Tekforums
Chat => Sports, Hobbies & Motors => Topic started by: Clock'd 0Ne on January 13, 2007, 18:15:57 PM
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Got my eye on a H reg MX-5 soft top. Very tempted by it.
Are parts for these cheap? Are they reliable? What sort of general running costs and fuel economy am I looking at compared to my 1.2 92 Clio?
Thanks guys :)
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MX5 pros:
Ultra reliable
Incredibly fun to drive.
Parts are reasonable (stateside)
Mechanically straight forward
cons:
No trunk space
I can t think of anything else bad about them. Theyre so damn fun to drive with the little stubby shifter and all. Parts may be a bit more in the UK, but youll likely not need anything outside of plugs and wiper blades.
Fuel economy isnt stellar, about the same as a Golf with a 2.0L petrol engine. Expect to get around 30-33mpg with imperial gallons.
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they are great cars to drive, assuming it has been looked after.
With a car around that age, it all depends on how the previous owners have treated it.
Reliability is generally excellent but again depends heavily on how closly the service schedule has been followed and the quality of the work. A good size service history file is a good sign and lots of dealer stamps in the book.
Parts for jap cars can be quite expensive, as can servicing.
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Sounds reasonable to me. The guy selling it says it runs smooth and is his daily motor, it seems in good nick although the bodywork is showing its age. Im going to take a look at it I think :)
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Shortback&sidespleaseLOL
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yea nige when did u start working at toni&guy?
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^^boy thats predictable^^
Britain has a history of gentlemen motoring in even smaller sportscars. I say Nige would be carrying on the tradition, even if its Japanese.
Nige, youll surely have to get a proper motoring hat to make this allwork. That and a plaid car coat. :D
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I was also going to make the hairdresser quip, but I think two is enough 8)
I never really liked MX-5s, until I saw an MX-5 only race series at Donington Park (called MaX 5 racing or something). Seeing all those 2 seater soft tops drifting around the corners was pretty good. In fact if I didnt already have a track car lined up Id be hooning around in one of them too! :D
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the triumph spitfire, tr series and mg midget were all REAL MENS CARS the mx5 is not
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the triumph spitfire, tr series and mg midget were all REAL MENS CARS the mx5 is not
spot on! esspeicially the midget.
the mx isnt bad tho. the mk3 MR2 is a bit girly so is the MGF, the TF is ok tho.
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the triumph spitfire, tr series and mg midget were all REAL MENS CARS the mx5 is not
Oh, give it a rest. Oil puddles in your drive do not a man make. Youre just jealous that the mx5 outperforms any of those. Looks are a personal matter, but take em on a track and the Mazdall smoke them.
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the triumph spitfire, tr series and mg midget were all REAL MENS CARS the mx5 is not
Oh, give it a rest. Oil puddles in your drive do not a man make. Youre just jealous that the mx5 outperforms any of those. Looks are a personal matter, but take em on a track and the Mazdall smoke them.
hardly surprising as the mazda is 20+years newer.
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Is there any MG you wont defend to the hilt?
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Is there any MG you wont defend to the hilt?
probably not, i was defending the triumphs too tho.
Its just abit stupid comparing 1970s cars with 1990s cars.
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Mazda MX-5 is adequate enough and reasonably sporty, despite others comments.
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Im not bothered by the hairdressers stereotype.
Its as much fun that Ill find in a car at the price range Im looking at and a darn sight better than what I have.
Ive also yet to see someone on the forum that makes the jibes who actually owns something better to drive... tends to be the poor student types that wish they could afford a nice car :P
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/me jumps into navigator seat with some fabulous Italian wraparounds and a silk aviator scarf. 8)
To the wine tasting~!
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its a hair dressers car.. there you go i own something better :P
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its a hair dressers car.. there you go i own something better :P
Can you explain why its a hairdressers car? Can you explain why it would be bad to be a hairdresser as Im guessing thats the connotation.
Makes no sense whatsoever, just sounds like a bunch of blokes that are obsessed with the fragility of their own manliness. :roll:
I gotta go push back my cuticles now, ta.
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If the choice be mine, Id look for a Mk2 MR2.
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Hell if it was my money and I had to spend it on a car, Id get an MX5.
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Mazdas can be reliable but at that age its a bigger risk, and itll be a lot dearer to fix than your clio.
Go and have a look, check if its an inport and if its had any body damage. And get 12 months mot.
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The import factor is a good point to raise, my prelude is a JDM, and is group 20.
The UK model is group 17, and I can insure the UK one for about £200 less than mine :cry:
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nice link ;) ;) (http://www.gaywheels.com/new/mazda/2006/mx-5-miata/)
appart from that.... go for it :)
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its a hair dressers car.. there you go i own something better :P
Can you explain why its a hairdressers car?
He means it doesnt break down every ten minutes, doesnt rust into a pile of iron oxide within a year, is relatively easy to drive and is the kind of wheels where you would expect a camp hairdresser, or lady, to occupy the command seat.
TBH I dont care, I like them myself and I would rather have one than an MG.
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tbh i was joking but hey any of the above may apply lol
i prefer something with more HP and looks different, coupe is nice but they do look girly (IMHO of course)
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The exterior is generic early 90s jellybean if thats what you mean. Im by no means enamored by it. Its just generic mazda styling from the era, but like the MX3 and MX6 from the same era, its at least aged fairly well.
I wrote them off till about ten years ago when I drove a workmates from 90 or so. I slid into the no business cockpit, took a drive and was like "hot damn! I get it!"
I like it for the same reason Ive only owned Japanese motorbikes. Not the best looking, but damn good riders, very inexpensive, and extremely reliable. If I had an MX5 itd likely be primer black like several of my vehicles have been in the past.
As far as expense of ownership, if the lump has been kept happy with good oil, theres very little to go wrong that costs big bucks. If its at the 100K age the expensive bits that fail are usually the CV joints so deffo check the CV boots to see if theyre water tight. Other crap at that age, like wheel bearings, brake bits, exhaust, tires, and interior, arent any more expensive than any other car.
It also depends on finding a reliable mechanic and source of parts if things go bad. Here in Butcher Holler, VWs arent that common, so I found a most honest man from Serbia that charges less than one would pay to have work done on a Chevrolet.
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If I had an MX5 itd likely be primer black like several of my vehicles have been in the past.
If I had the choice mine would be too.
Cheers guys :)
Ive high hopes for this as despite its age, it has only done around 55-60k. Ive already got insurance quotes on it, while it is expensive its manageable and not much different to what I would have paid on a Clio two years back. I should be checking it out sometime this week.
edit: Not sure if it is an import - the odo is in km but its always been RHS drive :?
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Japanese cars are right hand drive.
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oh serious no1 cares about a 50 something year olds opinion about cars, youre part of the rover/volvo/vauxhall omega brigade
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I love mine to bits; its not as much fun as a mini with the roof up, but roof down I could drive round all day, RWD = scary slidey corner fun too. The steering is unbelievably sharp. Im not sure how a car thatll drift so nicely is hairdressery. Better to be a hairdresser than have a chavmobile or a door-to-door-salesmobile, imo.
Its the most reliable car Ive ever owned, thats not saying much I know but its better than anything my family has owned and parts arent too dear anyway. I think theyre lovely looking cars with the right colour & wheels & spoiler.
Whats your budget? If you go for an early car you should get one low mileage with nigh-on perfect bodywork & interior for £2-3k. Chances are an early car will have already had a new roof and stuff so theyre probably a better buy.
Theres so many around you shouldnt go for a crappy one. Mine is a 90 and apart from a tiny scratch its almost perfect, I saw loads of rubbish ones for the same price too. The roof should not leak at all, a lot of people say that a slight leak is normal - thats bs.
Check it has been serviced regulary and itll be fine, make sure its got good tyres!
edit: afaik its fairly normal for 1st gear to be slightly sticky when the engine is cold, but all the other gears should be smooth from the go. Make sure the carpets are dry. Make sure the clutch is good - start it up, put it in third, keep the handbrake on and footbrake on and dump the clutch - the car should stall straight away. If you get one be gentle with the clutch; no 5,000rpm starts :)
kms on the odo is definitely import. If its an Eunos itll be an import. Another easy way to tell is look at the writing under the bonnet or on the drivers sun shield (Japanese). Itll say on the v5 too. They can be more to insure, but the AA didnt seem to care and apparently you tend to get more toys (ac, nicer interior) on imports and they wont have much rust at all.
Id look at the mr2 as well but the ins for me on a 2.0 was silly.
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Ive high hopes for this as despite its age, it has only done around 55-60k.
Pschaw, the motors barely broken in! Time for the first spark plug change. :lol: If its got the original plug wires, Id change those first thing. $50 should get you a generic silicone covered set. Remember, change them one by one, or youll end up with a creative cylinder firing order. :lol:
Just check all that stuff that goes cheesy in your drippy clime. Poke the insides of the wheel wells with a pokey thing, check the belts for rot, etc. TBH, the undercoat and paint on that eras Jap cars is fantastic. They tend to fade and flake long before you get any actual rust. :D
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if its an import arent u meant to check for underseal?
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oh serious no1 cares about a 50 something year olds opinion about cars, youre part of the rover/volvo/vauxhall omega brigade
Rover? I hate the things.
Volvo? Perhaps something like the 480es but nothing much else and definitely not a tank on wheels.
Vauxhall? You have obviously got the wrong person mate :P
BTW put your nappy back on... :mrgreen: :lol:
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if its an import arent u meant to check for underseal?
All of the Eunoss had underseal as standard from the factory.
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Go for the MX5 :) The insurance for a basic spec MX5 around a H Reg for me is still only £900 with 3 years NCB and 21 years old :)
A lad I know has had his MR2 Mrk2 for a month now and its being in the garage more than its being out. Tho I think he just jumped into a dodgy purchase, having the clutch go, the HeadGasket has blown and needing new Shocks on the rear....
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I was waiting for you to post sdp, thanks for the tips.
Im going to check/purchase it this week at some point. How will I know exactly what model it is, as in how do I tell if its a Eunos or whatever?
Insurance on this will be dear enough, I cant afford an MR2.
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eunos usually say eunos roadster on the back, so should be easy to identify as an import
With that said, dont be put off on the import status, unless you have specifically rang up and quotes on imports are hundreds more, you will find an import is usually better looked after, and can have stuff like a/c (as someone else mentioned)
Again to highlight what has already been mentioned, the whole hairdresser japes tend to come from those not comfortable with their sexuality, or those who must drive something uber masculine :lol:
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Square number plate holes and aftermarket looking fog lights on the rear usually give it away as an import.
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Buyers guide - http://www.webcars.net/roadster.htm
Dont forget the normal car checks - black smoke, gunk under the filler cap etc.
Good online parts shop - http://www.mx5parts.co.uk/
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Awesome links man, cheers :D
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mx5 vs. greyhounds if you havent seen it. :mrgreen:
http://www.metacafe.com/watch/74370/car_vs_greyhound/
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So have you got this car then?
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Am looking to get it tonight! Stil trying to sort out insurance... if the reg plate doesnt begin with Q as the car has been converted its not Q-registered is it?
Right Im off to get it w00t w00t! Pics to come :D
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It wont be a Q :)
Good luck, dont buy a duffer. :ptu:
btw the paint on the lower half of the door should be textured slightly - its a coating that stops stone chips.
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Well it was a saga...
The alternator belt had "just snapped" the guy said :roll:
I drove it off anyway, little realising that it powered the water pump for the cooling too :mrgreen:
Cue a short journey, clouds of steam and a call to Mr RAC.
Ive got a temorary belt fitted and numb hands from sitting in the cold. But by God does that car go like stink :D Love it. Anyone want a Clio?
