Guran's NC2 "Little Bluey"

-alex · Postby **-alex** » Sun Jul 22, 2012 8:27 pm

Congratulations, what a wonderful colour too.

neilhr · Postby **neilhr** » Tue Jul 24, 2012 2:19 pm

Congrats, i adore the Stormy Blue colour and 2 thumbs up for PRHT!
How long before you can convince Fiona to take it on the track?

Enjoy your NC!

Guy_Coles · Postby **Guy_Coles** » Wed Jul 25, 2012 7:31 pm

Hey Bryan, awesome news and welcome to the club ! I'm really not looking forward to seeing the times you crack out in a stock NC compared to mine in a modded one......

Regie · Postby **Regie** » Wed Jul 25, 2012 8:51 pm

Guy_Coles wrote:Hey Bryan, awesome news and welcome to the club ! I'm really not looking forward to seeing the times you crack out in a stock NC compared to mine in a modded one......

you and me both :shock:

kris · Postby **kris** » Thu Jul 26, 2012 12:43 am

Randy · Postby **Randy** » Sat Jul 28, 2012 6:59 pm

Welcome to the club mate. Looks fantastic and I'm sure that in your hands it will be one quick car!!!!

Guran · Postby **Guran** » Fri Sep 07, 2012 12:22 pm

19th July 2012 - Iceberg Run

The Iceberg Run is one of my favourite MX-5 Club events each year, as it's an opportunity to get up before the dawn on a freezing cold morning, and enjoy a good top-down drive on deserted roads with other MX-5s. This year the run started at Eastern Creek, but I couldn't be bothered driving all the way up there only to turn around and come back again on some fairly bland roads. So I just met up with the group at Picton Train Station. Left home a bit after 6:00 and took the scenic route to Picton via Appin and Broughton Pass. I arrived at Picton Station at 7:00 and got a shock at how bloody cold it was after the warmth of Little Bluey's open cabin. I had half an hour to chat with the other southern starters, including the owners of a gorgeous XY GT with GTHO gear added (a mate of Peter Carpenter). My one and only photo from the day ...

IMG_4703 by Guran5, on Flickr

Once the Sydney gang arrived, Peter Carpenter led us on a tour of some lesser known back roads between Picton and Bargo (I still have no idea where we actually where!), and we eventually popped out onto Remembrance Drive. Jimi then led us down the Old Hume Hwy, Old South Road and Range Road. At Glenquarry, we turned down Kangaloon Road taking us to Robertson, Wildes Meadow, Fitzroy, and Nowra Road to Moss Vale. These roads were the pick of the bunch. We got split up at traffic lights in town, and I led the second half on a slight detour to Berrima via Lackey Rd / Collins Rd. But "all roads lead to Berrima", and we soon pulled up in front of the Magpie Cafe for a hearty breakfast ... which did arrive eventually despite being first to order!

A BreakFast Club team meeting was held afterwards at the Pub to arrange the calendar for 2013, and I also had the chance to sound out a couple of candidates about taking over my job on Club Torque (to be continued). My trip home was via Tourist Road and Macquarie Pass although none of the other BreakFast Clubbers were interested in joining me ... SOFT! :wink:

Guran · Postby **Guran** » Fri Sep 07, 2012 12:55 pm

25th August - Josh's Southern Highlands Run

Josh was given the guernsey to organise the first properly independent run for the Illawarra Chapter of the MX-5 Club ... the Southern Highlands Run. We met at Bald Hill Headland Reserve at 10:00 for a 10:30 departure. Josh signed on 18 people / 11 cars, gave a clear and concise briefing and then we hit the road. I had Alex as co-pilot and he had a ball taking photos with his camera, and laughing at Josh's rorty exhaust.

We headed down the coast to Thirroul via Sea Cliff Bridge, and then up Bulli Pass.

A short run on the freeway brought us to Picton Road (waved to a motorbike cop hiding in the shadows with a radar trap!). The fun resumed at Mt Keira Road and then along the freshly reopened Harry Graham Drive to emerge at Mt Kembla after passing through the escarpment rainforest. A short run down the freeway brought us to Albion Park. Alex waved to his primary school, and then we had the fun road over to Jamberoo, up Jamberoo Mountain and across to Robertson for our morning tea stop at the Pie Shop.

Alex enjoying a pie for morning tea by Guran5, on Flickr

Robertson Pie Shop by Guran5, on Flickr

Leaving the Pie Shop, we headed for Tourist Road, then the now familiar (but in reverse of last weekend), Range Road, Old South Road, Old Hume Highway, Remembrance Drive, before heading east for Avon Dam. After a relaxed pace during the morning, we were able to unwind on the excellent twisty road down to the picnic area ... until we caught up behind an electricians ute near the end. For shame - it was dríven by club member Paul Byers! :roll:

Parking up, we then set up for our BBQ picnic lunch using the fantastic free facilities provided at the dam.

