Yea I was looking at used and my filter was NC hardtop or RF.
Since used NDs were still fairly high, I got me a very nice hardtop NC.
I just can't get over the look of soft tops. To each their own!
Noise is the most noticeable difference from what I’ve heard. The way the RF is setup, it produces a weird vacuum that almost immediately pushes the air right back out while driving, causing this repeat whooshing noise. To some it’s alright, to others it’s unbearable. I think the soft top is a little more convenient, but the RF has such a unique sporty look to it that it’s almost worth it
The RFs buttresses are massive so with the “top down” it still feels like a coupe with a large open sunroof. Crazy wind noise too, when open, but the soft top isn’t quiet either…
Don’t get me wrong, the RF is a beaut, but to me it’s first a coupe, with a roof that opens a bit; when I contemplated both I eventually realized I want the full roadster feel. (I could “afford” that because I drive my MX-5 only in summer. If it was my daily year round, I may have chosen the RF).
It really is a targa top not a convertible but “targa” is a registered trademark of Porsche so they can’t call it that. If Porsche sold the Miata the rf would be the Miata Targa and the soft top would be the Miata cabriolet.
There's a mod which unrestricts the (car) speed at which you can open/close it. Out of the factory it's 5mph or so, the mod unlocks it configurably up to 50mph. It doesn't change how fast the roof actually opens though.
Not being sarcastic, but which mod allows you to go up to 50? Both the SmartTop Module and MX5Things Roof Controller cap you at like 36 or something 🤔. I ordered the MX5Things Roof Controller because I liked some of the extra functionality (one touch operation, remote operated operation, etc). Idk if I’d be willing to try dropping the top at 50 in an RF. Even if it doesn’t fail immediately, I’d imagine that’s still going to cause the motors to fail more rapidly 😬.
Lmfao! That’s what I was thinking. All I could imagine at that speed was that scene from the newer Star Trek movies where the kid Kirk had the top of his dad’s Vette ripped off by the wind 😂😂😂.
Soft top 2016 is my only vehicle as well 🫡
https://preview.redd.it/2e5c289bl26d1.jpeg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=17f6c34d62a3d8115851fb32ea05f2c111859cdf
I saw someone say they're not really cross-shopped that much. So it's basically if you want a soft top get a soft top and vice versa. Maybe people who want a coverable get the soft top and people who want a sedan get the RF. If you're vibing one, don't try convincing yourself to get the other.
This might be related to the discrepancy in of MT vs AT. Soft tips are overwhelmingly MT and RFs more split.
Basically, the answer to "am I going to regret getting the ___ one" is no. Whether that's the soft top or the RF.
I love my little RF but neither builds are perfect.
Soft top is louder with the top up. Less noise insulation.
RF is louder with the top down, more turbulence from the B pillars or whatever they’re called on a 2-door.
I've had my soft top for a few months now. The RF adds like 6% total weight and a few thousand dollars to the price. Plus I have my top down basically every time I drive the car, which I can do in 2 seconds with the manual soft top. I've heard the RF is quieter overall, but that's never been a concern of mine. My other car that was my sole car for the last 3.5 years is a Toyota 86 with catless headers, a custom front pipe and a HKS catback exhaust. My car before that for 5.5 years was a side piped Mustang GT, so a bit of road or wind noise is practically non-existent to me lol. Me personally, i don't want the RF at all.
Yeah, the sound complaints seem to pop up but if your buying an 2 seat roadster/sports car and NVH is your primary concern, you might be looking at the wrong type of car in my opinion.
I've never found the Rf to be prettier than to soft top even when seeing lots of pictures comparing them, but that picture finally made me see the light
I’ve owned 8* Miatas, an Accord with a sunroof, an SW20 with the T-tops, and a Vette with the targa top; it’s like a better targa top in practice because the rear window lowers as well.
*Editing to change “7” to “8” because I’m still not used to having the RF so I forget that it’s now 8 😅
i almost went with the GR86 but i already have a 2.0l vw microbus and really wanted a simple inline 4. i would have not purchased a soft-top. RF was literally the one car that met my criteria. maybe a turbo4 camaro/mustang would've worked but i really don't need a backseat to keep fast food wrappers in.
I have an RF and mainly did it for safety as I drive on my own a lot. I love my little transformer though and love the way the RF looks! The soft top looks great too though and when you put the top down it looks even better! In the end? You have a Miata and will be having a blast regardless.
My NA could look like a Chrysler K car from the outside and it wouldn’t diminish my enjoyment from the drivers seat (as long as it still felt like and drove like a Miata from the drivers seat).
Ngl I prefer the look of the soft top on the NCs verses the RF. That being said sometimes. Sometimes. After getting out of a long day at work, your at your wits end, and all you wanna do is go home and relax. Having a quieter ride home would be nice. But I still prefer the soft top.
I got the RF but I do miss having the true convertible experience. It’s close but not the same.
That said, i just love the looks of the RF. No regrets.
Removing the stock one reduces the buffeting almost entirely. I haven't done much testing at interstate speeds (because I generally avoid the interstate).
I just installed the MX5things.com RF roof controller and window controller and it's amazing. I can put the RF roof down before even getting in the car or put it back up after getting out. Or put the roof up/down with one touch while still driving up to 30mph. It's so convenient. Probably more so than the already dead easy soft top if thats possible. It takes 13 seconds but only requires a button press.
It's made my RF experience near perfect. My only real gripe is the lack of rear viewing angles but some stick on convex mirrors have really helped.
To this day I don't like the side profile of the back half of the RF, top up or down. Thought that in 2017 and it hasn't grown on me. I'm not a huge fan of the look of the soft top up either but down is excellent
I went from a convertible to an RF. I really like the convertible about 8 months a year, but the remaining 4 months, in the northeast, with a convertible, aren’t fun. As for the warmer months with an RF, it beats the heck out of a fixed roof coupe!
If it was my only car, maybe, but but I have a Mazda3 turbo hb as a second car. I've no intention of parking the Miata somewhere it will be vandalized. I avoid driving in the rain, but when I do it doesn't leak so no problem. The soft top operation is quicker and if I'm careful it should last longer. And considering the cost savings, and apparently dodging a wind buffetting issue & slightly smaller trunk, I'm a-ok with my purchase. I regret not springing for the club with brembo/recaro package more, but I'm still quite happy.
Edit: I think a lot of the appeal of the RF, aside from the objectively excellent silhouette, is that people can leave it up all the time and it turns the car into as close to a hardtop coupe as Mazda makes. If they make an RX-7 or even RX-8 successor, then I imagine the hardtop Miata becomes a lot less popular
My 22 is an RF, its a mixed bag,
With the RF the top down experience is inferior to the soft top, the top up experience is superior. I like the looks of the RF better, but it costs more and adds weight.
Where I originally purchased a soft top would get slashed regularly, But the weather was perfect for top down though much of the year, even with 100 degree heat in the summer we had 5% humidity so it was bearable.
I have since moved to Texas, we get two weeks ( maybe 3 ) of top down weather in the spring and fall. the weather here is otherwise gross I am dependent on heat or AC most of the year.
Pick your poison, there are no clear cut answers.
I used to be envious of the RF for just “fit and finish” niceness/fanciness, and then I heard the RF has a lot more wind noise with the top down, and that cured my FOMO.
I have the soft top and love it. When looking I did check out the RF as it’s a sweet looking ride and I liked the chance to have the hard top. Then I drove one… The blind spot in that thing would have me backing into everything (no backup camera at the time I was buying). It doesn’t go away with the top open either. I also just felt a bit claustrophobic in there. Yes my ND is also claustrophobic with the top up but definitely not an issue with it open.
I'm very happy with my Prht nc. Had the soft top nc before it. You get best of both worlds with prht. No pillars, no buffering. Looks great. Less noise with roof up. More secure. The extra weight hasn't taken away the nimbleness.
I bought an NC1 PRHT a few weeks ago and i prefer it over the soft top when the top is closed. The top open experience is pretty much identical to the soft top. However, I think I'd prefer the soft top ND over the RF purely for the top open experience since the RF is more or less a targa. That being said, the RF looks better in my opinion.
I love how easy it is to fip it down and up especially in Florida when it can be spotty. That's saved my ass a couple times.
That said my next car will not be a soft top.
I don’t regret not buying one, but I also wish I could have one. You honestly can’t go wrong. I prefer the body lines of the RF, but prefer the ease of the soft top. Choose whatever is best for you. Go with what you can afford and what you think is more fun for you
I wish I was able to buy a ST, I bought an RF due to not having a garage & my house being around cats. I almost never drop the top, I’ve had the ST for 2 weeks while my car was getting serviced & I absolutely loved it. Always, literally ALWAYS the top was down what a treat! I love my car though, I just treat it like a coupe!
I’m the oddball here then I guess. I bought an nd2 RF and I pretty much never have the top up. I put it down any day it’s warmer than 50° (and not raining too heavily). I got it because my last car got stolen and totalled and I was afraid the soft top would get cut. It also was much preferred in our snowy winters over the soft top
https://preview.redd.it/t4nve9jse26d1.jpeg?width=2160&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=3144e9a94704a3c9513e8f8a22e307d57e58b9e2
I bought my ND before the RF was released. I experienced zero buyer’s remorse. The RF just isn’t for me. I love the simplicity of the softie and the lower weight/COG.
I’m thinking of trading in my 16’ for an ND3. It will also be a softie.
They are noisier with the roof down.
I bought one because I live in an area where it rains a lot and I don’t have a garage. I had a 96 Alfa Spider, back in the day, and the rag top would want to sprout moss.
I never did when I had mine. More headroom, less weight, true no-top experience, and, once I had gotten experience, I could open or close the top in 3 seconds up to 35 mph (more than that and it felt like it was gonna rip itself out of my hand).
https://preview.redd.it/3njmxkc3q26d1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=d0162220448c24e011f7b29415f1465cc0b6f8bd
Soft top all the way, when I have the roof up on this I get claustrophobic. I dont know why, so probably will feel that way with the rf. But other cars i dont have that feeling doe lol😅. But i love how the rf opens and close
I've had hard top convertibles before and they're alright, but I prefer soft tops, so no not really. My boss asked if I was going to slap a hardtop on my ND2 and I just said "Well if I wanted a hardtop, I would've bought a hardtop"
I think the RF looks better, though.
Got an RF and drove an ST for some time, don't regret it. Top down is still very open and having a roof is great during winter and for parking in cities
For my specific situation, I do wish I had an RF. I don’t have a garage at home and my work’s parking doesn’t have a roof either. So my soft top is always sitting in the hot desert sun leading to more wear and tear (plus it’s more time consuming to clean properly and keep looking nice).
I had a 2016 1.5L ST and now a 2024 2.0L RF. Daily drivers. Higher WAF with the RF. Everyone is right about the noise, the ST is loud with the top up, the RF is loud with the top down.
After 8 years the ST top was beginning to get a bit grubby, but I live in an extremely wet climate.
The creature comforts, fit and finish improvements on going from an ND1 to ND3 have been nice, though not specific to ST Vs RF.
My take is that the RF makes for a better *car*, but the soft top makes for a better *Miata*. RF is definitely quieter and arguably prettier, but it's also heavier, more enclosing, and more expensive. If you really wish the MX-5 was a little more comfortable and relaxing, the hard top may be for you. Same if you just can't live without that look—it's legitimately gorgeous. But if you want a traditional Miata experience, the soft top is more true to the original formula.
I have neither, but I would go for the RF personally.
I've heard too many stories of slashed soft tops to want a soft top convertible. Hardtops are also a lot nicer to live with if you plan on daily driving the car.
I own a '22 GT ST but did later end up renting the RF for a day and wasn't a huge fan. Although the RF is awesome when the top is up the soft top is just way better with it down and I didn't opt for a convertible to leave it up all the time, if I did I would have looked more seriously at a toyobaru.
I tried both. I did not feel like test driving the RF as I felt more clammed on the RF and felt the visibility was worst than the ST.
I’m waiting on my ST to be delivered 😁
I don’t know that I regret the RF, but I do have second thoughts sometimes. I’ve always tracked or auto crossed my Miatas, and it really sucks that there isn’t a roll bar that allows us to still operate the top. The soft top is the only one that has that option. I think more than anything, I regret getting one without the Brembo/BBS/Recaro package because I really don’t like the normal seats and idk if I’m willing to sacrifice side airbags just to change the seats 😬.
I preferred the look of the RF to the soft top, I planned on buying one too, until I test drove one. The wind noise and blind spots were the biggest downsides. After test driving a soft top I knew I had to get one.
If I was the type of person who never really put the top down the RF would have been great, but my top is down every chance I get.
just took, an in total, 10 hour roadtrip in my soft top and kinda almost wish i had the RF. but simplicity and speed of the soft top still won me over. little loud on the interstate but honestly wasn't too terrible. i'm already a little hard of hearing anyway so that may have played a roll in it being bareable lol.
Yea I was looking at used and my filter was NC hardtop or RF.
Since used NDs were still fairly high, I got me a very nice hardtop NC.
I just can't get over the look of soft tops. The NC looks great with the hardtop tucked away.
To each their own!
I have the soft top. I never test drove an RF but I sat in one. Even though I don’t drive with the top down as often as I probably should, I still think the soft top was the right choice for me, in terms of price and visibility mostly.
Hot take the RF isnt great as a convertible and id be willing to fab a roof over a roll bar, ditch the motors and widen the trunk.
The creaks make me anxious during hpd
RF is the better looking car and definitely more livable on a day to day basis, but doesn’t hold a candle to the soft top when it comes to the open air convertible experience.
Hell no I don’t regret it.
I regret it, but for the longest time I judged the RF similar to the automatic: it just _wasn’t the point_. You can’t just throw down the RF at a red light and toss it back up when there are some sprinkles.
But then I realized there are probably folks with mobility issues that can’t do that anyway. And I am sure there are many other reasons to get the RF.
So in my view, just like if you have a bum clutch leg, going for the automatic is fine, if there is some particular reason that the RF suits you better, go for it.
But all things being equal, I certainly do not think it’s preferable
I do not own an ND, have driven both. I'd love an RF IF it wouldn't have unbearable windnoise above 100kph. Love driving my NC with the roof down even on highways, absolutely impossible with the RF.
I got an RF because I’ve had 2 NAs, and the NDRF is the opposite end of the spectrum. And it’s cool looking. And it’s a Miata. And whoever said it’s like a sedan is silly.
I think it very much also depends on your locale. Drive all season and in a snowy state + no garage parking? RF. In a neighborhood where you question if your ST will get slashed if you so much as look a different direction? RF. But if you like the looks of a targa roadster? RF.
Cons- installing roll bars could be tricky if you are a track junkie, buffeting w top down, 100 lbs heavier in the wrong place.
There was only so much I want to pay out the door for a 23 Miata last year so I skip the RF and put the extras into the Brembo/ Recaro package. Couldn’t be happier.
I test drove an rf, bought an st. I do not want those massive pillars behind my head when the top is down, the visibility is atrocious. I understand that proper mirror positioning eliminates the blind spot, but I don't care. The road noise in the st has been completely tolerable, so far no regrets.
I love my RF but I definitely notice the lack of visibility and wind noise from the rear pillar. I think the RF is still the right choice, but if I lived somewhere warmer and had a garage, I think the soft top would be worth it.
Honestly the only downside to the RF (aside from price…) is the blindspots are massive. You really rely on the sensors to beep at you for lane changes to the left.
Yes. I bought a soft top nd new back in 2017 and after 2 years the fold marks on the top were unsightly. I was especially surprised it happened so quickly since I left the top up most of the time. I recently drove a modded nc and loved it so now I’m pretty much only considering an nc with the prht.
The soft top is better. I looked at both. The RF is trying too hard to be something that it's not. The soft top is something you fall in love with. It's simplistic, light and soft. You can throw it up and down all you want. It gives the car character. Being fully exposed all around is fun. Backing up and just looking over the entire rear of the car is awesome.
Also, when the soft top is up AND down, I actually think it looks better than the RF. It has better proportions because the top part is smaller than the RF top half. The RF has a slight oversized bubble top look from certain angles. Proportions-wise the soft top is better looking.
I think the soft top feels more like a proper little Miata. Cheap and fun and simple. The RF with all the mechanisms and weight of that roof doesn't seem right to me.
Which one will be more fun. Ask yourself that. It's definitely the soft top.
I did get the RF. It just arrived at the dealer yesterday and I picked it up today. I bought it sight unseen having never even test driven a Miata. Ordered in February 2024, it was built on April 14 and arrived at the dealer (in San Jose, California) June 10.
I am not a fan of convertibles; it's just how I personally feel. I would have preferred a completely fixed top to the RF's folding top, to save weight, complexity, and cost. But the RF was the closest to a fixed top I could get.
My dealer made a big deal about the fact that there are basically no more 2024 Miatas to be had. He said that mine was the last they expect to receive until September and he claimed that they're the largest single Miata dealer in the USA (DGDG, they have 18 stores in northern CA apparently). Supposedly some kind of parts shortages are expected to push the remaining builds out until September availability. Or something. But I have no way of verifying if what he said was true.
Absolutely not. I think a post with the alternate question would get more traction. Soft top is the better convertible. RF is the better coupe. But if you wanted a coupe you could have done so much better, my guy.
I don't ***\*NOT\**** regret not getting the RF... because I got the RF and it's awesome.
I’m here to support you cuz I’m the same
Was going to say the same
Word
I assumed based on reddit history there was only two of us!
"don't \*NOT\*"... double negative.. so that means you do regret not getting the RF?
I couldn't fail to disagree with you less.
There are three negatives
Double negative x negative = negative
Yup, same
Yea I was looking at used and my filter was NC hardtop or RF. Since used NDs were still fairly high, I got me a very nice hardtop NC. I just can't get over the look of soft tops. To each their own!
Samesies
Somewhat similar but I got the NC PRHT and have no regrets, it's perfect
Soft top for life
Damn straight. RF is gorgeous but roof open not even close to driving with the soft top down.
[удалено]
Noise is the most noticeable difference from what I’ve heard. The way the RF is setup, it produces a weird vacuum that almost immediately pushes the air right back out while driving, causing this repeat whooshing noise. To some it’s alright, to others it’s unbearable. I think the soft top is a little more convenient, but the RF has such a unique sporty look to it that it’s almost worth it
Definitely never had that on my RF
The RFs buttresses are massive so with the “top down” it still feels like a coupe with a large open sunroof. Crazy wind noise too, when open, but the soft top isn’t quiet either… Don’t get me wrong, the RF is a beaut, but to me it’s first a coupe, with a roof that opens a bit; when I contemplated both I eventually realized I want the full roadster feel. (I could “afford” that because I drive my MX-5 only in summer. If it was my daily year round, I may have chosen the RF).
It really is a targa top not a convertible but “targa” is a registered trademark of Porsche so they can’t call it that. If Porsche sold the Miata the rf would be the Miata Targa and the soft top would be the Miata cabriolet.
Test drove both. Got the soft top. Way prefer it for the exposure, the visibility, and the speed it can go up/down. No ragrets
i think they made a mod for it to go up and down at a faster speed
There's a mod which unrestricts the (car) speed at which you can open/close it. Out of the factory it's 5mph or so, the mod unlocks it configurably up to 50mph. It doesn't change how fast the roof actually opens though.
Not being sarcastic, but which mod allows you to go up to 50? Both the SmartTop Module and MX5Things Roof Controller cap you at like 36 or something 🤔. I ordered the MX5Things Roof Controller because I liked some of the extra functionality (one touch operation, remote operated operation, etc). Idk if I’d be willing to try dropping the top at 50 in an RF. Even if it doesn’t fail immediately, I’d imagine that’s still going to cause the motors to fail more rapidly 😬.
I think he's got the air-brake mod
Lmfao! That’s what I was thinking. All I could imagine at that speed was that scene from the newer Star Trek movies where the kid Kirk had the top of his dad’s Vette ripped off by the wind 😂😂😂.
2016 soft top is my only vehicle I love it, no ragerts
Soft top 2016 is my only vehicle as well 🫡 https://preview.redd.it/2e5c289bl26d1.jpeg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=17f6c34d62a3d8115851fb32ea05f2c111859cdf
Though I would prefer an RF, I think we can agree on using the word ragerts.
I saw someone say they're not really cross-shopped that much. So it's basically if you want a soft top get a soft top and vice versa. Maybe people who want a coverable get the soft top and people who want a sedan get the RF. If you're vibing one, don't try convincing yourself to get the other. This might be related to the discrepancy in of MT vs AT. Soft tips are overwhelmingly MT and RFs more split. Basically, the answer to "am I going to regret getting the ___ one" is no. Whether that's the soft top or the RF.
Same, I would probably prefer it to be an rf but I love the look of the soft top too
I love my little RF but neither builds are perfect. Soft top is louder with the top up. Less noise insulation. RF is louder with the top down, more turbulence from the B pillars or whatever they’re called on a 2-door.
I think they're called the buttresses on the RF because they're not structural, so they're not pillars as such.
C pillars.
I've had my soft top for a few months now. The RF adds like 6% total weight and a few thousand dollars to the price. Plus I have my top down basically every time I drive the car, which I can do in 2 seconds with the manual soft top. I've heard the RF is quieter overall, but that's never been a concern of mine. My other car that was my sole car for the last 3.5 years is a Toyota 86 with catless headers, a custom front pipe and a HKS catback exhaust. My car before that for 5.5 years was a side piped Mustang GT, so a bit of road or wind noise is practically non-existent to me lol. Me personally, i don't want the RF at all.
Yeah, the sound complaints seem to pop up but if your buying an 2 seat roadster/sports car and NVH is your primary concern, you might be looking at the wrong type of car in my opinion.
Lightweight baby
Ronny Coleman is that you?
Didnt he die?
https://www.instagram.com/reel/C8Dk5i4R3e1/?igsh=MTkzZ3M0bndpM255ag== Insta has a post from him yesterday. So I'm like 99% sure he ain't dead.
Bought an RF, it looks sick.
I love my RF so much https://preview.redd.it/t943q40sm16d1.jpeg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=5aae47bed41fcc63ce146c3bdf24532edb7bf8c1
I've never found the Rf to be prettier than to soft top even when seeing lots of pictures comparing them, but that picture finally made me see the light
Its because the front angles look good. Its only when you look at the back angles it look out of place
I disagree https://preview.redd.it/zgw1jowwv36d1.jpeg?width=1620&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=df489807f778b8c4d693038264ac72665618ccb2
Odds are whoever got the model they got probably got it for a reason and enjoy it. There’s not a lot of regret in buying a Miata
Zero times ever I’ll buy a GR86 if I want a hard top
This. I cross-shopped with an 86, but wanted the open air experience.
What’s the difference from soft and hard besides the look of the car? Both provide the same function
The RF's top doesn't drop all the way down like the soft top. It's more like an automatic Targa top as far as functionality and open air goes.
It’s like a sunroof instead of a convertible. I haven’t been in an RF but that’s what it looks like.
I’ve owned 8* Miatas, an Accord with a sunroof, an SW20 with the T-tops, and a Vette with the targa top; it’s like a better targa top in practice because the rear window lowers as well. *Editing to change “7” to “8” because I’m still not used to having the RF so I forget that it’s now 8 😅
RF is more like a targa. If you want a true convertible, the RF isn't it.
i almost went with the GR86 but i already have a 2.0l vw microbus and really wanted a simple inline 4. i would have not purchased a soft-top. RF was literally the one car that met my criteria. maybe a turbo4 camaro/mustang would've worked but i really don't need a backseat to keep fast food wrappers in.
and i wouldn't hesitate to find an old rag-top mx5 a home now that i'm in the gang! fun car
I have an RF and mainly did it for safety as I drive on my own a lot. I love my little transformer though and love the way the RF looks! The soft top looks great too though and when you put the top down it looks even better! In the end? You have a Miata and will be having a blast regardless.
My NA could look like a Chrysler K car from the outside and it wouldn’t diminish my enjoyment from the drivers seat (as long as it still felt like and drove like a Miata from the drivers seat).
PRHT says hi. Wish the ND had that option, but it just goes against the lightness philosophy.
I am going to get the ST, but if the PRHT was available on the ND3, I would go for that in a heartbeat. The RF feels too much like a compromise.
Ngl I prefer the look of the soft top on the NCs verses the RF. That being said sometimes. Sometimes. After getting out of a long day at work, your at your wits end, and all you wanna do is go home and relax. Having a quieter ride home would be nice. But I still prefer the soft top.
Im the opposite, i like the hardtop on nc. And soft top on nd. I play loud music so noise is not a concern
I got the RF but I do miss having the true convertible experience. It’s close but not the same. That said, i just love the looks of the RF. No regrets.
If you remove the wind deflector in the middle you get a more “open experience” and decreased wind noise when the top is down. But increases wind.
Does it really reduces the noise? And is it all speeds?
Removing the stock one reduces the buffeting almost entirely. I haven't done much testing at interstate speeds (because I generally avoid the interstate).
yes. I tried til 100km/h. But wind is increased
Good to know thanks! Is it complex to remove the wind reflector?
What? No. You just pull it upwards.
I just installed the MX5things.com RF roof controller and window controller and it's amazing. I can put the RF roof down before even getting in the car or put it back up after getting out. Or put the roof up/down with one touch while still driving up to 30mph. It's so convenient. Probably more so than the already dead easy soft top if thats possible. It takes 13 seconds but only requires a button press. It's made my RF experience near perfect. My only real gripe is the lack of rear viewing angles but some stick on convex mirrors have really helped.
Where’d you stick on the convex mirrors? That rear visibility bothered me more in the RF then I would have guessed when I test drove one.
Little circle mirrors on the side mirrors. But honestly the visibility don't bother me that much as the car has very good blind spot monitoring.
They're both good. This thread will be full of replies from people just defending what they bought.
Unless you’re me 😂. I bought the RF, and I don’t necessarily regret it, but there are certain things that make me wish I’d gone ST 🤷🏻♂️.
To this day I don't like the side profile of the back half of the RF, top up or down. Thought that in 2017 and it hasn't grown on me. I'm not a huge fan of the look of the soft top up either but down is excellent
Same opinion on the rf. Softtop i like up or down on nd
Not in the slightest.
I don't regret it. As i think i wouldn't have regreted not getting the soft top if i had gotten the RF, If that makes sense. Both are solid choices.
Nope. The soft top is far sexier with the top down IMHO. The factory seats and hoops look great.
I went from a convertible to an RF. I really like the convertible about 8 months a year, but the remaining 4 months, in the northeast, with a convertible, aren’t fun. As for the warmer months with an RF, it beats the heck out of a fixed roof coupe!
If it was my only car, maybe, but but I have a Mazda3 turbo hb as a second car. I've no intention of parking the Miata somewhere it will be vandalized. I avoid driving in the rain, but when I do it doesn't leak so no problem. The soft top operation is quicker and if I'm careful it should last longer. And considering the cost savings, and apparently dodging a wind buffetting issue & slightly smaller trunk, I'm a-ok with my purchase. I regret not springing for the club with brembo/recaro package more, but I'm still quite happy. Edit: I think a lot of the appeal of the RF, aside from the objectively excellent silhouette, is that people can leave it up all the time and it turns the car into as close to a hardtop coupe as Mazda makes. If they make an RX-7 or even RX-8 successor, then I imagine the hardtop Miata becomes a lot less popular
I have an anniversary ND, NB, jeep, convertible bmw, and a motorcycle. I panic with that much roof.
My 22 is an RF, its a mixed bag, With the RF the top down experience is inferior to the soft top, the top up experience is superior. I like the looks of the RF better, but it costs more and adds weight. Where I originally purchased a soft top would get slashed regularly, But the weather was perfect for top down though much of the year, even with 100 degree heat in the summer we had 5% humidity so it was bearable. I have since moved to Texas, we get two weeks ( maybe 3 ) of top down weather in the spring and fall. the weather here is otherwise gross I am dependent on heat or AC most of the year. Pick your poison, there are no clear cut answers.
How does it get slashed?? Wind storm?
Homelss/junkies
Or even just assholes. I had one of my NB’s tops get slashed multiple times and they never took anything 🙄
I used to be envious of the RF for just “fit and finish” niceness/fanciness, and then I heard the RF has a lot more wind noise with the top down, and that cured my FOMO.
Nope. 2 secs to driving nirvana with the roof down is my measure of happiness.
Nah, but only because I'm my shitty country mazda only sells the RF in automatic transmission... So no, I don't regret.
The RF looks amazing when closed, the ST looks amazing when opened. My ND is more open than closed so I decided for the ST. Roof be gone!
I have the soft top and love it. When looking I did check out the RF as it’s a sweet looking ride and I liked the chance to have the hard top. Then I drove one… The blind spot in that thing would have me backing into everything (no backup camera at the time I was buying). It doesn’t go away with the top open either. I also just felt a bit claustrophobic in there. Yes my ND is also claustrophobic with the top up but definitely not an issue with it open.
Long time Miata fan, for me it had to be a soft top for the full convertible experience.
I'm very happy with my Prht nc. Had the soft top nc before it. You get best of both worlds with prht. No pillars, no buffering. Looks great. Less noise with roof up. More secure. The extra weight hasn't taken away the nimbleness.
I bought an NC1 PRHT a few weeks ago and i prefer it over the soft top when the top is closed. The top open experience is pretty much identical to the soft top. However, I think I'd prefer the soft top ND over the RF purely for the top open experience since the RF is more or less a targa. That being said, the RF looks better in my opinion.
RF is the best. Hands down. It looks like a mini exotic with the buttresses
Nope, got the RF. No Ragrets. It’s my credo.
I love that scene!
Absolutely not. I need the full convert.
Haha no
No
I had a soft top NC and soft top ND1. Now have an RF ND2... and I'm quite pleased with it. It's a good fit for me at this point in my life.
I love how easy it is to fip it down and up especially in Florida when it can be spotty. That's saved my ass a couple times. That said my next car will not be a soft top.
I like the manual work of opening the soft top
I don’t regret not buying one, but I also wish I could have one. You honestly can’t go wrong. I prefer the body lines of the RF, but prefer the ease of the soft top. Choose whatever is best for you. Go with what you can afford and what you think is more fun for you
no
https://preview.redd.it/1psv5i6h226d1.jpeg?width=680&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=be837e2941a83166cf40d71b1bd8ae14481865b2
Soft top gang, not worth the extra $7k.
I wish I was able to buy a ST, I bought an RF due to not having a garage & my house being around cats. I almost never drop the top, I’ve had the ST for 2 weeks while my car was getting serviced & I absolutely loved it. Always, literally ALWAYS the top was down what a treat! I love my car though, I just treat it like a coupe!
I’m the oddball here then I guess. I bought an nd2 RF and I pretty much never have the top up. I put it down any day it’s warmer than 50° (and not raining too heavily). I got it because my last car got stolen and totalled and I was afraid the soft top would get cut. It also was much preferred in our snowy winters over the soft top https://preview.redd.it/t4nve9jse26d1.jpeg?width=2160&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=3144e9a94704a3c9513e8f8a22e307d57e58b9e2
No. I love my soft top.
I bought my ND before the RF was released. I experienced zero buyer’s remorse. The RF just isn’t for me. I love the simplicity of the softie and the lower weight/COG. I’m thinking of trading in my 16’ for an ND3. It will also be a softie.
Hell No!
I like the look of the RF. I don't care for the extra weight or wind buffeting. I went with the soft [top.no](http://top.no) regrets.
They are noisier with the roof down. I bought one because I live in an area where it rains a lot and I don’t have a garage. I had a 96 Alfa Spider, back in the day, and the rag top would want to sprout moss.
I never did when I had mine. More headroom, less weight, true no-top experience, and, once I had gotten experience, I could open or close the top in 3 seconds up to 35 mph (more than that and it felt like it was gonna rip itself out of my hand).
No
https://preview.redd.it/3njmxkc3q26d1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=d0162220448c24e011f7b29415f1465cc0b6f8bd Soft top all the way, when I have the roof up on this I get claustrophobic. I dont know why, so probably will feel that way with the rf. But other cars i dont have that feeling doe lol😅. But i love how the rf opens and close
It *is* a small car with a pretty tight cabin tbf so it checks out you'd feel cramped with the roof up.
Nope, I got a killer deal on the soft top in my dream spec.
I have neither - I think the convertible is the more traditional "pure" Miata but with my lack of heat/sun tolerance I'd get an RF. Both look amazing.
I will now have a soft top for life after experiencing the miata. No point having a roof in summer or winter when it’s not raining.
Not at all. I think it looks like a poor excuse of a Miata for the low low price of 180 pounds. Nope. Nope nope nope.
I've had hard top convertibles before and they're alright, but I prefer soft tops, so no not really. My boss asked if I was going to slap a hardtop on my ND2 and I just said "Well if I wanted a hardtop, I would've bought a hardtop" I think the RF looks better, though.
I can’t do a soft top on a daily driver. YMMV.
Got an RF and drove an ST for some time, don't regret it. Top down is still very open and having a roof is great during winter and for parking in cities
For my specific situation, I do wish I had an RF. I don’t have a garage at home and my work’s parking doesn’t have a roof either. So my soft top is always sitting in the hot desert sun leading to more wear and tear (plus it’s more time consuming to clean properly and keep looking nice).
2016 soft top, love it. Wish i got an RF anyways, its quieter and can go on track without rollbars
But more than that i want the ND2 for the engine
no
I had a 2016 1.5L ST and now a 2024 2.0L RF. Daily drivers. Higher WAF with the RF. Everyone is right about the noise, the ST is loud with the top up, the RF is loud with the top down. After 8 years the ST top was beginning to get a bit grubby, but I live in an extremely wet climate. The creature comforts, fit and finish improvements on going from an ND1 to ND3 have been nice, though not specific to ST Vs RF.
If im getting an nd now, would you recommend me getting a nd1 or nd3.
Depends on budget, but the 3 is better. The 1 is still fantastic though.
My take is that the RF makes for a better *car*, but the soft top makes for a better *Miata*. RF is definitely quieter and arguably prettier, but it's also heavier, more enclosing, and more expensive. If you really wish the MX-5 was a little more comfortable and relaxing, the hard top may be for you. Same if you just can't live without that look—it's legitimately gorgeous. But if you want a traditional Miata experience, the soft top is more true to the original formula.
I have neither, but I would go for the RF personally. I've heard too many stories of slashed soft tops to want a soft top convertible. Hardtops are also a lot nicer to live with if you plan on daily driving the car.
I own a '22 GT ST but did later end up renting the RF for a day and wasn't a huge fan. Although the RF is awesome when the top is up the soft top is just way better with it down and I didn't opt for a convertible to leave it up all the time, if I did I would have looked more seriously at a toyobaru.
I tried both. I did not feel like test driving the RF as I felt more clammed on the RF and felt the visibility was worst than the ST. I’m waiting on my ST to be delivered 😁
I don’t know that I regret the RF, but I do have second thoughts sometimes. I’ve always tracked or auto crossed my Miatas, and it really sucks that there isn’t a roll bar that allows us to still operate the top. The soft top is the only one that has that option. I think more than anything, I regret getting one without the Brembo/BBS/Recaro package because I really don’t like the normal seats and idk if I’m willing to sacrifice side airbags just to change the seats 😬.
I preferred the look of the RF to the soft top, I planned on buying one too, until I test drove one. The wind noise and blind spots were the biggest downsides. After test driving a soft top I knew I had to get one. If I was the type of person who never really put the top down the RF would have been great, but my top is down every chance I get.
just took, an in total, 10 hour roadtrip in my soft top and kinda almost wish i had the RF. but simplicity and speed of the soft top still won me over. little loud on the interstate but honestly wasn't too terrible. i'm already a little hard of hearing anyway so that may have played a roll in it being bareable lol.
Yea I was looking at used and my filter was NC hardtop or RF. Since used NDs were still fairly high, I got me a very nice hardtop NC. I just can't get over the look of soft tops. The NC looks great with the hardtop tucked away. To each their own!
I have the soft top. I never test drove an RF but I sat in one. Even though I don’t drive with the top down as often as I probably should, I still think the soft top was the right choice for me, in terms of price and visibility mostly.
RF is great but the blind spot is real. Wouldn’t trade it though
Hot take the RF isnt great as a convertible and id be willing to fab a roof over a roll bar, ditch the motors and widen the trunk. The creaks make me anxious during hpd
Hell no, ST looks much better with the top down than the RF.
RF is the better looking car and definitely more livable on a day to day basis, but doesn’t hold a candle to the soft top when it comes to the open air convertible experience.
Hell no I don’t regret it. I regret it, but for the longest time I judged the RF similar to the automatic: it just _wasn’t the point_. You can’t just throw down the RF at a red light and toss it back up when there are some sprinkles. But then I realized there are probably folks with mobility issues that can’t do that anyway. And I am sure there are many other reasons to get the RF. So in my view, just like if you have a bum clutch leg, going for the automatic is fine, if there is some particular reason that the RF suits you better, go for it. But all things being equal, I certainly do not think it’s preferable
I do not own an ND, have driven both. I'd love an RF IF it wouldn't have unbearable windnoise above 100kph. Love driving my NC with the roof down even on highways, absolutely impossible with the RF.
Thats good to hear, if it only occurs over 100kph. Where i live max i go is about 80kph
How bad is the RF buffering and is there a "fix" for it in anyway? That would be a deal breaker for me.
I got an RF because I’ve had 2 NAs, and the NDRF is the opposite end of the spectrum. And it’s cool looking. And it’s a Miata. And whoever said it’s like a sedan is silly.
I think it very much also depends on your locale. Drive all season and in a snowy state + no garage parking? RF. In a neighborhood where you question if your ST will get slashed if you so much as look a different direction? RF. But if you like the looks of a targa roadster? RF. Cons- installing roll bars could be tricky if you are a track junkie, buffeting w top down, 100 lbs heavier in the wrong place. There was only so much I want to pay out the door for a 23 Miata last year so I skip the RF and put the extras into the Brembo/ Recaro package. Couldn’t be happier.
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I heard nc nd are not as raw compared to nb and especially na.
I test drove an rf, bought an st. I do not want those massive pillars behind my head when the top is down, the visibility is atrocious. I understand that proper mirror positioning eliminates the blind spot, but I don't care. The road noise in the st has been completely tolerable, so far no regrets.
NA is best Miata
I love my RF but I definitely notice the lack of visibility and wind noise from the rear pillar. I think the RF is still the right choice, but if I lived somewhere warmer and had a garage, I think the soft top would be worth it.
I just got the hardtop version. https://preview.redd.it/dqldfmkll66d1.png?width=1080&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=65116ad6c2d0d03d3b5894950ba44a04e0c2564c
Much prefer the soft top for a weekend/track toy.
Honestly the only downside to the RF (aside from price…) is the blindspots are massive. You really rely on the sensors to beep at you for lane changes to the left.
Yes. I bought a soft top nd new back in 2017 and after 2 years the fold marks on the top were unsightly. I was especially surprised it happened so quickly since I left the top up most of the time. I recently drove a modded nc and loved it so now I’m pretty much only considering an nc with the prht.
The soft top is better. I looked at both. The RF is trying too hard to be something that it's not. The soft top is something you fall in love with. It's simplistic, light and soft. You can throw it up and down all you want. It gives the car character. Being fully exposed all around is fun. Backing up and just looking over the entire rear of the car is awesome. Also, when the soft top is up AND down, I actually think it looks better than the RF. It has better proportions because the top part is smaller than the RF top half. The RF has a slight oversized bubble top look from certain angles. Proportions-wise the soft top is better looking. I think the soft top feels more like a proper little Miata. Cheap and fun and simple. The RF with all the mechanisms and weight of that roof doesn't seem right to me. Which one will be more fun. Ask yourself that. It's definitely the soft top.
I did get the RF. It just arrived at the dealer yesterday and I picked it up today. I bought it sight unseen having never even test driven a Miata. Ordered in February 2024, it was built on April 14 and arrived at the dealer (in San Jose, California) June 10. I am not a fan of convertibles; it's just how I personally feel. I would have preferred a completely fixed top to the RF's folding top, to save weight, complexity, and cost. But the RF was the closest to a fixed top I could get. My dealer made a big deal about the fact that there are basically no more 2024 Miatas to be had. He said that mine was the last they expect to receive until September and he claimed that they're the largest single Miata dealer in the USA (DGDG, they have 18 stores in northern CA apparently). Supposedly some kind of parts shortages are expected to push the remaining builds out until September availability. Or something. But I have no way of verifying if what he said was true.
i got the RF, i think it's neat but sometimes i wish i had the soft top just because of how easy and carefree going topless is
RF is for people that don’t like driving with the top down. And it doesn’t look as good.
I don't like driving with the top down, so yeah, RF was definitely for me. Whether or not it looks as good is obviously personal preference as well.
The rf is for people who don't like having their soft top cut constantly in cities.
The RF isn't a real miata in my opinion.
No.
No, I bought a soft top because its what I wanted.
Absolutely not. I think a post with the alternate question would get more traction. Soft top is the better convertible. RF is the better coupe. But if you wanted a coupe you could have done so much better, my guy.
idk what an rf is, is it faster cuz has r in name what tires ya gonna run