To celebrate 10 years since the global unveiling of the current Mazda MX-5, the Drive team has been let loose on the configurator to spec their ideal roadsters.
Customisation is in vogue at the moment, but too much choice can be confusing. In our configurator challenge, Drive team members scroll through a manufacturer’s website to create their ideal combination for a certain model.
September 4, 2024 marks 10 years since the latest-generation ‘ND’ Mazda MX-5 was unveiled to the world – so to celebrate, it’s the focus of this week’s challenge.
Tell us which new Mazda MX-5 you would buy – and how you’d specify it – in the comments below (build yours here), and what you’d like us to configure next.
James Ward, Director of Content
The MX-5 is one of the last great examples of driving ‘purity’, so I’ll take mine as wind-in-your-hair pure as I can, albeit with a mid-life crisis twist. My choice is the base manual MX-5 Roadster (from $41,520 plus on-road costs) in Soul Red Crystal ($595) because, why not!
Given that is as deep as you can go on the Mazda configurator, I’ll also add some online goodies to my shopping basket by way of the Maxton Design rear spoiler, side diffusers and front splitter.
These give a bit of faux-carbon visual lowering, separate my red MX-5 from the dozens of others already on the road, and – with the wind rushing through my grey hair – let me hold on to a little bit of youth as I enjoy the pure road ahead.
Kez Casey, Production Editor
The perfect configuration of MX-5 doesn’t exist. There, I said it.
Having had a ‘closely related’ roadster with Brembos and Bilstein suspension before, the MX-5 GT RS was tempting. I’m not exactly setting track records though, so reckon I can get by with a soft top, six-speed manual, and Bose stereo. MX-5 GT it is then.
I’ve had my heart set on an ND with a burgundy roof for a long time, but outside of the 100th Anniversary edition announced in 2020, all Australian-delivered MX-5s have had a black roof. Big thumbs down.
Ask me on a different day and Machine Grey could be my colour of choice, but today Snowflake White Pearl gets the nod.
In the real world the dorky-looking two-tone GT wheels that look like discount tyre store specials would be replaced pretty quickly… and I’m sure I could easily get an aftermarket red roof.
Ben Zachariah, Journalist
I spent years driving both NA and NB MX-5s, and I’ll defend these fantastic little cars to the very last. Being completely frank, the MX-5 is a litmus test for me – it’s unlikely I’ll respect the opinion of anyone who criticises them…
I’ve also been on record as saying this in the past, but the Mazda MX-5 is my favourite new car on sale right now – and the chances of an ND MX-5 joining my humble collection of cars in the future is pretty much a mortal lock.
While I’m annoyed at Mazda for reducing the Roadster (read: soft-top convertible) interior colours available to just black (boring!), and the manual-only GT RS seems like way too much money for what is a terribly basic car, the heated seats are a must.
And I’d probably drop $10k on Bilsteins, BBS wheels, and Brembo brakes anyway, so I might as well spend the theoretical cash now and get the GT RS with all the goodies.
Unfortunately, I haven’t driven the base-model ND MX-5, only the manual GT RS, but it was basically driving perfection – the faster I drove it, the better it got. I’ve optioned mine with a black exterior, because I think it’s a classic look with the gunmetal wheels and the red Brembo brakes popping.
The next step is to get in touch with specialist Mazda parts importer JDMParts.Rupewrecht and see what Mazdaspeed junk I can get from Japan…
Happy 10th birthday to the ND MX-5. Here’s hoping for many, many more.
Tom Fraser, Journalist
Although I’d be able to enjoy any Mazda MX-5 variant, given the theoretical nature of our configurator challenge I’ve opted for the expensive MX-5 GT RS specification. That means a lofty $57,110 drive-away price (in Victoria) for my specification, which selects Deep Crystal Blue Mica and a black leather-clad cabin, but I think it looks awesome.
Mazda’s basic configurator leaves little to umm and ahh over, but I’ve also selected the $365 Wind Blocker, which looks like a rear spoiler.
Honestly, I wish the brand continued with the wild Racing Orange paintwork used on the MX-5 30th Anniversary Edition, but my blue-on-black colour combination is the next best thing.
Alex Misoyannis, Journalist
Given we’re playing with Monopoly money here, it’s hard to pass up the top-of-the-range (but very expensive) Roadster GT RS.
The extra security of the RF would be nice, but the roof can only be raised or lowered at up to 10km/h – which you’ve likely passed by the time your foot reaches the top of the clutch pedal’s travel – and it adds a huge blind spot over the driver’s right shoulder.
Soul Red Metallic ($595) is the quintessential modern Mazda colour, while I’ve also thrown in front parking sensors ($771) and floor mats ($210) from the accessory list.
The Mazda website won’t provide a precise drive-away price for this specification, but it’s in the region of $58,100 drive-away in NSW, which isn’t cheap – but with that said, new cars simply aren’t as affordable as they used to be.
Jordan Hickey, News Journalist
Happy 10th birthday, ND MX-5. To celebrate, I’ve stuck with Soul Red Crystal, the hero colour throughout the current ND’s lifecycle, after debating between it and the new-for-2024 Aero Grey finish, or Machine Grey to match my own Mazda 3.
It’s a shame the Platinum Quartz and Ceramic Metallic finishes were short-lived for the MX-5, as I think they look great on any Mazda, especially when accentuated with items like black wheels and mirror caps.
As for the variant of choice, I’ve gone with the mid-spec Roadster GT with the manual, and selected carpet floor mats and blue welcome illumination from the options list.
Unfortunately, the Roadster GT is restricted to black leather, with a nice tan nappa option I would have picked strictly limited to the RF GT Black Roof variant.
Kathryn Fisk, Senior News Journalist
It’s got to be the top-spec RF GT RS all the way – if I’m getting an MX-5 I’m going all out, imaginary budget be damned.
The GT RS gets the six-speed manual gearbox, which rides better than the auto available on other grades, and all the fun bits like Brembo front brakes and Bilstein dampers.
I’d option it with the Aero Grey Metallic paint because it looks great and classy without sticking out like a sore thumb.
As Jordan says, it’s a shame it only comes with the black leather interior, which is a bit naff and lets it down somewhat because the tan nappa leather really does create a much nicer contrast.
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