billybunters - from a bmw z4 to a mx5 se

billybunter · Postby **billybunter** » Thu Nov 10, 2011 9:37 am

just got it regestered and it's been about 10 weeks since i drove it in the proper manor :wink:

might have a bit of fun and then back to cut/polish and a few minor issues

Lokiel · Postby **Lokiel** » Thu Nov 10, 2011 10:05 am

Can you please post your thoughts on the Del Sol vs the SE?

I like to hear these comments from someone who has actually owned and dríven the cars being compared, they're much less biased and owners tend to notice "the little things" more.

Novice1 · Postby **Novice1** » Thu Nov 10, 2011 10:17 am

I am really liking the stripes and colouring of the mg. As a previous honda crx del sol owner not keen on the front bar or the ricy mags. Having said that my son also had a del sol that looked like the batmobile. Not sure if there is a better sound than a del sol with a AEM cold air intake when the v-tec comes on. The targa roof that fitted in the boot was also brilliant.
With the del sol i found I was regularly getting comments from people avout how good the car looked. Before I sold it , it put out 96 kw atw, but never handled like an mx5.
cheers novice1

billybunter · Postby **billybunter** » Thu Nov 10, 2011 7:02 pm

mazda first
del sol 2nd
mgF as in failure .... last

billybunter · Postby **billybunter** » Sun Nov 13, 2011 3:59 pm

i took the car out today for a 50klm run. my first impression how well the b/d roll bar had tightened up the body. it's no-where near the same body flex as before and better still - better over the bumps. apart from the roll bar safety aspect - i've now got a more firmer riding car.
due to the re-spray it's been about 10 weeks since i last drove it. my second impression - in general how good these mx-5's are put together.
since about 2000 i've had a bucket load of cars. most were trouble. 3 bmw z3's - one z4 - porsche boxster - mercedes slk - alfa gtv - 2 alfa spiders - 2 mgf's - 2 mx-5 plus a mustang - a mgf - a triumph spitefire - mg midget - gts monaro and a few more.
i can tell you straight-the mx-5 in se form with mods is better than the lot put together. for starters none of the bmw's will corner properly and if dríven moderately you require both hands tightly on the wheels during cornering. all four bmw z's were scarey and tracked horribly. remember there really for the usa market. it would be totally different story with the z3m or z4m but there pretty pricey.
even after my full pull-down on the car i only charged the battery for a few hours and it kicked over first go.
my advise - apprectiated your mx5 as a great sports car and appreciated the se even more. overall there a great car and very hard to beat at any price.

yem11n · Postby **yem11n** » Mon Nov 14, 2011 11:25 pm

Was waiting for you to finish the paint job so I can comment on the incredible work you are doing..
This thread gave me a good reading material, pic to checkout and some tutorial for last few months.. :mrgreen:

Thanks for sharing and I can see still more to go into the car..

Yemin

billybunter · Postby **billybunter** » Wed Nov 16, 2011 5:49 pm

hi
fit a b/d roll bar or some other brand. i am very impressed with the b/d. that fitting alone tightened up the chassis and removed the body flex when hitting bumps at 100kph on the highway.
well worth the fit and apart from the fact it could save your life -i feel some roll over protection is better than none - it also improved the stiffness in the body.
i reckon its worth the money just to tighten up the body flex

still more work to do - will get back into it in a couple of weeks. been driving the car daily - i'm impressed! :wink:

glad you enjoyed the read

billybunter · Postby **billybunter** » Fri Nov 25, 2011 7:05 pm

just started the cut -polish. very

- a great shine

billybunter · Postby **billybunter** » Sun Dec 04, 2011 11:05 pm

further update. the cut polish is by hand so taking longer than expected.....photos soon

billybunter · Postby **billybunter** » Sun Dec 18, 2011 2:35 pm

been quiet with the s/e. still have not completed the cut polish. was about to buy an old mgb and this bike caught my attention - now i'm busy saving the cash and plan to buy the two wheeler in the next couple of weeks

taminga16 · Postby **taminga16** » Sun Dec 18, 2011 5:59 pm

billybunter wrote:been quiet with the s/e. still have not completed the cut polish. was about to buy an old mgb and this bike caught my attention - now i'm busy saving the cash and plan to buy the two wheeler in the next couple of weeks

Too many porcipines and just not enough time.

I had a look at a new RE last week (parked o/s the local hotel) and I must say, the Indians have been busy, EFI and electric start as well as a finish that is starting to show some quality. Oh! and the single seat setup is lovely.
Greg.

billybunter · Postby **billybunter** » Sun Dec 18, 2011 10:27 pm

thats their top model shown above and about $10k on the road. i like the chrome effect and the fact that unlike the one i had ealier -this is fuel injected

Bizi · Postby **Bizi** » Sun Dec 18, 2011 10:50 pm

I just wish that the company could revive an 'Indian' brand name. Would be fun on a few levels. Then set it up for some salt lake runs and try to break an old Kiwi record.

Hopefully the chrome work is top class, otherwise it could be a bugger to keep polished...since the SE is taking a while to polish.

Speaking of the SE, are you leaving off the red rocker 'Mazdaspeed' stripes or getting revised solid lettering ones, Billybunters?

billybunter · Postby **billybunter** » Mon Dec 19, 2011 8:05 pm

new stripe has arrived from the usa. when i complete the cut/polish i will get a pro to put both of them on properly. what i can say is the cut polish i have done is super smooth .....with a great gloss and a lot better than my mgf re-spray.
i'm ready to place a deposit on the endfield tomorrow and will pick-up mid january. hope i like it :wink:

or i might have to give it a re-spray too :lol: