so Mazda is doing an unveiling at NY

Keith Tanner wrote: I've spent time in a GT6. That's gonna mess with your head for what's normal The ND is roomier for the inhabitants, that's for sure. Plus you don't have to drive with the windows open to stay cool. In Canada. In January.

Man you ask a guy to drive a 400 miles in a 1960's British car you just bought sight unseen, and do it in January across Canada's snow belt, on summer tires, with no tools or back-up, and he never lets you live it down...

That's the last time I... no wait, I'm sure it won't be the last time, nevermind.

Ottawa

BoxheadTim wrote:

Woody wrote: I didn't pay much attention to the ND when they came out. Is there a removable hardtop available?

Not so far, even though it looks like one should be a pretty easy fitment.

There are a couple of panels right where the Frankenstein bolts would go. I haven't looked underneath, but they do stand out a bit.

Armitage wrote: What I really want is a new 323GTX please.

I'm with this guy. Not a crossover, not a mini SUV, a Mazda 3 (or better yet, 2) with all wheel drive and a turbo. Don't even change anything else, that would be enough.

Rufledt wrote: I'm with this guy. Not a crossover, not a mini SUV, a Mazda 3 (or better yet, 2) with all wheel drive and a turbo. Don't even change anything else, that would be enough.

The reasons why a coupe Miata and a killer AWD, turbo 3 didn't exist (taking RX-7 and RX-8 sales) are no longer valid.

As for the hot hatch, stepping into the hot hatch arena on the cusp of the Focus RS debut is kind of risky unless you've got a real killer. It would be easy to get lost in the hype right now.

I think the PRHT Miata is the closest we'll ever see to a coupe. If there is a legitimate rollbar that would fit underneath it all the time, it would take away a lot of my concerns regarding owning one.

I see the logic in not wanting to tank RX sales, and not wanting to butt up against the Focus RS, I just want a new 323 GTX (and RX anything too, or a coupe Miata ) so bad I can almost imagine my wife yelling "why the e36m3 did you buy that?!" When I bring one home.

I think the reason the GTX was so great was because it was a for-real homologation car. The recent Mazdaspeed6, designed to hit the Evo/WRX market, didn't do well because it was marketing driven and not competition driven.

Rufledt wrote:

Armitage wrote: What I really want is a new 323GTX please.

I'm with this guy. Not a crossover, not a mini SUV, a Mazda 3 (or better yet, 2) with all wheel drive and a turbo. Don't even change anything else, that would be enough.

Me too. I just don't see it happening though. The 2 with AWD and a turbo....damn!!! It's crazy competitive in the automotive world.......I am thankful we still have a Miata.

t- one day and counting

iadr wrote:

Keith Tanner wrote: [...hype] The end result is a car that is indistinguishable from a soft top with the top down, and feels like a coupe with the top up. It's a real guilty pleasure.

Really, have you seen one, even brand new off the truck not windwhistle to the point you want to park it and rent a base model Kia Rio for the rest of your trip? Had one at the dealership Friday...wanted the wind whistle looked at. I looked at those seals closely for the first time and not for the first time said "and this is why Mazda is a 3rd tier car manufacturer (at best)". Total junk.

Huh? What? Are you kidding?

I've never driven one that whistled. Never driven a Kia Rio either.

... I'd like to see who's on your list of "1st tier" and "2nd tier" if Mazda is on 3rd.

Keith Tanner wrote: I think the reason the GTX was so great was because it was a for-real homologation car. The recent Mazdaspeed6, designed to hit the Evo/WRX market, didn't do well because it was marketing driven and not competition driven.

Truth right there. Too bad the WRC doesn't do homologation anymore, but I understand why they don't.

I still wish they had some level of homologation, like vehicle must have same number of drive wheels as the production car on which they are based or something. You can get the AWD golf but that's about it.

Rufledt wrote:

Keith Tanner wrote: I think the reason the GTX was so great was because it was a for-real homologation car. The recent Mazdaspeed6, designed to hit the Evo/WRX market, didn't do well because it was marketing driven and not competition driven.

Truth right there. Too bad the WRC doesn't do homologation anymore, but I understand why they don't. I still wish they had some level of homologation, like vehicle must have same number of drive wheels as the production car on which they are based or something. You can get the AWD golf but that's about it.

