clean examples are so affordable. You can get a 2008 PRHT GT with the Bose and leather for only $10k! What’s your opinion as opposed to spending $30 for a new Club ND MX-5.
As a owner of the RF, I can assure.. I embarrassed myself multiple times in roundabouts with this car... IT IS tail happy LOL (or most probably, I suck at driving it in the wet with no TC) P.S. your reviews are the most precise I see on TH-cam. The majority of reviews state that the headroom in the RF is more, but you're the only one I saw that correctly states the reduced headroom in the RF. Thumbs up for your precise and scientific approach to everything.
I don’t think you suck, I bet you use to drive either a front wheel drive or a heavier rear wheel drive car. This car is really predictable you just need to take it a couple times to the track until you get the gist.
You also will have to take care of the soft top a little more, keeping it treated to prevent drying out and cracking. I'd prefer the hard top more since I live in Tennessee and winter here just sucks, one day it's 65° dry-cold yet feels like 28°, the next day it's 12° snowing/sleeting/raining all day, no ice just slush everywhere, wet-cold yet feels like it's 40° and 30-60° day/night temperature cycles are very common. Soft tops are nice but I've always liked the way hard tops looked more. Nice video, love the new changes they've done for the Miata.
I life in The Netherlands, it rains a lot so yeah I prefer the RF. We do get the 2.0 RF with a LSD and bilstein suspension. If you only use it in the summer, get the softtop.
I purchased a 2015 ND 2.0L GT Softtop at 35% depreciation last month. Very happy with it, even though I hit a Kangaroo on the 2000km drive home. (Note: any light hit with anything will completely wreck your bonnet due to the active bonnet system). Its a great car and equally just as good as the RF. I love the RFs grey colour however. I think due to the time it takes for the RFs roof to come down, I would use it less. I love how the softtop can be done in 2 seconds. Obviously storage is minimal but if you want a second car or its just the two of you. Its a great experience. Small, light and nimble is how a drivers car should be.
I don’t like how the RF essentially turns into a “t-top” similar to a delSol and maintains the huge buttresses but it does make for a very attractive car. I own a 1993 and my second soft top is already showing its age. I had the second one installed in 2009 but the first one lasted up to that point. Cracks in the vinyl and pin pricks started showing up. And the plastic window started fogging even with a cleaning. My advice on soft tops is to buy a glass version at least then you can see clearly out for longer. The best of both worlds can be had on the NC PRHT model. The top comes down completely(unlike RF) and lasts longer than the soft tops. The ideal would be the current model with a full retractable hard top that can be operated manually from inside and have very simple mechanics to make it last. Like a two-piece roof system. It shouldn’t be that heavy seeing as the whole hardtop I had was manageable to remove by myself.
I west with the RF because I do a lot of long distance driving in the summer. Even with the top down I'm not being beaten to death by the wind. And a few mods and part removal and you can get that half a second back with ease.
I agree.. soft top gives you the feel of being more open.. that is the essence of getting a convertible.. but the rf just looks cooler.. especially when the roof retracts.. gives you transformer vibes
I had a 95 and an 02 Miata. Both of them I had to spend big $$ to install a worthy stereo because neither were loud enough to keep up w wind noise. Not sure about the Bose systems....they might be better but I'm pretty demanding. Having the freedom of a convertible without the ability to crank up the rock is an incomplete experience. I now have a Mini Cooper S convertible. Put an Integral Audio system in it and it sounds incredible. Better than any system you could put in a Miata....and w the Mini I have a lot more room.
They used to have a hardtop that completely integrated into the back between the trunk and seats, so it was a true convertible. Not sure why they went this direction. At that time, I was shopping for a red hardtop, but then the competition yellow, with black soft-top, in the showroom caught my eye. I had them take the soft-top out of the showroom and place it next to the hardtop. I drove the soft-top home and I’ve been loving my decision for the past 15 years; she’s my baby.
I don't enjoy soft tops because they all look like trash in 3 years and everyone ends up getting a removable hard top that you cannot remove while driving, anyways!!! If I was getting an MX5 purpose built track car then I would definitely go soft top. If I live in the city where someone having a bad day could slice my soft top for an easy opportunity at looting - I would rather avoid that altogether with a hard top. Not to mention paint matched hard top, not some cheap black thing?? Don't mind if I do..
Things you left out: RF looks amazing in person. Cloth top looks like crap, especially with sun fade which we get down in Texas. Road noise. Having owned a convertible before this is huge to me. sometimes I want some peace and quiet. The hard top will wear better with age. 15 or 20 years from now you can polish that top and it will still look great.
Oooh. Im so happy to hear about the new Mazda MX5 I have a 1999 MX 5. My fist & love it. I live in SFL & ride w the top down most everyday as u know they have come out w an eletric top but why pay the money for just something to. Fail u can put the top up manually just as fast if not faster. Save ur $. I love how it hugs the turns like I tell my friend when with me lol were riding the rail. He also likes how it performs. I have just recently put a K & N air filter on it & the sound. I get out of it is great it makes me want to pit more foot in the throttle lol. Its a great car for anyone what ever year u can get or have just get one 👏😃
While I appreciate your opinion I own a 2019 RF and am completely happy with it. Having owned a couple of soft tops previously I like the rigidity and lack of noise in the RF. Regardless, this is a fun little car. Certainly not a primary vehicle but a load of fun nonetheless.
Should’ve watch you before purchasing… Bought a brand new 2021 red RF as I instantly fell in love with its super nice look 👍However, big mistake for me… a month later, I went begging to the dealership to swap for a soft top in the same red color. Reason? The RF has very annoying wind noise at high speed with top retracted, blind spots are absolutely terrible, has a bit less headroom than the soft top and you don’t feel like driving a real convertible. Lesson learned and much happier with the ST, takes about 2 secs to open or close the top! Don’t get me wrong, Both are still beautiful cars!
