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Thanks everyone, and thanks PH - 15 minutes of fame… sort of. 
The sills are now a work in progress - there's not a huge amount of rot, although it's clearly been done once already on the offside.
Rather like the MG, my plan is to make good use over the summer and see where we get to. It's a **much** better drive than the 'F', far less tired and genuinely good to drive so I'm looking forward to it. I've had a good number of of MX5s, including a '91 Le Mans, but there's something about an honest, cheap and well maintained Mazda that's really quite endearing.
Talking of well maintained, here's something I didn't expect to find in the boot - a 2 inch thick folder of receipts, MOTs and hand written maintenance logs:
The sills are now a work in progress - there's not a huge amount of rot, although it's clearly been done once already on the offside.
Rather like the MG, my plan is to make good use over the summer and see where we get to. It's a **much** better drive than the 'F', far less tired and genuinely good to drive so I'm looking forward to it. I've had a good number of of MX5s, including a '91 Le Mans, but there's something about an honest, cheap and well maintained Mazda that's really quite endearing.
Talking of well maintained, here's something I didn't expect to find in the boot - a 2 inch thick folder of receipts, MOTs and hand written maintenance logs:
Been a busy week for the '5.
Next week is a big test - just as I did with the MGF, I'm going to commute it for a week - 110 miles per day on a mix of twisties, motorway and traffic… we'll see where we stand in 550 miles time. At risk of tempting fate, I suspect the little MX has a much better chance of making it without problems than the 'F ever did.
On a separate note, I rather like the 'in seat' speakers. In well over 100 cars and 22 years of motoring I've never come across this before - it's genius.
- 3 bad sills - cut out, new piece welded in, prepped and painted. (the 4th one can wait for now - that can be a winter job)
- Scabby A-pillar rubbed down, repaired and painted - wasn't all that bad really
- a good clean and a polish
- fluid check (all fine - I was going to do the oil and filter, but it's pretty new)
Next week is a big test - just as I did with the MGF, I'm going to commute it for a week - 110 miles per day on a mix of twisties, motorway and traffic… we'll see where we stand in 550 miles time. At risk of tempting fate, I suspect the little MX has a much better chance of making it without problems than the 'F ever did.
On a separate note, I rather like the 'in seat' speakers. In well over 100 cars and 22 years of motoring I've never come across this before - it's genius.
Edited by MattGTA on Saturday 1st August 16:50
Success !
517 mile this week with zero problems - four days of commuting to Canary Wharf and a Wednesday evening blat across Sussex for a pub dinner with a couple of friends.
There was, however, one harrowing moment - in the form of an extremely large splinter from the (otherwise delightful) Nardi steering wheel as I leant enthusiastically into a roundabout on the A21. A massive shard of wood came off the back of the rim and imbedded itself in my pointer (right next to the nail) as the wheel slipped through my hands. Rude words… but thankfully both my finger and the line I was taking through the roundabout were saved without lasting damage. Just.
So the next job is to work out how to re-lacquer the wooden wheel and restore it to it's former glory. Whilst I'm at it, I'll do the same for the hand brake, which is in similar condition. I'm also going to look for an original Nardi gear know. It feels more carpentry / decorating than car maintenance but how hard can it be…
517 mile this week with zero problems - four days of commuting to Canary Wharf and a Wednesday evening blat across Sussex for a pub dinner with a couple of friends.
- Total miles: 517
- Miles with roof down and shirt sleeves: 517
- Mechanical issues: 0
- Things I'm worried about: 0
- Worst Weather: Biblical rain, thunder and lightening on Wednesday evening.
There was, however, one harrowing moment - in the form of an extremely large splinter from the (otherwise delightful) Nardi steering wheel as I leant enthusiastically into a roundabout on the A21. A massive shard of wood came off the back of the rim and imbedded itself in my pointer (right next to the nail) as the wheel slipped through my hands. Rude words… but thankfully both my finger and the line I was taking through the roundabout were saved without lasting damage. Just.
So the next job is to work out how to re-lacquer the wooden wheel and restore it to it's former glory. Whilst I'm at it, I'll do the same for the hand brake, which is in similar condition. I'm also going to look for an original Nardi gear know. It feels more carpentry / decorating than car maintenance but how hard can it be…
Edited by MattGTA on Saturday 8th August 00:51
Howard- said:
That MX5 looks great. I want another one. don't know where everyone finds the cheap ones but if one that didn't require any welding presented itself in front of me asking less than a grand I'll buy it there and then.
Yours for £950 
You get a cheap MX5 and I continue my quest up the food chain from the £90 MG !
Right chaps - steering wheel restoration time - here's the plan:
1) Remove the wheel
2) Use wood stripper and stripping pads to get the remaining lacquer / varnish off
3) Gently sand with a fine grain paper (200 / 220)
4) Fill any cracks with something stainable
5) Sand again
6) Varnish
7) Lacquer
Is it as 'simple' as that ?
Also, if anyone has a good idea for how to preserve / recreate the black line, or any thoughts on what filler, varnish and lacquer to use, I'm all ears.
