New guy saying hi - with pics

New guy saying hi - with pics

Author
Discussion

AshG

Original Poster:

164 posts

202 months

Monday 30th July 2007
quotequote all
Morning all!

Long time lurker, first time poster. I didn't join earlier as I thought I couldn't possibly sign up to such a high octane forum with something as humble as an MX-5. But seeing as how this place has a dedicated bunch of fellow 5 enthusiasts, I thought I'd come join the party.

Anyway, here's my P&J: 1998 1.8iS. Bought about 4 years ago with 44k miles on the clock. Added some refinements of my own, and now she's got 85k on the clock and still going strong. Never misses a beat, never fails to start and consistently puts a big grin on my face. I reckon, probably the best all-round car I'll ever own. Here she is, fresh out of the bodyshop this weekend after removal of parking dents, and with clear reflectors and side indicators added:






Edited by AshG on Monday 30th July 10:04

speedychrissie

2,994 posts

240 months

Monday 30th July 2007
quotequote all
they are lovely seats and a beautiful car. if i had endless funds i would like to get some seats like them for my car or maybe some elise ones (but that will have to wait a very long time as other stuff is way more important)

Edit: forgot to say welcome to PH wavey

Edited by speedychrissie on Monday 30th July 10:07

Munter

31,319 posts

242 months

Monday 30th July 2007
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In about a years time your clutch slave cylinder will fail. Just letting you know! smile

(My 1997 1.8is slave cylinder let go 1 month after it's 10 year registration anniversary, and 90,000 miles)

I want an Elise!

680 posts

212 months

Monday 30th July 2007
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Welcome ! wavey

Very tidy car you have there !

AshG

Original Poster:

164 posts

202 months

Monday 30th July 2007
quotequote all
Thanks all so far. The leather was one of the first things I had done to it when I got the car...the interior was just too dark for me, and the cloth seats were worn and cracking around the edges. Plus, how can you NOT have a roadster without leather?! Actually, the car is probably in a better state now than when I got it, at least cosmetically.

Hmmm...how much am I gonna be looking at for the clutch slave cylinder...?

Plus, how do I stop my photos on here resizing slightly and looking a big 'jagged'?

speedychrissie

2,994 posts

240 months

Monday 30th July 2007
quotequote all
AshG said:
Plus, how do I stop my photos on here resizing slightly and looking a big 'jagged'?
PH automatically resizes any photo wider than 750 pixels. so when you resize them and upload them choose to keep them to 750 wide and they will be fine.

AshG

Original Poster:

164 posts

202 months

Monday 30th July 2007
quotequote all
Thank you!

Wigeon Incognito

3,271 posts

219 months

Monday 30th July 2007
quotequote all
That's a stunner!

A couple of questions if I may:

1) Do you think those wheels were standard on your car?

I have a UK '98 1.8iS too with the same wheels, and many other '98 UK 1.8iS I looked at had the same wheels, but I've heard conflicting views as to whether they were thrown on by Mazda as standard at that point or not.

2) How much did it cost to have your bodywork sorted out, and obviously for me to predict more accurately what it may cost to have mine done what sort of state was it in?

I have the 1 parking ding on the left, a barely noticeable ding on the right, and a couple of paint blemishes. I'm thinking of selling mine a little later in the year and would like to bring it back to the immaculate state it was in when I bought it.

AshG

Original Poster:

164 posts

202 months

Monday 30th July 2007
quotequote all
Hello Wigeon, and thanks!

As far as I know, those are the standard wheels for the MK1 1.8iS. They came with the car, and certainly all the other MK1 1.8iS I have seen have them. I personally think they look really good for standard wheels.

As for the bodywork, I had the dreaded sill rust on both sides of the car, so while that was being sorted, I asked the garage to sort out the bodywork. My car had what I call "auto cellulite"; the doors were covered in LOTS of little dents, mostly caused by the previous owner I think, who kept it garaged but also kept lots of heavy boxes in his garage and I think he was a tad careless around the car. A few were also caused by other careless drivers. Now, bear in mind that my girlfriend's father is very good friends with a guy who owns a body shop. In the end, he sorted out the rust, removed all the dents on both doors and resprayed front and rear bumpers. I paid £385! (cash in hand wink ) The car looks practically spotless now.

If I didn't have this connection to the body shop, I can't imagine that all the work would have come in at less than £1000; probably a lot more!

For one parking dent, I suppose you could always try one of those companies that practice so-called 'paintless dent removal', although I have heard varying reports of the quality of work they offer. I can't think it would be worth a trip to a proper body shop for a few very small dents.

Edited by AshG on Monday 30th July 11:33

Wigeon Incognito

3,271 posts

219 months

Monday 30th July 2007
quotequote all
Thanks for that! Luckily I don't have any rust so it'd just be the odd ding I'd need doing.

Somebody drove into the back of me the other day so handily my rear bumper is now going to be replaced on the insurance, although annoyingly it was the front that originally had more scuffs (careless previous owner)!

Maybe I can strike a deal with the guys doing the insurance repairs.

Munter

31,319 posts

242 months

Monday 30th July 2007
quotequote all
AshG said:
Hello Wigeon, and thanks!

As far as I know, those are the standard wheels for the MK1 1.8iS. They came with the car, and certainly all the other MK1 1.8iS I have seen have them. I personally think they look really good for standard wheels.
These are the wheels fitted to my 1997 1.8is. So possibly at somepoint in 97/98 they changed wheels....or they were an upgrade option. What size are your tyres?



Edited by Munter on Monday 30th July 12:50

MX-5 Lazza

7,952 posts

220 months

Monday 30th July 2007
quotequote all
They look like standard Mk2 wheels to me.

Wigeon Incognito

3,271 posts

219 months

Monday 30th July 2007
quotequote all
MX-5 Lazza said:
They look like standard Mk2 wheels to me.
No, not Mk2. They're the same wheels as you get on a Mk1 Eunos VR Limited, or accroding to mx-5.net an R Limited Version II.

MX-5 Lazza

7,952 posts

220 months

Monday 30th July 2007
quotequote all
Maybe they are but they still "look like" standard Mk2 alloys biggrin

Matt230

138 posts

208 months

Monday 30th July 2007
quotequote all
These wheels were fitted to the last Mk1 1.8is and i believe that they are very very light. As mentioned above also fitted to the eunos Combination's

Nice looking 5 by the way

Matt

Mazdagirl

313 posts

203 months

Tuesday 31st July 2007
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Love those leather seats! Stunning car.

AshG

Original Poster:

164 posts

202 months

Wednesday 1st August 2007
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Thanks Mazdagirl! Yours is lovely too...unusual colour; it really suits the curves of that model.

Mazdagirl

313 posts

203 months

Wednesday 1st August 2007
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AshG said:
Thanks Mazdagirl! Yours is lovely too...unusual colour; it really suits the curves of that model.
Thanks Ash. The colour is amazing in the sun you can really pick out the gold flecks.biggrin

Legend83

10,005 posts

223 months

Thursday 2nd August 2007
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Hey wavey and welcome. I am a recent newbie too and like you when you bought yours, I am getting strange looks when I walk around in public with a fixated grin showing my pearly whites!

DennisTheMenace

15,603 posts

269 months

Thursday 2nd August 2007
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Lovely looking 5 you have there Ash.