I bought my first MX5 ND three years ago as I could not go from my BMW Z3 to a new Z4 and still use a boot rack for touring due to the hard top mechanism . Now on my second ND and love the look of the RF but bought another soft top. Test drove the RF and thought it just felt like a car with the sun roof open but for me the deal breaker was the loss of luggage capacity. One of the useful boxes behind the seats is lost but of greater importance for my summer touring is the RF cannot be used with a boot rack. Checked the racks available and found a pretty basic one that will fit on (not the Mazda rack but that is horrible anyway) but you would have to remove any luggage to open or close the top. I use mine in winter as well with winter tyres fitted. Still a comfortable drive with a good heater and heated seats. Can't imagine the RF could be much better.
Btw, I've owned 2 Miata's and they both came with removable hard-tops in addition to the soft top. That's the best of both worlds. Do they not offer removable hard tops any more?
Other than the price I don't see any of the reasons you give a deal breaker. In the end it's all about which one you like the most and wich one you can afford. Great channel!
My 19 mx5 is an RF. It is my daily driver. The soft top is great but very road noisy when the top is up. I live in PA and need the top up for 6-7 months of the year. If I lived in FL or AZ, I would have opted for the soft top.
I have an NC and an ND RF. I was surprised that I really don't notice a huge difference in visibility besides on the left side (and I have blind spot to monitor that). On the NC you have the roll hoops and the wind blocker that makes it feel a lot like the ND.
The RF is not a convertible; like he said, it feels and (I know it looks) like you just took the top off. I still have a 10th Anniversary Edition as my daily driver.
First off, soft top costs much less than the hard top to purchase, maintain and repair, also will have a minimum chance of its mechanism acting up in rainy or windy day. I learned from life with this "never say never". Soft top will have no wind resistance and buffer noise compared to hard top as it folds completely down to the trunk while the hard top will only go down to the same height as the top level of windshield leaving a huge gap to allow wind to cut through. With this said, it is the same as riding your bicyble or walking on a windy day holding an umbrella with its top facing backward. Hope this helps
In Miami, we need A/C for at least half the year, the hard top is the only option for that. With that black canvas on top, you could never get below 87 degrees when it's 94 all day for 6 months at a time. The car seems nice to me.
I feel like Mazda should have given the RF a slight power increase over the soft-top to not only further justify its premium, but to also make up for the acceleration and handling lost with the hundred or so pounds added from the targa top.
I have a Toyota Tacoma TRD off-road 4x4, Mazda 6 GT (which I love!) and after watching this video, now I feel like I should get a Miata for that fun drive during the sunny days in South Florida -:) ...
Interesting that you feel there was less oversteer with the weight balance moved rearward. One way to tweak a race car’s balance towards oversteer is to move ballast rearward. There could be other reasons affecting that car’s balance, but in general a more rearward weight distribution typically means it would move the car’s balance more towards oversteer. I wonder if the two versions have different spring rates and that’s what is responsible for the balance change.
Maybe it's because moving the weight rearward on this particular car put it at exactly 50/50? Pushing the balance farther back would probably result in what you're talking about.
Sam Dunham Weight distribution plays some role in determining balance, but it is just one thing among many. And it is possible to make any distribution oversteer or understeer by playing with those other factors. Something else seems to be the cause here, to me anyway. Mazda are probably the only ones that could answer that.
my softtop got stiffer Eibach Springs recently offered by Mazda Germany. All it did was reducing body roll dramaticaly. The rear end hapyness is unchanged. Must be a different cause on the RF ...
Clayton Macleod I owned a RF Manual with LSD and have tones of fun ! Oversteer behaviours are much noticeable than the soft top there’s no other car in this price range can compare only I believe only rearward basis car such as lotus or Cayman can compare ！
Some people just want the look/platform, not for a convertible. Chassis rigidity, 50/50 balance. Kicking out the rear, people could add more power, put a bigger rear sway. It is pretty much a targa top like the rx7 convertible had the option of removing, that section was hard and detachable while the rest was soft and it could all fold in or look like this. Either model ND or a late model NC would be a great project for a rotary conversion. Some are going to throw an LS in it I’m sure ;) And for you sir, you already have an S2000 for a ‘pure’ convertible, if only you weren’t so tall I’d say the RF would give you something a bit different :)
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This guy is hard selling me my midlife crisis car. And it’s super affordable. Thanks Jason!
Go for it! Life is short! YOLO. Whatever people say to encourage bad behavior!
What he said. Do it! You can't go wrong here!"Do or do not. There is no try." - THE Yoda
I can so relate.... except my "midlife crisis" is more due to not being able to afford a car like this.
I got my midlife crisis car last year - and yes it is the ND soft top!!!
as others said - go for it. i've got myself nb miata as midlife crisis car "just for one season, maybe two" and i'm still driving it five years later ;)
I am a grandmother in Canada and I subscribe to your channel! I learned to drive on back country roads in a push button start Corvair back in the 60s. My dad sold cars and was a car enthusiast and I inherited his passion. Just want to say I love listening to your technical but easy to follow explanations on every topic surrounding automobiles. I'm sure your mom is proud of you. P.S. I'd like to know what you think of Scotty Kilmer. He's not as techie and sharp as you for sure but he appreciates a good thing I think. Keep up the good work dear
Жак Морозов lol
The way Scottie Kilmer purses his lips at the end of each sentence bothers me. :P
Жак Морозов Nah the old man is just deaf lol he’s a veteran
@@om606channel wtf 😂
Both good channels
The RF is probably easier to live with on a day-to-day basis. Since it would be nicer to drive on the highway (less wind noise, etc), and you won't have to worry about maintaining the soft top.
If the Miata is your 2nd or 3rd car, then go with the soft top.
If it's your only, or 2nd car, then you're more likely to consider the RF.
Yes, I do agree that it's more livable for wind noise. That said, I drove it in below freezing temps, and the hard top was extremely squeaky when cold. Haven't driven the soft top in temps that cold, but I'd imagine the cloth would dampen out the majority of that squeaking.
The soft top ND is my only car, and it's perfectly fine on the highway, even doing 70-80 with the windows down. I'd remove the windshield if I could.
To be honest it barely has any wind noise. I have a 2002 Miata and even at high way speeds, the only noises are from the tires and engine (both are quite loud tho lmao). Also I believe the soft top version has more boot space. Not 100% sure tho.
