Hi HJ Forum folks,

we’re considering a 2.0 Mazda MX 5 tin top, circa 2010 – 2012 as our second car, so something a bit different to our main car which is a Nissan 350z engined Renault Grand Espace Initiale.

We really want to be able to occasionally carry 2 road bikes with the MX 5. We’ve got a three bike tow bar mounting carrier with lights that I use on the Espace - plus I can get 4 bikes on the Espace roof racks too , so 7 people & upto 7 bikes, but I can’t put a roof rack on the MK 5 L .

Now, I don’t want to tow with the MX5 - just use my bike rack. I don’t like the flimsy strap on bike carriers

www.boot-bag.com/mazda_mx5_bike_racks.htm

plus these obscure the lights and number plate too – so they illegal without a lighting board and number plate?

In the USA they sell tow bar kits for the MK3 / 3.5 , so there must be provision to fit a two bar. In the UK and EU they only sell tow bar kits for the Mazda MX5 Mk1 and MK2, as the MK 3 and 3.5 are not ‘type approved’ for towing in the UK and EU.

Can a tow bar with lighting socket be fitted in the UK to a MK3 or MK3.5 if it is only used for a bike rack ?

A bike rack like mine , see link below, is much safer for the bikes and the car, than the ones on the link above, plus ones like mine have full lights and number plate too.

I have asked Mazda re the MX 5 and tow bar fitting / bike racks – but they say that they can't advise me. I've asked them about the MK4 MX5 that’s out in 2015, but again Mazda UK say that they do not know / cannot help.

I'm only in the market for a used MX5 anyway, so it would be 2018 or later before I could consider a MK4. I would like a used MX5 Mk3 or Mk 3.5 next spring, but only if I can carry two bikes.

Thanks all

Paul

www.roofbox.co.uk/scripts/rbvehsel4_tab.php/car-sp...N