I haven't posted here for a while, but thought you might be interested in the fate of my 95 NA LE. It's been my 2nd car for a couple of years, since a Toyota GT86 almost stole it's place in my heart. I say almost, because even though I fully intended to sell it, I just couldn't bring myself to do it, as it still gave me plenty of thrills, & top-down, sunny day fun, which the 86 just doesn't have. A few months ago a friend of mine needed a car to get to work on the Atherton Tablelands, which is one of the wettest parts of the country. She's a German girl, so had very good driver training, & I trusted her to take care of my Pride & Joy. Though I slapped some insurance on it the day I gave it to her, & was pleasantly surprised when Shannons offered me $18K agreed value, $9K for the car + $9K for the new paint job (even though I told them it only cost me $8K!). So my final instructions to her, when handing her the car, were "It's insured for $18K. So if you're going to prang it, make sure you right it off. & DON"T HURT YOURSELF!!!" About 6 weeks into this relationship I get an early morning call from Nina, in a very distressed state. "Oh Gary, I've crashed your car & it's a write off!" She most certainly had! Ran it head on into a Nissan Patrol, on a blind bend, in mist & rain. The 4X4 pushed the car into an embankment, buckling the entire structure. & she walked away without a scratch (as per instructions), which is amazing when you first see the pics, but understandable when you see how well the old girl crumpled, leaving the passenger cell intact, with both doors opening easily. It's a testimony to how well Mazda builds these things. So it's sad to see another NA bite the dust. But it's great that it protected it's passengers to the end, that my friend's OK, & I'm already $18K richer (thanks Shannons).
Here's the pics
This is the car before the bingle, looking sharp in it's new, $9K coat of paint.
Here's the lovely Nina, on our way back from a trip to Magnetic Is.
This was taken just after the Nissan had been towed off the Mazda. Note the narrowness of the road, the tightness of the bend, & the mist. That's why the Cops haven't charged anyone, as it's just too hard to determine whose at fault.
& this was what became of the little warrior. Note the big rock behind the car, which smashed in the back of the car & caused the whole rig to buckle!
So that's the story of the sad demise of my lovely little rag-top. It could have been much worse though, & I have to say that the car gave me nothing but sterling service & happy memories, right to the end. & thanks very much to Shannons for making the whole thing a lot less financially painful than it could've been
Would I buy another one? In heart beat!
PS Astute observers may have noticed that the only thing to escape the wreck was my speed deck, which is in my back shed. If anyone's interested in it I'm open to offers.
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