Manning the BBQs at Avon Dam by Guran5, on Flickr

Avon Dam carpark by Guran5, on Flickr

Alex enjoyed a kick around of his football with some of the club members, and after lunch he had me out playing a bit of cricket. We were hoping that Apu might have been there with Mini-Apu but unfortunately it didn't work out for him. However, Alex said he still enjoyed himself and is looking forward to the next MX-5 run.

Excellent work from Josh, organising and leading his first run with the club.

zero00 · Postby **zero00** » Fri Sep 07, 2012 1:03 pm

Nice post Guran!

Hey, I just saw 'regie' !!

Guran · Postby **Guran** » Fri Sep 07, 2012 2:22 pm

Apart from these club runs, I've been enjoying driving Little Bluey to and from work each day ... when it's my turn! Fiona has installed a rule where we get to swap cars from one week to the other. I got lucky with this last week being my turn in Little Bluey because the weather has been gorgeous with clear blue skies and the temperature starting to warm up too. The boring old drive to work on the freeway has suddenly turned into a vastly more pleasurable experience when behind the wheel of Little Bluey with the hardtop folded back. I'm absolutely loving this car!

So a few little observations I thought I'd share ...

The Chinese-made Rotalla F107 tyres that were fitted brand new on the car by the dealer are actually turning out to be not too bad. They were horrible when I had my test drive with the dealer, but after I dropped the pressures from 40psi :roll:

to the placard setting of 29psi, they're much better. Grip is remarkably good, and they performed very well on the last couple of club runs. Treadwear rating is 340 so they're likely to last a while. Considering they go for about $80 each, I'm very pleasantly surprised. I was going to just live with them, but then Joe Kovacic offered to buy them off me since he's intending to sell his NC and needs new tyres. So it looks like I need to research some new tyres - Michelin Pilot Super Sport in 215/45R17 are only US$169 from Tire Rack! Shipping enquiry is on the way.

Searching through the car for the hardtop emergency tool bag has proven fruitless. Looks like the previous owner forgot to hand it over when they traded it. I've ordered a replacement from Mazda but the price is a bit eye-watering ... $158! :cry:

Still, if the hardtop fails (like it did for one NatMeet attendee), I'd rather know that I have the right tools to secure the roof.

While on the phone to Mazda to inform them of the change of ownership, I asked how much warranty it still had. The car is a July 2009 build and was first registered on 9th November 2009, so I was expecting only a couple months remaining on the factory warranty. Imagine my pleasant surprise when I was told that when it was originally sold, Mazda had a special deal with extra warranty. Turns out that Little Bluey is covered until 1st September 2013!

Fuel consumption has already proven to be incredibly good on the NC2. After five fills of 95RON Premium (and one 98RON to see if it made any difference), I'm averaging 8.0L/100km with a low of 7.5 (on 98) and high of 8.4. My daily commute is mostly a steady 100km/hr cruise on the freeway, but I give it stick on club runs and weekend outings. Over the same territory for 34,000km, I averaged 10.8L/100km in the 135i. I guess it's not too surprising that I'm using 26% less fuel, because the NC2 is 18% lighter than the 135i and obviously doesn't have a turbo. Very impressed with the NC2!

Insurance is very cheap too. I have comprehensive cover with NRMA including windscreen option for $883/year. I was paying $1312/year for the 135i with Allianz. That leaves $440/year in my pocket, thanks very much!

Regie · Postby **Regie** » Fri Sep 07, 2012 2:45 pm

zero00 wrote:Nice post Guran!

Hey, I just saw 'regie' !!

that would be me!

was a great day. The Avon dam road is awesome! Josh and myself had a blast up there at the end of the day, Exhaust noise echoing off the rock walls was tops!

The latest Club mag is sensational Bryan

zero00 · Postby **zero00** » Fri Sep 07, 2012 3:30 pm

Guran

Hmmm .. not too bad I guess for Insurance, my 86 when it arrives, NRMA has quoted $361

Glad i'm not the only one who records all fuel in each car, pretty simple to write down the speedo and litres to one decimal point!

Heading to Lakeside tomorrow, they have 'practice' in the morning and then a Sprint meet in the afternoon, not competing - just taking the NA for a run and watching!

Guy_Coles · Postby **Guy_Coles** » Fri Sep 07, 2012 3:50 pm

For iPhone users there's a great app that does all this and a little bit more:
http://itunes.apple.com/au/app/gas-mana ... 62326?mt=8

Terrific if you use your car for work and need to record fuel purchases for Tax reasons

hamx5ter · Postby **hamx5ter** » Fri Sep 07, 2012 6:52 pm

Wow Bryan... just saw this post and absolutely thrilled for you! :cool:

An excellent colour too.. Congrats. Looking forward to seeing Little Jen

in the metal sometime.

kris · Postby **kris** » Sat Sep 08, 2012 1:38 am

Hard top check
Stormy blue check
Top down to work and back check
Yep I knows how much fun you're having !
I have the super sports from tirerack from memory shipping was about 300.
Best tyre I've ever dríven ;)
I estimate I get about 500km on a tank ...;)