Getting the MOT and 60k service done on it.
All that car for £950 (got £50 off because of the alternator belt) :lol: :lol:
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Sounds like a bargain. :)
We demand pictures.
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Ive got a temorary belt fitted and numb hands from sitting in the cold. But by God does that car go like stink :D Love it. Anyone want a Clio?
Exactly what maxi and I said ;)
50p for the Clio? :mrgreen:
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Pics!
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Ive had to get a bit of work done following my alternator problem:
new thermo housing
new alternator belts
new alternator pulley
£170 inc VAT with labour :(
Still a bargain mind, even if I did get screwed on the alternator.
Pics to come soon!
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Better an alternator than a blown head gasket or struts. ;) Sounds like a reasonable charge for such parts and labor.
Did ya get the 1.6 or 1.8L model?
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Its the 1.6L, seems in good shape given how thorough the garage checkover was, but Ill get it MOTd and serviced properly next month. Will cost me a bit, bit if I keep it well looked after Ill get years of faithful drivetime from the bad boy. 8)
On a side, what I love about the garage is that they invite you out through the workshop to show you and explain the problems to you and point out things in the engine, its great for someone like me to see whats gone wrong, why and get good advice. Top marks. The full alternator would have been £130 on its own, they recommended against it as it seems to be running alright save for the rusted pulley - they could have just said "yeah get a new one in".
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Mate, even if you have to spend £800 on it youve still got a bargain.
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Definately a good purchase.
Ive looked at getting one a couple of times but I am always tempted away by a new car w/ free insurance and/or 0% apr.
Maybe, as Im close to hitting 30, Ill have an eairly crisis and get one before I settle down :D
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just get a new mx5 with 0% apr! :D
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Its the 1.6L, seems in good shape given how thorough the garage checkover was, but Ill get it MOTd and serviced properly next month. Will cost me a bit, bit if I keep it well looked after Ill get years of faithful drivetime from the bad boy. 8)
On a side, what I love about the garage is that they invite you out through the workshop to show you and explain the problems to you and point out things in the engine, its great for someone like me to see whats gone wrong, why and get good advice. Top marks. The full alternator would have been £130 on its own, they recommended against it as it seems to be running alright save for the rusted pulley - they could have just said "yeah get a new one in".
Sounds like a great shop!
Never driven the 1.6 as its a Euro-only engine for insurance purposes (AFAIK), but the 1.8 is a riot to drive. Its not that its supercar fast, though plenty nippy, its the whole combo of light weight, weight distribution, low stance, shifter, and basically sitting on the ground that give a go-cart feel. :D Im sure the 1.6 is plenty of engine for such a little car.
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Its plenty enough for me. Ive used half a tank testing the throttle already :mrgreen: I think the 1.8L would burn too big a hole in my pocket guzzling the petrol. Small steps... Im finding I didnt realise just how aggressive my driving was until I felt the throttle and steering response. Driving a knackered Clio with heavy controls and 0 acceleration basically kept me with my foot the floor on most journeys. Ive found myself having to keep a careful eye on my speed now :D
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I used to be the same with a car I had years ago... slow as hell and would top out at 60.... so I just drive at 60 constantly, because I knew if i slowed down it would take a week to get up to speed again :o
glad you like the car, youll have to take me for a spin some time ;) ;)
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If you get a spare few quid get the wheel alignment checked.
edit: and be careful in the wet :D
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If you get a spare few quid get the wheel alignment checked.
edit: and be careful in the wet :D
Listen to that man, one of the women from work planted her first one into a tree on a roundabout in the wet due to a little over-enthusiasm in a RW-drive machine.
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Cheers, Im thinking Ill get the alignment sorted alongside the MOT/service.
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If you get a spare few quid get the wheel alignment checked.
edit: and be careful in the wet :D
Listen to that man, one of the women from work planted her first one into a tree on a roundabout in the wet due to a little over-enthusiasm in a RW-drive machine.
and mazdas rather wide tolerances for the factory suspension alignment.
seen a few of the new ones written off due to out of wack rear suspension.
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Cheers, Im thinking Ill get the alignment sorted alongside the MOT/service.
Before ya do, have some fun in an empty area misaligning the car. :mrgreen: If you havent driven RWD hard before, its nice to go out on a slippery drizzly day where you have some room to break the tires free and see how it handles, learn to recover from a skid, etc. Most of us who drive FWD end up taking it for granted. Plus, its an excuse to have some fun. :D
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^^^ good idea tbh
always nice to know what your car can do :D
.... tho dont over-do it..... I flored it going round a bend in mine in the wet to see what it could do... and it held rock solid all the way upto 90mph when the backend kicked out and send me spinning in circles around and around and around... and around... and around...
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http://www.autotrader.co.uk/EDITORIAL/car_page_content/33561.html vid at the end..
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^^^
that guy is pretty damn good there.... not the easiest thing in the world to do... knowing how early to turn to donut around the curbs etc...
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For anyone whos never driven one its worth reading the text too ;)
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For anyone whos never driven one its worth reading the text too ;)
But speak to the macho man in the street, and hell tell you the MX is a hairdressers car; the kind of car youd buy your wife.
The chances are, of course, theyve never driven one because anyone who has taken the opportunity is smitten in less than five minutes.
QFT. I love the damn thing, even after spending ten minutes working out how to open the petrol cap. :lol:
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QFT. I love the damn thing, even after spending ten minutes working out how to open the petrol cap. :lol:
Have a look at your grin when driving, probably outdo the Cheshire cats :mrgreen:
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For anyone whos never driven one its worth reading the text too ;)
But speak to the macho man in the street, and hell tell you the MX is a hairdressers car; the kind of car youd buy your wife.
The chances are, of course, theyve never driven one because anyone who has taken the opportunity is smitten in less than five minutes.