I'm sensing an opportunity to make a complete tit of this so may practice on the handbrake handle first.
cheers
Matt
1) Remove the wheel
2) Use wood stripper and stripping pads to get the remaining lacquer / varnish off
3) Gently sand with a fine grain paper (200 / 220)
4) Fill any cracks with something stainable
5) Sand again
6) Varnish
7) Lacquer
Is it as 'simple' as that ?
Also, if anyone has a good idea for how to preserve / recreate the black line, or any thoughts on what filler, varnish and lacquer to use, I'm all ears.
I'm sensing an opportunity to make a complete tit of this so may practice on the handbrake handle first.
cheers
Matt
Hi all,
It's been a little while since I've been on here, with annoyingly little time to play with cars over the past few months.
And the best thing about the little Mazda is that there is nothing much to report. I'm getting close to 5000 miles in it now and it hasn't missed a beat. In fact, I've spent absolutely nothing on it since my last report, right up until today when I changed the oil. It's still tight and responsive, always starts on the first twist of the key and (touch wooden steering wheel) shows no signs of any imminent problems either. The repaired sills still look good, in spite of the onslaught of salt and rain.
It's had a couple of weeks sat idle now, but I'm going to commute in it again from tomorrow.
It still looks a bit scruffy around the edges (slightly dull paint, the odd bit of superficial rust, patched up rip in rear screen) but as I've got to know it better, those things have somehow made more endearing.
Wish me luck - I intend to be the only person on the M25 / A2 tomorrow at 7am with the roof down.
There is no reason whatsoever to let it go… but I'm starting to think about moving it on in early spring in order to crack on with the next chapter of "The £90 MGF"
It's been a little while since I've been on here, with annoyingly little time to play with cars over the past few months.
And the best thing about the little Mazda is that there is nothing much to report. I'm getting close to 5000 miles in it now and it hasn't missed a beat. In fact, I've spent absolutely nothing on it since my last report, right up until today when I changed the oil. It's still tight and responsive, always starts on the first twist of the key and (touch wooden steering wheel) shows no signs of any imminent problems either. The repaired sills still look good, in spite of the onslaught of salt and rain.
It's had a couple of weeks sat idle now, but I'm going to commute in it again from tomorrow.
It still looks a bit scruffy around the edges (slightly dull paint, the odd bit of superficial rust, patched up rip in rear screen) but as I've got to know it better, those things have somehow made more endearing.
Wish me luck - I intend to be the only person on the M25 / A2 tomorrow at 7am with the roof down.
There is no reason whatsoever to let it go… but I'm starting to think about moving it on in early spring in order to crack on with the next chapter of "The £90 MGF"
Edited by MattGTA on Sunday 24th January 17:00
Edited by MattGTA on Sunday 24th January 17:05
Action jack84 said:
any more updates on the mx5?
Yes. Well, indirectly...The MX5 is still rocking on, but I've also now got my hands on another one - the new addition being a 1991 Le Mans MX5 - one of two that was resprayed black by Mazda (from race livery green and orange) when (unbelievably) they didn't manage to sell all 24 back in the day. This will be my second Le Mans (having previously owned the one that's been featured on PH a few times) so to make way, I'm moving on from the green one.
I'm hoping to close out the sale over the next 24 hrs or so but don't worry - "The £90 MGF" thread will continue with Chapter 3 shortly - all thoughts on what I should buy next are welcomed...once we know how much cash is in the pot !
In the meantime, I'm also planning to start a thread on the Le Mans, which is going to get a full 'nut and bolt' job - more of that to follow shortly.
I spent the morning considering my next move. With some careful buying, I reckon £665 could have led to some pretty brave purchases. An old Rover or Jag perhaps? An early RX8 (now there's brave) or maybe a Fiat Coupe?
As I got more and more carried away with thoughts of leggy / knackered exotica, I thought too about the fun I'd had with the two little roadsters. Both had bags of character and both cost peanuts to buy and run. With all said and done, the whole thread can be summarised as follows: 2 years, 2 cars, 1 head gasket, 2 oil changes, 3 rusty sill repairs, 8500 miles and 1 MOT. With all that costs added up, my total spend left me 53 quid up on the deal. Win.
So it seems that this is as good a place as any to celebrate a happy ending. This evening, I took my £53 profit, bought something smooth, red and exotic and sailed off into the sunset with a smile on my face and £41 in my pocket. I even have a small wooden keepsake from the Mazda to remember the journey by.
It was fun, and one day I'll do it again. But for now, it's over and out.
I wonder what ever happened to that MG !
Matt
The end.
As I got more and more carried away with thoughts of leggy / knackered exotica, I thought too about the fun I'd had with the two little roadsters. Both had bags of character and both cost peanuts to buy and run. With all said and done, the whole thread can be summarised as follows: 2 years, 2 cars, 1 head gasket, 2 oil changes, 3 rusty sill repairs, 8500 miles and 1 MOT. With all that costs added up, my total spend left me 53 quid up on the deal. Win.
So it seems that this is as good a place as any to celebrate a happy ending. This evening, I took my £53 profit, bought something smooth, red and exotic and sailed off into the sunset with a smile on my face and £41 in my pocket. I even have a small wooden keepsake from the Mazda to remember the journey by.
It was fun, and one day I'll do it again. But for now, it's over and out.
I wonder what ever happened to that MG !
Matt
The end.
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