Tuesday 4th February 2014

Mazda Eunos Roadster: PH Fleet

Just what was needed - an even louder exhaust system!

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January heralded a series of anniversaries for the Eunos. Last year was both the 20th birthday of my car and also my 20th year of driving. At least the car's improved with age. 2014 meanwhile marks the 25th birthday of the original Miata/MX-5/Eunos, which means the cry of a child - "Mummy, mummy - look, a classic car!" - as I passed the other day isn't actually far off the mark any more. Amazing that I heard him actually; the car is now considerably louder than it was thanks to the Jackson Racing exhaust manifold that has somehow made the journey from under Garlick's desk and into my Mazda's engine bay.

Garlick's loss Eunos' gain, though ears ringing

I'm still not sure of the exact chain of events that led to it coming into my possession beyond it not fitting on Paul's 1.8 and then into my lock-up for a period before MoT time beckoned. With the cat going back on for that and exhaust fiddling required I thought I may as well get The Car Works to see if it would fit on my 1.6. It did! And is now the shiniest thing in a rather grimy looking engine bay.

Does it make a difference? Well, my exhaust set-up is a proper bitsa system with a rear section from my brother that's either Moss or MX-5 Parts (can't quite remember after various swaps), a de-cat centre and now the Jackson Racing header. Scientifically flow optimised it is not. But it does sound good with a nice metallic rasp reminiscent of my grandad's old Alfasud and the little twin-cam seems even more eager to rev. Not sure I'd make it through the Goodwood noise test any more though, which is a shame given how fun it was there. It's not gone down well domestically either. But that's why we bought a Fiesta shed.

Winter hibernation? Not for the Eunos

Having picked up the car after hours from the MoT station with the new exhaust fitted I did the obvious thing anyone would do on a dark, rainy night. Which is to drive up and down the by-pass warming it through before giving it a proper rinsing to 'check the noise'. While doing so I passed another Eunos which took the same turning as me and turned out to be fellow hack John Simister, who lives in the same town. Unprompted he said 'sounds nice!' before hopping back into his Mariner Blue car and heading off.

Although there's not been a whole lot of gritting (yet) this winter the Eunos has mainly been tucked up in its lock-up for the duration but one Saturday I couldn't resist and on a bright and sunny day wrapped up my one-year-old in his thermal onesie and headed down to Sussex to see my other brother - also a Eunos owner - along my preferred Goodwood back route. Blissful stuff.

Tucked up and safe from the weath- ...oh

Less blissful is the news that its garage is shortly to be knocked down and turned into flats. I knew it was coming but it's no less gutting given the pittance I was paying and its nearby location. I've now got to consider my options as well as what to do with all the accumulated bits - original manifold included - therein. There's already a bumper by the shed (actual, rather than the Ford badged one). I can only imagine the delight if it's joined by wheels and a few other bits. The garage was also rather handy for a strategic 'out of sight, out of mind' policy that handily kept the Mazda off the domestic radar. Not so easily maintained parked outside the house on stupid orange wheels.

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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: Another MoT chalked up, more noise added to celebrate

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Previous reports:
Has Dan killed his Eunos?
The Eunos returns to Scotland for another road trip
Look, I was kidding about the downforce, right?
Why have one wedding car when four will do?
Dan's Eunos loses its horn
Just how many wheels for your wagon?
Wheel refurb goes a bit ... colourful
Dan gets back on track with his Eunos
The answer to everything?

[civicduty]

Well if you need to sell it...

[GravelBen]

It just keeps on surprising me how good that manages to look with bright orange wheels!

[HorneyMX5]

I hope there's something PH planned to celebrate the mighty 5's 25th birthday?

[JamesHayward]

Dan, If you need to lose some spares drop me a line. I've got a bit of storage

[Gilhooligan]

You need a heat shield between that manifold and cone filter!

[cjgreaves41]

Random question Dan but is your fog lamp a red bulb? looks like your offside reverse lamp has been converted. This is what I want to do. But want to know how it will look first!

Cheers

[mr2j]

Flats? Noooooooooooooooooooooooooooo.

I understand the need for more housing as our planet crumbles under the weight of billions of surplus people but WILL SOMEBODY PLEASE THINK OF THE CARS!

[Dan Trent]

Gilhooligan said:

You need a heat shield between that manifold and cone filter!

Or 'warm air feed' as it's currently known. You're right! Am on the hunt for some alu sheet to fabricate myself exactly that...

Dan

[jke11y]

Think I spotted this car maybe Saturday evening at the lights on the A316 where you can turn left towards Sheen. Sore knock on the front right if it was.

[Gilhooligan]

cjgreaves41 said:

Random question Dan but is your fog lamp a red bulb? looks like your offside reverse lamp has been converted. This is what I want to do. But want to know how it will look first!

Cheers

I did this to mine. Don't have a picture, but you can barely notice it.

[GravelBen]

Dan Trent said:

Gilhooligan said:

You need a heat shield between that manifold and cone filter!

Or 'warm air feed' as it's currently known. You're right! Am on the hunt for some alu sheet to fabricate myself exactly that...

Dan

If you want to do it one the cheap... I whipped a 'temporary' one for my turbo MX5 out of alu baking tray/oven liner things, it seemed to work and was still there when I sold the car a year later!

[FestivAli]

What year/spec Fiesta did you get? How do you rate it compared to the MX-5? The reason I ask is I used to have an '09 1.6 manual petrol 3dr Fiesta, but I also used to borrow dads '08 MX-5 RC (2.0 manual) quite a bit at the same time. I always thought the Fiesta stacked up reasonably well apart from accelleration and steering feel (Fiesta was still good, but the MX-5 is full of feel and millimetre perfect). I also ask because if I don't end up getting a job as a mechanic and needing somewhere to stuff my tools I would be looking at an early MX-5 until dad moves back to england and I buy his.

Ali.

[Dan Trent]

[quote=FestivAli]What year/spec Fiesta did you get? How do you rate it compared to the MX-5? The reason I ask is I used to have an '09 1.6 manual petrol 3dr Fiesta, but I also used to borrow dads '08 MX-5 RC (2.0 manual) quite a bit at the same time. I always thought the Fiesta stacked up reasonably well apart from accelleration and steering feel (Fiesta was still good, but the MX-5 is full of feel and millimetre perfect). I also ask because if I don't end up getting a job as a mechanic and needing somewhere to stuff my tools I would be looking at an early MX-5 until dad moves back to england and I buy his.

Ali.
[/quote]

The Fiesta? It's, um, a 52-plate 1.4 Zetec. With a back seat and five doors. Which is about the some total of the comparison with the MX-5 and more relevant to its required role. Does have great steering feel though!

Dan

[dapprman]

You should be fine for Goodwood - I was still able to get under the limit with JR header and cat back and a cat replacement pipe, oh and a super charger.

[cianha]

Gilhooligan said:

cjgreaves41 said:

Random question Dan but is your fog lamp a red bulb? looks like your offside reverse lamp has been converted. This is what I want to do. But want to know how it will look first!

Cheers

I did this to mine. Don't have a picture, but you can barely notice it.

After smashing mine getting onto a ferry, I'll be doing this too. Bolt-on rear foglights look terrible.

[leemarkadams]

Must admit to seriously thinking about one of these as a fun toy!