I've joined the PH MX-5 Club.
I've joined the PH MX-5 Club.
Author
Discussion

dragonheart

Original Poster:

772 posts

211 months

Thursday 2nd May 2013
quotequote all
As more and more of you PH'ers seem to be driving MX-5's i was beginning to feel a little left out. So yesterday i trawled the classifieds, spotted a mk3 fairly close to me, contacted the dealer and went up to view. A quick test drive and i bought it on the spot.

Just been up to collect it. On the 50 mile trip back down the M5 the little MX-5 performed faultlessly, the 2.0L 160bhp engine propelling it along plenty fast enough for me.

Plans for the car, well not much really. Will change the large round orange side repeaters for a nice clear set and i may look around for a set of 17" sport alloys when the current tyres wear out. Other then that it will be enjoyed by myself and my wife on sunny weekends.

So what do you all think? did i make a good choice? all opinions both good and bad are welcome.

Pic's are from the dealers advert,i will add more when i have had time to give it a good clean.

Edited by dragonheart on Thursday 2nd May 17:34


Edited by dragonheart on Thursday 2nd May 17:41

Pints

18,451 posts

223 months

Thursday 2nd May 2013
quotequote all
Nice. thumbup

Very similar to mine, except I've got the 1.8 engine.
Congrats and enjoy. smile

dragonheart

Original Poster:

772 posts

211 months

Thursday 2nd May 2013
quotequote all
Cheers Pints. I did upload more pic's but they don't seem to have appeared in my post. Maybe i have done something wrong.

Planet Claire

3,418 posts

238 months

Thursday 2nd May 2013
quotequote all
Very nice, but you *must* get it lowered!

Pints

18,451 posts

223 months

Friday 3rd May 2013
quotequote all
Planet Claire said:
Very nice, but you *must* get it lowered!
yes

I'm hoping to have my suspension sorted this summer.

dragonheart

Original Poster:

772 posts

211 months

Friday 3rd May 2013
quotequote all
Well after 24 hours with the MX-5 i fear i will have to take it back to the dealer. At motorway speed the car feels very floaty on the front end, to the point where you are continually adjusting the steering wheel to compensate. It's seems fine at lower speed but at 70mph and above it seems to drift around the road. Any ideas what this could be? Is it a common fault with the MK3 MX-5 or have i bought a duffer?

Pints

18,451 posts

223 months

Friday 3rd May 2013
quotequote all
Are your tyre pressures correct?

dragonheart

Original Poster:

772 posts

211 months

Friday 3rd May 2013
quotequote all
Pints said:
Are your tyre pressures correct?
No.
N/S/F 35psi
O/S/F 33psi
N/S/R 21psi
O/S/R 32psi

Owners manual recommends 29psi all round. I have now inflated all the tyres to the correct psi, will give it a run up the M5 tomorrow to see if there is any difference.

dragonheart

Original Poster:

772 posts

211 months

Monday 13th May 2013
quotequote all
Well it seems the reason for the cars odd behaviour was a combination of cheap tyres, incorrect tyre pressures and wheel alignment. New tyres with the correct pressures and a 4 wheel alignment and the MX-5 has been totally transformed, can honestly say it drives like a different car. Well happysmile

dragonheart

Original Poster:

772 posts

211 months

Sunday 2nd June 2013
quotequote all
Well 5 weeks in to MX-5 ownership and all is well. Other than the problem previously mentioned with the handling (rectified with the correct tyre pressures) it has been absolutely fantastic.

I drive my Astra H Sri during the week and so look forward to taking the MX-5 out at the weekends. The difference between the 2 is vast.

I cannot think of a negative point to add about the car.

So what have i done to it? other then replace the side repeaters with a clear set from a mk3.5, nothing at all.
What else will i be doing? other than routine maintenance and keeping it clean and tidy, i don't think i will be doing anything. Some have said i should lower it, for ultimate looks i agree, but as i live out in the sticks and the roads round here are terrible i think i will be leaving it as is.

Today i set about the bodywork. Started by washing it with Demon shine Snow Foam then dried with a chamois leather. Next up was to get rid of the tar spots, i used Autosmart Tardis for this, i really rate Tardis, very easy to use and gives good results. Next,one pass with my machine polisher using Meguiars Mirror Glaze Ultra Cut Compound, followed by a coat of Autosmart Platinum polish and a coat of Autosmart Cherry Glaze, both of these were applied and removed by hand. Lastly i applied and removed by hand 1 coat of Collinite 476s wax.

I have taken a few pictures, they were taken with my Galaxy S3 so apologies for the quality.

Anyway what do you all think?
























problemchild1976

1,376 posts

178 months

Sunday 2nd June 2013
quotequote all
Looks great smile

Good effort on the detailing

JJ

dragonheart

Original Poster:

772 posts

211 months

Sunday 2nd June 2013
quotequote all
problemchild1976 said:
Looks great smile

Good effort on the detailing

JJ
Thanks very much, took me 10 hours but the results were worth the effort.