Post by Citroen on Apr 3, 2021 17:39:35 GMT 12
darklantern.proboards.com/post/28141Just how isolated is it ? Limited internet - no Youtoobs ! But plenty of power ? Quad 405 + Martin Logans are not a great match. And nowhere to park the Porsche Not sure how isolated that property is but the small settlement is easily reached although when I took the MX5 there for a tiki tour in January I had to turn back early. The road was incredibly rutted and rippled just about shaking the Mazda to bits. Was down to 5km on the crawl back to the sealed road. There are several areas around coastal Southland where internet/4G connection is ropey or non existent. Even the Teretonga motor circuit very close to town can be hit and miss. I miss my Mk1 MX5. And my Frankie...
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Mazda MX5 Apr 3, 2021 18:08:42 GMT 12
- Edited Apr 3, 2021 21:39:27 GMT 12 by RdM
Citroen likes this
Post by RdM on Apr 3, 2021 18:08:42 GMT 12
Ah, MX5 ~ 20 yrs ago I worked sole charge weekends at a rental car place that had 3 MX5's, two with power steering and one without. Very popular with tourists taking for a spin from Auckland CBD to say the Coromandel. One spun out there in fact. But one was done up in retro Austin Powers Union Jack flag paintwork, and had a custom number plate. (I am not in this photo! ;-) - I took the photo. Must find some more pics ;=})
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Post by Citroen on Apr 3, 2021 18:21:21 GMT 12
Sound wasn't great but the MX5 was quite unique in having speakers in the headrest.
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Post by michaelw on Apr 3, 2021 18:48:42 GMT 12
original mk1 mx5, 1600, windup windows, no fancy speakers great handling but s l o w, got carved up by ford lasers and toyota corollas
the aforementioned Porker, fastest road car i've ever driven but alas not mine
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Post by colinf on Apr 3, 2021 20:06:35 GMT 12
I always thought Mazda should have used the rotary turbo engine in the MX5, it’s small, lightweight and powerful. (What would Tim de Paravicini have said.... Wash your mouth out!?) The low amount of torque at low rpm wouldn’t be so noticeable in a light car. I think this engine was becoming more difficult to keep within emissions regulations because of its affinity with oil, it’s not in any current Mazda.
AMR-iFi R&D
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Post by Citroen on Apr 3, 2021 20:08:11 GMT 12
Your MX5?
Such fun to drive, not race!
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Post by colinf on Apr 3, 2021 20:24:51 GMT 12
Mine was a 2nd gen 1.8, the engine was a bit characterless. Nice handling though. I liked the one I drove in Qld, a turbo 1.8. It was actually quite fun, even in just normal driving I thought the engine far more satisfying.
AMR-iFi R&D
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Post by Citroen on Apr 3, 2021 20:49:31 GMT 12
New one looks a bit Porsche like
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Post by cooksferry on Apr 4, 2021 10:20:07 GMT 12
Ours is a 1999 mk2 with the 1800cc motor. Manual trans, NZ new, 2nd owners. Purchased about seven years ago after some brief thoughts about getting another Norton Commando evaporated with the reality and remembrance of too many wet cold rides . We've done about 41,000kms in that time including round the south island, Nelson a couple of times and many, many journeys to Christchurch and Dunedin. Favourite drives though are the round trip through central via Roxburgh, Alexandra, Cromwell and Queenstown and the Southern Scenic Route round the coast to Tuatapere and up the Black Mount road to Manapouri/Te Anau. Perfect MX5 territory. Only two disappointments. For me no air con and the small cabin can be quite hot, top up or down. Wife still a bit peeved that it's blue and not Italian red as all proper sports cars should be. It's a fun 2nd car that doesn't get so much use now but at this stage not worth selling. When we purchased the Mazda we were also looking at a Porsche Boxster as well but after some research on servicing costs and potential problems I think we made the right choice.
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Mazda MX5 Apr 4, 2021 16:09:42 GMT 12
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Post by Citroen on Apr 4, 2021 16:09:42 GMT 12
When I bought my "Miata" it was between this and the Toyota MR2.
So no real choice. The likes of the Audi TT, Boxster, Z3, Alfa Spider, Honda S2000 were to come later.
Mine finally gave up the ghost with only 226,000 km on the clock, with the transmission falling off on the Mangere Bridge, stuck on a hot summer day. Dodgey radiator, brakes, soft top et al, meant not worth fixing. A sad day indeed. 😞
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Post by Citroen on Apr 4, 2021 16:21:31 GMT 12
Best "aircon" when there's no aircon, was with the top off and left hand window down, right hand window up.
Not so much wind turbulence but enough of a breeze.
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Post by michaelw on Apr 4, 2021 16:21:43 GMT 12
Mazda also built the new Fiat 124 Spider on the MX5 platform
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Post by Citroen on Apr 4, 2021 16:32:06 GMT 12
Didn't know that. That kind of saddens me. I remember the 124 as this classic, not a repop clone.
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Post by colinf on Apr 4, 2021 20:28:27 GMT 12
All inspired by Lotus Elan..
AMR-iFi R&D
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Mazda MX5 Apr 4, 2021 20:30:56 GMT 12
- Edited Apr 4, 2021 20:33:31 GMT 12 by michaelw
Post by michaelw on Apr 4, 2021 20:30:56 GMT 12
Same floorplan but different running gear, MX5 uses atmo fours of 1.5 or 2.0 litre capacity, The Fiat used the 1.4 turbo from the Abarth 500.
The MX5 was a reliable Elan that didn't break or leave oil on your driveway.
Having said that, an old NA shape MX5 dropped it's guts on the track today, causing at least one spin
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Mazda MX5 Apr 4, 2021 22:40:33 GMT 12
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Post by cooksferry on Apr 4, 2021 22:40:33 GMT 12
Mine finally gave up the ghost with only 226,000 km on the clock, with the transmission falling off on the Mangere Bridge, stuck on a hot summer day. Dodgey radiator, brakes, soft top et al, meant not worth fixing. A sad day indeed. 😞 Just crept past 150,000 km and seems to run ok. Had the cam belt etc done around 148,000 km. Very particular about the hood and treat it regularly. Also have the factory cover that goes over the soft top when it's down. Sadly the front has quite a few stone chips but I can't justify an expensive repaint. Had to repair both the soft top latches that clip to the top of the screen. Common problem when the safety releases on the latches don't lock securely. I spent the first few days of the lock down last year replacing the drivers seat cushion cover. A genuine cover x Japan wasn't so expensive and the whole job took about three hours tops. Since the car doesn't get used regularly I keep a battery tender permanently attached. It would be nice to have a bit more power, especially in places like the north Dunedin motorway or over the Kilmog. The car does run out of puff up the long steep bits. Not so bad solo but a larger passenger has a noticable effect on performance.
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Pundit
Post by tonyd on Apr 5, 2021 9:03:40 GMT 12
Just back from an early morning blat around Dairy Flat, Peak Rd and Old North Rd:
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Post by michaelw on Apr 5, 2021 12:27:09 GMT 12
Nice ! One of the 135kw Anniversary cars ?
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Post by andrewp on Apr 5, 2021 15:47:18 GMT 12
Love the colour Tony!
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Mazda MX5 Apr 5, 2021 15:50:00 GMT 12
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Post by Citroen on Apr 5, 2021 15:50:00 GMT 12
Persimmon?
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Post by colinf on Apr 5, 2021 19:13:33 GMT 12
It would be nice to have a bit more power, especially in places like the north Dunedin motorway or over the Kilmog. The car does run out of puff up the long steep bits. Not so bad solo but a larger passenger has a noticable effect on performance. That’s where the turbo was better, you don’t need to drive it fast. It just has more torque and made it even more relaxing to drive.
AMR-iFi R&D
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Mazda MX5 Apr 5, 2021 19:22:50 GMT 12
- Edited Apr 5, 2021 19:23:13 GMT 12 by michaelw
Post by michaelw on Apr 5, 2021 19:22:50 GMT 12
Turbos are anathema to true sports cars A good free revving NA motor coupled to a slick manual gearbox is a proven formula for driving pleasure.
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Mazda MX5 Apr 5, 2021 19:41:17 GMT 12
- Edited Apr 5, 2021 19:46:02 GMT 12 by colinf
Post by colinf on Apr 5, 2021 19:41:17 GMT 12
I do miss the Alfasud. It’s atmo 1.5L flat 4 was free revving and zingy, with a light flywheel so it had next to no lag. It made changing gears so fast and had lemon-sharp throttle response when you need it. Not much power though, but still fun to drive under the speed limit! Mine was the same as this:
AMR-iFi R&D
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Mazda MX5 Apr 5, 2021 22:32:17 GMT 12
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Post by cooksferry on Apr 5, 2021 22:32:17 GMT 12
I test drove a NA model with the smaller motor and found it down on power compared to our then current 1996 Civic. Even with the much maligned cvt the Civic handled the Dunedin hills much better. I liked the cvt system, just drove the car much like a two stroke motor bike on the rev counter and it could hum along ok. Much, much better than my wife's current automatic Corolla when it came to getting power to the wheels.
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Post by Citroen on Apr 5, 2021 23:47:59 GMT 12
A good free revving NA motor coupled to a slick manual gearbox is a proven formula for driving pleasure.
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Post by michaelw on Apr 6, 2021 9:55:49 GMT 12
Be hard to beat the Italians for sheer wankiness in gearboxes...
The 2017 Fiat Abarth 695 Biposto with optional £8500 dog-ring gearbox, clutch free shifts but the H -pattern is reversed !
2:15 in video
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Post by andrewp on Apr 6, 2021 10:39:13 GMT 12
Golf GTI 40th Edition is what you need...hairdryers are the way to go!
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Post by Citroen on Apr 6, 2021 16:19:46 GMT 12
Just back from an early morning blat around Dairy Flat, Peak Rd and Old North Rd: "The car is highly specified, with exclusive parts and exclusivity on its side (only 30 made it to Australia), but a $49,990 price makes it $500 more expensive than the top-of-the-range MX-5 RF GT with an auto gearbox" How many made it to NZ?
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Mazda MX5 Apr 6, 2021 17:42:11 GMT 12
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Post by cooksferry on Apr 6, 2021 17:42:11 GMT 12
It would be nice to have a bit more power, especially in places like the north Dunedin motorway or over the Kilmog. The car does run out of puff up the long steep bits. Not so bad solo but a larger passenger has a noticable effect on performance. That’s where the turbo was better, you don’t need to drive it fast. It just has more torque and made it even more relaxing to drive. Not a fan of turbos, on the other hand a supercharger.....😁
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Post by RdM on Apr 6, 2021 18:15:57 GMT 12
Well that was obviously a worthwhile thread redirection! I haven't found more photos yet, possibly on HDs saved from defunct PCs. But I did notice, in case you enthusiasts weren't aware of it (I merely parked them at the time) there is a :- www.mx5forum.co.nz/
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