2014 MX-5 MKIII 25TH ANNIVERSARY
The 2004 MKIII was a huge departure…
It weighed 100kg more than before, had revised suspension and traction control and the option of a powered metal roof. It was a fully reworked design – and not entirely well-received. Literati and enthusiasts were dubious about the handling and Mazda itself produced lowering springs to help reconnect horse and rider. The facelifted Mk3.5 was an improvement though and that’s the car I’m about to drive.
The basic 1.8i had a five-speed gearbox and 16in wheels, but no limited-slip differential. The 2.0i gained the LSD while the 2.0i Sport added the six-speed box I enjoyed so much in the Anniversary MKII. Seventeen-inch alloys, Bilstein suspension and a front strut brace helped firm things up on the later cars. There was also ABS, improved air-con, touch screen navigation and, well, a bunch of other stuff. So much for purity.
This 2014 25th anniversary edition has the retractable hard top and 2.0-litre engine and is one of only 1099 made (of which a surprising 749 were sold in the UK). I’m getting more than I expected, but its improved comfort makes it feel slower than the more rawedged MKI. The problem here is the same one you encounter when trying to compare the MKII to the MKI – you’re always aware of the additional amount of car there is around you. It still has the same nimble aspirations, but at 1115kg it is heavier and feels it, despite having more power and a higher top speed.
I get it out of shape a few times, switching back and forth around the back section of Goodwood through St Mary’s and Lavant. It’s not making me look good, thanks to less feedback, more soft furnishings, more weight and more distractions. It’s a great drive, but doesn’t quite hit the mark.
‘Its improved comfort makes it feel slower than the MKI’