2016 Mazda Miata

Club spec and not sure on delivery. Since I race SM I get so-called S-Plan pricing (invoice) and on a lark went by the local dealer and damned if they did not agree to honor invoice on what is pretty hot right now. So I said WTF and ordered one. It is such a tidy little car and they actually took off nearly 200 lb from the last gen car, which was already light.

Agreed, I do not get why the 4C is so much heavier - it tells me that the Mazda engineers were serious about light weight and the Alfa engineers less so. The details on the Miata are really nice - for example, the top is a simple one-handed manual affair with a single latch and the front part is rigid, which reduces wind noise and allows it to serve as a tonneau when latched down. No complexity of hydraulics and switches and nannies. I can just put the top up or down at any speed I feel is prudent.

I get the impression it could be a matter of weeks, as there are so few available options that they seemed to have already had one coming. I guess I'll need a rainbow bumper sticker.

 

Yes, the dealer had a Launch Edition automatic on the floor, which as you might imagine was not very popular. There were no clubs available, but I got the impression several were on the way in very short order. I am in no rush, and need another car like a hole in the head, but I respect the light weight and engineering at this car so much, having raced SM for 15 years, that I decided it was time I actually bought something from Mazda

 

Probably depends on the market, Euro specs:

MX5/Miata vs. 4C

Empty weight 950 kg (1.5)/990 kg (2.0) vs. 895 kg


Length 3915 mm 3990 mm
Width 1735 mm 1868 mm
Height 1230 mm 1184 mm
Wheelbase 2310 mm 2380 mm
Track width front 1495 mm 1621 mm
Track width rear 1505 mm 1601 mm

 

Too bad I am not in Europe. Mazda managed to make a world car that did not pork out by hundreds of pounds in the U.S. IMO the 4C is a pretty disappointing waste of carbon fiber in terms of overall vehicle weight. CF should be more than a pretty finish.

 

I've read that the CF tub was "reinforced" with steel for side impact and other crash protection, and there may be other reinforcements for the front and rear for low speed impact, but 250 lbs is an awful lot of extra mass for the Federal market. The 4C is quite light in comparison to most cars, but for Mazda to get a convertible at a lower curb weight with all Federal safety standards satisfied and a fairly conventional unibody is saying something. Of course the Miata is much less powerful and has no DCT, but I look forward to the purity and simplicity of the manual transmission. And unlike the 4C I can actually order a Miata and the large numbers of Miatas means the aftermarket will be quite robust

 

What Keith said plus the euro weight was for strippers with no AC air in the tires or any fluids, in other words dry weight.

Add AC and fluids and 100+ lbs already taken care of. Then a nice interior and you are getting there, plus some usa safetey bits..

The CF did not lead to lighter weight but in theory still makes a really stiff tub, all the wonder then that instead of double wishbones they fitted struts.

The Miata is really impressive, Sat in one at the NY show, seemed to fit like a glove.

The Japanese are in some ways still purists, the Miata and FT86 theye refuse to add more hp.

If the aBarth/miata and 4c have the same motor it will be really inetresting to see how they compare.

 

Still makes a Miata about 50 kg's heavier than a Euro 4C despite a TcT gearbox for instance, and don't forget to adjust for the tiny dimensions of the Miata => cf does help.

And make a similar sum for a Lotus Elise and you will see that a Euro spec 4C is about as light (give or take 15kg) as the smaller, less well equipped and more spartan Elise, which is Euro only for some reason ;-). Lotus by the way "sells" the weight of their cars in similar 4C fashion (excl. ac, fluids, etc.)

 

I'd like to see any 4C on scales with fluids and fuel and the total under 2000 lb. I personally weighed my 2005 Federal Elise and it was 1938 with ~ 3/8 tank fuel. The Elise is no longer available in the US because it won't meet all Federal requirements, and the US versions that did come in had a special exemption from the 2.5 mph bumper requirement.

The Italians are notorious for optimistic weight specs. My Gallardo was over 3500 lb on scales. Just weighed a good friend's 458 Speciale - 3303 with full fuel.