The Golf is too big for WRC, which is why VW uses the Polo.

I thought there was some level of homologation required for the lower classes, which is why you can buy, say, the R3 kit for the Fiesta.

But WRC still requires stock shells... with limited amounts of additional bracing... and modifications necessary for suspension and drivetrain modifications... but you have to use a stock block engine! Unless you don't want to, then you can make something else.

Thats a good point, I guess I just want more of that kind of thing, or just more to bring the top level race cars a bit more inline with the production cars.

I get that the racing is about marketing, but I lose interest when the advertisement/car racing in front of me isn't actually the product that's for sale. That's why nascar and F1 don't interest me in the least. /blasphemy

Flight Service wrote: t- one day and counting

I thought the show started on March 23rd?

Press days are March 23-24. The show opens to the public on the 25.

Mazda dinner is March 22.

For some brain damaged reason I thought it was the 13....ignore me most people do

Rufledt wrote: Thats a good point, I guess I just want more of that kind of thing, or just more to bring the top level race cars a bit more inline with the production cars.

The funny thing is, a lot of the stuff on production cars is banned. ABS? Fancy diffs (active or passive)? Active handling? Active suspension? All banned. The drivetrains are limited to manually shifted transmissions (no more paddles) with no fancy diffs, no center diff at all, no active suspension, no more than X pounds or boost or Y RPM and they have to pull through a soda straw besides.

Basically there is nothing to homologate. It used to be that homologation was required to ensure that the "Good Stuff" was actually used in street cars. Now it is just the opposite, the rules ban most of the things that exist in street cars in the name of slowing the cars down.

If you want to homologate something, homologate vertical suspension travel to be no more than the street version. Oh BOY will you see wailing and gnashing of teeth.

That said a super-2 would be rad. Too bad Mazda doesn't have the capital to expend on such a halo car with an unknown market. They know Miatas sell so it makes sense to go that route.

If it turns out to be the hardtop ND it might be the tipping point to me buying my first brand new car.

Knurled wrote: The funny thing is, a lot of the stuff on production cars is banned. ABS? Fancy diffs (active or passive)? Active handling? Active suspension? All banned. The drivetrains are limited to manually shifted transmissions (no more paddles) with no fancy diffs, no center diff at all, no active suspension, no more than X pounds or boost or Y RPM and they have to pull through a soda straw besides.

I don't know, i'd want to buy exactly the kind of car you describe. I don't like active-computer-controlled-witchcraft, and i like manuals. I'm weird, i know that.

If you want to homologate something, homologate vertical suspension travel to be no more than the street version. Oh BOY will you see wailing and gnashing of teeth.

That would be awesome! Make some small hatchbacks with some long travel! almost sounds like an awesome start to a rally car...

I know the rallying has nothing to do with production car development, but i kind of wish it still did.

codrus wrote: So what do you think the odds are on it having magic spinning triangles?

0

Despite what they say I believe that is vaporware.

If they made a MX5 coupe.... or rather a RX5 that would be my next car on the list. Only if it was turbocharged or had a rotary though. I see absolutely no chance of this happening.

As for the hot hatch, stepping into the hot hatch arena on the cusp of the Focus RS debut is kind of risky unless you've got a real killer.

All they would need to do is sell it at the same price as the previous Mazdaspeed 3. The RS is a $35k car a good $10k higher than the speed 3. If they just released an updated speed 3 it would be fine. Likely the new Civic SI won't even compare for power per dollar.

I'm just reposting this in the hope that it will somehow make it real.

A Miata coupe would be on my list of stuff to own. The FRS has a rear seat, but I begrudge it the room it requires to exist since it does not serve any function.

I also see where if the Miata coupe was made, it should be a limited run every year if they hope to cash in.

If not for the GM content and the Targa top, I would want one of these.

kanaric wrote:

codrus wrote: So what do you think the odds are on it having magic spinning triangles?

0 Despite what they say I believe that is vaporware. If they made a MX5 coupe.... or rather a RX5 that would be my next car on the list. Only if it was turbocharged or had a rotary though. I see absolutely no chance of this happening.

Yeah, I agree. If they do bring the rotary back like they were teasing last year, it'll probably be as a generating plant in a series hybrid or something, and that kind of misses the point.

I am also hoping that talking about a hardtop ND will somehow magically make it a reality.