Mazda MX-5 RF Launch day
28 February 2017 / Article: Josh & Lindsay Green - Photos: Josh Fitzgerald, Peter Hilkmann & Rob Wilkins
There is always an air of excitement when a new model or variant of an MX-5 is launched. The MX-5 ND RF was one of the most exciting to date.
With multiple Mazda dealers wanting in on the launch action, the ambitious RF launch event was set up across 3 dealers on the same day, starting simultaneously at Newcastle and Hornsby Dealerships in the morning with both Hunter and Sydney members all converging on Central Coast Mazda at lunch time.
50+ members from the Sydney area met at Hornsby Mazda at 8:30am for a fully catered breakfast for which included trays of fresh made bacon and egg rolls with a barista on site to make coffees for the attendees. A Number of RF’s were on display to inspect inside the showroom, with a casual atmosphere for members to go in and out of cars at their own pace with sales consultants addressing questions where required. From Hornsby Mazda, Philip Yee led his first run for the club with 30 MX-5’s in tow to Central Coast Mazda via the Old Pacific Hwy.
In the Hunter, our day also started at 8:30am with a very warm welcome from the Dealer Principal Peter Hodgins and his staff who were busily brewing up a storm on the coffee machine for 35 members and greeting us all by handing out free hats while we enjoyed some bacon and egg McMuffins and Hash Browns. Peter introduced his staff and discussed the services they had on offer in their very new premises on Hannell St, a recent move from a much smaller area just up the road. Driving past, it’s deceiving just how big this dealership is. Peter also took this opportunity to announce that Newcastle Mazda has become a sponsor of the MX-5 Club of NSW. A very generous offer that not only helps the club as a whole, but is also offering local members something with some offers to be announced soon.
Two brand new RF’s sat pretty in the showroom with the sales staff explaining the subtle changes to the RF and demonstrating that amazing electric folding fastback. After the roof had been raising and lowered more times than we can count, we were invited into the workshop for a special treat most people wouldn’t get the opportunity to see. A look under an RF up on the hoist!
The workshop area was huge and amazingly clean. The service staff had removed the under panels of the RF to show us the layout of what was where and answer any questions we had about an area of the car that most people would never see. Next, they plugged in the diagnostics computer to show us what they can read from the engine management system and how they fault find issues, should one arise.
Not before long it was time to head for our Central Coast rendezvous. A much less exciting drive compared to our Sydney friends, straight down the M1.
Arriving at Central Coast Mazda, we were invited to park in the sales yard area, cleared just for us. With over 80 members registered it was going to be a tight fit. Thankfully us MX-5 drivers are accustomed to squeezing lots of us into tight areas.
The Central Coast Mazda staff welcomed us to their dealership in front of the showroom displaying club members Robert and Mary Mumford’s Machine Grey Metallic RF (recently purchased from Central Coast Mazda) that they very generously offered to have on display for the day.
As Newcastle & Hornsby Mazda hosted a 1 hour breakfast meet & greet, test drives were done from the Central Coast Dealer, with a ceramic white RF, a soul red ND and the Jinba Ittai ND offered for test drives along a designed short test drive route, allowing wait times to be minimised as best as possible given the interest expressed by members (And for those wondering, the uniquely wrapped Jinba Ittai ND is also up for sale!).
Sausages and onion sizzled away on the BBQ (in-fact 200 sausages were cooked, a huge effort from the staff!), a yummy treat for lunch as the sales team were quizzed about details and just general chatter about cars as queues of interested people lined for a test drive. We even had a “roof race” between the RF and a hard top NC. It was close but the NC was just slightly quicker, in all it was quite impressive to see both electric tops unique folding styles, like metal origami.
So how did it drive? Well, there’s minimal wind noise and no buffeting as some on the internet are suggesting. There’s some nice safety upgrades such as blind spot monitoring. Surprisingly there’s no noticeable loss of headroom with the roof up and while the fastback section was out of view with the roof down (while looking forward) you still felt its presence behind you, but it didn’t take much away from the open-air experience an MX-5 gives you. It’s certainly still just as fun as any MX-5 to drive!
The RF Launch day was a huge success, it was a great way for the dealers and members to interact with each other with many members commenting on how nice it was to get to know the dealerships better and a great PR exercise that could turn into future sales for these dealers and sponsorship support of the club.
We’d like to thank all three dealerships and those involved in organising and running Sunday’s event, all of the staff were outstanding and provided such a warm welcome to the club. The club looks forward to growing a relationship with these dealers.
Central Coast Mazda has been a Major Sponsor of the MX-5 Club of NSW since late 2016 joining long term sponsor Blue Mountains Mazda as supporters of the club. We are delighted to announce that Newcastle Mazda has also signed on to support the club with Hornsby Mazda looking to come on board too, so why not support the dealers that support the club when it comes to purchasing your next Mazda.
More of Josh's photos: HERE & HERE
More of Rob's photos: HERE
More of Peter's photos: HERE
