Loz's MX-5

Well here's the replacement for the MG ZS, she's a 1995 UK spec 1.8iS 5 with a confirmed 69,000 miles on the clock, 2 lady owners the last being a MX-5 OC member from new & full service history from new including all the receipts & MOT's. The sills have been repaired in the past but have been done to a good standard. The paint work is good for a 17 year old car but could do with a little tidy up although I am thinking of a respray in Honda pearl white. I love the OEM wheels & they are in good nick but I will get them refurbed this winter.

Some quick pics...

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Engine the right way round & proper wheel drive. :amuse: Sticker on the slam panel confirms cam belt was done 2010 at 67,000 miles.

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Full tool kit including a pair of pliers a screw driver & spanners, though I've not found the jack yet.

Got a few bits stocked up already too... :amuse:

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Very very nice. I think they look stunning in White.

It looks like the rear camber is out a bit - it might be the pic? Are the rear tyres wearing on one side a lot?
 
Cheers waynne, I wasn't so sure of the colour not being my first choice but the history & the condition of the car won me over. :D

I thinks just the angle of the shot & the 18mm focal length on the camera. As a matter of course I will have my mechanic do a service & a thorough check over & then I'll get a full 4 wheel alignment done, a proper one not one of those Kwikfit specials. :amuse:
 
So, now we know what your profession is :) Not needed one for many years, though.
 
:lol:

Nice.



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Of course its well known that the design of MX-5 borrowed heavily from the Elan so may be people in glass houses... :p :lol:

Agreed, but the Elan needed a lot of TLC and getting the hands dirty and that just wouldn't do for the sweeties :)
 
Nice car. Over here, it's called the Miata. Anyways, I really like those cars, but the body style always seemed to be based on a bar of soap to me. I'm sure there are rebody kits for it though. Anyways, what're your plans for it? Summer toy? Daily driver? Weekend cruiser? Restoration/resto-mod?
 
I had one briefly, When I purchased it (November if I remember correctly) I nipped out for a 20 min test drive and returned home 2 hours later with a grin from ear to ear. Brilliant, Feels like a small canoe, The car pivots around your body.. Do you still have the Talon?
 
I'm sure there will already be some in the glovebox :)

I've checked but the glove box is full hair straighteners.

Looking smart Loz.
You been playing on roundabouts yet? :lol::lol:

Still getting used it, done really done many miles in it yet, & I don't to break it too soon. :D

Nice car. Over here, it's called the Miata. Anyways, I really like those cars, but the body style always seemed to be based on a bar of soap to me. I'm sure there are rebody kits for it though. Anyways, what're your plans for it? Summer toy? Daily driver? Weekend cruiser? Restoration/resto-mod?

It's my daily driver i suppose I'll be doing a sort rolling restoration with a few choice goodies along the way. :)

I had one briefly, When I purchased it (November if I remember correctly) I nipped out for a 20 min test drive and returned home 2 hours later with a grin from ear to ear. Brilliant, Feels like a small canoe, The car pivots around your body.. Do you still have the Talon?

I know exactly what you mean, I didn't realise how wee theses cars are & the steering is the lest woolly I've experienced so far, it has a very direct feeling.

The 100R is stored on a friends farm a the moment, but I have to admit the MX-5 drives a lot better than the 100R so it's future is looking a little unsure atm. :amuse:
 
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Whoooooo! Just been for my first night drive, I love the pop headlights! It's like driving in a movie with the two big lights up in front. :D

I think the owner has upgraded the headlights because one of the grumbles of the MK1 was that the original headlights were feeble, these light up the whole road & the high beam is great they seem to perform better than the more modern MG's lights, though that may be down to old bulbs, I never changed them the whole time I owned the car.

So that's saved me a few bob that can go elsewhere. :bigsmile:

Had a vibration through the steering wheel at speed when driving the car back from the dealer so I had the wheels rebalanced today & it's cured it. Another cheap £12 fix. :bigsmile:
 
So, now we know what your profession is :) Not needed one for many years, though.

Beat me to the hair dresser joke! Dammit!

Still.. there is a lot of space in the boot for your scissors, clippers and conditioners! :lol:

Car looks smart mate, I do like the MX-5's!
 
:Lol:. I can take the stick, I drove a Smart car for nearly five years!
Tbh honest after driving it I couldn't care less what people think, its utterly addictive and my only grumble is that I didn't buy one years ago. :D
 
:Lol:. I can take the stick, I drove a Smart car for nearly five years!
Tbh honest after driving it I couldn't care less what people think, its utterly addictive and my only grumble is that I didn't buy one years ago. :D


There is a guy in Southend who has a MX-5 and he has camered it, with full on PHAT tires and an exhaust so loud, you can hear it coming a mile away, I am not joking either. If any one is interested it is a baby blue colour, with black soft top roof incase you see it, or hear it!
 
