MX5 Owners in here....bring your curling tongs

Here's my Mk2 California.

Since i got the car I have added HSD Monopro coilovers, a set of Japan Racing TF2 wheels and a set of Bridgestone RE002 Adrenalins. As usual, set up by Kev at A-Line in Dudley.

About as much as it's possible to have with 100bhp, I absolutely love this little car.







 
Couple of things I'm hoping someone can help with. I have a mk 2.5 Sport.

I need to replace the drivers lock switch, I have the part but I have no idea where it actually goes. I've read some things that claim it's under the steering rack. Would that be right?

Also, how do I take out the electric aerial motor? It's making a very strange (loud) noise and the aerial isn't extending so I want to open it up and see what the problem is. At the moment, it's unplugged and the radio works fine but keen to fix it.

Sonea Fifer said:
As I recall there's usually has a cage that fits into the single din hole and the radio unit slots into the cage . . . . .

Something like this:

[IMGhttp://i1240.photobucket.com/albums/gg496/SoneaFifer/cage_zpsslhpq9y7.jpg[/IMG]
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So it turns out that the radio had a cage, so I now have two after ordering one on ebay. However, there isn't anywhere to get the cage to secure onto in the car. So it just rattles around. Any ideas?

I'm thinking of selling the car, so need to fix these things ASAP!
 
rjk said:
He had it listed for £10750. A 2011 car with 50k.

We got it for £10k.
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I didn't realise they were still holding that sort of value! My wife's is a 2L Sport Tech Coupe with every option added (there were about 2 I think :)) on 58K. Tempted to punt it now, similar 1 owner.
 
Housey I think it depends what sort of car it is really. obviously black editions command more money due to them being a bit rarer and having the desirable upgrades over a stock car.

when we did the HPI check they give you an estimated value and it came up at the exact price the guy had it listed for, so make of that what you will.

but from when i was looking, there were plenty of standard cars for around the same price, probably just people trying their luck.


now if only someone would buy the bloody mk2.5 i have sat on my drive, that would be just lovely.
 
My wife's was the top of the range, all options on it car when we ordered it from new. Not sure there is anything more they added? Did they put a Sat Nav on the Black, that was about the only thing missing?
 
Housey said:
My wife's was the top of the range, all options on it car when we ordered it from new. Not sure there is anything more they added? Did they put a Sat Nav on the Black, that was about the only thing missing?
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The Sport Tech has all the kit but later models did come with navigation (Sport Tech Nav/Venture). The changes to the special editions like the Black or Kuro are purely cosmetic. Mechanically or in terms of equipment, they are no different to the Sport Techs.
 
p1RATE said:
I read this article on car throttle this morning on 10 reasons why not to buy a mx5. As a mk1 owner i have had all of these thoughts run though my head at some point and i think its not a bad article. I completely agree with the statement that 'it doesn’t really excel in any area - except maybe value for money'


http://www.carthrottle.com/post/10-reasons-why-you-should-never-buy-a-mazda-mx5/

I'm interested to see if any other owners are on the same page, or are you offended by this article?
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1. They're not fast - Good, that means I can wring its neck a bit without hitting insta-ban speeds.

2. It's got a stupid face - Er... ok...

3. Your friends will laugh at you - Maybe I've got better friends than he has but I've only had positive comments about mine.

4. You'll spend your whole life explaining why you bought it - Again, never had this. More common is people telling me how much they'd like one or why they like them.

5. If you have to explain why something's cool, it's not cool - Who said it was cool?!

6. Hairdresser jokes will follow you around wherever you go - Other than with other MX-5 owners where it is an in joke I've had a hairdresser comment once. But he owned an Alfa GTV so it was never valid anyway...

7. They're rust buckets - They do rust but they are quite old cars now. My one is pretty rust free and there are plenty of other rust free ones out there.

8. They're impractical - It is a two seater roadster :rolleyes: Also why are they not cheap to run? My one is a second car and costs me tax, insurance (cheap as you can get them on a classic policy) and a couple of hours of my time to service it.

9. They're only worshipped because it's cool to do so - Are they really worshipped? I considered a few different cars when I wanted a back to basics motoring experience, the MX5 just happened to offer the best package for my needs at the time.

10. Alex owns one - The whole point of this waste of bandwidth.

At the end of the day it is Car Throttle, you shouldn't expect anything from them of any substance.
 
I've never really been interested in the MX-5 tbh, but lately I've seen a few driving about slammed to the floor with deep dish jap rims and they really do look quite nice.

Anyone remember the Ridge Racer arcade full scale model? It was a Eunos Roadster full scale model which you sat in, I remember as a kid down Margate they had one.

Rvo_E6.jpg


A Full Scale arcade version of Ridge Racer was released alongside the standard arcade version in 1993. Players sat inside an adapted red Eunos Roadster,[23] the Japanese right-hand-drive version of the Mazda MX-5 Miata, and controlled the same car on-screen. The game was played in front of a 10 ft/3 m-wide, front-projected triple screen (which benefited from dimmed ambient lighting), with the car's wheel, gear stick and pedals functioning as the game's controls. The ignition key was used to start the game, the speed and RPM gauges were fully functional, and fans blew wind on the player from inside the air vents. Speakers concealed inside the car provided realistic engine and tire sounds, while overhead speakers provided surround music. In almost all locations, an operator stood by a console, to collect payment and control the operation. The game's P.C.B. was located under the hood of the car.
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Housey said:
My wife's was the top of the range, all options on it car when we ordered it from new. Not sure there is anything more they added? Did they put a Sat Nav on the Black, that was about the only thing missing?
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black had the option. hers isn't specced with it but she doesn't really need it as she gets directions for her jobs via live updates on her calendar from her work phone. [shes a newspaper photographer]

I think the black only really had the Bilsteins [not sure if that option is exclusive to the black edition though] and the cool colour combos over a standard car, but they are just rarely for sale.

*edit, i dont really rate the bilsteins either, the car doesnt feel anywhere near as planted as her mk2.5 arctic in high speed cornering or direction changes
 
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rjk said:
I think the black only really had the Bilsteins [not sure if that option is exclusive to the black edition though] and the cool colour combos over a standard car, but they are just rarely for sale.
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The Sport Techs have Bilsteins as well. Those special editions are only different cosmetically.
 
The Sport Tech was the top of the range MX5 (I'm housey FFS :D) so had everything they could put in it, on it. There was no sat nav option on any Mx5 back then but other than that it has em all. Bluetooth, heated seats etc and folding electric hard top too....and bilsteins.
 
I had a sit in the MK4 at the weekend and the interior is such a massive step up from the MK3.5. It's comfortable, with crisp gear changes (mine can be an effort in 1st and 2nd at times), and it has plenty of kit.

DSC_0898.JPG


DSC_0897.JPG
 
rjk said:
*edit, i dont really rate the bilsteins either, the car doesnt feel anywhere near as planted as her mk2.5 arctic in high speed cornering or direction changes
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The stock mk3/3.5 bilsteins are a bit wallowy IMO with stock springs, like you say it's the left/right high speed direction changes that it doesn't feel great for.

Lowering springs seem to help with that a little but introduce a bouncy feeling at the rear over compressions and bigger bumps, really saps confidence, it feels like you run out of damper travel even though you're still not hitting the bump stops. Maybe better than standard but it gives you a different problem instead. Coilovers or a new matched set of springs/dampers can make a big improvement, understand this may be a bit much for your Mrs car (hell you may not consider modding it).

Wheel alignment also makes a big difference to how these feel, like the s2000 you can find cars where the adjustment bolts are seized and the wheels are all pointing in different directions and so it can be hassle to sort out.
 
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shes dead happy with it. whilst she has mentioned the ride is better than her old one, she has had a bit of a moan about the responsiveness of the chassis. but i think the stock ride height actually looks fairly good so it doesnt really need lowering or anything.

she is after a racing beat exhaust for it though as her last one sounded decent, was well made and she misses the noise i think.
 
Will said:
The stock mk3/3.5 bilsteins are a bit wallowy IMO with stock springs, like you say it's the left/right high speed direction changes that it doesn't feel great for.

Lowering springs seem to help with that a little but introduce a bouncy feeling at the rear over compressions and bigger bumps, really saps confidence, it feels like you run out of damper travel even though you're still not hitting the bump stops. Maybe better than standard but it gives you a different problem instead. Coilovers or a new matched set of springs/dampers can make a big improvement, understand this may be a bit much for your Mrs car (hell you may not consider modding it).

Wheel alignment also makes a big difference to how these feel, like the s2000 you can find cars where the adjustment bolts are seized and the wheels are all pointing in different directions and so it can be hassle to sort out.
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Most of the direction issues you speak of are in the set up. I had Chris Franklin at Centre Gravity work on my wife's car 2 weeks after delivery. It fixed the tendency to wonder but what it transformed was the steering which was better weighted and better feel. They do roll a bit and they can wobble too but once you are use to that its a really good road setup. Very adjustable and great fun. I think if you are used to really powerful card you miss a lot of that as you focus on the lack of power. However since ditching my quick stuff I've felt the car is much more fun, though the engine gets loser with miles and is sweeter today than it's ever been. 140mph with the roof down too once though I struggle to remember the last time we were in Germany :)
 
rjk said:
shes dead happy with it. whilst she has mentioned the ride is better than her old one, she has had a bit of a moan about the responsiveness of the chassis. but i think the stock ride height actually looks fairly good so it doesnt really need lowering or anything.

she is after a racing beat exhaust for it though as her last one sounded decent, was well made and she misses the noise i think.
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As is my wife she loves the thing and I get told off when I talk of selling it :(
 
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