I've found the soft top to be quieter. The soft top has an aluminum panel under the fabric that cuts most noise, while the hardtop seems to hold in and reverb some noise.
Arthur Simon
ND top choice does not affect trunk space.
I drove both, including the FIAT 124 Abarth. I also briefly owned a silver NA. I've been a convertible and Miata guy my whole life (except for my almost 8 year torrid affair with a FIAT 500 Abarth), but when I drove the RF....I became a 'Hardtop all the way' guy. I already loved the looks of the RF more, but I loved how the cockpit felt with the roof up. I loved pushing that button and watching it fold away, Q Branch style. The amount of open air was a perfect amount, loved the back window that goes down too. Either way, Mazda has perfected the convertible top in both manual and electric, both in soft and hard tops. Kudos.
I think Mazda is to be congratulated on still producing a small, lightweight 'British' sportscar. The argument over which is best all comes down to personal preference. I believe you can weight up the options to all eternity. My advice would be to purchase one within budget and enjoy the car for what it is, whether it is an NA or ND. Happy motoring...
If it came in British Racing Green I would buy one tomorrow.
I think everyone in the car community needs to read that. Cars are a personal purchase. People seem to forget that and need to prove that their car is better.
@@fortheloveofnoise Have you ever heard of Finger Paints?
I absolutely love your comment. That’s the attitude! Thanks for sharing
It also depends on the prospective owner’s situation. If you’re only looking for a weekend toy I think the soft top is the obvious choice. But if you’re looking for a daily driver year round car I think the RF is probably the way to go.
I have as aggressive an nd as you can get stock (club with all the nice to have performance goodies except recaros) and I 100% disagree, you got them flipped. The advantage of daily driving a Miata is the quick access to the outside. Just put the top down with 1 hand and enjoy your otherwise boring drive. Put it up when it makes sense to avoid hazards. These cars were designed to always be wide open every day. Choosing an rf cuz you want a quiet ride or privacy means you’re looking for the car to do something it wasn’t meant for. As a weekend stunner tho, specced out rf all the way. It looks stunning. It’s just a much more compromised car for people who expect do it all cars. Anyone crazy enough like me to daily a Miata knows that it’s a sacrifice no matter what you do and that type of crazy person is probably gonna be passionate and want the best driving experience.
@@oneeyedlittleman i will say i originally got the rf in California and appreciated it a lot more when I moved to Kansas city for med school cuz it snows there. it has better insulation than the soft top, imo
@@oneeyedlittleman I have the RF as a daily but I live in a rainy and cold place. Like almost every day rain type of place. I wouldn't daily a soft top here, but I take the hard top every time the weather gives me a break
@@oneeyedlittleman i live in europe i disagree with you we need to park our cars outside under trees so then a mx5 soft top is a no go because then each year we could buy a new top while with the RF it is metal no worries at all we also live in the city where theft is an issue so having a hardtop is better since they cant cut through that with a knife.
@@r.i.peperoniiiiroh9625 You clean & fabric guard the soft top its better than the extra weight of the RF. Security ? Break your side window I'm inside your car faster than cutting thru the roof on a soft top !
I picked up the RF earlier this year and prefer the hard top for both its looks and functionality. Though the driver side blind spot issue was REALLY annoying, solved with a little convex mirror.
I always like the look of softops more just because you can tell it's a convertible from a distance.i feel like just knowing it's a convertible makes it the more interesting car
@@dougefresh2208 Agreed, I do spend a moment longer staring at a convertible. The paint matched hard top checks all the boxes in the aesthetic department, for me. Especially in the dark mica blue.. I'm in a trance looking at that colour. The soft top is very lack luster in appearance. Not nearly as sharp looking as the RF, imho. Soft top would be the better track car, for sure.
All true, but the RF looks very nice. Personally, i'd love to see a fastback (coupe) version.
Guy Pickrell there probably is but only for sale in Japan
It’s a coupe with hard top up?
Yeah something like Porsche 911 or even Ferrari 250 gto style roof
You can tell when someone does a good review when based on their description, you can decide that you want the opposite of what they want. Thank you for presenting the differences clearly and understandably and helping provide us with good information and equipping us with things to think about on a test drive. :)
All valid points in my opinion, good video. I've test drove both and the wind noise was considerably more in the RF with the roof down due to that B pillar, which is why I bought the soft top instead.
That hardtop looks so much sexier
Yes the top up its sexy-------- HOWEVER, i just starred at one parked next to my tiny car-and DAM that was even sexier than my car with a soft top! The car regardless of top or not is just a CHICK MAGNET PERIOD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
But sucks as a convertible.
Don't agree at all.
YASSS
@@hagbard72 It does dude like opinion or no its much better looking in a hard top config
The main reason I got soft-top is because roof can be fully down and then it feels like convertible. RF doesn't feel like convertible at all.
Alexey Dubkov rf is more like a targa top
I have hard top electric roof full convertible NC.... even better
The RF was the MX-5 I've always desired...and reason I finally purchased one!
Since I daily it all year around a soft top isn't really an option IMO. And when it looks that much better too...! :D
Those marginal pros with the soft top on a perfect day compared to the all day every day usability with the RF isn't enough of an argument for me. Then you only will want to use it on those days. Now I enjoy my MX-5 RF everyday no matter the weather or the length of the drive, a much bigger win in my book. And the fact that you still can take the top down on those perfect days still is just a plus. ;)
So far this winter in the cold snowy weather the ND Soft Top Club with Michelin X-Ice I3 snow tires has been a blast to drive ! Even on sub 32 degree days I've been driving with the top down windows up & heater on full high.
Being single helps with the space limits inside the car. As a daily driver this works works great for me. The people who have rode shotgun have also commented on how much they like the car. The weather has not stopped me from enjoying this car one bit. I think anybody that is interested in a performance convertible should drive a new MX-5 ND first to compare with the others. Especially a Club model with the Limited Slip Differential plus the package of Brembo brakes / BBS wheels. The car always puts a smile on my face ! I agree that Mazda did a great job engineering that retractable hard top but the soft top has a bigger fun factor.
Yeah completely agree
Hard top is better up , soft top is better down. Better visibility by far on a soft top. And no wind noise behind your left ear in the driver seat.
The hard top makes it better for year round and looks pretty great top up from certain angles. Not a fan of hard top up ,looking straight onto the back. But all other angles are good . The hard top is quieter too up also. hard top has wind noise behind your ear above 60 mph when the hard top is down.
I've bought one a few months ago and use it on the daily as well, and I agree with you that the RF is just better all round as an everyday sorts car. It's manageable and perfect EVERY DAY compared to only being able to enjoy it on CERTAIN DAYS. I can guarantee the soft top doesn't get the head turns that the RF does lol Also, the RF is better for when you feel like going for a drive when the weather is crap and the roads are quiet - can't do that in the soft top
Love targa roofs, hate full soft tops (would feel too exposed/flashy for one and for two they kill the lines of any car when the roof goes down). Only thing better than a targa roof is an automatic, self storing electric targa roof like the RF! Car looks less feminine too in RF format, never been interested in any MX5 while they only had soft tops. Well done Mazda!
Exactly my points when choosing mx-5. Blind spots and feeling of open space where my major reasons to go soft top.
I got the 2012 PRHT. Could have got a new one but did not like the t-top effect.
I've owned both and I prefer the hardtop. I love the look and the convenience...and the soundproofing.
The soft top is quieter than the RF with the top down. I didn't buy my car because I wanted a Lexus quiet ride !
I'm 6'7 and took driving school in a miata. Don't ask how
Austin A if you don't mind me asking, how?
marc with style baby, with style. Yeah.
Austin A God bless your soul.
His foot was hanging out lol
I'm guessing with the top down lol
Is by chance the Hardtop more aerodynamic than the soft top? Just curious.
Of course. A rear wing on a convertible like an S2000 or Miata really needs a hardtop for it to function well.
Bladed Angel helloooooooo
But bladed, where´s the miata?
The difference in Cx is about 0,01 less for the hard top, so no that much difference, but i have no idea what difference does it to rear wing
Soft top rips
For those saying, “hard top all the way” I don’t believe have ever driven the soft top. THE NUMBER one selling point of the soft top is, like you said, the ease and speed of putting it up and down. It’s a convertible and I find that I use the top MUCH more than I ever did convertibles with powered tops. Even on short drives to the store. Soft top all the way for me! (I have a 2016 ND Club)
How is it easier than pressing a button..
@@Daniel-rw2gy it’s the time involved for me. I was at a stop light and decided to put my soft top down knowing I’d get it done before the light changed to green for me. I’m not sure the RF would be done moving by then. My husband likes the looks of the RF better though.
Sorry for responding a year after your comment, TH-cam just recommended this to me today.
@@cattastroficka196 get the smarttop mod for the RF.. it lets you press the button and it auto closes or opens even while moving
It's faster until you are screwing around on a 10f degree day and realize that the soft top has shrunk, and is now 2" shy of closing. So you have to run the heater in full blast and sit there for twenty minutes.
Thats one of the reasons I bought my (NC) PHT GT.
I'm looking at the RF now, only because the reverse baseball cap is getting older, and I wan't something newer. (Its still a fantastic year round car.)
Should've just offered a removable Targa top I think. Less components , less weight, but with the advantage of having a hardtop when you're not trying to get baked by the sun. Still an awesome car just a little more compromise for my tastes; but I can appreciate seeing RF's on the road plus the selling point of a retractable hardtop.
I would like that, or a non-convertible version.
Cars Simplified oh man a hardtop fastback version would be so sexy. This car lowered with even the stock wheels and a hardtop would be gorgeous.
Indeed it would! Right on. It does have some nice stock wheels.
SubieSam
Better security as well.
Honestly, been there, done that with the del-sol..... it's not all it's cracked up to be, and that funky space to store it eats into cargo space. Also, Vargas ALWAYS leak.
My PHT GT doesn't. (I assume the RF won't as well.)
I've never been a fan of soft tops. It just ruins the look of a car.
Agree and I live in London so don't feel safe with a soft top
I agree. I wish my S2000 had a powered hardtop.
Eric Ortiz not the Miata
miata is one of the few cars that looks good with a soft top
Weight reduction
Insanely appreciate your videos, man. I'm always learning from this channel.
You spoke about the features.. but what about the quirks?
Bob Saget go to doug’s channel, because this channel is for serious automotive enthusiasts.
@@TheAdnanmajor yeah he's annoying as hell
@@theanimelibarian7881 yeah he is! i stopped watching his videos..........
I’m sure the ND will have plenty of clean looking aftermarket removable hardtops in time anyway.
Sarah -n- Tuned i hope
I actually doubt that. The demand for hard tops for NA miatas has never been greater and no one is making clean looking aftermarket tops. OEM tops in "good" condition are routinely selling for 900-1000 and even ones in horrible condition still fetch 600-700. If no one sees the value in creating hard tops for the 200k or so NA Miatas, I seriously doubt any manufacturers will invest in creating one for the 15k or so NDs.
goodeggpro look up DG Motorsports my dude
Yep, and it looks silly. Basically looks like a bubble NA top slapped onto the angular and raked look of an ND. All for "only" $1500!!
I'm aware of the aftermarket tops available for the older miatas. They're fiberglass, are often just shells with no finish, usually come with a terrible plexi rear window and just generally look like crap. The OEM are the only ones (in my opinion) worth buying. But then, I've never understood the want to put a hardtop on a convertible in the first place.
I plan on getting an ND this year and it will be a soft top. Mostly because the RF seems to be just another thing to go wrong mechanically speaking and i plan on keeping it for many years. If it was just a lease i would get an RF.
Sure, cloth tops can wear out, but to me thats more predictable than if your RF gets stuck up or down or even worse, in the middle of being retracted or put up. With the soft top, there's just less to go wrong.
