Mark's MX-5 (finally!)

NZMiata · Postby **NZMiata** » Tue Oct 27, 2009 1:55 pm

As some of you know, I have been looking for an MX-5 recently. Well, this past weekend I finally got one. My wife (Heather) and I flew up to Airlie Beach on Saturday and bought the 1994 that I talked about in this thread. I love it! :mrgreen:

It drives very nicely. The engine pulls well and doesn't make any strange sounds. I climbed all over it and can't see any leaks or signs of a major accident. There is a slight buzzing coming from somewhere underneath at certain rpms, almost certainly a heat shield or something similar. The bonnet, left door and left rear quarter panel have slight oxidation. This morning I have hand polished the door and quarter panel and they're coming up great.

But enough talk, time for some pics! Driving from Airlie Beach to Brisbane made for some great photo locations.

Airlie Beach:

Mackay:

Clairview:

South of Rockhampton:

It came with a huge, wooden shift knob. It's close to 3cm taller than the NB knob that 1Red5 kindly sold me.

It has the stock NA8 steering wheel (love it!), but instead of a Nardi logo in the centre it has a Mazdaspeed logo. Looks kind of old school to me

That's all for now.

Mark

RG.net · Postby **RG.net** » Tue Oct 27, 2009 2:34 pm

Welcome, looks like a ver clean example! Congrats.

Steampunk · Postby **Steampunk** » Tue Oct 27, 2009 3:03 pm

Congratulations Mark! I still remember when I got mine. For the first 72hours, I am sure I spent 60hours in and around the car :mrgreen:

She looks great, and I was a bit off on guessing the horn-button, but it looks to be a genuine MS one, so SCORE on that account!

A few of us are planning an imprompty dodgy-day down at Jimboomba this Saturday, I'll send you a PM about it.

Catch ya soon.

Andrew

Hammer · Postby **Hammer** » Tue Oct 27, 2009 6:24 pm

Welcome! What a great NA8. Looks just like mine.

Jeo · Postby **Jeo** » Tue Oct 27, 2009 6:38 pm

Very nice, congrats.

Steampunk · Postby **Steampunk** » Tue Oct 27, 2009 6:51 pm

Hammer wrote:Looks just like mine.

No... no it doesn't.... you lucky bastard you.

sliq · Postby **sliq** » Tue Oct 27, 2009 7:05 pm

i'm trying to find the "Like" button but i'm having problems locating it.

miatanut · Postby **miatanut** » Tue Oct 27, 2009 8:38 pm

Nice... and welcome aboard.

zawrilla · Postby **zawrilla** » Wed Oct 28, 2009 6:30 pm

Very nice.

Always good to have some perfect weather for that first drive as well!

NZMiata · Postby **NZMiata** » Thu Oct 29, 2009 7:06 am

Thanks for all the positive comments guys.

I've polished about a 1/3 of the bonnet and it is looking great too. Here's a list of things I hope to add/do in the coming weeks and months:

- Vent rings from Bensales' group buy
- Replace the missing A/C button
- OEM metal sill plates
- Repaint the very faded beaver panel
- Paint the brake calipers red
- Replace both rubber shift boots
- Bump the timing to 14 degrees

All fairly little things, but then I do tend to prefer a mostly stock look.

Ando · Postby **Ando** » Thu Oct 29, 2009 7:42 am

Congrats Mark, and onward and upward with your mods! :mrgreen:

Really neat looking example. Classic in every respect.

Ahh... the MX-5 honeymoon. Is it ever really over?? :wink:

Smithy · Postby **Smithy** » Thu Oct 29, 2009 8:38 am

! score ! ... probably as chuffed as I am right now with my first 5 too :wink:

will have to meet in person at an event one day... thankyou for the hints and info on ol'dodgyRed , lol.
...and introduce you to white hardtop (yet named).

congrats!

p.s. nice photos.

Uncle Arthur · Postby **Uncle Arthur** » Thu Oct 29, 2009 9:01 am

NZMiata wrote:Thanks for all the positive comments guys. I've polished about a 1/3 of the bonnet and it is looking great too. Here's a list of things I hope to add/do in the coming weeks and months:

- Vent rings from Bensales' group buy
- Replace the missing A/C button
- OEM metal sill plates
- Repaint the very faded beaver panel
- Paint the brake calipers red
- Replace both rubber shift boots
- Bump the timing to 14 degrees

All fairly little things, but then I do tend to prefer a mostly stock look.

Nice pickup

With that list it sounds to me that you too will be needing to host your first dodgy day soon - ar at least attend one.

You might find that with enough love, you can polish the beaver panel back to its proper colour and save on the respray - I have to keep the polish up to mine and the whole reason it fades seems to be that the paint loses as much of its oils as its colour.

NZMiata · Postby **NZMiata** » Mon Nov 02, 2009 6:24 pm

Thanks for the tip Michael. I've had a quick go at part of the beaver panel and so far it still looks dull. I'll keep trying though. Nothing to lose!

I don't think my place would be very good for a dodgy day due to it having a fairly short driveway and a narrow carport. But I'm definitely keen to attend one :mrgreen: