mx5cartalk.com

When I sold my NA back in 2007, you can see that people were saying I'd get another MX-5 one day -- and I agreed wholeheartedly.

Once an MX-5 owner, always an MX-5 owner... am I right?

Well... I didn't think it would take quite this long, if I'm being honest, but the good news is I've finally bought back into one.

I had an interesting time watching the market, since I first started looking in December 2014, and I considered all three generations of car.

There were days when another NA appealed. There were days an NB8B came close. In the end, for several reasons, I went with the NC.

Now, like any purchase situation, my reasons might not be your reasons. They might be a million miles from your reasons. So I won't list them

I'm just really pleased to have found the model, with a PRHT, in the colour I wanted, at the right price. It's shipping from WA as I type this post.

And a few more for now...

Awesome! Love copper red. Congrats

Congrats on the purchase, she looks stunning. Love that copper red. Once you own an mx5 there is no getting away from them for too long, the love for them is always there. I sold my NB8B last year and miss it dearly, think Ill need to get another one day (maybe sooner then later) Enjoy the open top motoring when she arrives

Corey wrote:Awesome! Love copper red. Congrats

Cheers and, yeah, as far back as when I met with the Macarthur Mob in December, when I was asked what colour I liked best on the NC, I said copper red.

There were times in the past few months when I'd look at a pretty good NC for sale but if it wasn't copper red, the idea of buying it soon got scuppered.

I know the colour polarises people -- I think because it's so complex and different depending on the light, thanks to the mica, primarily. But yes, I love it.

speed freak wrote:Congrats on the purchase, she looks stunning. Love that copper red. Once you own an mx5 there is no getting away from them for too long, the love for them is always there. I sold my NB8B last year and miss it dearly, think Ill need to get another one day (maybe sooner then later) Enjoy the open top motoring when she arrives

Indeed, like the guys on this forum were saying to me back in 2007, you'll get another one at some stage! Thanks for your kind words

The first real issue with my car, which I noticed the first time I drove it, was the rearview mirror was a bit messed up.

This is not an uncommon issue; I've seen forum posts around the web about the mirror going a bit crazy (see pic below).

Nothing super-duper dangerous, but I decided to change it. Bought a second hand mirror on eBay for about $30.



To get the old mirror off its mount, you simply find something thin and long, like a really small screwdriver.

Push it into the hole at the base of the mirror's mount, so you're pushing upwards, parallel to the windscreen.

Without much pressure at all (or you're doing it wrong), the rearview mirror will fly right off its mount.

Below is the mirror once I'd removed it, but I am showing how the screwdriver goes through the hole and unclips it.



Here's the mount that's left on the car. Nothing much to say about this, except note the silver scratch from my screwdriver!



Then I noticed the replacement mirror was slightly different to the one I was taking off.

The one I took off is on the right; the 'new' one is on the left. Note the Japanese name on the one I bought.

I assume the car this mirror came off was a JDM model. The differences between the mirrors aren't extreme, though.

Something I did notice, however, is the ball joint is metal on the 'Donnelly' and plastic on the 'Murakami'.



I also noticed a difference in the mounts. Oh jeez, was this going to fit, after all the effort of getting the old one off?

Fortunately, yes it does. It's a bigger mount, but it sits 'OK' on the factory mount.

I notice it's VERY easy to move around (although not 'loose' by any means), presumably because of the plastic ball joint.

I might try and get a 'proper' local mirror but, for now, and for $30 I'm a lot happier with this on, versus the messed-up mirror.

hey nice colour looks really nice

just to let you know I got one of these mirrors from the US the best mod so far.....

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Gentex-Rearv ... 3f48013bbd

Jdm Mx5 wrote:hey nice colour looks really nice

just to let you know I got one of these mirrors from the US the best mod so far.....

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Gentex-Rearv ... 3f48013bbd

slightly off topic, does it fit the factory mount on the windscreen? Id love an auto dimming mirror

Regie wrote:

Jdm Mx5 wrote:hey nice colour looks really nice

just to let you know I got one of these mirrors from the US the best mod so far.....

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Gentex-Rearv ... 3f48013bbd

slightly off topic, does it fit the factory mount on the windscreen? Id love an auto dimming mirror

sure does Regie. just need 12v ignition power

here are a heap on ebay

http://www.ebay.com.au/sch/i.html?_from ... 26_arr%3D1

Thanks for the tip mate, I will look into that!

pleasure Rob

Installed this a week or two back... nothing you haven't seen before... it's the Automotive Plus number plate bracket.

So much better than the factory one, so just noting it here for any future NC buyers who need reinforcement.

Only issue with getting it on was the rivets were really strong and the old hand rivet tool I had to hand wasn't the best.



Oh yeah... and I installed one of these. Very easy... undo three bolts, mess around a bit, reinstall the three bolts.

When I bought the car I was considering not getting one of these, but I had one on my NA, so it's sentimental for me.

Original Mazda part... bought off eBay... was about $175 once postage was factored in; so a bit of cheap fun and memories.



I also rinsed, washed, clay barred and waxed her. My back is really telling me about it, but she looks really, really, really nice.

Started slightly too late in the day, too, so the light was rapidly disappearing when I was done. But from the reflections you get the idea.

Smooth as glass!

Very Nice

looks great Rob...I want to get one of those fuel caps one day but in the satin finnish...to many wants at the moment

trickytrev wrote:Very Nice

Cheers, mate

Jdm Mx5 wrote:looks great Rob...I want to get one of those fuel caps one day but in the satin finnish...to many wants at the moment

Yeah, I heard there's a brushed one out there... I erred on chrome as the badges, grille surround, etc, is all chrome. Wasn't sure if brushed would "work".