RE: PH Fleet: Mazda Eunos Roadster

RE: PH Fleet: Mazda Eunos Roadster

Monday 27th August 2012

PH Fleet: Mazda Eunos Roadster

Why have one wedding car when four will do?



That I'm a big fan of my Eunos won't come as especially shocking news to you. But I'm not the only one in the family, as the lead picture reveals. Yes, that's the Trent clan out for a drive - four brothers, four Mazdas, a whole of fun.

Of course the white one was getting the ribbons
Of course the white one was getting the ribbons
Now, an MX-5/Eunos wouldn't seem the most useful of wedding cars there being a distinct lack of seating for bride, groom and driver and the whole wind-in-the-hair thing apparently not especially compatible with fancy wedding hairdos. But as any poor lady unfortunate enough to marry into the Trent family soon discovers we're a bunch of stubborn gits who'll drive about with the roof down until there are icicles coming out of our noses and we can't actually blink it's so cold.

Just as well brother number two (blue car) chose a summer wedding then. Brother number four doesn't actually own his own MX-5 - yet - but thankfully Rotechniks where brother number three (white car) gets his serviced kindly offered up its red courtesy car to complete the set and have a patriotically flavoured red, white and blue theme particularly appropriate given the groom's membership of the armed forces. Thanks guys!

Meep-meep, the Trents are coming!
Meep-meep, the Trents are coming!
The Trents are in town
So there we were, four brothers, four Mazdas and a very jolly day involving only minor hairdo trauma and a fabulously noisy and overexcitable drive from the registry office in Chichester and along some appropriately twisty Hampshire back roads. On the way we passed a more conventionally equipped wedding party in a Bentley who quite literally turned their noses up at the sight of our little convoy. No matter, we were having more fun.

A diminished party enjoyed another fun drive home the following day and it was nice to get out in the Eunos after a bit of inactivity over the last few weeks. And though it scrubbed up nicely there are a few character features I really must address, the battery leads' unwillingness to stay attached and a bit of a bodged earth among them. It also looks like my undertray needs a bit of attention - well, replacing - and I must, must, must get round to swapping back to the 14s.

Is it nature or nurture to blame for this?
Is it nature or nurture to blame for this?
Money where your mouth is
I'm a total hypocrite on this matter too. I'll blather on about how over-wheeling has ruined Porsches and wholeheartedly and vigorously support the purist less grip equals more fun ethos of the BRZ and GT86. And then bling up my own car, ruin the ride and destroy the balance in the name of running some flashy looking rims. The OZs do look gorgeous. But they thump and clatter into hard-edged bumps my brothers' cars on their 14s simply glide over. And the innocent low-speed skidding is gone too. Curse my vanity!

So if there's anyone out there with a single 14-inch 'daisy' wheel out there taking up space let me know. One of mine is badly dinged and this is the main reason I haven't put them back on.

Dan's silver  car ruins patriotic photo call
Dan's silver car ruins patriotic photo call
And in the meantime I must avoid dreaming of throttle bodies in the wake of driving the fabulous MX-5 GT Concept. Exhaust noise - and there's lots of it on my car - is for show-offs. Induction noise is much classier. But I must be sensible...

 

 

 

 

 

 


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: Eunos joins a Mazda-dominated family gathering at which someone apparently got married


Previous reports:
Look, I was kidding about the downforce, right?
The Eunos returns to Scotland for another road trip
Has Dan killed his Eunos?
Snowed-in Eunos gets a mini facelift
Taxed, insured, MOT'd, re-tyred - it's been an expensive month
Eunos gets a loud exhaust and new suspension
New suspension offered but am I worthy?
Purchase price only half the story...
Open Season heralds rare 'money where mouth is' moment...

Author
Discussion

Blayney

Original Poster:

2,948 posts

185 months

Sunday 26th August 2012
quotequote all
Absolutely brilliant, looks like a lot of fun.

My hearty congratulations to the bridge and groom also.

TomV8

387 posts

206 months

Sunday 26th August 2012
quotequote all
Congratulations to the bride and groom, and I'm glad to see petrol running through the family veins!

It might be completely wrong but I found on my Eunos the battery cable had been overtightened in the past (a non-Westco battery had been used - which leaked acid into the boot!) and as a result the lead connector had snapped so regardless of how hard you tightened it, it wouldn't stay on! Cue several mornings of non starting, one involving driving across the lawn in my other car to get off the drive!

It wasn't particularly easy to spot, what with the battery tucked away in the boot crevices, but once I found the problem I had the connector cut off and replaced. Solved the issue straight away.

rtz62

3,333 posts

154 months

Sunday 26th August 2012
quotequote all
Dan Trent; I hate you!!

Only because your diatribes have seriously got me looking at theses at auction, and SWMBO (she who must be obeyed) will have my 'nads as ear decorations if I get one without discussing it first.
I say 'discussing it'.
She has read several of my Brian Clough books and subscribes to his view of sorting things out;
Sit down, talk about it for 20 minutes and then decide that she was right in the first place.....

Goodfella 555

199 posts

167 months

Sunday 26th August 2012
quotequote all
As an owner of an Mk3 MR2 (and the wife owns an S2k) I'm obviously not a big fan of Mazdas, however, credit where it is due MX5 drivers definetly do have their roofs down more than any other convertible owners. The jury is out as to whether they are made of tougher stuff or they just have no sense...

Nice article, a nice reflection on the market that you can pick up such fun cars on such a small budget, 10 years ago getting a good convertible for a months wage was unheard of.


ETA - Just noticed it cost you £1,250 (a lot less than i had realised) - top work

Edited by Goodfella 555 on Sunday 26th August 10:53

tomoleeds

770 posts

185 months

Sunday 26th August 2012
quotequote all
Is it me or does picture 3 look like a modern YMCA moment

K2MDL

2,673 posts

218 months

Sunday 26th August 2012
quotequote all
What I want to know is how you are meant to have proper control of the pedals - in flip flops!!! blah

LouD86

3,278 posts

152 months

Sunday 26th August 2012
quotequote all
We deffo are made of tougher stuff!! Nice report Dan, the roof is down on mine today, due for a drive up to Bucklers Hard, should be a pleasant day!

Daisy's, get yourself on MX5 Nutz, they exchange for about £30 a set of 4 on there, Ive just brought another set in addition to mine!

MadDog1962

890 posts

161 months

Sunday 26th August 2012
quotequote all
Am I imagining it or has the latest MX5 got less driver and passenger space than the originals had?

I always fancied one, and here in the USA they're very affordable. But I rode in one last week and found it a bit too tight for me, and I am only 178cm and 86 kg.

drchris

318 posts

179 months

Sunday 26th August 2012
quotequote all
Mmmmm must get the Daisy's back on mine as well. Didnt realise quite how heavy my 'cheap-and-nasty-15s-but-they-come-with-new-toyos-so-I'll-cope' alloys were. Can barely lift them!

It's all about the unsprung weight....

Lovely set of cars Dan and congrats to the new marrieds.

suffolk009

5,304 posts

164 months

Sunday 26th August 2012
quotequote all
LouD86 said:
We deffo are made of tougher stuff!! Nice report Dan, the roof is down on mine today, due for a drive up to Bucklers Hard, should be a pleasant day!

Daisy's, get yourself on MX5 Nutz, they exchange for about £30 a set of 4 on there, Ive just brought another set in addition to mine!
I paid 90 quid, for a set of four, with good s/h tyres fitted, delivered.

roverspeed

700 posts

195 months

Sunday 26th August 2012
quotequote all
Mine is parked in my garage right now.......................and it has its roof down!!! ha!

Good show chaps!

Codd

81 posts

170 months

Monday 27th August 2012
quotequote all
Cracking write up and what a way to celebrate a wedding day!

I've a full set of Daisys sitting around unloved as I managed to secure another set of 14s that I've been quite happy with. The Daisys could definitely do with a refurb but 3 of four are tidy as and all have good tyres.

gentlemangreen

1,121 posts

200 months

Monday 27th August 2012
quotequote all
You have to appreciate a good wedding car convoy! Mine last May -


Dan Trent

1,866 posts

167 months

Monday 27th August 2012
quotequote all
Fantastic! clap

the_hood

769 posts

193 months

Monday 27th August 2012
quotequote all
It's good that you've got staff to look after the hair salon while you're all out having your photos taken biggrin

Dan Trent

1,866 posts

167 months

Monday 27th August 2012
quotequote all
I refer you to the sticker a friend had made up for me especially... wink


src1971

126 posts

194 months

Monday 27th August 2012
quotequote all
I've completely removed the roof on mine. If it rains I just make sure I keep it above 40mph to stay dry.

Of course, that means I have to remove all hairdressing equipment at night.

the_hood

769 posts

193 months

Monday 27th August 2012
quotequote all
Dan Trent said:
I refer you to the sticker a friend had made up for me especially... wink

Nice wink

krispe

69 posts

203 months

Tuesday 28th August 2012
quotequote all
Dan - I recently switched back to my 14" daisies for the road on my white MK1. I have a set of 15" Black Watanabe alloys with Toyo R1R tyres which look gorgeous on the car but the ride is harsh and way too much grip for innocent tail out fun in the dry. I now keep these just for my trackdays as the ride quality and day to day fun factor on the original 14" wheels and Falken ZE912 185/60 tyres is much much better. I've just had the daisies powder coated black and removed the plastic centre covers so they don't look too dissimilar to my Watanabe's and suit my white car.

JamesHayward

655 posts

163 months

Tuesday 28th August 2012
quotequote all
Dan I've told you before, 13's are the way! I should have fitted my tyres up within the next couple of weeks. Once that's done take it for a drive and see what you think.

For everyone else's reference these are what you need...
13 x 7 Minilites.