QFT. I love the damn thing, even after spending ten minutes working out how to open the petrol cap. :lol:
The best thing is driving past colleges and unis with the hood down :)
edit: tbh mine took time to grow on me, I didnt really get it til I did a few long journeys in it.
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Got all my service parts ordered and bits to tidy it up:
1 x Camshaft Timing Belt Kit () = £49.95
Model (SI25) 1.6 1989>2000
1 x Power Steering/Air Conditioning Belt (48361) = £5.95
1 x Oil Filter, Genuine Mazda (SI474) = £3.95
1 x Fuel Filter, Mk1, Genuine Mazda (FIG7034) = £10.34
1 x NGK ZFR6F11 Long Reach Sparkplug Set (SI678) = £11.80
1 x Renovo Plastic Window Polish (RNPWP003) = £4.99
1 x 1.6 Enthusiasts Workshop Manual (V125) = £25.00
1 x Original Side Repeater Lamp (SI2199) = £23.97
1 x Mk1 Original Rear Light Cluster () = £47.04
Please Select (SI2063) Left Hand
1 x K&N Replacement Filter Panel Mk1 (33-2034) = £35.50
1 x Camshaft Oil Seal (SI111) = £6.35
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Total Goods: £224.84
(Delivery Charge): £8.95
Total includes UK VAT of: £31.09
Total: £233.79
Hopefully these will arrive in time to give to the garage to deal with along with my alternator, so my labour will go down and it will save some money on labour. Ill change the air filter myself, I think even I can handle that :lol:
Maybe £400/£500 all in for the parts and work? Im still happy with that to have it fully serviced and getting back to as new. Still a total bargain on top of £950 for it! I still need new leads, but they dont have decent ones in at the moment, no point replacing the Mazdaspeed leads just yet... I reckon it will glide through the MOT next month.
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Nice one Nige :)
Rather jealous of yahh :) Im tempted by one for my first car out of Uni :)
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Yo Nige,
This is some good work man, im really stoked you have got yourself a grande whip, we need to get some kind of hairdresser tour of the midlands planned :mrgreen: :lol: :lol: :lol:
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Lets get our posse rolling and organise some drive-by blowdrying on the streets of Nottingham. :lol:
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Who said Mazda spares were expensive? :shrug: Those are normal prices short of the plugs. I usually get NGKs for $3/per stateside, but whos to quibble for a kebabsworth. :lol:
Did you ask the garage if you could bring in parts for them to install? Over here thats rather unusual and sometimes seen as downright rude.
Surprised youre doing the cam belt so early. I thought it was recommended at 100K for most Mazdas of the era. Its about mileage, not age (usually). Labor shouldnt be too much to replace, though, as the MX5 engine bay is refreshingly simple.
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MX-5 - Teh gay*
Cheers
Tongy
*that mainly applies to the poncey tart who started this thread driving it)
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Did you ask the garage if you could bring in parts for them to install? Over here thats rather unusual and sometimes seen as downright rude.
Yeah they are cool with it, when I had tyres fitted to my Clio they asked me if I already had the tires to fit right off the bat. These guys seem to be all about service, not making a quick penny off the parts. Besides, since they are already ordering some parts and things they wont mind me passing them a few extras to fit at the same time Im sure.
If I lump the cambelt change in it all in its less labour overall and Id rather do that than keep taking the car back to the garage.
Oh and France = teh fag0try.
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(http://www.tfw2005.com/boards/images/smilies/this_thread_is_useless_without_pics.gif)
Jaimz :rock:
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(http://www.tfw2005.com/boards/images/smilies/this_thread_is_useless_without_pics.gif)
Jaimz :rock:
(http://farm1.static.flickr.com/88/240049704_4eb0c19e6c.jpg) (http://farm1.static.flickr.com/8/8769572_3182ae8b58_o.jpg)
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has it got a hardtop?
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No.
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we need pics !!!
tho... you ordered...
1 x Camshaft Oil Seal (SI111) = £6.35
but you wont need that.... you only need one of those if your removing the cam shaft (i.e. big engine strip down job)
no biggie for six quid tho :)
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we need pics !!!
tho... you ordered...
1 x Camshaft Oil Seal (SI111) = £6.35
but you wont need that.... you only need one of those if your removing the cam shaft (i.e. big engine strip down job)
no biggie for six quid tho :)
And its got 2 camshafts :lol:
I think its the rocker cover gasket he needs
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Both the site and general advice seems to be to change the oil seal when replacing the cambelt as its easy to get to? :?
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http://www.miata.net/garage/timingbelt.html
For an 89-91 car skip the bit about replacing the crank seal unless its in bad nick. The book explains it bette.r
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Hmm. Ive read that site, Ive read all the reviews, comments, and stuff and Im just thoroughly confused. Im going to give the stuff to the garage and say, please swap anything that needs swapping it if you know what youre doing :lol: Parts and labour are guaranteed for 12 months, which is fair issue if it goes pear shaped, surely?
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if something they did goes bad inside 12 months then (because there a good garage) will sort it out for you anyway :)
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But if that timing belt snaps who gives the warranty?
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Nowt to worry about, I decided Im getting mine done too - hopefully in a few weeks time cos its due an oil, filter & plugs change anyway.
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Ive got my HG to do full de-coke and skimming :) Also got to do my tappets as well :) Ive also got an oil leak somewhere unsure where tho.... So got a fair bit of work to do :(
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All my parts arrived this morning from MX5part.co.uk, awesome guys, fantastic service and very phone friendly. Delivery meets my stringent packing quality approval too :ptu:
The parts ordered from the garage havnt arrived though. I rang them and they are more than happy to do all the work as one, with cam belt, oil change, alignment, etc using my supplied parts :D
Love my local garage. Im just a bit gutted it will have to wait until after the weekend now.
Got some Silkolene Silktran Syn 5 coming in for the gearbox and diff, should make 1st/2nd much smoother. Already got some Mobil 1 0w40 for the engine.
