Mazda MX-5 ND and something a bit different
Discussion
Been a long time reader of PH but not posted a great deal over the years.
I have owned several nice cars over the year’s highlights being: 106 Rallye (1.6), MR2 Roadster, various BMW Mini JCWs (R53 and R55), various Mazda MX-5s (NBs) and a Civic Type R.
I moved to South Australia about 2.5 years where the roads are somewhat different to the UK (South East); significantly less traffic, lower speed limits (110 kmph on motorways) and many good empty twisty driving roads near where I live.
First fun car here was an MX-5 NB 10th Anniversary with a few modifications:
Great fun but I fancied something newer, looked at BRZs and GT86s but ended up with a 2016 MX-5 ND which I love and I think is perfectly suited to the roads here:
I brought the MX-5 from a fellow MX-5 club member who had fitted a Goodwin Racing 6 Pot Wilwood brake upgrade, a Goodwin Racing axel back exhaust (great sound) and a few other minor tweaks.
Keen to start doing track days in Aus I looked at getting insurance for the MX-5. Track day insurance here is bloody expensive and comes with a large ($10k) excess, in the UK I paid £35 per event and had a $1k excess.
My brother-in-law races in a single make series for Hyundai Excels; a small cheap Korean hatchback with a very revvy 1.5 twin cam engine which led to a spur of the moment track day and station car purchase to compliment the MX-5.
Plans are to gradually turn the Excel into a trackday car: wheels and tyres (done), brakes (done), seat, coilovers, etc. and enjoy the MX-5 as a fun road car maybe supercharging in the future.
Standard:
Wheels and sticky tyres:
I will add some updates on both cars over the coming days.
I have owned several nice cars over the year’s highlights being: 106 Rallye (1.6), MR2 Roadster, various BMW Mini JCWs (R53 and R55), various Mazda MX-5s (NBs) and a Civic Type R.
I moved to South Australia about 2.5 years where the roads are somewhat different to the UK (South East); significantly less traffic, lower speed limits (110 kmph on motorways) and many good empty twisty driving roads near where I live.
First fun car here was an MX-5 NB 10th Anniversary with a few modifications:
Great fun but I fancied something newer, looked at BRZs and GT86s but ended up with a 2016 MX-5 ND which I love and I think is perfectly suited to the roads here:
I brought the MX-5 from a fellow MX-5 club member who had fitted a Goodwin Racing 6 Pot Wilwood brake upgrade, a Goodwin Racing axel back exhaust (great sound) and a few other minor tweaks.
Keen to start doing track days in Aus I looked at getting insurance for the MX-5. Track day insurance here is bloody expensive and comes with a large ($10k) excess, in the UK I paid £35 per event and had a $1k excess.
My brother-in-law races in a single make series for Hyundai Excels; a small cheap Korean hatchback with a very revvy 1.5 twin cam engine which led to a spur of the moment track day and station car purchase to compliment the MX-5.
Plans are to gradually turn the Excel into a trackday car: wheels and tyres (done), brakes (done), seat, coilovers, etc. and enjoy the MX-5 as a fun road car maybe supercharging in the future.
Standard:
Wheels and sticky tyres:
I will add some updates on both cars over the coming days.
Edited by rigsey on Thursday 23 April 05:56
Do love that idea, mid to low power cars with decent handling, and if they're all equal, it's more focus on driving talent.
A fast car is easy to cover up poor driving, but in something like that, you really need to be able to pedel well to extract the best out of a car like that.
Look forward to seeing updates.
A fast car is easy to cover up poor driving, but in something like that, you really need to be able to pedel well to extract the best out of a car like that.
Look forward to seeing updates.
andburg said:
love it!
We have those Excels over here in the UK as the Accent Coupe, 95bhpish? on track i imagine the key is maininting momentum!
That's the one, 74kw in Aus terms :-)We have those Excels over here in the UK as the Accent Coupe, 95bhpish? on track i imagine the key is maininting momentum!
I never remember seeing them in the UK, there are loads in Aus which makes for cheap parts and donor cars
Momentum is certainly key .....
Sf_Manta said:
Do love that idea, mid to low power cars with decent handling, and if they're all equal, it's more focus on driving talent.
A fast car is easy to cover up poor driving, but in something like that, you really need to be able to pedel well to extract the best out of a car like that.
Look forward to seeing updates.
