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

[Solo RX-7]

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?

[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.

[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.

[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".

[Titus]

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.

[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.

S.

[sammm]

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/ )

[Billy Blaze]

I'll bet you are right on Dave

[Sharpie]

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.

[RX7-2nr]

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

[Treibenschnell]

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

6 of one, half dozen of the other for me...

[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.

[Titus]

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.

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?

[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...

Anyone driven one yet?

The founder of Miata.net has test driven the next MX5/Miata, and did a pretty nice write-up.

[RX7-2nr]

hahhaha- introducing the mazda br-3. a subcompact truck powered by a 300hp 20B.

[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!)

[srivendel]

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

So does "DFWMX-5.com"



S.

[Dave04]

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

So does "DFWMX-5.com"



S.

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

[altiain]

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

So does "DFWMX-5.com"



S.

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

[srivendel]

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

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.