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Damn. Im jealous! Havent had a manual shift car in years. :cry: :lol: Sold the motorbike last spring. I have clutch withdrawal. :cry: :lol:
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Still no pics dude :?
Is it barbie pink with teddy bear alloys or something?
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Still no pics dude :?
Is it barbie pink with teddy bear alloys or something?
:rofl:
Its probably red, which is the most common MX5 color, AFAIK, and the least attractive. Not that Id say no to a red one at the right price.
There are scads of them in this neighborhood in various colors. Im rather partial to the gen. II in soft white. Very understated.
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Still no pics dude :?
Is it barbie pink with teddy bear alloys or something?
Ive literally not had time this week, I was going to take some down at the garage and forgot, Ive been far too busy in the day to take any.
Ill have some next week when the car is scrubbed up a bit. Promise :D
Should be Monday/Tuesday when its fresh out of the garage.
Its silver, guys.
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Silver is perfect for a custom pinstriping pattern - if you can afford it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rOaEhMHe3jo
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Speed Racer Mach 5 door decals, tbqph. :D
(http://info.detnews.com/dn/joyrides/2003/auburnfall03/99chevspeedracer.jpg)
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Doesnt stop you doing both does it? :mrgreen:
If Clockd decides he wants to go cheap there are ready made pinstriping decals too, the problem is doing it nicely rather than making it a chavmobile :lol:
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The sky blue sorta colour is the nicest on the mx5 imo, or white.
Jaimz :rock:
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The sky blue sorta colour is the nicest on the mx5 imo, or white.
Jaimz :rock:
qft
Smurf blue is where its at 8)
(http://www.palmer934.plus.com/mx5.jpg)
VVVV Thats what colour mine is irl, ^^^ Kodak cameras lol.
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(http://www.miata.net/motm/2007/images/bunny2.jpg) (http://www.miata.net/motm/2007/bunny.html)
:lol:
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(http://farm1.static.flickr.com/40/116544489_c936078c87.jpg)
They dont look too bad in red imo!
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(http://farm1.static.flickr.com/40/116544489_c936078c87.jpg)
They dont look too bad in red imo!
Shouldnt that be Maxi racing though?
:lol:
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Red requires too much buffing to look anything but shabby. Grey and cream can take some dirt and still look good. Never liked blue on MX5s--if it were an OS it would be XP running the stock theme. :lol:
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I love red cars (my lude is red). But youre right, its a bitch to keep the colour good :/
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red, blue and white look gorgeous done right. Im quite happy with silver. It needs a bit of work doing to repair the odd chips. I might save for a few months and say F it and get a whole respray. Ill think about it :lol:
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Lol Nige you getting modding fever?
Jaimz 8)
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Ive never had a car I could take a bit of pride in or that I appreciated, now I have, so I plan on looking after it a bit more.
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Touch up & buff is usually far better an option than any affordable spray job. ;) Good paint and clear coat costs major bucks. Cheap paint often looks lousy in a year or two. Over here, we have the infamous "Earl Schieb" paint job for $300. It looks good enough for you to pay and drive off, but after inspection, its horrid. :lol:
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I was thinking more of a pro colour [of my choosing] respray, rather than a touch up. Whenever Ive seen touch ups they stand out a mile no matter how good the work. But theres a good shop in Cheshire I could go to that would do a good job I reckon, in either case.
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What kind of touch ups does it need? If its just rock dings, touch up and a clay job can look imperceptible. If its the front bumper peeling pretty seriously a factory color match and respray of the offending panel can be a really good option.
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Peeling and a few scratches here and there.
Finally some pics! Not very good mind, I was holding the phone the wrong way up.
Anyone know what this is? The switch seems to do nothing but the light is blinking every few seconds!
(http://img227.imageshack.us/img227/3972/photo0003lo7.th.jpg) (http://img227.imageshack.us/my.php?image=photo0003lo7.jpg)
(http://img226.imageshack.us/img226/8220/photo0004ml6.th.jpg) (http://img226.imageshack.us/my.php?image=photo0004ml6.jpg)
Are these factory or aftermarket headrest speakers?
(http://img259.imageshack.us/img259/1288/photo0005jv3.th.jpg) (http://img259.imageshack.us/my.php?image=photo0005jv3.jpg)
Can see a big peeled spot here:
(http://img181.imageshack.us/img181/1525/photo0006qh5.th.jpg) (http://img181.imageshack.us/my.php?image=photo0006qh5.jpg)
(http://img206.imageshack.us/img206/3239/photo0007nu9.th.jpg) (http://img206.imageshack.us/my.php?image=photo0007nu9.jpg)
sdp might know, is this an aftermarket front spoiler?
(http://img181.imageshack.us/img181/8779/photo0009xl7.th.jpg) (http://img181.imageshack.us/my.php?image=photo0009xl7.jpg)
Ive already got the replacement for the missing side indicator.
(http://img206.imageshack.us/img206/8931/photo0010wz4.th.jpg) (http://img206.imageshack.us/my.php?image=photo0010wz4.jpg)
(http://img263.imageshack.us/img263/556/photo0011yw2.th.jpg) (http://img263.imageshack.us/my.php?image=photo0011yw2.jpg)
For general amusement, sporting a magnifying glass:
(http://img227.imageshack.us/img227/4007/photo0001ll7.th.jpg) (http://img227.imageshack.us/my.php?image=photo0001ll7.jpg)
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looks good nige, I especially like the magnifying glass !
p.s. do you mean the red toggle switch, or the little thing with the 3 prongs inside it ?
if its the 3 prongs one, then its part of an imobiliser... so if you dont kow what its for It must be dissabled :D
dont worry about it... they can be a pain in the arse some times... so its normaly when a car gets a bit older/less likely to be stolen to just disable them instead of fixing them :)
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Just got on order
2 x JVC Headrest Speakers £35.00
1 x Silicone Water Hose Set Mk1 1.6 Very Early
- Colour: (SI180BLK) Black
Gonna uprate me those headrest speakers. ICE, ICE baby 8) :lol:
Both Alan! The switch just does nothing but the immobiliser bit is always flashing.
