When it came out the NA/Mk1 MX-5 was meant to be a modern take on the classic car. Having turned 25 years old it's now actually falling into that category itself. Mine has even started behaving like one too, for the truly authentic experience.
Do the timewarp: 15th MX-5/Miata off the line
Having had nothing even approaching a mechanical hiccup in all its years in my ownership it's suddenly developed a couple of issues, he said glossing over the time the headlights failed halfway along pitch black Llanberis Pass (a fuse) and the will it, won't it starting from the loose battery connection (call it a security feature).
But no, something HAS gone wrong and I'm going to have to get the spanners out. Sticking brake calipers are a common MX-5 issue and my nearside rear has finally succumbed. Just deserts for not driving it enough. Given the Mazda's long periods stationary I usually leave it in gear rather than with the handbrake on and this seems to have saved me thus far. But the sliding pin on the rear caliper has got very sticky, to the point where it doesn't swing up as it should when you remove the pads. I'm going to get physical on it, see if I can free it up and get busy with the wire wool and copper grease. If that doesn't work it'll be a visit to MX5parts for a reconditioned unit - £71.90 once you've sent your old one back in exchange and recouped your £35.26 surcharge.
Well, at least Dan knows how it SHOULD look
The other issue that came up the other day was an alarmingly fast idle on start up, the revs surging to a 2,000rpm fast tickover and then pulsing between this and 1,500 or so. Making it sound to my no doubt delighted neighbours like I was sitting in the car and blipping it for a solid 10 minutes - suddenly that noisy exhaust didn't seem quite so brilliant. Now 'idle droop' is an issue many MX-5 owners will be familiar with (not one requiring a little blue pill to those sniggering at the back) but this was rather different and a little worrying. It cleared itself after a bit but I remain at a loss as to what caused it.
Elsewhere in my Mazda-mad world I had to laugh at the insanity of going all the way to Pebble Beach to gaze on the multi-million dollar automotive aristocracy only to get all excited about having an early Miata MX-5 parked outside our hotel. But it was the 15th US spec car off the line, liberated from Mazda USA's private collection and on display as part of a 25th anniversary event.
The livery is definitely authentically Japanese
A reprise of the classic British roadster as imagined by Americans and engineered by the Japanese, the role of Mazda USA's Californian HQ in the development of the original MX-5 is significant. Given the beautiful RX-7 Spirit R we featured as
a Time For Tea?
a little while back comes from the same collection you'll perhaps understand my shameless attempts to schmooze its politely startled chaperone and lay the foundations for a future visit.
Further MX-5 related fun is to come just next week too, as I fly off to Japan to indulge in more 25th anniversary activity and witness the unveiling of the all-new fourth generation car. We've seen the chassis and running gear already and it'd seem Mazda is keeping the faith in the traditional underpinnings and concept of that original car. So I can't wait to see the finished product. Exciting as this is it's not the thing I'm looking forward to most about the trip. No, that'll be the four-hour MX-5 race I'll be taking part in at Tsukuba. God knows how many laps of that place I've done in Gran Turismo. Now I'll be able to do it for real in a liveried up MX-5 race car. It's got the PistonHeads logos. It's got the scantily clad anime babes. It really is a video game experience made real. Expect to hear more about this next week. Probably quite a lot more. Apologies in advance.
Fact sheet:
Car: 1993 Eunos Roadster (JDM import model)
Run by: Dan Trent
Bought: January 2011
Purchase price: £1,250
Last month at a glance: What manner of JDM goodness can Dan find for his Eunos out in Japan?