So this story starts with a growing love for the Nissan N15 Pulsar SSS named "Helga" (don't ask about the name) where I started with a few simple modifications.
e.g. Coilovers, sway bars, bracing, tints, I.C.E., Recaro SR4s and a few bits off of the Japanese variant (JN15/VZ-R). Created my own personalised plates to kind of replicate my name (Kieron) - KIE20N and hence why the username is "kiezon".
I loved the Pulsar a lot, but it was time to let go as my brother sold his Corolla Sportivo to me for fairly cheap. Given my financial situation at the time as a uni student, it was a bittersweet goodbye.
Now, before the sale of the Pulsar, I grew a love for the NA8 MX-5 after seeing a few photos online back when everything seemed to be "JDMASF*CK". Sure, I'll admit that a few of the "fuccboi starter pack" common mods attracted me but after seeing more and more tracked MX-5s I knew I had to have one. Though, the words I would repeat in my mind for the next three years were, 'one day and as my second car'. This idea of owning an MX-5 now came to mind only in early March of 2017 when a friend sent me a photo of this NB8A:
I was now in love with NBs.
Now, I had already been in an NB a few years back for a couple of minutes and preferred the interior much more than the NA. I was convinced! So the search was on for the 'right' NB. I had found one with 65,000kms, owned by a mature couple with a legitimate reason for sale. Gave the owner a ring and everything was set a few weeks in advance. I and another party was flying up from Sydney, New South Wales to Toowoomba, Queensland. This was the first time I had been serious about flying over to inspect and purchase a car. I was nervous and this was fairly obvious to everyone on the Facebook group and to those on the forum who participated in my previous thread.
I had kind of celebrated my birthday the day before, but I had been too stressed and nervous about the inspection that I couldn't enjoy it (lols).
4:00am. Time to wake up! Way too nervous... AND... We board.
Thought this was pretty cool...
We've landed!
The moment of truth... I probably spent three hours inspecting this car because I was so worried. I even had John (U DA REEL MVP BOIII) drive down for a second opinion.
We even took a little break to chat to the owner's wife about cats travelling and the car itself. Had to take this sneaky shot too:
AND FINALLY! MAXINE WAS MINE! The previous lady who owner before this couple gave her the name btw. I was too excited that I had nearly forgot to organise car insurance, so we stopped by Aldi to sort things out and buy a few snacks for the 900kms trip home.
The girlfriend got pulled over for a RBT and we were cautioned about the kangaroos at 10:30pm so we drove half of the speed limit from Tamworth till we saw more mountains as I assumed kangaroos don't live in such habitats. This was a 120kms+ road FYI. My lord... Never again... We almost ran out of fuel as every petrol station had been closed. Bloody regional servos... lol.
Decided to use our Anytime Fitness key to use the bathroom and perform a light set of leg extensions to get our blood flowing again. Can you say, 'dead legs'?
Obligatory servo photos:
I had eventually become too tired to drive the remainder of the trip, so my girlfriend drove from Newcastle to home.
Sitting cosy in her new home. Excuse the mess. I also threw a broken down cardboard box to check for any leaks and not a drop was leaked. RELIEF.
Gave the interior a good clean.
Visited Lifestyle Store after a long day. I may be leaning more towards the Focal ES 165K2.
Threw in my Clarion NX501A headunit for the time being before I wait for the Pioneer AVIC to go on sale. I'll need to find a cleaner solution without the gap above the headunit. Ugh.
Got to clean up the paintwork a little with a clay bar. OMG smooth!
Passed the blue slip!!!! Also got to throw in the weighted gear knob.
Now to wait for a day to transfer my personalised plates from the Corolla to the MX-5 and get her registered in NSW.
So the plan is to do some minor interior things, lip kit, headunit, speakers, Automotive+ roll bar, OEM hardtop, 2.5" exhaust with an oval Varex muffler (sorry guys) and eventually either a GT2560R or GT2860RS.