I am not sure how deep my talent pool is A fast car is easy to cover up poor driving, but in something like that, you really need to be able to pedel well to extract the best out of a car like that.
Look forward to seeing updates.
The plan is to limit spend as much as possible; having said that the wheels and tyres cost 80% of the cars value
mrtwisty said:
That ND looks absolutely cracking in that black.
The Hyundai, not so much
but I'm sure you'll have a LOT of fun in it :-)
The ND is brilliant, like the NB but turned up a few notches. The Hyundai, not so much
but I'm sure you'll have a LOT of fun in it :-)The previous owner spec'ed the car perfectly from Mazda; the GT trim is Aus brings an LSD, leather trim, etc. + the Goodwin parts add significant improvements to the noise and brakes.
Fantastic. I live in Darwin but am looking to relocate to east coast soon and plan on getting into this championship. Current fun car is an r32 GTR but taking it on track is to costly and risky for me.
Looking forward to following the excel build! It looks like a great championship and I can't wait to get involved.
Looking forward to following the excel build! It looks like a great championship and I can't wait to get involved.
The ND does not need much IMO.
First modification was to fit an UltraGauge OBD2 reader from a previous car; I like these and always fit where possible. The only challenge in the ND is finding space, the dashboard is small and mainly curved.
I also fitted a Voodoo gear knob from my previous NB; slightly shorter and heavier than the standard gear knob.
Pic below shows both.
After a few months of ownership I had read various forum posts about how well the NDs respond to a fast road alignment (like most cars). I found a local performance alignment shop and went with the following settings: camber 1.2 all round, 1/16th toe in. This is probably the best modification to date which subtly improved general handling and initially turn-in.
Another common ND change is to remove the sound generator tube that pipes engine noise into the cabin, I can’t hear much of this due my exhaust but removed anyway saving weight and cleaning up the engine bay. There are various ways of doing this; I went for the replacement Mazda parts at £52.01. Believe or not Mazda do not fit the tube to the auto version (space) or the Club version in the US (weight). Tube shown in red below.
I have also fitted an eBay lip spoiler on top of existing factory fit spoiler for extra height. The previous owner had added the factory spoiler but I want a little more height, I quite like the look. Maybe classed as a Marmite (Vegemite) change ...
First modification was to fit an UltraGauge OBD2 reader from a previous car; I like these and always fit where possible. The only challenge in the ND is finding space, the dashboard is small and mainly curved.
I also fitted a Voodoo gear knob from my previous NB; slightly shorter and heavier than the standard gear knob.
Pic below shows both.
After a few months of ownership I had read various forum posts about how well the NDs respond to a fast road alignment (like most cars). I found a local performance alignment shop and went with the following settings: camber 1.2 all round, 1/16th toe in. This is probably the best modification to date which subtly improved general handling and initially turn-in.
Another common ND change is to remove the sound generator tube that pipes engine noise into the cabin, I can’t hear much of this due my exhaust but removed anyway saving weight and cleaning up the engine bay. There are various ways of doing this; I went for the replacement Mazda parts at £52.01. Believe or not Mazda do not fit the tube to the auto version (space) or the Club version in the US (weight). Tube shown in red below.
I have also fitted an eBay lip spoiler on top of existing factory fit spoiler for extra height. The previous owner had added the factory spoiler but I want a little more height, I quite like the look. Maybe classed as a Marmite (Vegemite) change ...
supraboy said:
Fantastic. I live in Darwin but am looking to relocate to east coast soon and plan on getting into this championship. Current fun car is an r32 GTR but taking it on track is to costly and risky for me.
Looking forward to following the excel build! It looks like a great championship and I can't wait to get involved.
I tag along with my brother-in-law for a few rounds each year including a week long trip to Bathurst. Everyone involved seems really helpful and friendly, if you are interested in racing I would highly recommend.Looking forward to following the excel build! It looks like a great championship and I can't wait to get involved.
Each state has a local series and they have several cross state events.
Any detail on your R32?
MX5 treated to it's first oil change under my ownership (31k km), completed at my brother-in-laws garage (which is handy 
).
5w/30 Valvoline oil and a genuine Mazda oil filter. Web research suggest the Sky Active engines oil filters have a valve built in that holds on to some oil which is used during start-up; maybe an urban myth ...
I have also ordered a K&N drop in air filter.