I would take the RF over the soft top anyday , it’s stunning to look at and gives you the best of both worlds 😀👍
For me I think I'd still go with the RF for a number of reasons. First, this generation is pretty well known for noticeable body roll but the RF has less of it because of that frame across the rear. Less body roll equals more confidence in the corners equals faster corners. Secondly, I would use this car as a daily driver, with a lot of miles spent on the highway. The RF with the top up is significantly quiter which makes a difference when you have the commute that I have (about 50 highway miles each way). Lastly, the cool factor is undeniable. Cloth tops are such a dated feature but that RF is going to turn heads. For me it's a no brainer. RF Club with the Brembo package. But I'm waiting for 2019 for the power bump and the telescoping steering column since I'm 6 ft tall. Good vid man.
Damn, that's a good point! I think I'll have to go with RF, if anything, as well (assuming no PRHT of course)
I live in a area with a lot of pollen falling down during the year and I can imagine the soft top collecting that stuff, folding and unfolding, creating a little cloud of dust every time I put the top up or down. With the hard top I imagine it would stay on top of the roof a little more and be a lot more manageable. I'm also worried about pollen staining the cloth top and me trying to wash it off.
Still driving my 1993 NA that I bought new, no plans to replace it honestly. Sure, it's underpowered, but it is still just so much fun to toss around.
2020: he buys this car. Money where his mouth was.
Nice review. Figured I would share why I went with the RF because of the following:
1. Theft and protection from someone cutting the top
2. Quieter with the top closed
3. Looks cool transforming
4. We get crazy weather here and I don’t want to deal with a soft top and rain
5. Not having to replace the soft top when it fades out
I own an RF and 2 cheap things that makes the car even better and pretty cheap to do. Remove the clear plastic wind deflector for better, more open top like air flow(it just pops out/lift it up). 2nd buy the mods4cars SmartTop controller for the hard top to remove the limitations put on by Mazda.
Yes. The SmartTop is the first thing RF owner should but. With it you wonder why the hell didn't Mazda do it on their own in the first place.
Can you give us a link and describe what it does?
I want a 2019 RF more power to negate the extra 113lbs for the roof and you get the backup camera which helps with the blind spot from the pillars in parking lots.
I LOVE THE HARDTOP! No issues down the road with cloth nor constant replacement etc.
You don't have to constantly replace the soft top
The RF is for introverts who want to feel like they have a convertible. Lol slightly more privacy when everyone around you is in f150s. I think it’s nice to have something behind you.
The RF GT in Canada hits $47K (with the Brembo package) which is insane in my opinion. I much prefer the look of the RF but can't stomach its ticket price.
Drive down to us to get it at a cheaper price.
GT with brembo package? the club with brembo is over 35k usd which is 47k canadian
Try second hand
Used...these cars are well built and reliable, and owners take care of them.
@@ctvu the club and gt with the brembo package cost the exact same because the club gets recaro seats in the package which make it cost more.
I'm a Hard top/Targa fan XD I can't stand the cloth albeit weight reduction bro!
I agree. Soft tops only look good with the top down.
To be honest there is a 3rd party hard top that is only 20ibs and you can still keep the soft top
So even a Targa with a soft-top doesn't do it for you? I really like the old Porsche 911 Targa, even though it has a cloth roof.
Sander Kamp I love it don't get me wrong but sometimes it gets annoying to daily trust me. I have an ND myself
where can we find the third party hardtop ?
Great review & your review of the ST ND Club ( calling it one of the best cars under $50,000 ) was one of the reasons for my test drive !
I bought the 2016 ND Club with Brembo brakes / BBS wheels. The RF was never at the dealer because every one of them was already sold off the truck at my Mazda dealer, that was in 2017 March soon after the RF Launch. So glad that choice was not available to me ( except to wait & pay way more $$$ over the ST) ! The Soft Top is so much better with the top down. In the RF the wind hits the back roof line & causes wind turbulence which makes it not only more enclosed but louder than the ST top down. This is the way Miatas were meant to be driven .... top down ! So much more fun in the ST ! I also enjoy the tail coming lose which snaps back with throttle applied , easy to control. Top up its noisy but I've also read complaints from RF owners about whistling wind noises when on the highway above 65 mph. Performance was the reason I bought this car & the Club delivers such driving thrills. I agree you can't go wrong with either but performance is in the ST ! Snow tires are on / Weather tech mats in ... ready for the 1st winter in a convertible ever ! Thanks EE !
Thanks for those great points in comparing the soft top and RF. Nice job! Ironically you actually convinced me to go with the the RF. I came across 2 other small differences between the ST and RF: the glove box between the seats is about half the size in the RF (might be a big deal since this space is so small anyway!), and the trunk is a slight bit smaller too in the RF (can't remember the numbers but something like half a cubic foot maybe). Anyway, thanks, this was one of the most concise and yet informative comparisons I have seen. rb.
Totally agree! My NC hardtop gives me that immersive experience and I wouldn't want to lose that. Then you close the roof and it becomes a fighter jet cockpit. God I love my car!
Me too!!!!
I am keeping my 2012 Sport Tech because I like the hard top option but I think the rf design looks silly on a small sports car.
I like both of them! The RF is fancier because it has that Batman-like moving hoop on top but had I had to choose, I'd choose the soft-top! No mechanisms, no time to open and close, less weight... Simple solutions are always better! But that requires having a garage to park it, in that respect having an RF or bying a hard top for the Soft-top Miata may be a better solution!
Not true ! Been driving a 2016 MX - 5 Club soft top in all weather including some of the coldest days thru snow & ice the soft top does a great job of protecting the interior. There is extra care involved in keeping the soft top in good shape though. Not a big deal.
is there alot of road noise? @@ag4allgood
@@VOOODOOO37 There is more road noise but nothing that would make me say deal breaker. With the top down & windows up there is less noise than the RF with the targa down. The RF is quieter with the roof up.
Awesome, thanks! @@ag4allgood
The spirit of mx5 is soft top
As someone who professionally races this car and helped develop the car, awesome video. Love this thing to death
The RF looks much more "premium"
Just get it already! I've owned the soft top for 10 months, engaging driving EVERY. SINGLE. TIME. It also gets better and more responsive after the first service with the miles/kms on it, engine settled.
