New MX5 owner in Gold Coast

[Flimbot]

Hello everybody,

I thought that I should Introduce myself. I'm Michael, but people call me Flimsy.
I (very) recently purchased a 2001 MX-5.. for a long time I was battling over which model to go with but this one popped up very locally and I jumped at it. I like the styling of the NA's, but preferred a few things with this model such as the 6 spd.
The ride is very much standard (to my knowledge) with the only addition being a roll bar.

My current plans are around improving handling and braking before maybe moving on to some possible low boost s/c love.. but there's no rush. I'm extremely vague on details because I would like to get to know the car and meet other owners before settling on a plan.

My phone's camera died somehow, and I guess I never thought about using my gopro.. but I saved the pics from the car ad!
https://drive.google.com/folderview?id= ... sp=sharing

Not a clue whether the previous owner was involved in any car community, so let me know if it looks familiar!

Looking forward to being involved

[TMX55]

Welcome to the MX5 community Flimsy. A very nice looking car. I'm from the a Gold Coast and a member of the MX5 Club of Qld and don't recognise the car from any our outings.

[doc]

looks very Nice. Congrats on the purchase and Welcome to the forum.

[Flimbot]

Thanks, the previous owner came up from Melbourne last year some time.
He didn't come across as being that into cars, so doubt he actually made any connections.

He was a photographer and had the car detailed before this shoot.. it needs a few things fixed up now but nothing too worrying.

I noticed a few track days with the MX5 Club of QLD, but wont be around for the next couple.
Hopefully something will line up because I've never been on a track before and want to give it a go.

[Vat]

Welcome from another recent addition. Nice car - looks like someone in the car's past has loved it and used it properly (as it should be).

[Lokiel]

Nice car, love the colour - the rollbar is a bonus.

Looking at the car colour, foglights, headlights and seat colour, something didn't look right to me.

I thought that colour was only available for the initial NB8As but they came with no foglights, black seats and the headlights looked like this:


Your car has the later model NB8C headlights (timk swapped the headlights on his NB8A to NB8C headlights and it really makes it look much more exotic):


Google revealed that your car was sold in the US as the 2001 Miata Special Edition (SE): http://www.mx5world.com/article/2001-miata-special-edition-vins.html

PS: If you ever upgrade your rims, please make them bronze or gold, they really suit the dark green IMO.

[zero00]

Thanks, the previous owner came up from Melbourne last year some time.
He didn't come across as being that into cars, so doubt he actually made any connections.

He was a photographer and had the car detailed before this shoot.. it needs a few things fixed up now but nothing too worrying.

I noticed a few track days with the MX5 Club of QLD, but wont be around for the next couple.
Hopefully something will line up because I've never been on a track before and want to give it a go.

The Queensland rego plates indicate they would have been issued late 2011 - the 'S' series started late 2011 early 2012

I've never seen it on the track at Lakeside or at any MX5 Club day track or otherwise - looks fantastic so enjoy!

[Flimbot]

Thanks for the info. I guess I don't really know the origin of the car then, but regardless it's already a lot of fun.

I've been thinking about rim upgrades (these have quite a bit of gutter rash) but maybe not for a couple of months, should give me time to make my mind up!

I've got very little idea about MX5's, but I've got to start somewhere.
Thanks for the warm welcome!

[Old Dude]

Welcome Flimbot
Another Gold Coaster here from the northern end, Nice looking car, Grace green is the colour you have. Ill keep my Eye out for it.

Cheers
Dale

[doc]

Just one thing to add. If this car was originally delivered in the States.
Why is the steering wheel on the wrong side?

[Mr Morlock]

The vin is the answer. Docs is right chances it being a US car about nil

[Lokiel]

Just one thing to add. If this car was originally delivered in the States.
Why is the steering wheel on the wrong side?

It's not a US-delivered car, this particular model was marketed in the US as a "2001 Miata Special Edition (SE)".

In Australia, the "SE" refers to the 2004/2005 MazdaSpeed Miata which couldn't be marketed here as a "MazdaSpeed Miata (MSM)" due to our regulations (apparently badging a car with the word "Speed" or "Race/Racing" promotes reckless driving according to some bureaucratic bookworms).

I have no idea what name this car was marketed as here; my point was that this car was not a standard 2001 MX5.

[Nevyn72]

I have no idea what name this car was marketed as here; my point was that this car was not a standard 2001 MX5.

So apart from the colour, everything else about the car is a standard NB8b/c. Bodywork, interior, 6-speed, ABS, etc.....

Japanese Import?

[Tezzax5]

Welcome aboard Flimsy

Lokiel sorry to say but this very much a standard colour as 6 of them were converted into SP models and sold down south as well as in WA.

Flimsy you can email Mazda Australia with your vin and they should be able to tell you where and when the car was originally sold including how many were actually sold in that colour

Hope the car treats you well.

cheers t

[Flimbot]

Thanks again. I'll post the VIN up a bit later and send it to Mazda for some information so we're all a little more informed.
I'm glad I tested that it was water tight before the rain set in today haha