Mark's MX-5 (finally!)

davekmoore · Postby **davekmoore** » Mon Jan 25, 2010 10:45 pm

NZMiata wrote:121 enthusiast (isn't that an oxymoron? ).

It must be.

Nice car!

Steampunk · Postby **Steampunk** » Tue Jan 26, 2010 9:43 am

Ah ignorance is bliss. How soon we forget that there was a short-lived one-make race series for the cute little bubble 121's, and I've been on a quest to hunt down supercharger kits that HKS made for them :twisted:

Mark, you may want to trawl around eBay UK for other pieces of flair that you are after as I've seen a few listed.

NMX516 · Postby **NMX516** » Tue Jan 26, 2010 5:48 pm

NZMiata wrote:If only I had a spare $6,000 to buy the "RED MX5" plates being sold by a fellow forum member. Those would look great!

Offer him $400.00, could well be the best offer he ever gets!!

The car's looking good Mark. As for the rocker cover, red or black crackle finish look great, and then polish up the lettering :wink:

NZMiata · Postby **NZMiata** » Sun Jan 15, 2012 9:34 am

Wow, nearly two years since my last update. It always was my intention to keep the car fairly stock with some subtle enhancements. Here's what I've done in the past two years.

I don't really like the MX-5 and MAZDA badges on the rear of the car so I removed them. It turns out there is a hole behind the MAZDA badge. Solution? Cover it with an NB "Roadster" badge :mrgreen:

Added LE speaker surrounds. I love their retro look and they brighten up the black interior.

I've wanted a shock tower brace for a long time, but wanted to make sure I got a good one. An SE one came up for sale on the forum. Perfect! This thing is STURDY. It made a noticeable difference with cowl shake and it looks good in silver. I just need to cut off the useless oil line pipe.

The FM frame rail group buy was too good to resist. These make the car feel way more solid. Interior squeaks and rattles are also greatly reduced.

And finally, I wanted to do something to distinguish my car from all the other red NAs, but without being too "showy". The answer? Some RX2-style side stripes! I just installed them yesterday and I love how they look. I think their retro look works perfectly with the NA's timeless design.

A couple other things that don't require photos:
- Added an NB windblocker. It makes a noticeable difference at higher speeds. Helps keep the interior warmer with the roof down in winter.
- Replaced the failed cat with a Magnaflow cat. It makes the exhaust sound a bit deeper and slightly louder. Seems to have more "growl" to it.

PaulF · Postby **PaulF** » Sun Jan 15, 2012 1:04 pm

Did you get those side stripes from r2-limited?

TieNN89 · Postby **TieNN89** » Sun Jan 15, 2012 2:26 pm

NZMiata wrote:

I like those stickers, it gives it a different look

Where did you take those pics? That building in the background looks familiar but I can't work out where I've seen it

NZMiata · Postby **NZMiata** » Sun Jan 15, 2012 4:23 pm

I got the stripes off eBay from a guy in the US, but have since seen the ones offered by R2-Limited. He has some really nice designs.

Tien, those photos were taken in the big industrial estate at the corner of Johnson & Beaudesert roads. There's a cul-de-sac in one corner that's a good location for car photos. Here's one that I took recently when we had a full moon.

I just remembered one other little mod. I put some bright LEDs in the parking lights. The long exposure photo exagerates their brightness.

Lokiel · Postby **Lokiel** » Sun Jan 15, 2012 6:54 pm

Bright LED parking lights my arse, that's really the new MX5 Plus

- "they" won't be callin' us hairdressers much longer :twisted:

TieNN89 · Postby **TieNN89** » Sun Jan 15, 2012 7:07 pm

NZMiata wrote:Tien, those photos were taken in the big industrial estate at the corner of Johnson & Beaudesert roads. There's a cul-de-sac in one corner that's a good location for car photos.

LOL I remember where I've seen that building from now, I see it every time I go to work LOL I work right there lol lol