Summer cars

strtdv

strtdv said:

Here it is after a little work on the paint and a new electric retracting aerial:








I cleaned up the interior and got the front fog lights working too. Next is to clean the engine bay and convert the offside reverse light to a rear fog light

Got the fog light removed today (and finally got imgur images to post too).
I'm sanding the hardtop, about 80% there in terms of getting the black paint off, then got to give it the once over with 1000 grit and 1500 grit and hopefully get it painted this weekend.

I've noticed that unfortunately one of the rear springs has cracked (the offside one thankfully as it's much easier to get at the bolts in the boot on that side), so that'll need replaced at the same time as the major service and the waxoyl job. after that it'll just be enjoying it for the rest of the year, and planning to do some more work in the autumn (potentially get the bonnet resprayed and fit a catback exhaust for another few horses (should be close to 130 at the crank with that, the JDM 1.6 allegedly makes 120bhp rather than 115, and it's got a cold air intake which makes it perkier after 5000rpm, and the exhaust should be good for another 4bhp or so.

rsvmark

Loaner a few years ago at MotoGP. I got a round of applause from all the Ducati mechanics when I drove it past the back of their pit

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49937397311_4cbbf94d3f_b.jpg


https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49936886653_c231ed3f6a_h_d.jpg

Karlos

This was the last of a few Mini Cooper Sports I had - surf blue. 

Not so much a summer car as my regular car but obviously a lot of fun in the summer and used a lot more in drier months.
I sold it when I needed something more practical for work with the promise that I'd get another when finances allow. I am very much looking forward to that day and that one will probably be more of a summer/weekend use car.

strtdv

Work continues on the MX-5, I've got the offside reverse light wired as the foglight with a red bulb in there to keep it road legal, and I left it in to a specialist today to get a major service (cambelt, CPS seal, cam cover seal and water pump replacement, as well as all fluids (engine, gear and diff oil and coolant) changed, and rust proofing/cavity waxoyl application.

As well as that two of the coil springs are getting replaced (previous owner must have hit a very large pothole indeed!).

On the plus side the specialist said it's one of the most mechanically sound Mk1s he's seen in a long while with essentially no significant rust at all, so it looks like it'll be a keeper.
Should be ready by next weekend, a fairly substantial bill (likely £700) but worth doing to a car I'll be keeping a few years that's otherwise in very good order.

The drive down the Ards peninsula to leave it off was lovely, blazing sun and wonderful scenery.

I'm also about 80% through respraying the hardtop, just the clearcoat to do.

strtdv

Picked the car up from the garage today and got the finished roof on as well.

The work was pretty extensive but it should be sound for years now. The underside looks new, really pleased with it, and the roof turned out well considering a complete hack with some spray cans did it (ie me)

strtdv

Well in the end the Mk1 had to go in the autumn. It had a lot of positives: great fun to drive at sensible speeds, lovely gearbox, fantastic steering feel and it was dead cheap to insure. The pop up headlights were charming too.

However, the faff of changing between the hardtop and soft-top was annoying (and a 2 person job). The soft-top was rubbish so really if it was wet at all you needed the hardtop. It also had an annoying oil leak which I couldn't get sorted despite changing most of the engine seals, and due to the short gearing, 5 speed gearbox, and complete absence of any sound deadening between the engine and the cabin, it droned along at about 4300rpm at motorway speeds which got quite tiresome.
It also had absolutely no safety kit at all which was worrying on the odd occasion I had to transport our son in it.

In the end I sold it, but I've fancied another MX-5 since, particularly as I've sold my Focus RS on the grounds of being impractically quick (even on B roads it was too easy to see triple digits) when driven enthusiastically.
An MX-5 just hits that sweet spot of being involving and fun to drive without getting to licence losing speeds.

I was planning on getting a Mk3.5 or 3.75 Sport Tech model, which would give me the benefit of a folding hard top, but it's a bit portly by MX-5 standards, and decent examples of the 3.75 are £10k+ which is a fair amount for an 8 year old car which cost £18k new.