I've never seen an independent source actually weigh a Euro-spec 4C. R&T weighed Federal cars and both came in at over 2400 lb. I personally wonder if the Federal add-ons are not as heavy as everyone thinks and perhaps the Euro car is a bit heavier than the Alfa-published numbers. R&T had this to say about the 4C:

The original weight advertised for the 4C was an absurd 895 kg, or 1973 lb. That's what the Italians call "dry weight," and while it got the attention of enthusiasts everywhere, it was also a misleading number. That 1973-lb car, when filled with things like oil, was said to weigh 2028 lb.

But according to the engineers we spoke with last year, at that weight, the 4C has no A/C, no radio, no muffler, and a fixed-position passenger seat. Hell, it might not have even had an engine. It's not that we don't trust the Italians where weight is concerned. It's just that… we don't trust the Italians where weight is concerned

But back to the point. Here in the US, I know of no lighter new production car than the Mazda Miata. And that is at a sub $30,000 price point. Perhaps the Euro-spec Miata is 110 lb or so heavier than the Euro-spec 4C and the advantage of a CF tub finally does pay off. I can believe the Euro 4C might weigh around 2225 lb. I'd love to see independently-measured weights of both.

It's still an academic question; I live in the US.

 

The Euro 4C definitely can't meet the weight of your 2005 Elise, I believe the Elise series 1 was even lighter. But the 2015 Elise 220 Cup comes very close, adjusted for things like ac and the TcT gearbox that is.

On 4c-forums.com a few owners put their full options Euro 4C (ac + electric windows/mirrors, parking sensors, radio/speakers, sportpack) on scales and measured +/- 1015 kg (2238lbs).

The 2015 Elise Cup weight excl. fuel is 952 kg's (or 2099lbs.) (see Elise 220 Cup | Lotus Cars), add ac, fuel + the extra weight of the TcT gearbox (+/- 20kg's/44 lbs) and it comes close.

 

Some basic info:
[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LMyoaICX5Fk[/ame]

 

Pobst takes one around Laguna as part of Car of the Year:

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WQYQWsdvnEQ[/ame]

 

I've had the car for a bit and like it better each drive. The light weight and small size make for a very engaging drive and the amenities are surprisingly good. The gearbox is as good as any car I've ever driven, the pedals are set up for heel/toe. LED headlamps are excellent, stereo is acceptable and the headrest speakers are clever from a packaging and proximity standpoint. Even the Bluetooth is good with the top down. It's clearly optimized for the street with a very muted exhaust and lots of suspension travel.

The top is super clever, and literally takes maybe 5 sec to operate with the front section doubling as a rigid tonneau cover. It has glass rear window with electric defrost.

I know I will want more power, but a traditional turbo kit is on the way, as is a very clever electric supercharger, so I figure 250 hp is going to be pretty readily available and should not be too taxing on the 2l engine. Tuners are already supplying about 170 rwhp NA, and that's without cams or extensive exhaust or intake development. There is a lot to be said for a higher production car and strong aftermarket and enthusiast community.

 

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ii5N86XNXEM[/ame]

 

I'd really like to see a Mazdaspeed version with the 1.4L turbo and extra goodies....could convince me to trade in the BRZ.

 

Interesting comparison:

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r6HFEaZi5mI[/ame]

 

Miata RF released some weeks ago, this car keeps getting better. It's sickening that they don't make a higher power factory version (like the 1st gen NSX).
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Saw this at the NY Auto show a few days ago. Looks even better in person. It has a similar targa top feature as the new $120k 911. One of the staff was putting the top up and down. About 15-20 seconds in each direction.

Estimated pricing at the show was "around" $35k. Should be here late in 2017 (3rd of 4th Q).

Adding power is not an issue (unless you are concerned about warranty claims).

Regards,
Jerry

 

I sat in one at the Cleveland Auto show and just didn't fit, even with the seat all the way back against the rear bulkhead. I've also had the
opportunity to try on a previous generation with the same results, which is very disappointing.

 

This has always been my greatest disappointment with the Miata; at 6'3", I don't fit.

Does anyone know if the rear quarter "windows" are see-through (i.e. are the blackened parts of the buttresses glass, or are they simply black panels designed to continue the window line)?

 

I think it's the latter.