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omg nige did you win the lottery ? I cant beleave your soending this much money :p
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Plastic is beautiful :lol:
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Anyone know what this is? The switch seems to do nothing but the light is blinking every few seconds!
(http://img227.imageshack.us/img227/3972/photo0003lo7.th.jpg) (http://img227.imageshack.us/my.php?image=photo0003lo7.jpg)
The thing on the left looks like part of a laserline alarm, what that bit does is, if for whatever reason your keyfob isnt disabling the alarm, you get a bit you can attach to your keys to plug into that bit to do the same job.
Switch on the right however, not a clue :)
Magnifying glass, you cad :lol:
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Ive not got a keyfob at all :?
The bloke that sold it to me had no idea it had an immobiliser.
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bonus!
nice car. mines a no2 back and sides and inch an a half left on top to spike please.
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Thats well nice Nige :)
How much was the insurance for you and what NCB/Age/Convictions have you got?
I would go and buy a hardtop for it tho :) Just for the winter and security... Going to be an arse when someone finally tares ure hood :(
Btw get some new tyres and get the weighting and balancing setupp nicelly to help :) Ive just had mine all done and its a lot more stable now and a smoother ride :)
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No convictions, 22 and no NCB yet. Costing me £1300 TPFT through Budget. They came up cheapest on Confused.com
I am concerned about the vinyl top, but its alright around here at least since we live in a nice area. Itll be a while yet before I can afford the hardtop.
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Looks nice, its all standard, except for that little red throw switch, which is wtf. I got that immob. and its a right pita to have to duff it everytime I wanna start the car.
Im rather envious of the headrest speakers :D My interior got swapped for a blue n black one at some point and the seats afaik dont have them.
If i had a credit card.. (http://www.flyinmiata.com/projects/current_projects_flip.php?x=408)
edit: lol (http://www.flyinmiata.com/projects/current_projects_flip.php?x=403)
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that switch might be for a rear foglight if it is an import. saw an fto the otherday with a switch like that for a rear fog.
check out detailingworld.co.uk some of the pro guys can make your car look like new much cheaper than a respray.
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Gorgeous car Nige!
.....now get a CB fitted!! :D
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Thanks, but clue me up, whats a CB? Radio? :lol:
Oh and these guys had good recommendations on the MazdaOC forums:
http://www.prospray.net/contact.html, they definitely look pro. Not too far to Cheshire too.
Im gonna spend some time tomorrow cleaning it up a bit and finding out what all these bits do.
And draining the sills.
Worth me getting a different front spoiler do you reckon sdp?
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Citizen Band radio allows you to talk on the go free, but others can listen in too, you can get quite a conversation going ;)
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CB is totally Smokey and the Bandit (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smokey_and_the_bandit). 8) :lol: Youll need to grow a stasch to go with the radio, tbqpfh. :D
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nige, if I were you Id go over it with some T-cut, then give it a good wax polish... youll be amaised at the difference....
loads of people will probably slag the idea off... but it works really well, then you can always still get it re-sprayed in a year ?
Ive done it loads of times before Ive sold a car... always makes me think twice about selling !
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Is that dirt or rust on the front edge of the doors?
http://img263.imageshack.us/my.php?image=photo0011yw2.jpg
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Im not 100% sure. The panel with the missing light must have been knocked and isnt quite fitted right so the door clacks against it at the moment, its probably doing a bit of wear and it needs seeing to. Ill check it properly tomorrow in the light.
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Well Ive been out today, fitted a new rear cluster, fitted a new sidelight, cleaned all the windows inside & out and the lights (including the pop up lights), wiped off various grained in muck on the panels and finally adjusted the front wing that some muppet hadnt fitted properly :( Bolts missing and everything, it was out of alignment and as such was causing the wear on the door, where paint has now flaked off. I tried removing a bolt under the sill to take it off and it snapped - rusted right through - so I guess I will have to take it to the bodyshop to fix it. I think the bloke that had it last really wasnt bothered about the car, its clearly not been appreciated and looked after as it should have been. :( At least I got to clean it out and WD40 some parts. Ive saved some more on garage labour too.
Note to self: tighten remaining bolts tomorrow, empty and unclog drain points, vacuum/clean interior, polish plastic window, find what all the switches do.
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Rattlecan primer black rust stop paint is starting to look good now, eh? :lol: :mrgreen:
Forgot how vehicles rot much more quickly over there. :shock: Ive honestly never seen a Miata with *any* rust, ever, just the bog standard peeling paint on the PVC bumpers.
Seems if you sink another grand into it, its still a heck of a deal, though. ;)
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Just to clarify, I meant the bolt had rusted through, not the whole sill, so ive got the thread end completely stuck in now and cant remove it. The car is actually in amazing condition for its age, Ive not seen any rust on the panels really, let alone trouble spots. It just needs dints chips and flakes repairing and that bodged panel sorting out. I reckon the previous owner fitted it, much like the bodged alternator. Shocking way to treat it tbh.
I might even go round to the passenger side and clean out/WD40 the other sill.
Ill have sunk over £500 into it on top by the end of the month. Indeed, considering this includes the expensive 60k service and parts plus a full suite of new silicon hoses that will outlast the car Id say its still an awesome bargain. It has niggles like the poor rear view, but I can fix that by upgrading to a hardtop or soft hood with glass heated rear screen.
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You need a bolt extractor if the heads broken off. You first drill a teeny hole, then use the extractor. Theyre cheap and an essential part of any toolkit meant for older vehicles. Used mine plenty on various motorbikes.
http://www.coateshomecentre.com.au/tips_tricks/tip_extract_a_stripped_screw.htm
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^^^ sometimes they work... but there pretty naff really :(
depends if it snapped because it was so rotten, or because it was rotten and tight.... those things never work on them if there tight :(
better off trying to get at the other side of it and using a pair of stilsons !
