View Poll Results: Should Mazda have taken the Retro design route for the ND MX-5?

Voters
29. You may not vote on this poll
  • Retro all the way

    6 20.69%
  • Present design, they say you can't go back

    21 72.41%
  • Maybe they could have designed something better

    2 6.90%
Page 1 of 3 123 LastLast
Results 1 to 15 of 36

Thread: Poll: Should Mazda have taken the Retro design route for the ND MX-5?

  1. #1
    5,000 rpm - there be torque here! MiataQuest's Avatar
    Drives
    faster now with the Ecotec 2.4 (1992 white NA)
    Location
    Detroit, Michigan
    Join Date
    Mar 2016
    Posts
    3,076
    Thanks Given
    3,797
    Thanked 1,024 Times in 443 Posts

    Poll: Should Mazda have taken the Retro design route for the ND MX-5?

    From Hemmings: https://www.hemmings.com/blog/2017/0...st-went-retro/

    Proposed Retro design, front 3/4 view


    Retro side view


    Retro rear view


    As manufactured


    My only unrelated comment is about the ND RF.
    That fake window is a total design fail in the automotive world.

    Last edited by MiataQuest; 09-15-2017 at 09:27 PM.

  2. #2
    5,000 rpm - there be torque here! Greasemonkey2000's Avatar
    Drives
    2001 NB2 aka Misfire
    Location
    Temple, Tx is where Chad resides.
    Join Date
    Nov 2013
    Posts
    3,973
    Thanks Given
    4,901
    Thanked 2,425 Times in 1,233 Posts
    Nope the ND is awesome as is.
    '01 NB2 aka MisF1re: http://mazdaroadster.net/showthread....218#post207218
    '97 M aka Warbird, gone but not forgotten: http://mazdaroadster.net/showthread....B&goto=newpost
    Instagram: @greasemonkey2000

  3. #3
    6,000 rpm - mere mortals would shift theothersawyer's Avatar
    Drives
    1994 Classic Red
    Location
    Newnan, Ga
    Join Date
    Dec 2011
    Posts
    4,854
    Thanks Given
    1,167
    Thanked 1,498 Times in 734 Posts
    Mazda knocked it out of the park with the ND! It is gorgeous!

  4. #4
    4,000 rpm - entering the fun zone Hyper's Avatar
    Drives
    Black NB Miata
    Location
    Miami, FL
    Join Date
    Dec 2011
    Posts
    1,436
    Thanks Given
    172
    Thanked 420 Times in 254 Posts
    i DISLIKE THE RF, I WILL PURCHASE REGULAR ND BUT ONLY WHEN OEM HARDTOP IS MADE... BUT MAZDA DOES NOT MAKE ONE. FAIL. BIG FAIL AND THAT'S WHY I AM NOT GETTING ONE.

    NOTE: THIS POST WAS PURPOSELY WRITTEN IN BOLD AND CAP LETTERS.

  5. The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to Hyper For This Useful Post:

    MiataQuest (09-15-2017),oldgrayleather (09-15-2017)

  6. #5
    2,000 rpm - light wheelspin, no bog here! CollinMB's Avatar
    Drives
    2016 Ceramic Metallic ND
    Location
    Southern California
    Join Date
    Feb 2013
    Posts
    206
    Thanks Given
    72
    Thanked 147 Times in 69 Posts
    Looks too much like an NC.

    Also, Mazda did make make an OEM removable hardtop. Only problem is it's for racecars only and expensive AF.

  7. The Following User Says Thank You to CollinMB For This Useful Post:

    Hammerhead (09-20-2017)

  8. #6
    Ninja Messiah kung fu jesus's Avatar
    Drives
    1999 White
    Location
    Atlanta, GA
    Join Date
    Dec 2011
    Posts
    15,852
    Thanks Given
    2,791
    Thanked 7,202 Times in 3,433 Posts
    Retro is passé. Mazda developed an attractive and unique design language, stuck to their guns, and executed. They had to win with this design or cease the model altogether. I love it.

  9. The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to kung fu jesus For This Useful Post:

    HarryB (09-16-2017),oldgrayleather (09-18-2017)

  10. #7
    3,000 rpm - starting to feel the power mazdarati1's Avatar
    Drives
    With a blinker on
    Location
    Michigan
    Join Date
    Sep 2014
    Posts
    631
    Thanks Given
    494
    Thanked 232 Times in 106 Posts

    Retro-NO

    The ND is a stellar design, considering most cars today look so cookie cutter.
    I'd say its good work producing an original looking car that also accomplishes the goals
    of low weight and great handling.

  11. #8
    4,000 rpm - entering the fun zone Hyper's Avatar
    Drives
    Black NB Miata
    Location
    Miami, FL
    Join Date
    Dec 2011
    Posts
    1,436
    Thanks Given
    172
    Thanked 420 Times in 254 Posts
    Show me the OEM hardtop version for ND.

  12. The Following User Says Thank You to Hyper For This Useful Post:

    Paul B (09-16-2017)

  13. #9
    2,000 rpm - light wheelspin, no bog here! DarylSibcy's Avatar
    Drives
    Red 1990 Miata w/ITBs ;)
    Location
    Isle of Man - Middle of... Somewhere...
    Join Date
    Oct 2015
    Posts
    464
    Thanks Given
    258
    Thanked 279 Times in 150 Posts
    Making the retro ND would be glorifying the success of what they've produced in the past rather than looking forwards and focusing on the now. "Retro" builds are awesome, but it's only the NA that can excecute it, you wouldn't get away with spraying an ND with British Racing Green paint from the 90's....

    The NA was made to tip its hat at old British Roadsters from the 60's. By the time they were designing the NB it earned the right to be referred to as its own vehicle....

    Each model should be distinguishable from another, they should look as if they've tried to improve on everything from the last. They stay safe by sticking to their design of it being a minimalist car. Replicating the miata isn't difficult - it's difficult to do properly....

    It was a ballsy move making the new model look as modern as it is, but we live in a world with smartphones and WiFi now, not tape decks and waiting for dial up

    I think they did the MX5 justice.

  14. The Following 3 Users Say Thank You to DarylSibcy For This Useful Post:

    Dandy (09-16-2017),Greasemonkey2000 (09-17-2017),Paul B (09-16-2017)

  15. #10
    2,000 rpm - light wheelspin, no bog here! pnoy1duh's Avatar
    Drives
    HSM 00
    Location
    HR, VA
    Join Date
    Jan 2013
    Posts
    107
    Thanks Given
    13
    Thanked 89 Times in 36 Posts

    tags

    Quote Originally Posted by Hyper View Post
    Show me the OEM hardtop version for ND.
    http://www.roadandtrack.com/motorspo...than-road-car/

    The ND is practically Mazda's only semblance of a halo car. I mean, how would it look if the the model that Mazda wants its customers to aspire to doesn't follow the current design language of the rest of its lineup. Besides that, the current design language is so beautifully executed on a mass scale with interiors to match.

    I understand wanting a retro focused car, but didn't they already do the soap bar shape with the NC?

  16. #11
    2,000 rpm - light wheelspin, no bog here! DarylSibcy's Avatar
    Drives
    Red 1990 Miata w/ITBs ;)
    Location
    Isle of Man - Middle of... Somewhere...
    Join Date
    Oct 2015
    Posts
    464
    Thanks Given
    258
    Thanked 279 Times in 150 Posts
    [/QUOTE] I understand wanting a retro focused car, but didn't they already do the soap bar shape with the NC?[/QUOTE]

    +1 on the Retro comment and the NC. The NC was just a bad car, it didn't embody the nimble and lightweight design that the NA/NB did. The recipe for the NB barely changed because they knew not to fix something that wasn't broken. The Japanese have a habit of re-using old designs or tweaking something that already exists to suit. There's a lot to be said for that mentality, especially since it works.
    You want a good car. I want a good miata.

