Another low mileage NC
Posted: Tue Nov 15, 2016 8:41 pm
After months of trawling the internet, CarSales et al, I had just about given up the search for an NC PRHT as the bride had decreed that we were off on a cruise around the USA from San Francisco to Montreal. Prior to leaving, I was mowing my nature strip when a Winning Blue MX-5 NC1 coasted past and pulled into the driveway of the house across the road and one door down. I had not seen this car before and we have been at this address for the last eight years!
Anyway, I decided that I would introduce myself and ask the owner about his ownership experience. “It's a 2006, do you want to buy it?’ he said. I replied that I was really looking for a roadster in a dark colour. Long story short he told me that he was the second owner and that the car had done a total of 25,000 kms. All of a sudden my interest was piqued! Brian is 80 years young and he explained that he and his wife were returning to the UK for health & family reasons.
The service book had about 6 services in it most especially the early ones. The last service was three years ago since when the car had done 3,000 kms. The Michelin tyres were original i.e. 10 years old. The car is not perfect but everything works and she is tight as a drum. It felt as if the tyres were squirming along the road but no doubt a new set of tyres and a re-alignment would fix that. More than anything, she needed a bloody good clean & polish as I do not think she has ever been polished! So a deal was done on the basis that the car be serviced and new tyres fitted. She only received a "short" service and crap tyres. I took delivery and completed the necessary paperwork, transfer, rego, insurance while cruising down the west coast of Mexico! The wonders of the interweb!
Anyway, the cruise whilst excellent meant that I always had the MX in the back of my mind. As soon as I returned I rushed into the garage and tried to start her. Not a sausage! About 24 hours on charge and she started first turn of the key. Since then I have done a 400+ kms run with the MX-5 Club and it is really wonderful to re-acquaint oneself with MX-5 motoring. In my view the cars are totally under rated in almost every regard. I had an NA in 1998 and it was the only car that I have sold for more than I paid for it! She is having all her bodily fluids transfused on Monday (other than engine oil) so that should see her OK for the next 12 months. My only question is why did I sell my old NA in the first place and why did it take me so long to come back to the fold?
Anyway, I decided that I would introduce myself and ask the owner about his ownership experience. “It's a 2006, do you want to buy it?’ he said. I replied that I was really looking for a roadster in a dark colour. Long story short he told me that he was the second owner and that the car had done a total of 25,000 kms. All of a sudden my interest was piqued! Brian is 80 years young and he explained that he and his wife were returning to the UK for health & family reasons.
The service book had about 6 services in it most especially the early ones. The last service was three years ago since when the car had done 3,000 kms. The Michelin tyres were original i.e. 10 years old. The car is not perfect but everything works and she is tight as a drum. It felt as if the tyres were squirming along the road but no doubt a new set of tyres and a re-alignment would fix that. More than anything, she needed a bloody good clean & polish as I do not think she has ever been polished! So a deal was done on the basis that the car be serviced and new tyres fitted. She only received a "short" service and crap tyres. I took delivery and completed the necessary paperwork, transfer, rego, insurance while cruising down the west coast of Mexico! The wonders of the interweb!
Anyway, the cruise whilst excellent meant that I always had the MX in the back of my mind. As soon as I returned I rushed into the garage and tried to start her. Not a sausage! About 24 hours on charge and she started first turn of the key. Since then I have done a 400+ kms run with the MX-5 Club and it is really wonderful to re-acquaint oneself with MX-5 motoring. In my view the cars are totally under rated in almost every regard. I had an NA in 1998 and it was the only car that I have sold for more than I paid for it! She is having all her bodily fluids transfused on Monday (other than engine oil) so that should see her OK for the next 12 months. My only question is why did I sell my old NA in the first place and why did it take me so long to come back to the fold?