There's a Mk4/ND Soft-top nearby for sale with low miles, 2 litre Sport spec for reasonable money which has me really tempted. No Nav which was a very odd spec choice but it can be added retrospectively and might give a haggling opportunity. I figure if I like it I might get the BBR Super 200 kit fitted in a year or so, and if I don't I shouldn't lose too much money on it

TheMarlin

Wazmeister said:

I would always like to have a convertible in the family...

This is the wife's Mini Cooper. Best fun Ive ever had in a car.

My wife has a Mini Copper S, it’s a few years old, but very low mileage, and been as good as gold. It’s a riot to hoon around the country lines in, and I can’t help but drive it like an idiot.  It’s a joyous little thing. Very planted with predictable handling, I’ve worked out I can take the roundabout to my local Waitrose at 30mph with bit of a rear slide, but still stay clear of the bollards. Never did that in the Mondeo!

It puts a stupid grin on my face.  I’ve had much faster cars, but this is much more fun at ‘popping to the shop’ speeds. Perfect little town car, and swallows my ‘comfortable’ 6ft 1 frame with ease.  Way more than practical than it looks. 

stickyfiddle

strtdv said:

There's a Mk4/ND Soft-top nearby for sale with low miles, 2 litre Sport spec for reasonable money which has me really tempted. No Nav which was a very odd spec choice but it can be added retrospectively and might give a haggling opportunity. I figure if I like it I might get the BBR Super 200 kit fitted in a year or so, and if I don't I shouldn't lose too much money on it

Sounds a good option. I love the ND - I definitely see one in my future, just as soon as we're living somewhere with more than 1 parking space...

strtdv

The only thing that's holding me back is the fact that with the ND I need to choose between a proper roof down convertible and a hard top. If it was going to be my main car long term I think I'd need the RF version, but I plan on buying a reasonably brisk estate which will carry out the moving children and associated stuff around, so the soft top should be fine

Axe_meister

If you are six foot tall the RF is too small you head hits the roof.

stickyfiddle

I do think concept of the RF is really neat, and it reminds me of old 60s coupes, which is FAB, but an MX5 has to be a proper soft top for me. Modern ones are just fine, and it really is a 5 second job to put up or down

Dominic

I've got a terrible hankering for a V8 Morgan in Silver with Oxblood leather

strtdv

Different price league to the Mazda! 

Do Morgan make a V8 engined car anymore or is a BMW straight 6 their biggest engine? They seem like the kind of brand that an old lump of a Rover V8 would suit.

Think I'll take a look at the MX-5 tomorrow or Tuesday, with the BBR Super 200 package and new exhaust it should be plenty quick (200hp/tonne), and retain the nice NA throttle response, though the 320bhp stage 2 turbo upgrade is tempting, 0-60 in about 4.3 if you can get the rear wheels to grip

breezytele

OP, here’s my Mk 3.75. (Final facelift). 2013 in Dolphin Grey

(The boot can take a cased Les Paul )

strtdv

Lovely, do you deliver to Belfast?

breezytele

strtdv said:

Lovely, do you deliver to Belfast?

The photos are of my car ,taken at the dealer when I bought it. (It’s not been that clean since then !)

The dealer specialises in top examples of MX-5s
I guess  he would happily deliver to Belfast 

I did look at the Mk 4, and RF, but prefer the roomier cabin (and looks) of the Mk3. 

Stevepage

Don't have another car but I love the idea of driving one of these around with the roof off driving near the coast. Or maybe around Devon/Lake District with the sun shining without a cloud in the sky.

https://cdn.motor1.com/images/mgl/WplvO/s1/jeep-wrangler-rubicon-392-concept.jpg

prowla

Got to get the red jalopy out soon.

AK99

I used to have a blue one. One of the much lighter S1 variants..

strtdv

There's actually a VX220 listed locally (ugly sister to the S2 Elise), but it's a Cat D and I'm not convinced your average repair shop or insurance adjuster would be able to assess whether a bonded aluminium chassis was roadworthy or not, so don't think I'll risk it.
Planning to see the Mazda tomorrow.

I've been driving my wife's grandpa's old car since selling the RS which to be fair is very economical but also awful in every way (it's a 2013 Citroen C3)