Article: 2015 Mazda Soul of Motion driving event

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Well here it goes.

Woke up early Saturday morning to a slushy sleet of a rainy 3*C day. Thankfully, that wasn't quite enough to slow down Mazda's Soul of Motion event at PMG Technologies Center, just North of Montréal, in Blainville.

Attendance was surprisingly strong for such a gloomy day. We had to be escorted in a convoy to Mazda's reserved test area through a private test track. A signature here, a bagel there and we're in the Mazda classroom, where they sales pitch their cars a little, give us a run-down of the event and show us where and how to drive.

We're split into 2 groups; the CX group and the MX group. I'm in the CX group.

I get outside and head over to the 5 Miatas idling pretty under the cold rainy Saturday morning.

Three line ups are made; 2015 MX-5 MT / 2016 MX-5 AT / 2016 MX-5 MT. I'm in the last line-up. I literally can't get my eyes off the car I've been looking forward to drive since it came out.

I must have ran the 2016 MX-5 MT 6 times, the AT twice and the 2015 MT only once. The NC is actually quite disappointing next to the newer, smaller, lighter, more responsive, tighter, quicker, lower 2016. The ND is easily the best car I've ever driven in my life. It's so perfect. We even got the tops down after the rain stopped, for the real experience. With the adrenaline rushing, you don't even feel slightly cold.

The engine doesn't even feel, sound or develop power and torque like my (identical) 2.0L in my 2014 Mazda3. It's amazing what a little performance tune and different headers can do, but I think the weight difference is the biggest factor here. It hits a home run in every aspect, and the body lean isn't a bad thing. The instructors who sit shotgun are very lenient and understand why we're there. It loves to rev, it's very tossable, and I got the ass out a few times. Power is perfect and suits it like a glove. Mazda truly understands what fun behind the wheel is supposed to feel like.

Oh yea, I also drove a CX-3. It's a good car. I then went back to the MX lineup again.

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Gotta admit, I'm jelly. When I did this back in 2013, it was for the CX-5, so we drove CX-5's, CR-V's and Rav4's...not quite as fun.
 
If thats the best car you've driven then you haven't driven many cars and have led a poor life...

The marketing dept at Mazda is strong though. AJAC test fest is soon and I'm sure Mazda will win it all.
 
If thats the best car you've driven then you haven't driven many cars and have led a poor life...

The marketing dept at Mazda is strong though. AJAC test fest is soon and I'm sure Mazda will win it all.

I've driven every single benz model (including Maybachs) before 2010, a few Porsche 911's, the whole bmw lineup before 2010 (M3, M5, M6 and the 760LI). I've also driven a bentley continental gt and a retardly modded 800+hp vette. I've redlined every single car 0-100. Nothing beats the Porsche feeling when you're running through the gears at high RPM.

Yet I still want to drive the modern miata because its a real driver's car. You wouldn't understand, it's okay. Typical Jap hater :p

I forgot to mention that i'm a mazda hater. I love the Miata, it's just a shame Mazda made it hahaha
 
I've driven every single benz model (including Maybachs) before 2010, a few Porsche 911's, the whole bmw lineup before 2010 (M3, M5, M6 and the 760LI). I've also driven a bentley continental gt and a retardly modded 800+hp vette. I've redlined every single car 0-100. Nothing beats the Porsche feeling when you're running through the gears at high RPM.

Yet I still want to drive the modern miata because its a real driver's car. You wouldn't understand, it's okay. Typical Jap hater :p

I forgot to mention that i'm a Mazda hater. I love the Miata, it's just a shame Mazda made it hahaha

I'm far from a Japanese hater. I like the Miata but the hype around it is really over the top. It's just a short wheel based light roadster... From my point of view I much rather have a GT86 or BRZ. Those cars have actual roofs so I can take it to the track and I can use it daily.
 
If thats the best car you've driven then you haven't driven many cars and have led a poor life...

The marketing dept at Mazda is strong though. AJAC test fest is soon and I'm sure Mazda will win it all.

Yea Mazda marketing department is to blame if some still like simple small fun roasters instead of big heavy 400hp+ 14 speakers and massagers seats with a beer cooler glovebox sports car.

While you are complaining about this there are a marketing race to specs going on between manufacturers and I don't think Mazda ever had to go after that to sell that many Miata.
 
Yea Mazda marketing department is to blame if some still like simple small fun roasters instead of big heavy 400hp+ 14 speakers and massagers seats with a beer cooler glovebox sports car.

While you are complaining about this there are a marketing race to specs going on between manufacturers and I don't think Mazda ever had to go after that to sell that many Miata.

I love this site. I simply stated that if the OP feels the Miata is the best car he's ever driven then he hasn't driven much. Which is true. Then I stated I don't feel the Miata is anything really special and there is a ton of hype around it for no reason. Can't we have a discussion like adults? Actually I think I'll go back to posting on Rennlist where people are adults. I find it's under powered, overpriced and if you're over 4ft tall cramped.

For the money I much rather have an S2000. Older car but still checks all the right boxes and is an instant classic.
 
I'd rather have a s2000, some old BMW and maybe a brz (not entirely sure) and some others. Even a 370z for 30k would make me think before getting a new Miata. I'm not sure I would like the new electric direction in the Miata. Each time I driver a new car with an electric direction it seems something is gone.

Still I had more fun driving a Miata than many highly priced and well liked sports car so your comments appeared to me elitist and ... Well maybe I need to read more beetween the line.
 
Great enthusiast car! Test drove it, beat it and enjoy it.

Still think that it does missing couple of HP...

I'm deaming of a speed version (200-220hp)
 
Looks like it's the same setup as the CX-3 event I went earlier this summer.

Nice little autocross course, but I hated being slowed down by others...
 
Looks like it's the same setup as the CX-3 event I went earlier this summer.

Nice little autocross course, but I hated being slowed down by others...

Indeed. I scared the shit out of the other 3 salesmen who were my passengers while I had my turn behind the wheel. Made the CX-5 tripod, lol.
 
I love this site. I simply stated that if the OP feels the Miata is the best car he's ever driven then he hasn't driven much. Which is true. Then I stated I don't feel the Miata is anything really special and there is a ton of hype around it for no reason. Can't we have a discussion like adults? Actually I think I'll go back to posting on Rennlist where people are adults. I find it's under powered, overpriced and if you're over 4ft tall cramped.

For the money I much rather have an S2000. Older car but still checks all the right boxes and is an instant classic.

All in all, you're right about a few things. Although I've driven my fair share of performance-oriented cars, I haven't even sat in the driver seat of a P-car, and have never pushed any BMW product to any smile-inducing speeds. But living a poor life? lol ok I guess I'd rather be poor if I can still have fun in a 155hp car. I'm quite happy I'm not that high maintenance.

I'll also agree with the fact that the MX-5 is bloody expensive, considering what you get and what kind of competition it faces, both for the driver-focused customer and the hairdresser.

That said, the hype for the Miata is well deserved. I guess you need to be of that mindset and not be looking for a balls out kind of HP monster, which the Miata certainly isn't. It's not an intimidating car, or even a fast car. It's not a car that makes you look manly, or fetches pussy for you. But the Miata is a driver's car, and it couldn't be more true now with the ND. The steering is telepathic and despite the electric steering, you feel exactly what all four wheels are doing. It's an extension of your body, much like a go-kart.

It also accommodates reasonably tall drivers surprisingly well. My younger brother who also attended the event is taller than me at 6'1", and he was in perfect harmony with the driving position, roof height and line-of-sight. I'm a little shorter, but have longer arms and legs and I felt 100% comfortable too.

That said, it's not a car for everyone. At the end of the day, it's what makes you smile behind the wheel that matters. There's a reason Motor Trend placed it 2nd behind the SLS for driver's car of the year.

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Gotta admit, I'm jelly. When I did this back in 2013, it was for the CX-5, so we drove CX-5's, CR-V's and Rav4's...not quite as fun.

They had this event last year too, with only 1 NC with an AT. This year, they really got some fun stuff. I can only hope for something similar next year. *tu*
 
The suspension in the new Miata even with the upgraded package is way too soft. So much body roll to deal with. If they offered a Speed version with a setup that eliminated all the diving and squating, it could be awesome.
 
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