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Hello all, just picked up a red 2002 NB8B. I'm new to Mazda, my car hobby has been pretty much restricted to old Datsuns for the last 33 years. I still own two Datto 1600's, a 180B SSS coupe and 2 Fairlady's (Datsun's answer to the MGB back in the 80's). Apart from one 1600 (my track toy), none of them currently run .

Since my eldest daughter has claimed the 2nd family car as her own, I got sick of riding my pushbike to work so when someone at work was looking to sell their MX5 after upgrading to an NC, I thought I'd jump in and get an "interesting" car again after 20 years of "sensible" family cars.

I've had it for all of a day now and can't believe how much fun it is. Yesterday was an extended test drive from Newcastle down to Terrigal, cruising with the top down, lunch overlooking the beach in the sunshine, then back up the expressway. Great way to spend the day.

So, its red, has done 170,000k's, is in pretty good condition (some scratches and very minor dents, drivers seat bolster material is getting thin, softtop will need looking at soon-ish due to a few small splits - nothing major and quite acceptable for a 13 year old car).

Current plans are to enjoy it as-is for the time being, with a few hillclimbs and motorkhanas in its near future. Not sure if I'll get it on the track proper (ie Eastern Creek / Wakefield) or keep my old Datsun 1600 for that. My youngest daughter is expressing an interest in learning to drive / motorsport, so the MX5 is probably much more suitable than the Datsun for that (the Datsun runs nearly 5 deg neg camber and plenty of caster, no brake booster, really heavy clutch and won't idle without constantly blipping the throttle so its not the easiest thing to drive for a learner).

First impressions of the MX5 are that it is lower than I imagined it would be (I expected to look up at 4WD's and trucks beside me, didn't expect to look up at Corollas, etc), it is so responsive steering-wise, my hat stayed on (never dríven a convertible before, expected it to blow off or something) and it is quieter on the expressway with the top down than I thought it would be. Oh, also worked out I need to keep sunscreen in the car as well as a hat.....

So yeah, I hope to get along to a few outings and meet other MX5 owners. Here he is, I'll get some more pics when I stop driving / enjoying it :

Hey mate, glad your enjoying the mx5, too much fun huh. There are a few of us in Newcastle. Check out nitrodann to see what your motor wants for Christmas!


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Hi Dave, welcome to the obsession!

We tend to be a fairly helpful bunch around here so feel free to ask any questions you need and there's a strong MX5 community up Newcastle way so I'm sure the locals will make you feel welcome.

1600Dave wrote:I'm new to Mazda, my car hobby has been pretty much restricted to old Datsuns for the last 33 years. I still own two Datto 1600's, a 180B SSS coupe and 2 Fairlady's (Datsun's answer to the MGB back in the 80's). Apart from one 1600 (my track toy), none of them currently run

A nice collection there Dave, but a shame you've never dríven the Fairlady's, you'd appreciate the MX5 even more!
Steering so heavy and slow you need to look like Arnie to negotiate a carpark, leaf spring rear suspension? On a sports car? Really?
Still they have a beautiful line to them and a fairly nice seating position from the memory of the one time I drove one.... If they were 2000 sports on the other hand I'd be knocking on your door.

Did any of the 1600's get a SR20DET?

1600Dave wrote:Here he is, I'll get some more pics when I stop driving / enjoying it :

If you wait for that to happen before posting more photos we'll never get any more images!

Thanks for the welcome !

I've dríven Fairlady's, just not my two - they were $3500 for the pair, so you can imagine what sort of condition they are in. I have an early one (a 1500) and a 1600, no U20-engined ones sadly. Yep, not exactly high tech. Plans for them are a full restoration to stock for the 1500 and the 1600 will hopefully end up as a Group S prod sports historic racecar. One day......

No SR20's in my 1600's either, they both run the original L-series OHC engine but in a larger size (the L18 out of 180B's, etc rather than the original L16). I've been around Marulan driver training track as passenger in an SR20 turbo'd 1600, unbelievably fast (too fast for me). The 1600 I use on the track does have one thing in common with the MX5 - they both run the same Aisin 6 speed, although the one I used originated in a Nissan S15. Great gearbox, good close ratios to use behind the old L-series Datsun engine, running through a 4.44 clutch pack LSD.

I've noticed the Hunter Chapter of the NSW MX5 club seems to have a few events on the calendar so I'll get along to one of them soon.

Took the MX5 for a few runs today, just took the daughter to work and picked her up, and took the wife to the shops. Never enjoyed chores like that so much

Here's some of the other toys :

Welcome to the hobby/mania; I think you can already see from your first drive(s) why we're so into these cars

Do consider looking into the club to get the most out of it.

1600Dave wrote:I've dríven Fairlady's, just not my two - they were $3500 for the pair, so you can imagine what sort of condition they are in. I have an early one (a 1500) and a 1600, no U20-engined ones sadly. Yep, not exactly high tech. Plans for them are a full restoration to stock for the 1500 and the 1600 will hopefully end up as a Group S prod sports historic racecar. One day.....

Not a bad pick up for the pair at that price!

I remember, years ago, reading about someone who was doing the full 'upgrade' on a Fairlady/2000 Sports.
They got as far as stripping and remanufacturing the ladder frame, fitting an SR20DET + Assin-6 + diff + suspension and starting on a full body shell refurb when the word came back that they would NEVER be able to road register it and the project was abandoned...... I would have love the have seen that one finished!

At least with the MX5 (the NB8b you have is great start) you will be able to do lots of mods (they've all been done before so you know what to expect) with relative confidence of the outcome. Although if you want to use it to teach your youngest to drive maybe not get too carried away to start with.... ok, maybe a turbo would be alright.... but just a little one to start with....

The one thing I would recommend though would be to ditch that mousetrap, errrr.... 'stylebar' and replace it with a proper roll bar. I have the Automotive+ unit and not only does it give me a bit of security in case the worst ever happens but also dramatically improved the handling (reduced scuttle shake + more direct steering) IMHO.

Initially it will be staying standard, seems to go and handle quite well as-is. Plus, I don't want to end up with another car that is always either broken or in the process of having another modification done. Stylebar was on the shortlist for replacement. Does a decent roll cage add to wind noise, etc ? Interfere with soft top operation ? Any other issues with them ?

Only other mod I can see myself doing is possibly fitting a race seat (depending on how easy it is to bolt it in for competition use, then remove it and replace with the stock seat for normal road use)
.
I run a 6 point harness and use a HANS device in the Datsun and would like to be able to do the same in the MX5, but I've always felt that you need the full package (race seat / roll cage / etc) for this to be a viable option.

1600Dave wrote:Stylebar was on the shortlist for replacement. Does a decent roll cage add to wind noise, etc ? Interfere with soft top operation ? Any other issues with them ?

Don't have any issues with mine with regard to wind noise, although it's probably the most compact version out there (Automotive+ twin hoop, so it actually looks like a stylebar).

Different manufacturers each have their limitations, most don't interfere with the softop but some do, some will limit seat travel, some can be engineered, some can't.
There are three main Australian manufacturers.... Automotive+, AGI(?) & Brown Davis. All are good, just do some searching on the strengths, weaknesses and limitations of each. There are multiple threads discussing the subject.

Dave pretty easy to have a proper seat and swap out.

The Sparco Sprint seams to a popular choice to run on standard rails and provide a good fit for use with 6 point harness.

As for roll bars, the Automotive plus bar seems pretty good and can be uses with soft top. AGI in Sydney also do a kit as does Brown Davis in Melbourne.

Have a look at a few cars around your way to see what will work best for you.

Also, get the datsuns going, such a waste just sitting there....

You will probably find what I did when I got my NA, you will enjoy the NB for the ease of use and reliability and the Datsuns will be pushed further down the list because you will be out driving rather than working on cars.

The 1600 will still be the really fun car for you, as the MX5 just won't sound as good as an angry L18 with twin carbies hanging off the side......

seat is quick to change,maybe 10 minutes,my son changes his out for hillclimbs and it easy enough just to whip it out even if you just need more room to look under dash. occasionally theres an informal meet at sugarloaf for mostly locals.
viewtopic.php?f=63&t=50663&start=165
Mick

welcome to the forum. a few years back I had a datsun 2000 sports with original motor and box. not so the paint as I jazz it up a bit
I think the more you drive the nb the more you will appreciate how good they really are and how bad the old cars really are plus you will think of any reason you can to get in and enjoy driving it...lol
best of all they usually start first time every time!

1600Dave wrote:Not sure if I'll get it on the track proper

Well, I'm sure now - I've entered the Thornleigh Car Club supersprint at Wakefield this Sunday.

Time to get mounting a fire extinguisher, make some numbers, etc, and see if a dead stock MX5 is quicker than a modified Datsun 1600 .

Actually, I have carried out one mod - it now wears my personal plates

Two mods now - 15 minutes attacking an old Telstra comms rack shelf with an angle grinder and drill = 1 fire extinguisher mount. May not look pretty, but passed scrutineering.

So, its slower than the Datsun . But not much Started off at 1:25 around Wakefield Park, dropped around a second every session and ended up with 1:20 neat. Quite happy with that, first time on the track in the MX5, still 100% stock standard, and running street tyres. There would easily be another few seconds in it with more track time, only did 5 sessions of 3 hot laps each session today.

1600Dave wrote:So, its slower than the Datsun . But not much Started off at 1:25 around Wakefield Park, dropped around a second every session and ended up with 1:20 neat. Quite happy with that, first time on the track in the MX5, still 100% stock standard, and running street tyres. There would easily be another few seconds in it with more track time, only did 5 sessions of 3 hot laps each session today.

Nice work Dave! I did a 1:20 in my first track outing in my 2001 MX5. There's around another 4 seconds in it before you change anything (I think people are getting down to low 1:16's now on the resurfaced track, I haven't tried it yet)

Caffeine wrote:There's around another 4 seconds in it before you change anything

I reckon there would be a fairly easy 1-2 seconds, 4 seconds would be pushing pretty hard ! I'm not looking to change much in a hurry (apart from safety gear, rollbar, seat and harness), suspension would be first mod after safety stuff (if anything) as it did wallow around a little on 170,000 klm old standard suspension.

Extinguisher bracket, complete with random leftover Datsun bolts scrounged from a pile in the shed (longer than the Mazda ones):




Obligatory track pic :