Bizi gets Mrs Bizi a Clubman!

[Bizi]

Hi all, since I've been on here too much in recent months, an intro is probably a good idea.

I'm Ben, I enjoy driving and wine (in that order!) and am happy to report great experiences dealing with forum members and sponsors here.

Myself and the Mrs enjoy our trips to the Hunter Valley, via Peats, Wollombi and sometimes Broke, as well as trips up OPH, through Bobbin Head, West Head, Church Point as well as longer trips at other times.

I was very, very keenly following zossy1's Clubman build thread, as well as his other nice NA8, which he currently has for sale. Unfortunately for him (but fortunate for Mrs Bizi), wardat put up a nice NA8 Clubman up for sale and I couldn't resist.

Sorry zossy1! It was just a much better match to the preference of the Mrs, who is quite particular to the point that a black MX5 was a hard sell at my end. A white one with matching hardtop is one that's more wife friendly!

Since I didn't want to be a tourist and take pics of the car when inspecting it, these will have to come later.

Pics to come soon.

Thanks to everyone who has been so generous with their knowledge and in many cases letting me try your setup up to PITS. Hopefully I can do the same.

Anyone who is interested in meeting up, just PM and we can text to arrange drives.
I try to get up to PITS weekly at worst and once it's warmer, hope to have a couple of weekday drives too.

This is a weekend car for the both of us and possibly the daily for the Mrs, so it is probably not going to become a hardcore racer (but ya never know!).

[PaulF]

Congratulations on your purchase Ben. That Clubman came off the market very quickly after entering it.

[zossy1]

...and no worries from my end Ben, I had more people chasing me than I could poke a stick at. Clint bought my car today. Congrats on the purchase! I am somewhat partial to white Clubmans with hardtops myself

I am assuming the lack of P/S isn't a problem for her? My girl doesn't like driving mine because she is used to her little Clio's airy-fairy steering. Fine with me, means I get to drive even more!

[Bizi]

Thanks guys and I am really glad that zossy1 is such a great refurbisher/marketer/communicator about his cars, which meant that a few people were both aware and keen to get that NA8.

Hopefully I get to meet the owner sometime.

Sam with zossy1; if you are headed up to the Central Coast or OPH try to catch up for a coffee at my place or meet up at PITS!

Note to wardat, zossy1 and parts guys: should the '94 Clubman (as standard) have a rubber shift knob, a leather covered Nardi knob with Nardi badge or something else?

I have an aluminium aftermeaket knob which I could try (Monza?) so do I just tug the knob to get off (so to speak!)?

[Apu]

It's a bit more of a twisting action Ben...and you should be able to use your left hand. Just for the variety

[Bizi]

Maybe I can provide Weiner-esqe pics for this project!

But I think there may be laws against it!

[Bizi]

Here are some pics of my first attempt to change what doesn't need changing...

Playing with my knob!

https://picasaweb.google.com/benbrownin ... X5Clubman#

Some thumbs of those pics:

What looks like a standard stock rubber MX5 knob.

Did '94 Clubmans come with this or with a Nardi leather knob?

My ivory knob!


Do you think my knob is sexy or silly? Compared to stocker.




A closer knob pic


Since taking these pics around 9.30AM, I've polished the top of the knob's rusty allen bolt with a green scrubbing pad, but it's still a bit grubby looking.

From the pics above and from putting my hand over the knob, both appear to have a similar height, so it's not giving the short shifter effect.

Please help me pimp my knob, haha!

[Bizi]

Here are some pics that show a few unique aspects of this particular vehicle. It's all I can do until it stops raining.

Wade and anyone else with a Clubman - your comments and tips are welcome and appreciated - as always! I have a few questions.

https://picasaweb.google.com/benbrownin ... MX5Clubman

Arse



Nice!


Top - Wade says Clubmans had a different white paint code. Hence the difference from the NB top. Does anyone here have a NA Clubman touchup codde? Does it exist?



Sits fairly low on 16" '5th Gear International' chrome wheels



Do many MX5s have this spoiler? Wade says it's OEM since his Dad's car has one too.


Thanks for any constructive comments.

[Bizi]

David at MX5 Mania said another reason could be that some people sprayed the black section white, because the black would get chipped off.

The car still has the textured effect below side crease, so I'm yet to work out if this is the original paint. Wade thinks it is and I've not yet seen evidence of a respray. However it's quite possible!

Where do I find the MX5 white paint codes?

[Bizi]

Does the B pillar door jam sticker have Bilstein suspension. This was present on Clubmans.

Clubman Vehicle Information sticker drivers side B pillar-door jam-used 1992-2002 by Mazda Aust dealers when ordering parts-no rwc implications.JPG

Yes, here's the one Wade put into his ad, which I can confirm is on the car:

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll ... 0796136574

[Bizi]

Another observation but not sure. the NA8's had electric aerials.

True but the mechanism was broken. Wade replaced it with this NA6 one and mentioned the popular trend to replace with the stubby rubber one.

Does anyone recommend changing from this one? I see mx5parts.co.uk has the electric one for approx 20GBP.
I could get a lot of electrics and trim stuff when I'm over there.

[93_Clubman]

Ben, congrats on buying the Clubman!

Leather Nardi gear knob, which unscrews anticlockwise, is standard on 1993-1995 NA8 & NA8 Clubman.

Clubman's didn't have different paint codes to the standard NA8 - the NA8 Chaste White paint code is PT.

Given hardtop is padded & demisted, it may be from an NB8B which was a different white - see following paint codes:
viewtopic.php?f=28&t=35887&p=481323&hilit=paint+codes#p481323

Non-standard NA8 Clubman items visible:
NA6 gear knob
CD/ tuner
Chrome sill plates
Roadster badge on passenger side dash front
Handbrake vinyl boot instead of hard plastic
Lower door trim
Door speaker covers
NA6 aeriel
Bootlid spoiler
Front bumper bar has air vents
Wheels
Inside door handles
Sills painted white

Ref the above non-standard items - replace, or at least source in slow time, so that if you sell the car you can offer it in original spec, or easy to return to original spec.

Clubman FAQ:
viewtopic.php?f=76&t=30041

Previous post about your Clubman just prior to wardat buying it:
viewtopic.php?f=75&t=38506&hilit=clubman&start=15


http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/MAZDA-MX5-CL ... 3cb8a93c7e

[Bizi]

NA8 people: Do you have a spare/surplus Nardi knob you don't mind selling or swapping?

NA8 people: How about Na8 14" wheels?
Preferably Clubman wheels (if you want to call the hollow spoke ones the Clubman wheels!)
Does anyone have any lying under the house in Sydney, which I could try on?
I imagine a lot of import special editions would have these or the BBS 14" mesh wheels, so they must be out there either in Oz or kiwiland.

What are your thoughts on chunkier steering wheels?
Do I just get another Nardi (keep the car's existing boss) and recover it to get a chunkier feel?

Might be worth recovering a retro Nardi wheel and knob in alcantara!

Finally - racer boys - I don't think it would be fair to stick in a Sparco Sprint, but maybe a Recaro or Sparco reclinable seat on rails, so Mrs Bizi can get into a good position.

All constructive advice is appreciated!

Next question will be about fixing a loose side mirror and whether some retro mirrors will be a good look on a white NA!

[Bizi]

I am not sure that these mods have improved this NA8!

Found when searching for pics of MX5s with retro mirror mods.
What do you call something that's rice x rice x rice? Which is the one mod that you think is the worst (in combination with all the others?)

[Dweezle]

Hood ornament for sure WTF!!