Which mx5

Not only kg heavier at kg , but also 20mm longer and 5mm wider than the NA, with wider tracks front and rear. Its mm wheelbase was identical to the first-generation car, though, there were other changes. Outputs from the 1. A clip-in hard-top was also made optionally available.

This was followed a year later by the launch of the upgraded 1. Over its lifecycle, the NB proved a significant step up in performance from the original NA. And while it remained relatively simple at its core, it was still more refined than the first-generation MX But not quite as refined as the third-generation NC MX Growing again, both proportionally and in weight, the NC — measuring mm long, mm wide, and weighing in at kg — became the biggest MX-5 built to date. Luckily, thanks to a 2.

Though short of the turbo-assisted 1. Several modern features made their MX-5 debut on the NC too, most notably cruise control, a limited-slip rear differential manual models only , and the option of a six-speed automatic transmission instead of the previous four-speed unit. At the New York motor show, Mazda unveiled the MX-5 25th Anniversary Edition , before the model launched locally four months later.

Limited to 40 cars in Australia — 24 manuals and 16 automatics — each car came with a complimentary limited edition MXbranded his and hers Tourneau commemorative watch set. Arguably the MX-5 least like the light and carefree original, however, the heavier, softer NC had some mixed feedback.

A near-on perfect blend of the original MX-5's size and weight, with modern trimmings and genuine polish, the fourth-generation ND was a welcome return to form for the world's best-selling, two-seat convertible sports car. And, most importantly, it ensured the Mazda MX-5 was properly fun again. The 1. Bear in mind that as the MX-5 Mk 4 ages, condition and originality will trump any special-edition premium.

Its removable centre section leaves the rear buttresses intact. Fourth-generation MX-5 heads back to Mazda's roadster's roots, surpassing its predecessor in every area. In , the argument for buying the 2. Meanwhile, across all versions the steering wheel became telescopically adjustable.

The rear numberplate was delaminating, too, and I had to buy mats for the car. The experience shows that approved used schemes still have a way to go, but as a way of avoiding the leeches, a used MX-5 Mk4 is definitely the way forward.

Engine There's no service book so you'll need to check the service history with a dealer or with Mazda. Invoices will show you the detail of what's been done. The stop-start system requires many things including the charge state of the capacitor and even the angle of the steering wheel to be just-so, so don't be too concerned if it doesn't work on the test drive.

It probably will do in the future and especially if you do some long drives. Roof Check for heavy algae staining round the lower edge of the hood. Water leaks are rare but check for damp carpets anyway. Make sure the drain holes on the windscreen scuttle are clear they block up easily. A well-adjusted hood shouldn't rattle unduly on the test drive. Locking Check the automatic door lock system works. It doesn't always but this is not necessarily a fault.

With all that said, which generation of the Mazda MX-5 Miata stands out to us as the shining beacon of everything the car was meant to be, and which one has seen its glow dull just a little in contrast? Check out our take on the best versions of the Mazda Miata ever built, and let us know whether we got it right or wrong. The first Miata was a tour de force interpretation of the classic British sports car concept, a vehicle just as notable for what it left on the table as for what it brought to the game.

Presenting itself as a simple, rev-happy four-cylinder roadster with an ultra-low curb weight right around 2, lbs and minimal complications between the driver and the asphalt below its inch wheels, the MX-5 made a plus out of its modest horsepower later elevated to , then when the 1.

It was responsive enough to keep the momentum-car moving at a brisk pace, yet never a threat to overpower either the rear wheels or the driver, and its supremely balanced chassis rewarded every input, no matter how minute. Somewhat larger, and a few hundred pounds heavier, than the sprightliest NA, the NC was still one of the least weighty sports cars on the market when it appeared in It continued the four-cylinder formula now a 2.

The NC was significantly more comfortable and refined than the generation that preceded it and featured the availability of a power retractable hardtop. Most importantly, however, the NC drove exceptionally well. More insulated from the road than the NA of decades past, it was nevertheless a blast when pushed hard, and in an era where most of its rivals were at least lbs heavier, it never came across as portly. It was the first time Mazda had strayed from the original simplicity-is-everything mantra that had guided the first MX-5, and it was a risk worth taking that did indeed change the character of the car, but not for the worse.

Whereas the third iteration of the roadster gave us something new, the second was more accurately described as an attempt to civilize certain aspects of the first, without alienating its core fan base. The 1.