2017 Mazda MX5 Miata 'RF' - (Track) One Take

Опубликовано 12 июня 2017, 11:00

The 2017 Mazda Miata 'RF' or 'Retractable Fastback" replaces the Power Retractable Hardtop option from the NC Miata with a stylish, power folding fastback roof. It weighs about 100 lbs more than the standard, base ND Miata, but returns greater refinement, a quieter cabin, and a cool fastback look with targa openness when retracted. Mazda invited Matt out to the Thermal Club in Palm Springs, a private race track club, for this test.

Good morning everybody! Welcome to the Thermal Club Racetrack - a private, membership-based track outside Palm Springs, California.

Forgive the driving suit, it's a little silly for a road car but I'm getting in that, the MX5 Cup so I figured, just stay dressed.

This is the Club version which starts at $31,500 It weighs a little bit more - about 100 lbs more than the soft roof Miata.

I'm a little scrunched in here with a helmet although, without the helmet, I actually fit just fine with the exception of my knee which gets hit on this window switch panel on the door.

So we're gonna go head out on the Thermal track and see how this guy does.

A little extra bolstering in the seat could do some wonders here.

Oh, I'm feeling it though! Tightens... Oversteer... Bumpy curbs on exit.

Oh, I'm feeling this right now! A lot of full throttle in this car so far, though.

Definitely not too much power, definitely not gonna get in over your head in one of these.

Much, much quieter in here than the soft roof car.

Much quieter! Brake pedal's getting a little soft a little early, though.

If you can hear it, in the soft roof car you get a lot of wind noise.

Especially at highway speed and we are certainly at highway speeds here.

There's 70... There's 80... 85... 90... 95... And there it is, touching 100 right as is come time to brake for this right-hander without much track out to work with afterwards.

It's very hot today, about 85 degrees here in Palm Desert.

A car with a folding hard roof for 2400 lbs - 2450 Oh, god did I blow that corner.

What you don't want to see in a track car is, when you hit that redline, you don't want the power to just completely die.

If you run out of gear, it just lets you ride it a little bit, for a second or 2 until you get to that next corner.

It's really easy to lose a bit of traction without it becoming a problem.

I'm not gonna brake too deep into these corners, I can feel that pedal getting a little soft.

I don't want to find myself in a wall - which there are plenty of here at Thermal.

You don't even need to modulate. You can correct it by just going flat and steering out of it.

Here's where I run out of gear but it doesn't die.

Little greasy... I can feel possible oversteer coming.

I'm not gonna drift it there because there's a wall that I don't like very much but it feels flickable.

Really easy to steer, really easy to point, really easy to recover if you end up in a place you're maybe not supposed to be.

Well, an inch would be overheating in this gauge but it hasn't moved a metaphorical inch! I'm definitely feeling this guy.

Although the pedal gets some softness after even one lap, the brakes themselves have not really lost any of their effectiveness.

Getting a little hot and toasty in the old Farah helmet.

Well, let me cool off the brakes before I bring it in so we don't start a fuego.

I was a fan of the power hardtop car the NC and I'm definitely a fan of this.

If you're my height which is 6'3" you might have a little bit of trouble with a helmet.

I've got Batim in the Clubsport Cayman and I'm gonna bail off here and let him do his thing.

This car is a lot of fun to toss around, to move around, to get to slide, to feel the front and the back moving as the tires warm up and then recover it.

You could really learn how to be a good driver in one of these cars.

It doesn't feel too heavy, it doesn't feel too messy.

Unless you drove it really directly back-to-back with the soft top, you probably wouldn't feel the weight difference which you may really come to appreciate the difference in refinement on the highway.

Thank you to Mazda for having me out to Thermal today.

I'm going to hop out of this RF and into the MX5 Cup race car which should be a lot of fun.