Power Error 404 Not Found - 2016 Mazda MX-5 Miata Convertible Long-Term Road Test

Edmunds.com

Power Error 404 Not Found - 2016 Mazda MX-5 Miata Convertible Long-Term Road Test

Finding the 12-volt power socket in the Edmunds long-term 2016 Mazda Miata

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miata52

Looks like a case of "Oh crap, we forgot something, where can we stick this?" by the engineers.

moparbad

On the NC it's easily located on the console below the climate controls. ND is a two steps backwards in regard to the interior.

longtimelurker

I get that this is a small car with a small IP, but...c'mon. There are good-sized swaths of dashboard that could easily have a 12V socket in there without compromising anything. Many people buy 1' long charging cords to use in their cars, because then there is only 1' of cord draped from the socket to wherever on the console they put a device being charged. With this setup here, you would have to have at least a 3' cord, draped from the socket to the console or wherever the device is located, across the footwell on the passenger side...not great.

slyons89

95% of MX-5 customers won't need the 12V socket at all, the car has two full-power USB ports handily available. In fact, I consider hiding it out of the way a plus, I don't need that cluttering up the already small interior and dash cubby space. And it might be even more convenient, 'out of sight - out of mind' for a dashcam or radar detector power source.

longtimelurker

slyons89 said:

95% of MX-5 customers won't need the 12V socket at all, the car has two full-power USB ports handily available. In fact, I consider hiding it out of the way a plus, I don't need that cluttering up the already small interior and dash cubby space. And it might be even more convenient, 'out of sight - out of mind' for a dashcam or radar detector power source.

Good point, but for any car, but especially one with a cloth top, you want to make it as easy as possible to disconnect and remove from sight any cords before you get out of the car. Now, if you can reach that outlet from the driver's seat, fine.

pauljay

The location of the socket is terrible. Can't reach it from the driver's seat. Poor design!

bdunni

There are places in the interior of the MX-5 that can't be reached from the drivers seat? Are you sure?

bdunni

miata52 said:

Looks like a case of "Oh crap, we forgot something, where can we stick this?" by the engineers.

Or a case of a lot of things use USB for power today, tomorrow more things will. Most of the things that need a cigarette lighter adaptor are left plugged in permanently (car chargers and for phones, GPS and dash-cams come to mind).

My car has 2 cigarette adaptors one is in the center console and I don't use it because it gets in the way. I use the one that is in the passenger foot well, and it leave the cord plugged in all the time.