  17. #12
    2,000 rpm - light wheelspin, no bog here!
    Drives
    '92 black & Tan Miata
    Join Date
    Jun 2015
    Posts
    165
    Thanks Given
    122
    Thanked 152 Times in 66 Posts
    I've come to realize that no one can really win a debate as to which design is best, since we're dealing with personal taste. One might give a good argument as to why one design might sell better than another, or which is more aerodynamic, or provide reason and evidence about something that's quantifiable --- but no one can provide any objective criteria to justify a claim of aesthetic superiority that isn't ultimately subjective. One person prefers retro while another believes it to be an outdated goal. Neither is really correct. They're just expressing their personal preferences. So, while I can say I would have preferred a retro-styled ND, I realize there's nothing I can add to that to suggest others ought to agree with me. To each his own. There's plenty out there to satisfy every taste.

  18. #13
    2,000 rpm - light wheelspin, no bog here! DarylSibcy's Avatar
    Drives
    Red 1990 Miata w/ITBs ;)
    Location
    Isle of Man - Middle of... Somewhere...
    Join Date
    Oct 2015
    Posts
    464
    Thanks Given
    258
    Thanked 279 Times in 150 Posts
    I have to agree to be fair, everyone also has a different definition of what something would be. Retro for some could mean pre-2000's where for others it's pre 90's, or pre 70's etc.

    I prefer the retro idea, but leaning towards 60's British roadsters level of retro, inside and out. Again personal prefernce, but I prefer soft lines and shapes over harsh and aggressive stabs. That being said I still prefer the newer ND...

    The NC does nothing for me; confession time... I won't fault anyone who gets one, I'd personally just opt for an FD RX7 over an NC. Considering the NC at its heaviest weighed more than the FD too...
    You want a good car. I want a good miata.

  19. The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to DarylSibcy For This Useful Post:

    flooglemop (09-19-2017),HarryB (09-18-2017)

  20. #14
    Ninja Messiah kung fu jesus's Avatar
    Drives
    1999 White
    Location
    Atlanta, GA
    Join Date
    Dec 2011
    Posts
    15,852
    Thanks Given
    2,791
    Thanked 7,202 Times in 3,433 Posts
    I wanted to point out, too, that there are a lot of vastly different regulations and requirements for modern cars that would make a retro-styled NA or NB difficult to execute. Pedestrian crash regulations for one, let alone the packaging of a FR engine and drivetrain configuration. Mazda engineers made a huge effort to produce a modern, functional, lightweight car that was congruent to their other products. I don't think that is really appreciated in a technical aspect enough. Consider the amount of added safety equipment, infotainment, insulation, and chassis rigidity the ND has over it's predecessors. That the styling would be as unique and true to the original formula of the first Miatas realeased in '89 is really a tremendous feat.

  21. The Following 3 Users Say Thank You to kung fu jesus For This Useful Post:

    flooglemop (09-19-2017),RustRat (09-18-2017),TNRooster3 (09-19-2017)

  22. #15
    3,000 rpm - starting to feel the power BRGNA8's Avatar
    Drives
    1996 NA8C MX-5
    Location
    Sydney, Australia
    Join Date
    Dec 2015
    Posts
    715
    Thanks Given
    1,050
    Thanked 1,413 Times in 378 Posts
    What the new ND MX-5 did, perhaps better than any Mazda that had come before it, was lay a groundwork of objectives that had to be met without compromise. The car had to be lighter, smaller, more efficient and with a design that shared little between it and other Mazda vehicles. With the car only slightly heavier than the NA, it's a proper return to form and an exceptional achievement given all the safety equipment and regulations it has to pass compared to some 30 years ago.

    I personally think the styling is bang on. Looks much nicer than the 124 Abarth haha!

  23. The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to BRGNA8 For This Useful Post:

    HarryB (09-18-2017),RustRat (09-18-2017)

Page 1 of 3 123 LastLast

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •