Is the '06 MX-5 a Miata or Not?

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09-09-2005, 11:41 AM
Solo RX-7

Is the '06 MX-5 a Miata or Not?

First time post for me...I've been lurking around the Autocross section for a while as I have a big stake in the SCCA events, but I've never posted. POSRacing will be able to figure out who I am from my screen name . . .

So there's a new commercial for the MX-5 running right now. In all the trade rags they're saying that Mazda is trying to get away from the Miata name, yet in the commercial they clearly call the car the MX-5 Miata. You guys have any insight into what's up with that? Anyone driven one yet?
09-09-2005, 11:49 AM
tailchaser

As channel said in another post... The blue one is NICE. Several of us have taken test drives.

I like the car. At the moment, it's in the Subaru STI and Pontiac GTO segment of my brain... I'd like to own one, but I don't want to look at it. Driving on the other hand, is great. The extra cabin space is great. The shifter isn't as slick as the current 6, and nowhere near as slick as the 5 speed, but only noticeably balky in the 5th to 6th shift.

Still a Miata? So says the advertising... but not the ass end of the car.
09-09-2005, 12:07 PM
sammm

They started the "Miata" de-badging when the '04 MSM's came out. Only "MX-5" badges on them. MX-5 has been the official Mazda model number since the car was originally introduced.
09-09-2005, 12:33 PM
Dave04

I'm betting this is a phased kind of thing... This year you'll only see MX-5 on the car, but they'll call it a "MX-5 Miata" on the commercials. Then next year they completely drop the "Miata".
09-09-2005, 12:44 PM
Titus

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dave04

I'm betting this is a phased kind of thing... This year you'll only see MX-5 on the car, but they'll call it a "MX-5 Miata" on the commercials. Then next year they completely drop the "Miata".

I have heard stories that there was a copyright lawsuit on the name between Mazda and a bike company.
09-09-2005, 12:56 PM
srivendel

The change began with the Mazdaspeed Miata, which has no Miata badging anywhere on the car. My MSM says only "MX-5" and "MAZDASPEED" on the rump. On the window sticker, however, it said "Mazdaspeed Miata MX-5"; thus, Miata is still "officially" part of the name.

Now they have dropped "Miata" even from the window stickers, so we're down to their use of the word in commercials and press releases. I agree with the others: Miata will soon be dropped entirely. :puker:

S.
09-09-2005, 01:16 PM
sammm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Titus

I have heard stories that there was a copyright lawsuit on the name between Mazda and a bike company.

I heard that too. My first mountain bike was a Miyata (not a typo).

( http://www.koga.com/ )
09-09-2005, 02:42 PM
Billy Blaze

I'll bet you are right on Dave
09-11-2005, 06:09 PM
Sharpie

Quote:

Originally Posted by Titus

I have heard stories that there was a copyright lawsuit on the name between Mazda and a bike company.

Titus, Samm and Dave are correct. After the this year of advertising the name will be dropped completely.
09-12-2005, 06:39 PM
RX7-2nr

its going to remain a "miata" to me. i never call it an mx5. :tongue:
09-12-2005, 06:44 PM
Treibenschnell

Quote:

Originally Posted by RX7-2nr

its going to remain a "miata" to me. i never call it an mx5. :tongue:

6 of one, half dozen of the other for me...
09-12-2005, 10:24 PM
black roadster

Dunno about the details of the name being a problem with the bicycle company. If it's true, it only took them 15 years to get Mazda to drop the name. :???:

My guess it's more to fit into the brand naming Mazda has been doing these last few years.

First it was the Protege lost to the Mazda 3 and now Mazda is just trying to solidify it's naming structure. They can't do it overnight because, while it has always been the Mazda Miata MX-5 in the U.S., most people only refered to it as a Miata.

(Useless Trivia: The name, "Miata" is only used in North America. In the UK, Europe and Oz-land it is only known as "MX-5", in the home market it's known as simply "Roadster")

BTW, the naming structure is as follows:

R = Rotary
M = Traditional Piston Engine (Motor?)
X = Sports car

The numbers determine price point/size to a vague degree. The cars have just the number. Thus a rotary powered "Miata" would be known as the RX-5. If Mazda made a larger car than the 6, it might be the Mazda 7 or Mazda 9.

What will be interesting to see is if or when Mazda will rename the B-Series trucks, MPV, Tribute and what it will name the new cross-over sport-ute. It's possible the trucks and vans will be left alone in the rename scheme. Dunno. :scratch:
09-13-2005, 05:06 AM
Titus

Quote:

Originally Posted by black roadster

BTW, the naming structure is as follows:

R = Rotary
M = Traditional Piston Engine (Motor?)
X = Sports car

The numbers determine price point/size to a vague degree. The cars have just the number. Thus a rotary powered "Miata" would be known as the RX-5. If Mazda made a larger car than the 6, it might be the Mazda 7 or Mazda 9.

What will be interesting to see is if or when Mazda will rename the B-Series trucks, MPV, Tribute and what it will name the new cross-over sport-ute. It's possible the trucks and vans will be left alone in the rename scheme. Dunno. :scratch:

The new cross-over confuses your naming convention, as it will be dubbed CX-7. Perhaps C for Cross-over and X is actually for sporty rather than sports car?
09-13-2005, 06:17 AM
Kestrel

I'm with 3Bean... Miata, MX5, whatever. The important thing is that the car remain true to it's origins (lightweight sportscar). But that's what has me a little more worried. I feel that Mazda - in a logical/understandable attempt to sell more cars - may have made the NC more "mainstream", and less of an enthusists car. Time will tell...

Quote:

Originally Posted by Solo RX-7

Anyone driven one yet?

The founder of Miata.net has test driven the next MX5/Miata, and did a pretty nice write-up.
09-14-2005, 05:51 PM
RX7-2nr

hahhaha- introducing the mazda br-3. a subcompact truck powered by a 300hp 20B. :lol:
09-14-2005, 07:24 PM
IPRESS

When I bought the Tribute up in Denton, the salesman was showing me the new MX5 and called it a miata. The other sales people corrected him as if they had been told not to call it a miata. The rest of the world says MX5 so I think it is ok as long as they start boosting it!

Mac
(I love the look on the face of the guy in the Porsche through my rearview mirror!)
09-22-2005, 12:03 PM
srivendel

"Metroplex MX-5 Enthusiasts" loses a lot of charm.

So does "DFWMX-5.com"

:evil:

S.
09-22-2005, 12:18 PM
Dave04

Quote:

Originally Posted by srivendel

"Metroplex MX-5 Enthusiasts" loses a lot of charm.

So does "DFWMX-5.com"

:evil:

S.

But at least TC had the forethought to reserve the domain name...
09-22-2005, 12:19 PM
altiain

Quote:

Originally Posted by srivendel

"Metroplex MX-5 Enthusiasts" loses a lot of charm.

So does "DFWMX-5.com"

:evil:

S.

That's fine. We ain't changin'. :mrgreen:
09-22-2005, 02:51 PM
srivendel

Quote:

Originally Posted by altiain

That's fine. We ain't changin'. :mrgreen:

Don't go changing, to try and please me
You never let me down before
Don't imagine you're too familiar
And I don't see you anymore
I wouldn't leave you in times of trouble
We never could have come this far
I took the good times, I'll take the bad times
I'll take you just the way you are

Don't go trying some new fashion
Don't change the color of your hair
You always have my unspoken passion
Although I might not seem to care

I don't want clever conversation
I never want to work that hard
I just want someone that I can talk to
I want you just the way you are.

I need to know that you will always be
The same old someone that I knew
What will it take 'till you believe in me
The way that I believe in you.

S.
09-22-2005, 02:52 PM
tailchaser

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dave04

But at least TC had the forethought to reserve the domain name...

Nah... Just needed the namespace for a temporary project.
09-22-2005, 03:36 PM
Dave04

Quote:

Originally Posted by tailchaser

Nah... Just needed the namespace for a temporary project.

Sheesh... try and give a guy some credit... ;)
09-22-2005, 08:30 PM
Treibenschnell

Quote:

Originally Posted by tailchaser

Nah... Just needed the namespace for a temporary project.

Just take the compliment man!!
09-24-2005, 11:24 PM
blackzx3_13

I went to the local mazda dealership today to look at a NC, but there were none there! It was after hours, so nobody to ask, but thier stock did include 5 mazdaspeed, including 3 orange ones. The were only 2 other miata's there, red on black, and black with white top.
09-25-2005, 07:27 AM
POS Racing

Quote:

Originally Posted by blackzx3_13

I went to the local mazda dealership today to look at a NC, but there were none there! It was after hours, so nobody to ask, but thier stock did include 5 mazdaspeed, including 3 orange ones. The were only 2 other miata's there, red on black, and black with white top.

What dealership was that at, heck Hiley in Hurst has at least 4 NCs.
09-25-2005, 08:18 AM
black roadster

Quote:

Originally Posted by blackzx3_13

I went to the local mazda dealership today to look at a NC, but there were none there! It was after hours, so nobody to ask, but thier stock did include 5 mazdaspeed, including 3 orange ones. The were only 2 other miata's there, red on black, and black with white top.

They might be hiding them until they sell the old ones... ???
09-25-2005, 09:11 AM
blackzx3_13

Texoma Mazda in Denison Texas. Its also Texoma Ford (Where I got the slowcus), and its lot was full of ford trucks. The only real mazda stuff they had there was the miats and an RX-8. I think they had some tributes, but I didnt look to close.
09-25-2005, 10:33 PM
Radio-Active

2006 Test Drive Experience

Eldorado in Mckinney had two of the NC cars come to the dealer lot on August 25th. One of which was the Grand Touring Edition in Red. I took the car for a test drive since I had been in earlier that week and had already test drove the 2005 MX-5 Mazdaspeed. The sales person called me as soon as he got one of the 2006 models in. They had not even finished putting the inspection sticker on the window when I got there.

The bodystyle was ok, but the seat was wearing on my legs. The car had a roomier feel to it and the top was very nice with the one handed latching system, but I still didn't like the seat comfort. :neutral:

In the end, I stil purchased my first MX-5 Miata on the 31st of August. It was the 2005 MX-5 Mazdaspeed version in Titanium Gray, though. :cool:
09-25-2005, 11:29 PM
channelmaniac

Congrats!!!

I do know what you mean about the seats... I found that the cloth seats fit me better.
RJ