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Im not even going to attempt to get at the other side of it, Id image there is a hell of a lot of dissasembly required to get to where the bolt comes through. For the sake of a slightly loose panel Ill live with it. At least my door opens properly now. :lol:
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better off trying to get at the other side of it and using a pair of stilsons !
Two cheeses!? Youre right mad, man!
:lol:
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Why dya want a new front spoiler?
Rear view is fine with the roof down :D Seriously you get used to it quickly.
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http://www.allproducts.com/ee/autovision/03-carheadrestmonitor.html
:mrgreen:
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:lol: max
Why dya want a new front spoiler?
Rear view is fine with the roof down :D Seriously you get used to it quickly.
I didnt know what sort of spoiler it was, Id just read that some were better at speed on the motorway and such, you know, keeping the car stable. It wasnt a big issue really.
The rear view would be alright if it didnt get so damp and wasnt so dirty and worn, its extremely difficult to see anything out of it at present. I think it would be more than satisfactory if I had a heated rear, but at the moment reversing to park or coming out of a space at Tesco is a tricky and dangerous affair. I dont like relying on the wing mirrors for it.
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lip spoiler is what yous after; http://www.mx5parts.co.uk/product_info.php/products_id/516?osCsid=5e5233e607adf5bb2a9b46d424aaf038
Get the tracking done before anything else.
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Tracking/alignment on Monday :)
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Just been told there is some chassis warping on the two lengths that run parallel from the wheels down the car on both sides and they are unsure if it will pass the MOT (which Ive decided to get done now for that reason) :(
If it needs repairing what can I expect to pay at a bodyshop?
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twisted chassis.. needs a jig.. expect to pay more than the cars worth
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Whats that jig mean in English? The garage said it looked like something that would be chopped out and refitted, the warped section is identical on both sides, its buckled slightly upwards on both beams in the same place.
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sounds like a bodge to replace a part like that if the cars bent
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Thats going to be a punch in the wallet :) Im glad that you have found somewhere that actually do MoTs properlly :)
My friends crumble zones on his corsa where all crumbled and he still passed his MoT... Not good :s
Ive got my MoT in may I need to go to a test centre and ask about how having the rear of the car stripped and buckets and harnesses affect an MoT as I have all of the safety slips for the harnesses to say they are in date etc :)
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Yeah Im glad they are keen on safety too, but its a sting I could do without :( Spent well over £600 so far on parts and labour hasnt been factored in yet... I can see it ending up at way over £1500 altogether for work if this chassis realignment needs doing. Plus I have to now find a decent bodyshop around Yorkshire.
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Usually the smaller ones are cheaper and better :) Check out and ask on the mx5 forums :) Im sure plenty of people will be Mechanics/Engineers/Body Workers etc. So they may do it on the cheap for you :)
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omg mate thats harsh!
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Did you get an HPI check when you bought the car? Sounds like someone along the line has crashed it and fixed it badly on the cheap.
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Aye, definitely sounds accident damaged
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Yeah I knew it was cat D. It passed the MOT last year obviously through a less stringent inspection. It might still, I dont know yet. Thats why I got it so cheap.
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cat D.. ho hum woulda thought it would have been a C if inspected properly, but having seen the half arsed inspections carried out on my write offs over the years im not surprised it was missed.
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Does it drive wierd, pull to either side? Id just see if I could sneak it through. :lol: Chassis alignment is big bucks. :shock: Surely the wheel alignment can be set to slightly compensate--thats if you find a garage thats as cavalier as you. :lol:
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Depends on how badly twisted it is - my white mini had a dinked front subframe so the front bushes never quite sat right but it wasnt an MOT issue.
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It drives fine max, youd never know any different. The bloke said it was cat D and had been inspected/repaired before he bought it, and he sold it to me after driving it since June last year, so it cant have been that bad before. But obviously the garage I have been going to are a sight more professional than the shady pies outfitters hes been using. Im hoping they will let it slide so i can fix it in my own time.
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Im really happy, turns out the chassis isnt going to be a problem, theyve had their guys look it over and it should pass the MOT. And they are fitting a rear foggy for me :D :D :D
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Ive finally got it back :mrgreen: :mrgreen: :mrgreen:
£580.40 for the full service (most parts supplied by msyelf) with cam belt, alternator pulley, water inlet and coolant hose, belts changed, leads changed, new airfilter, new headlamps, rear fog, full oil changes, wheel alignment and an MOT.
Very satisfied, it drives nice and sounds beautiful now.
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Ive finally got it back :mrgreen: :mrgreen: :mrgreen:
£580.40 for the full service (most parts supplied by msyelf) with cam belt, alternator pulley, water inlet and coolant hose, belts changed, leads changed, new airfilter, new headlamps, rear fog, full oil changes, wheel alignment and an MOT.
Very satisfied, it drives nice and sounds beautiful now.
Grande I was bummed when I heard about all the chassis talk, glad its turned out a-ok 8)
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Cheers, the top is going down this Saturday and Huey Lewis - Power of Love will be blasting :lol: 8)
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oh my.
dont forget to stop off at tony and gay for a trim.
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/prompts image of Vic & Bob in donkey jackets looking in anger at Swiss Tony as he suggests loking at their bras, top down... 8)
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Cheers, the top is going down this Saturday and Huey Lewis - Power of Love will be blasting :lol: 8)
probably pissing rain then lol
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you need to be in a delorean for that to have proper effect nige
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Had my first slidey corner moment coming off a roundabout last night, didnt think I was going that fast at all either really, but as I pulled in the off the roundabout the backend pulled out and I had to whip it back in sharp. More due care necessary I think, maybe I was too sharp on the throttle! Fun though :mrgreen:
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Heh, done that a few times :) It sticks like poo now tho, the F1s are way better than the budgety tyres it came with.
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Do these cars have a speed limiter?
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Are you worried about duking it out with the M5s on the way to the Ring? :shock:
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No, but the downhill of the M62 from Liverpool maxes out my very speedo easily, and a limiter seems to kick in.
Not that I intend on driving like a lunatic all the time. Just the brief period I took seeing what the car can actually do.
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I wouldnt think it has a speed limiter or rev limiter, what speed does it max out at, have you tried to max out in each gear and does it hold back at all
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I wouldnt think it has a speed limiter or rev limiter
Legally all cars in Japan have to have them at 112mph.
and a limiter seems to kick in.
Probs the above, you can get it removed/altered, usually they change the limiter along with your speedo, by changing the pulse from kmh to mph or something, so the limiter changes from 112mph to something much higher.
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Sounds exactly right Matt.
Ill leave it. Its the best incentive Ill ever have to not drive like a loon. :lol:
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Legally all cars in Japan have to have them at 112mph.
Didnt know that,and this being an import.
Bloody hell Clockd 0Ne you were doing 112mph :roll:
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Briefly, in the middle lane of an empty M62. No danger to anyone but myself.
Besides, I cant afford the petrol at those speeds, Ill keep driving sensibly now.
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liek whoa!
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Hrmmm the idea of Nige behind the wheel of a car still scares me anyway...
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LOL why, what have I done to scare you?
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I dunno, just your a nutcase. Theres certain people I just cant picture driving a car for some reason :s Wierd :s
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Legally all cars in Japan have to have them at 112mph.
My prelude had this problem also, thankfully a new Spoon ECU sorted that out :mrgreen:
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Fair enough Gav, I find that funny more than anything else :lol:
Nutcase :nana:
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wheres the need to be going so fast? sub 100 is plenty quick enuff surely?
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wheres the need to be going so fast? sub 100 is plenty quick enuff surely?
This coming from a man who was speeding when he crashed his pride and joy Calibra ;) Hahhah im kidding :p
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precisely why i dont break a ton these days barely see 90 even on the motorway where the nutters are, got overtaken like i was stood still on the motorway and i was doing 90.. its crazy
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Well no worries, Im not driving like that any more :)
In all my time driving though, I never noticed the difference at those speeds, but Im not easily phased so thats probably why.
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Go with the flow. I rarely think about the speedo, except when Im in residential hoods, where I more often than not drive a couple miles per hour under to avoid flattening the slow and fat children. :lol: On the freeway, I stay in the fast lane most of the time, and focus on keeping a safe perimeter around me vs. staring at the speed gauge. ;)
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Ive driven out of Liverpool on the M62, and I dont remember no downhill! Its flat all the way to Manchester!
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Past Manchester, theres a huge downhill run.
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Go with the flow. I rarely think about the speedo, except when Im in residential hoods, where I more often than not drive a couple miles per hour under to avoid flattening the slow and fat children. :lol: On the freeway, I stay in the fast lane most of the time, and focus on keeping a safe perimeter around me vs. staring at the speed gauge. ;)
i went with the flow on the M3, pulled into fast lane behind a line of cars, checked the speedo we were all doing 110mph so i let off and watched them disappear
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110 is fine on the Autobahn, but youll rarely see me go faster than 90, which is usually the fast lane speed when youre going out of town. Seeing as the limit is officially 75, you wont lose you license if youre caught. :P What I dont get are the people that think you should do that sort of speed in the wet. :shock: But they do, when theres a summer t-storm and an inch of water on the road. Thats when youll find me in the slowest lane, doing 40 and cursing that Benny Goodman (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benny_Goodman) and his devils music. :lol:
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http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk_news/story/0,,2014818,00.html
...
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http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk_news/story/0,,2014818,00.html
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Damn, wheres the "hoisted upon your own petard" smilie when you need it. :rofl:
Seen the vid--this guy should lose his license. :disappointed:
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http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk_news/story/0,,2014818,00.html
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Damn, wheres the "hoisted upon your own petard" smilie when you need it. :rofl:
Seen the vid--this guy should lose his license. :disappointed:
100MPH in a residential area? he should be taken out and shot!
ok perhaps not quite, but no more commanding of motorised vehicles for him mehopes.
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I rarely go over 70 on the dual carrageway/Mway. dont know why, i dont have anything against ragging along, and got to 130 before bottling it when i was testing the new car.
I just hate the feeling of using so much more fuel(meant to be 10% more every 5mph after 60) to get their sub 5mins quicker, must be the diesel driver in me.
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Gas is down to $2.08/gallon here again. :shock: Theres no incentive to save. :lol: Not that I drive much at all. Less than 5K per year. :P Used to be a 15K a year man back in my salad days. :lol:
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Gas is down to $2.08/gallon here again. :shock: Theres no incentive to save. :lol: Not that I drive much at all. Less than 5K per year. :P Used to be a 15K a year man back in my salad days. :lol:
just worked it out.
us gallon = 3.8 litres. price here for diesel is 87p/litre so works out about £3.31 for us gallon, about $6.50 per us gallon.
I think:?
i spend over £30 per week on fuel, do about 350miles.
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My Clio would get me to Liverpool and back with a 1/4 tank spare. While I think the tank is a bit smaller on the Mazda, I had to refill when I get there as I had used more than half the tank, a £40/£50 round trip in other words.
Definitely not worth ragging it again!
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I got from Nashville to Seattle once in the early 90s for about $50 worth of fuel. :lol: Daihatsu 1.0L powah! :D
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yep, a heavy foot really drinks the fule :(
my parents got to birmingham and back in my car on £45... it used to cost m £120+
:s
(tho i did it a hell of a lot faster!)
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OMFG £170 for a years tax :( Bread and water for me now :cry:
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OMFG £170 for a years tax :( Bread and water for me now :cry:
:shock:
£110 for me, good old clean diesels :D
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Come to the Holler, you can get a plate and a sticker for £25. :D