Quick poke around and I am amazed how clean cars are in Aus are underneath due to the warm weather and lack of salt on the roads; the MX5 is just over 3 years old.
).5w/30 Valvoline oil and a genuine Mazda oil filter. Web research suggest the Sky Active engines oil filters have a valve built in that holds on to some oil which is used during start-up; maybe an urban myth ...
I have also ordered a K&N drop in air filter.
Quick poke around and I am amazed how clean cars are in Aus are underneath due to the warm weather and lack of salt on the roads; the MX5 is just over 3 years old.
Hyundai Excel update time.
My kids have named the car ‘The nugget’
The sticker is a joke at my own expense .... I am the whitest person in Aus
Not wanting to spend a great deal on a track day car I am trying to limit spend with some limited success
So far I have addressed a few maintenance issues which are not particularly interesting:
-Leaking rocker cover; easily fixed with a replacement gasket
-Large hole blown in rusted back box (too much power ....)
-New plugs and leads – car was running rough due to having sat for some time with water in the spark plugs holes
-Oil and filter change
Upgrades:
-Brakes were OK but not great; the Excel cup car drivers rate Winmax pads so these went on. Peddle feel is great on the road so looking forward to trying them on track
-Wheels and tyres; Finding 15x7” wheels that fit is becoming quite challenging; these BBS wheels turned up – they are slightly battered in appearance but straight and true.
Tyre size is 195/50 15’s and the control tyre used for the SA Excels is Federal 595 RS-R which are street legal; initial road impressions are good (wet and dry).
Found this pod air filter in the garage, probably makes no difference but sounds good.
Next on the list:
-Get on track in its current state; April track day cancelled due to Covid-19
-Coilovers or lowering springs; wheel gap is scary at the moment
-Fixed back race seat
My kids have named the car ‘The nugget’
The sticker is a joke at my own expense .... I am the whitest person in Aus
Not wanting to spend a great deal on a track day car I am trying to limit spend with some limited success
So far I have addressed a few maintenance issues which are not particularly interesting:
-Leaking rocker cover; easily fixed with a replacement gasket
-Large hole blown in rusted back box (too much power ....)
-New plugs and leads – car was running rough due to having sat for some time with water in the spark plugs holes
-Oil and filter change
Upgrades:
-Brakes were OK but not great; the Excel cup car drivers rate Winmax pads so these went on. Peddle feel is great on the road so looking forward to trying them on track
-Wheels and tyres; Finding 15x7” wheels that fit is becoming quite challenging; these BBS wheels turned up – they are slightly battered in appearance but straight and true.
Tyre size is 195/50 15’s and the control tyre used for the SA Excels is Federal 595 RS-R which are street legal; initial road impressions are good (wet and dry).
Found this pod air filter in the garage, probably makes no difference but sounds good.
Next on the list:
-Get on track in its current state; April track day cancelled due to Covid-19
-Coilovers or lowering springs; wheel gap is scary at the moment
-Fixed back race seat
Quick update, the Excel has been catching the inner arch since adding the new bigger/wider wheels and tyres even with the massive wheel gap.
In preparation for the first track outing the arches have been rolled a little; will also be needed when coilovers fitted in the future.
Looking forward to the Excel's first track run out later this month, last time on track seems like a long time ago.
In preparation for the first track outing the arches have been rolled a little; will also be needed when coilovers fitted in the future.
Looking forward to the Excel's first track run out later this month, last time on track seems like a long time ago.
Excel update:
Nice GT40 Rep:
First track day completed at The Bend Motorsport Park - International circuit (https://www.thebend.com.au/motor-racing-circuit) at the end of May.
Great fun, car ran fine with no issues and I had a lot of fun.
Track was pretty empty due to Covid-19 rules in place at the time.
360 degree video from my brother-in-laws race car here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uLi6i-4DONM&t=...
Skip to the 9 minute mark for Korean racing green action (rotate video around as I am usually behind)
Nice GT40 Rep:
First track day completed at The Bend Motorsport Park - International circuit (https://www.thebend.com.au/motor-racing-circuit) at the end of May.
Great fun, car ran fine with no issues and I had a lot of fun.
Track was pretty empty due to Covid-19 rules in place at the time.
360 degree video from my brother-in-laws race car here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uLi6i-4DONM&t=...
Skip to the 9 minute mark for Korean racing green action (rotate video around as I am usually behind)
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