In 17 years of existence Mazda produced and sold over 800.000 Roadsters throughout the world. Based on a simple and strong idea, their small front engine-rear wheel drive vehicle proposes an almost perfect weight balance (barely 50/50) providing a stable and agile feel meaning pleasure for the driver.
But the Mazda Roadster (Eunos, Miata, MX5) has a main advantage: its affordable price, with, by far, the best price/performance ratio in the category.
Price and driving pleasure has always been the key features for the Roadster and in summer 2005, the 3rd version came, instantly acclaimed for its design. Unfortunately the picture is not perfect though, the quality of the plastics used for the interior is pretty bad and put you back right into the reality where cost efficiency was the main concern for Mazda to keep the price down of this wonder.... But luckily for us this Roadster is an enjoyable car. While it was maybe difficult for such reasonable price to get a better car, Mazda came to surprise us with a new weapon, the RHT or Retractable Hard Top of our nifty little roadster.
If you never really considered buying this type of vehicle you might not fully realize how important this new RHT version is for all Roadster fans...anyway when the press realese came to the office I was really excited and impatient to get a press car.
Mazda Roadster RHT Test Drive
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Mazda Roadster RHT Test Drive
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But first Let’s take a closer look. Right now on the roadster market the only car worth considering at the moment (in my own humble opinion) is the Honda S2000, with that in mind, the Mazda Roadster automatically comes as the 2nd best choice, but in the other hand if you look at the PRICE/PLEASURE/PERFORMANCE ratio the Mazda wins it by a mile and put my beloved S2000 far behind.
Still...for some people a roadster is a summer car only, some say its isn’t as safe as a sedan for example, that it is more subject to vandalism, that a soft top in winter isn’t the best thing or that soft tops make cars more noisy... And the only solution on the market to get a better "Roadster" experience was without a doubt the SLK from Benz.
The thing is the price gap between this Mazda Roadster and a Mercedes SLK can be too big just to benefit from a retractable hard top and enjoy a 4 seasons ride...if only...if only Mazda could come up with its own RHT...well there it is ! FINALLY!!
After so many years Mazda finally came up with the idea of linking the Soft Top and RHT version in its showrooms and even though the concept is not new, the fact to bring it to a best-seller such as the Mazda Roadster sure is. As I can tell you that the quality of this Hard Top is very good I am 100% sure that the Japanese manufacturer is once again on the road to an enormous success.
Now that you have in mind all the elements that make of this new RHT version a REVOLUTION in the world of Roadsters bringing the driving pleasure to a massive community through an affordable price, let’s now take a look at the technical part.
Contrary to what you might think, the RHT version is not a Soft Top with a stronger rooftop, of course the cars share the same chassis and mechanical elements and the photo comparison below will help you finding out.
Without getting into tiring details let’s just say that the RHT version is 1 cm higher and 40 kg heavier than its soft top counterpart.
1cm and 40kg don’t mean much you’ll probably think and in normal conditions/situations it won’t ... but ... some reactions were different, especially when trying to fully enjoy the 170HP and 189Nm in this 1.140kg body (the Soft Top version is 1100kg). Due to its higher centre of gravity and heavier body our RHT has a greater tendency to oversteer than its sister ST so beware when the weather conditions make the road slippery to slow down a little on those corners or face the momentary pleasure of being a D1 driver before being throw back to reality when you finally smash yourself on whatever is on the side road.
Having tested both versions in the streets of Tokyo and on the NATS circuit I can guarantee that the ST has got more grip than the RHT...and this mainly due to its lower centre of gravity...But keep in mind that the car is otherwise very safe, secure and will take you from any point A to point B without a problem. Anyway all ST or RHT Roadster in EUR or USA are now equipped with the DSC stability control, the best choice being to keep it on (one thing that we couldn’t do as our Japanese Press vehicles were not equipped with it).
So, apart from the slight differences in weight and height or handling while having a heavy right foot, we have to admit that being behind the wheel of a Mazda Roadster RHT offers all the advantages of the Soft Top version plus a « real roof » in winter for example.
Again we have to congratulate Mazda for providing a great HT and keeping the great design of the car...wether it was with or without (the HT) and despite the fact that I originally prefer the ST version I have to say that I REALLY enjoyed this Mazda Roadster RHT all week long in Tokyo and so did my wife !
If you already own an ST, changing to the RHT certainly is not necessary or unless if your wife really hate those ST. But on the other hand, if you dreamed of a small roadster that you can drive all year long and that keeps a good level of comfort and style then the RHT was made for you! The only drawback that now Mazda has to fix is to provide, even if it is sold as on option, a better quality of interior plastics and you will be certain that I would sign for one right now!
Posted on 16/11/06 By G-A.G
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