As an ND Club soft-top owner... I agree! Although I absolutely love the look of the RF though and the ability to lower the rear window. I miss my old '92 that had a zip out rear window, it was nice to put down for extra ventilation without lowering the top fully.
Here in 2021, the steering wheel is tilt/telescopic. There's an aftermarket seat frame mod that lowers the seat almost 2 inches, and an aftermarket mod that allows you to put the top up or down at a higher speed, and raise or lower the top and windows with the key fob
I'm a hardtop guy, plus living in Canada I'd rather have one than a soft top...
Zachary Lagler Softtop, always, I prefer cabriolets with softtop it just looks more like a cabriolet
I would also choose the softop over the RF because if you’re driving with the roof open in the RF the buttresses generate a lot of wind noise at highway speeds - the faster you go the louder it gets. Also, there’s slightly more cargo space in the trunk with the softop with 130 litres versus 127 litres for the RF. Plus, not many people know this, but the softop version has one cubbie hole behind each seat, and the RF only has one cubbie hole - I forget whether is the driver or passenger side that there’s a cubbie hole missing in the RF.
The hardtop, looks more like a T-top (without the middle) I’m with you, soft top for me!
We test drove the RF - but we both agreed on the soft top - my partner bought it.
We can live with the noise in the soft top with the top up, but not in the RF with the top down.
I absolutely love driving this car, which our friends think is amusing, because I have driven
Cadillac, Mercury and Continental cars from the 1970's all my life - and still do.
It would definitely be better if the hard top went all the way down. But the answer in this case is you win either way, because Miata =V
A new NSX targa would be interesting. I like the older ones but still it'd be cool to see on a newer NSX as well. May help them sell a few more.
All the cars with completely folding metal roofs, are very phat ass ugly looking.
This is the best solution. Small structure to remove, makes the back end design look really good, roof up or down. It's the best compromise.
Gregor Zorc some look nice and sleek. Not all but some look better.
I had tried to get a 2022 RF but it wasn’t possible to order one anymore nor did any dealer in 300 mile radius have one. Instead I got a 2021 soft top and initially was a bit bummed, but after having it for a couple months I completely love it and now prefer the soft top. I think the black roof adds great contrast to the look and I drop the top even if weather looks a bit temperamental (which is all the time here in FL) because I know I can put it up in an instant if I need. The roof being so fast and easy gives me way more open sky time than if I felt like I’d have to pull over to put it up or down.
I wish the ND had taken the same approach as the NC's power retractable hard top. I'm not a big fan of the NC but they absolutely nailed the power hard top.
what does ND and NC stand for?
@@alexander1055 first gen Miata (flippy headlights): NA
Second gen: NB
Third gen: NC
Fourth gen: ND
@@AbdulrahmanAteya Thanks, I thought NA stands for naturally aspirated.
@@alexander1055 it does in allbother cars but miata
Today, I just tried this car. Amazing experience! Still thinking about it. You look at this car and you think "what a cutie", but you start the engine and you understand that this "little car" is a badass. Great car! Maybe the weirdest thing is the transmission. You need to be aggressive to change gears. It makes you feel that you're really driving a badass. I was not used to this maybe because I never drove a sports car.
You'll understand the RF once you live in a cold and wet place.
+Skøut haha, been living in the Northwest for the past 5 years. Cold and wet is the motto!
Skøut
Or maybe a hot one with six weeks of heavy pollen.
With the RF, there is less excuse for sitting in the garage waiting for “a great day for a convertible.”
I’m in England, my wife has the ND soft top. I have a baby AMG, the MX-5 is such a great smiles per mile car. I try and use it as much as possible, it’s really like a motorbike but with a nice seat.
And when it’s cold and shitty it’s still a nice place to be. Heated seats and great A/C make it comfortable all year round.
I checked out the RF in the showroom last week. It's even more gorgeous in person. If I had the coin, I'd buy it.
NC PRHT is the best compromise, it still a pure driving machine and can be had for less than 15k.
Agreed! I drive a silver 2015 PRHT
2012 SE here. Have had NB NC ND and came back to NC PRHT. Just the best all around Miata! 👍😁
But, I feel the NC styling is the worst of the bunch.
You don’t see the outside when you’re driving. Besides styling preference is subjective. I like the NC 2 styling best followed closely by the NA, then NB and lastly the ND. I think the ND looks like a kids toy car. Exaggerated lines much?
I agree with you - until thePRHT stops working as mine did. Both Mazda dealership and 2 MX5 specialists quoting huge sums to fix a sector gear with a broken tooth. You have buy the entire frame which is over AUD 1000. So for now my MX5 is a coupe only - still a great drivers car and I still enjoy driving it every trip. I do miss the open roadster experience.
I do too. The Miata ethos has always been simplicity, lightweight, low power RWD roadster. The complicated origami-folding hard-top suits cars like the large & luxurious Mercedes SL just fine, but it is almost a slap on the face of what a Miata should be.
I definitely believe the added 130lbs or so on the back helps with the car's stability, mainly the rear feeling planted but I also recall reading that Mazda retuned the suspension on the RF (regardless of trim) to eliminate some of that body lean and tossability that the soft top exhibits. Any thoughts on that?
Yes, thoughts!
- they only increased the rear spring rates in line with the additional weight
- therefore, it wasn't 'retuned the suspension on the RF (regardless of trim) to eliminate some of that body lean and tossability that the soft top exhibits'
- the overall wallowyness remains the same and was also deliberate; Mazda wanted the sensation of knowing you were pushing on etc.
@@Dr.IanPlect Agree with your view Dr. Yea the way the back tires let loose is the way you know you hit a limit. It actually teaches you to be a better driver by letting up on the gas or giving it more gas will quickly correct the rear end.
The weight & price penalty of the RF is not worth it as my Club soft top is quicker off the line than the RF.
The older version in the NC with the PRHT is best because you get both the hard top experience and a complete convertible experience. Plus it’s fast enough and fun. In addition you can get a great deal. Used clean examples are so affordable. You can get a 2008 PRHT GT with the Bose and leather for only $10k! What’s your opinion as opposed to spending $30 for a new Club ND MX-5.
As a owner of the RF, I can assure.. I embarrassed myself multiple times in roundabouts with this car... IT IS tail happy LOL (or most probably, I suck at driving it in the wet with no TC)
P.S. your reviews are the most precise I see on TH-cam. The majority of reviews state that the headroom in the RF is more, but you're the only one I saw that correctly states the reduced headroom in the RF. Thumbs up for your precise and scientific approach to everything.
I don’t think you suck, I bet you use to drive either a front wheel drive or a heavier rear wheel drive car. This car is really predictable you just need to take it a couple times to the track until you get the gist.
You also will have to take care of the soft top a little more, keeping it treated to prevent drying out and cracking. I'd prefer the hard top more since I live in Tennessee and winter here just sucks, one day it's 65° dry-cold yet feels like 28°, the next day it's 12° snowing/sleeting/raining all day, no ice just slush everywhere, wet-cold yet feels like it's 40° and 30-60° day/night temperature cycles are very common. Soft tops are nice but I've always liked the way hard tops looked more. Nice video, love the new changes they've done for the Miata.
I life in The Netherlands, it rains a lot so yeah I prefer the RF. We do get the 2.0 RF with a LSD and bilstein suspension. If you only use it in the summer, get the softtop.
icebreakertech acid
I purchased a 2015 ND 2.0L GT Softtop at 35% depreciation last month. Very happy with it, even though I hit a Kangaroo on the 2000km drive home. (Note: any light hit with anything will completely wreck your bonnet due to the active bonnet system). Its a great car and equally just as good as the RF. I love the RFs grey colour however. I think due to the time it takes for the RFs roof to come down, I would use it less. I love how the softtop can be done in 2 seconds. Obviously storage is minimal but if you want a second car or its just the two of you. Its a great experience. Small, light and nimble is how a drivers car should be.
I don’t like how the RF essentially turns into a “t-top” similar to a delSol and maintains the huge buttresses but it does make for a very attractive car.
I own a 1993 and my second soft top is already showing its age. I had the second one installed in 2009 but the first one lasted up to that point. Cracks in the vinyl and pin pricks started showing up. And the plastic window started fogging even with a cleaning. My advice on soft tops is to buy a glass version at least then you can see clearly out for longer.
The best of both worlds can be had on the NC PRHT model. The top comes down completely(unlike RF) and lasts longer than the soft tops.
The ideal would be the current model with a full retractable hard top that can be operated manually from inside and have very simple mechanics to make it last. Like a two-piece roof system. It shouldn’t be that heavy seeing as the whole hardtop I had was manageable to remove by myself.
However a.coupe would be even better
I just served as passenger side ballast at an auto-cross in a '19 RF, and what a blast that little car is. It looks very TVR-esque.
The Most Fun and Semi Affordable cars:
Mazda MX-5 (Miata)
Ford Fiesta ST
Subaru BRZ / Toyota GT86
In no particular order.
I west with the RF because I do a lot of long distance driving in the summer. Even with the top down I'm not being beaten to death by the wind. And a few mods and part removal and you can get that half a second back with ease.
I agree.. soft top gives you the feel of being more open.. that is the essence of getting a convertible.. but the rf just looks cooler.. especially when the roof retracts.. gives you transformer vibes
I had a 95 and an 02 Miata. Both of them I had to spend big $$ to install a worthy stereo because neither were loud enough to keep up w wind noise. Not sure about the Bose systems....they might be better but I'm pretty demanding. Having the freedom of a convertible without the ability to crank up the rock is an incomplete experience. I now have a Mini Cooper S convertible. Put an Integral Audio system in it and it sounds incredible. Better than any system you could put in a Miata....and w the Mini I have a lot more room.
Looks like im going for a hard top, being from a tropical country, heat is going to be factor to consider for me.
They used to have a hardtop that completely integrated into the back between the trunk and seats, so it was a true convertible. Not sure why they went this direction. At that time, I was shopping for a red hardtop, but then the competition yellow, with black soft-top, in the showroom caught my eye. I had them take the soft-top out of the showroom and place it next to the hardtop. I drove the soft-top home and I’ve been loving my decision for the past 15 years; she’s my baby.
I don't enjoy soft tops because they all look like trash in 3 years and everyone ends up getting a removable hard top that you cannot remove while driving, anyways!!! If I was getting an MX5 purpose built track car then I would definitely go soft top. If I live in the city where someone having a bad day could slice my soft top for an easy opportunity at looting - I would rather avoid that altogether with a hard top. Not to mention paint matched hard top, not some cheap black thing?? Don't mind if I do..
My 2013 has the original soft top and still looks great! It’s all in how you care for them.
@@FJB8646Same with my 2008 top, looks practically brand new
Well said. IMHO this car also looks a lot better in RF trim, dare I say Lotus-like.
Things you left out: RF looks amazing in person. Cloth top looks like crap, especially with sun fade which we get down in Texas. Road noise. Having owned a convertible before this is huge to me. sometimes I want some peace and quiet. The hard top will wear better with age. 15 or 20 years from now you can polish that top and it will still look great.
A coupe version would sell well
Oooh. Im so happy to hear about the new Mazda MX5 I have a 1999 MX 5. My fist & love it. I live in SFL & ride w the top down most everyday as u know they have come out w an eletric top but why pay the money for just something to. Fail u can put the top up manually just as fast if not faster. Save ur $. I love how it hugs the turns like I tell my friend when with me lol were riding the rail. He also likes how it performs. I have just recently put a K & N air filter on it & the sound. I get out of it is great it makes me want to pit more foot in the throttle lol. Its a great car for anyone what ever year u can get or have just get one 👏😃
BRZ is unreal with head room and leg room. Im 6'6" and miatas are pretty much all a no go, but the brz/86/frs is absolutely great
While I appreciate your opinion I own a 2019 RF and am completely happy with it. Having owned a couple of soft tops previously I like the rigidity and lack of noise in the RF. Regardless, this is a fun little car. Certainly not a primary vehicle but a load of fun nonetheless.
I have a 2020 version and I love love love it!
Should’ve watch you before purchasing… Bought a brand new 2021 red RF as I instantly fell in love with its super nice look 👍However, big mistake for me… a month later, I went begging to the dealership to swap for a soft top in the same red color. Reason? The RF has very annoying wind noise at high speed with top retracted, blind spots are absolutely terrible, has a bit less headroom than the soft top and you don’t feel like driving a real convertible. Lesson learned and much happier with the ST, takes about 2 secs to open or close the top! Don’t get me wrong, Both are still beautiful cars!
The Only Reason: WEIGHT REDUCTION BROOOOOO!!
xHarux3 what do you mean? Are you saying there is a discernible difference between RF and soft top aerodynamics when their tops are up?
Nah...
I see you!!!!!!! KEK
weight destribution bro
I have an RF. Got lighter wheels & removed the exhaust, I'm already lighter than the soft top.
I bought my first MX5 ND three years ago as I could not go from my BMW Z3 to a new Z4 and still use a boot rack for touring due to the hard top mechanism . Now on my second ND and love the look of the RF but bought another soft top. Test drove the RF and thought it just felt like a car with the sun roof open but for me the deal breaker was the loss of luggage capacity. One of the useful boxes behind the seats is lost but of greater importance for my summer touring is the RF cannot be used with a boot rack. Checked the racks available and found a pretty basic one that will fit on (not the Mazda rack but that is horrible anyway) but you would have to remove any luggage to open or close the top. I use mine in winter as well with winter tyres fitted. Still a comfortable drive with a good heater and heated seats. Can't imagine the RF could be much better.
Btw, I've owned 2 Miata's and they both came with removable hard-tops in addition to the soft top. That's the best of both worlds. Do they not offer removable hard tops any more?
What an absolutely amazing place to film, too. I love those mountainous backroads! Especially in California (looks similar, but not certain).
Makes me appreciate my 2007 retractable hard top :D best of both worlds
Same!!
Other than the price I don't see any of the reasons you give a deal breaker.
In the end it's all about which one you like the most and wich one you can afford.
Great channel!
i rock my top down most of the year anyway
dang midwest your miata is clean
Just driving with my top down in the northeast in November.
Where at?
twin cities minnesota, actually thinking of driving the car through the winter....
midwest mods my winter tires just arrived yesterday. I can’t wait to get them on because it’s under 40 degrees most mornings when I leave for work.
My 19 mx5 is an RF. It is my daily driver. The soft top is great but very road noisy when the top is up. I live in PA and need the top up for 6-7 months of the year. If I lived in FL or AZ, I would have opted for the soft top.
I have an NC and an ND RF. I was surprised that I really don't notice a huge difference in visibility besides on the left side (and I have blind spot to monitor that). On the NC you have the roll hoops and the wind blocker that makes it feel a lot like the ND.
The RF is not a convertible; like he said, it feels and (I know it looks) like you just took the top off. I still have a 10th Anniversary Edition as my daily driver.
First off, soft top costs much less than the hard top to purchase, maintain and repair, also will have a minimum chance of its mechanism acting up in rainy or windy day. I learned from life with this "never say never". Soft top will have no wind resistance and buffer noise compared to hard top as it folds completely down to the trunk while the hard top will only go down to the same height as the top level of windshield leaving a huge gap to allow wind to cut through. With this said, it is the same as riding your bicyble or walking on a windy day holding an umbrella with its top facing backward. Hope this helps
The 2019 Mx5 does have telescopic adjustment of the steering wheel ;-)
In Miami, we need A/C for at least half the year, the hard top is the only option for that. With that black canvas on top, you could never get below 87 degrees when it's 94 all day for 6 months at a time. The car seems nice to me.
I feel like Mazda should have given the RF a slight power increase over the soft-top to not only further justify its premium, but to also make up for the acceleration and handling lost with the hundred or so pounds added from the targa top.
I have a Toyota Tacoma TRD off-road 4x4, Mazda 6 GT (which I love!) and after watching this video, now I feel like I should get a Miata for that fun drive during the sunny days in South Florida -:) ...
Interesting that you feel there was less oversteer with the weight balance moved rearward. One way to tweak a race car’s balance towards oversteer is to move ballast rearward. There could be other reasons affecting that car’s balance, but in general a more rearward weight distribution typically means it would move the car’s balance more towards oversteer. I wonder if the two versions have different spring rates and that’s what is responsible for the balance change.
Maybe it's because moving the weight rearward on this particular car put it at exactly 50/50? Pushing the balance farther back would probably result in what you're talking about.
Sam Dunham Weight distribution plays some role in determining balance, but it is just one thing among many. And it is possible to make any distribution oversteer or understeer by playing with those other factors. Something else seems to be the cause here, to me anyway. Mazda are probably the only ones that could answer that.
The RF has stiffer rear springs
my softtop got stiffer Eibach Springs recently offered by Mazda Germany. All it did was reducing body roll dramaticaly. The rear end hapyness is unchanged. Must be a different cause on the RF ...
Clayton Macleod I owned a RF Manual with LSD and have tones of fun ! Oversteer behaviours are much noticeable than the soft top there’s no other car in this price range can compare only I believe only rearward basis car such as lotus or Cayman can compare ！
Some people just want the look/platform, not for a convertible. Chassis rigidity, 50/50 balance.
Kicking out the rear, people could add more power, put a bigger rear sway.
It is pretty much a targa top like the rx7 convertible had the option of removing, that section was hard and detachable while the rest was soft and it could all fold in or look like this.
Either model ND or a late model NC would be a great project for a rotary conversion. Some are going to throw an LS in it I’m sure ;)
And for you sir, you already have an S2000 for a ‘pure’ convertible, if only you weren’t so tall I’d say the RF would give you something a bit different :)
Check out Flyin' Miata. They did a beautiful LS3 swap
I knew you explain well about cars, I didnt know you also drive well.🤭👍
Very good points here... I was all about the RF but now I'd strongly consider the soft top. Especially if it was not my only car.
The rf is cooler but just requires more power upgrades I love its look like a modern shelby cobra
I have the 2019 sport soft top (love it) and I don't even see the RF attractive and by the way is a little expensive.
I think the soft top looks better imo