Tiny update:

Absolutely loved driving the 5 about this week & she's been great, though I did notice that the tick over was a little iffy & sometimes pulling away wasn't as smooth as it should be, So last weekend I got some new HT leads & plugs & that seems to have cured it, he says crossing all his fingers. :amuse:

Today the 5 went to my pet mechanic Phil Bagshaw at M-Tech for had a good service & inspection & she was deemed a gud un :bigsmile:. Also had my new Hel brakes lines fitted while she was there, just as well I didn't do it my self because there were a couple problems I wouldn't have anticipated!

Friday she's booked in to John Ashely Exhausts in Walsall for a full 2 inch stainless exhaust system with a high flow cat as the current system is blowing a little.

Then I'm booking her in to Blink Motorsport for a fettle on their Hawkeye Elite TD wheel aligner :D
 
Lol no I don't suppose I am! :D

Well I've been reading up on MX-5's since last November so I pretty much know exactly want I want to change & what needs addressing, the wheel alignment is important because the 5's came out the factory with a fully adjustable suspension set up just like the S2000's & to keep them fun (& safe) they need to have a proper alignment from time to time. Blink are great because they have the latest kit & they race MX-5's so they know exactly how to get the best out of them. :D

Plus their not that far from me! :p
 
I'd love an MX5 for my next track day car. :D

Heck, i'd probably end up using it everyday
 
She's booked in for 10am & he said he needs about 5 hours so hopefully by two or three she'll be ready.

It's be great to meet you & your leg end FRS MA :bigsmile:

I've just booked a track day at Rockingham this Saturday, which is a bit last minute so I need to change my oil and filter, check the car over and wash it on Friday SO I can either pop down before I do all that OR you're welcome to pop round at any time. Totally up to you.

I've met John Ashley before anyway as he did the exhaust on that Mk2 Escort of my mates.
 
Sigh...

Didn't get to meet the Master Auron today, had to leave the car at John Ashley because the new exhaust fouled the drive shafts D'oh! TBF to them there isn't an awful lot of room for a 2" pipe through the rear of the car so these things have to be expected still, I'd rather wait & give them more to to do it right rather than try & rush it so I could of taken the car home.
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On the plus side when I came home another part of my secret project arrived. ;)
 
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How annoying! It's a shame I was at work, could have picked you up then shame I never saw your message or I could have given you a lift home. I'm not even there tomorrow I'm at Rockingham so missed you again. As you said on FB we need a proper TC midlands meet soon.
 
Well. Finally got my car back the exhaust is a massive improvement over the one it replaces. Pick up is a lot more lively & the car accelerates a little keener although that may be a placebo effect :lol:, for the five year old in me it burbles along quietly in traffic & then sounds like swarm of rabid bees above 4000rpm. John Ashley couldn't apologise enough for the extended wait but I'm chuffed with the sound & the quality of the finished item & I wouldn't hesitate recommending them too anyone.

For the record the new 2 inch system consists of one custom made back box that's six inches longer than their standard boxes (18" instead of 12") & a sports cat.

On the down side it seems when I took the car back to my mechanic to have the brakes bled, I think he might of accidentley got a drop of fluid on the bonnet as a pair light cream stripes have appeared in the paint & they're slightly greasy to the touch. :(

It's not a biggy really because one of the jobs in the near future was to book the car into a body shop & get all the little chips & dents sorted out. On the subject of dents I think I put a little one in the boot skin :embarrest: the inside of the boot lid is unprotected & I think I might of shut it on top of some shopping! ARGGGHHHHHHH!
Might have to fit some carpet inside the lid to avoid doing such a bloody stupid thing again!
 
Glad the exhaust system turned out well for you anyway Loz despite the long wait. I empathise with you there as I too was pulling my hair out while waiting for the Beast to come back from Simpson Race (6 days :amazed:) but the end result was spectacular so they get the T9 thumbs up and high recommendation.

Did the boot lid not come with a lining anyway? There are soundproofing kits and universal soundproofing mats on a roll available as I am sure you are aware, at least it won't cost the earth to rectify this omission.

Who are you going to use for the bodywork by the way and have you used them before?
 
No I don't think they came with any liner, I'll check on MX5parts.co.uk & see what they have to offer. :)

Not sure what body shop as I've not spoken to any firms yet, but I'm going to see an established local company called BodyKraft next week they have several body shops around the Midlands.
 

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