Mazda MX-5 RF
Has the RF’S folding hard roof spoiled this fun-filled sports car’s equilibrium? We take it for one last spin just to make sure
Did its folding hard-top impress?
How shall we play this, then? Shall we talk about the Mazda MX-5 RF’S roof now or later? It feels wrong to start a final long-term report talking about a roof because, well, it’s a roof. The MX-5 RF is a two-seat sports car, so surely we should start by focusing on performance, driving dynamics and so on. You know, the stuff people interested in two-seat sports cars want to know about.
But, frankly, we’re going to have to talk about the roof at some point. Why? Well, here’s the thing: in soft- top form, the MX-5 is a brilliant, fun, proven performer. The MX-5 RF takes that package and adds a Retractable Fastback (a folding hard roof, in other words). So questions about the MX-5 RF centre on that roof. Does it affect the exquisite handling? Does it upset that oh-sohoned weight distribution? Is it worth the extra £2000 or so? Basically, any assessment of the Mazda MX-5 RF leads to the impact of that roof. Okay, then. Let’s talk about the roof. The first time you press on the switch to lower the Retractable Fastback, you can’t help but be impressed. It’s 15 seconds or so of whirring, cleverly engineered theatre, followed by a sense of freedom as the slightly cramped feel that the low roof offers is replaced by blue sky.
The second time you press on the switch to lower the Retractable Fastback, you’re still impressed by the theatre but begin to notice that 15 seconds is quite a long time to wait given that the MX-5’S manual soft top can be flipped down almost instantly. By the fifth or sixth time, it’s a little tedious, especially since you have to keep your finger on the switch, lest the whole procedure comes to a juddering stop. It’s partly a safety thing, along with the roof only operating at speeds below 6mph, but it makes it very hard to, say, programme the sat-nav while waiting for the roof to do its thing.
That, along with the somewhat patchy British weather, explains why I found myself increasingly driving around with the roof up – despite protestations from the MX-5 enthusiasts in our office that this was some form of sacrilege. But, once you’ve adjusted to the ‘tight’ interior, the MX-5 still offers fun driving thrills without such annoyances as buffeting and wind noise when at speed. It’s a lot dryer and warmer too.
Another reason for keeping the roof up: I reckon the MX-5 RF looks better. And not just better than it does with the roof down, but – gasp! – better than the soft-top MX-5. Yes, more sacrilege. But, to me, the RF’S flowing rear pillars and sloping roof further enhance the MX-5’S lovely
I reckon the MX-5 RF looks better than the soft-top MX-5. Yes, sacrilege
big bonnet and aggressive front grille. Although it’s worth noting that, with the roof down, those rear pillars do create a fair amount of extra wind noise at higher speeds.
Of course, style is a personal preference. So let’s get onto the substance: does that folding hard top – plus the extra weight (around 45kg) and shift in vehicle dynamics that comes with it – fundamentally alter the driving and handling dynamics?
The answer is, essentially, no. Yes, there is a slight difference in feel, but Mazda’s engineers have done a great job balancing the extra weight. It still feels like an MX-5 should – and, from my first drive in it to my last, it put a smile on my face. The steering is keen, responsive and well-weighted. ❞The balance is rewarding, offering feedback and inspiring confidence. And the six-speed manual gearbox feels hefty without being intrusive.
Our car came with the smaller 1.5-litre engine, which sounded great and offered plenty of torque and power when required. Interestingly, editor Mark Tisshaw reckoned our MX-5 RF actually turned in better than the 2.0-litre soft-top version he’d previously run as a long-termer. But he also noted that the MX-5 RF was deceptively slow, feeling a lot faster than it really is. That hints at the lower power of the 1.5-litre engine, but also highlights that the spirit of the MX-5 driving experience is in having fun, rather than going fast.
In short, the Retractable Fastback doesn’t fundamentally change the highly regarded dynamic properties of the MX-5. Which leads us back to where we started: the roof. Because it’s all about the roof.
So to answer a question I’ve been pondering for six months: no, the roof doesn’t spoil, upset or ruin the MX-5 experience. And, yes, it does offer some extra practicality and usability.
I grew to appreciate the roof, and not just for the style. Using the MX-5 RF as a daily driver, the roof kept me warm and dry on cold, wet days when I’d have thought twice about setting off in a soft-top.
In that context, the £2000 outlay for the roof does add a chunk of extra practicality. Although, of course, the roof doesn’t solve some of the problems of using an MX-5 as a primary motor: the small boot; the lack of rear seats; the ‘cosy’ interior.
Hard roof or not, the MX-5 is never going to be the world’s most practical car. And part of its charm is living with compromise and enjoying the simple pleasures it offers as a result. The roof doesn’t remove those simple pleasures and, to me, enhances the package. Given the choice, I’d pick the MX-5 RF over the soft-top version (and, yes, be accused of sacrilege for doing so). But, if stood in a dealership pondering that £2000 difference, would I be so eager to do so? I’m not so sure. It all depends on how much you value you place on a proper roof.
See, it really is all about that roof…