The Mazda MX-5 RF's character proves hard to ignore
Dave Brown has been out and about in the MX-5 RF. What’s it like to live with? Let him explain
I always feel a little bit anxious when behind the wheel of our Mazda MX-5 RF.
It’s not that I don’t enjoy driving the characterful little roadster – I do, very much.
You can’t beat the feeling of breaking free from the home-office-home commute and heading out into the countryside with the roof down on a sunny day.
It’s just that being of a certain age (I’ll keep this vague – late 40s / early 50s), I’m just aware that anyone who sees me might think I’m in the middle of a mid-life crisis.
Still, there’s no point in worrying, I suppose. And the car’s such a riot it doesn’t take long before any negative thoughts disappear from my mind as I head out onto the open road.
So what are the good and not-so-good characteristics of the car?
Well first off, it looks simply stunning. The RF model we’re currently running as a long-termer adds a powered hard-top roof to Mazda’s ever-popular convertible.
It folds away and rises into place in 13 seconds at speeds of up to six miles per hour – but interestingly, only the centre section disappears, and the car is so cleverly designed, there is no impact on boot space when it’s down.
Mazda boss Jeremy Thomson has described it as an ‘incredible origami-style arrangement’ and he’s quite right!
The hard roof will mean you’ll have to fork out a bit more than you would if you were opting for the soft-top model – and it does add around 45kg to the car’s fairly low kerb weight. It doesn’t really affect the driving experience, but it does impact on rearward visibility – and not in a good way, particularly when you’re overtaking.
Happily, however, the blind spot detection system our car is equipped with does resolve this issue.
There are no problems at all when it comes to the levels of pure driving pleasure. You find yourself motoring along with a daft grin on your face thanks to a winning combination of features: the car’s sheer driveability, its road-holding ability, the pin-sharp steering and the fact that you feel so securely cocooned within it.
Of course, it doesn’t score particularly highly when it comes to practicality – apologies if I’m stating the obvious, but with a small boot and only two seats you’re never going to be bundling the family in to head off on holiday.
I’d also mention that I wouldn’t be keen on a long motorway schlep in VN66 ZHZ and before anyone says ‘don’t knock it till you’ve tried it,’ I have – on a trip to Devon recently. Taking a break at Taunton Deane services, I decided I’d prefer to be another foot or so away from the Tarmac and able to see more of what was going on behind me.
But no matter, I’ll stick to the wonderful B-roads of Southern England – and our little Mazda and I will continue to have a blast.
And I’m definitely not having a mid-life crisis – honest.
Right, just nipping out for some hair dye and a Superdry T-shirt.
Where are the car keys?
HIGHLIGHT OF THE MONTH: Finding out that the RF is far more than a mid-life crisis car
Model: Mazda MX-5 RF 160PS Sport Nav
Price: £27,065
Engine: 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol
Power: 158bhp
Max speed: 134mph
0-60mph: 7.4 seconds
Emissions: 161g/km
MPG (combined): 40.9
Mileage: 7,562
By Dave Brown
