MX5 RF parte deux, unfinished business

[stickylabels]

Dunno if much interest on here, lots of cool stuff being threaded!

So, 4 years ago, Mrs Sticky and I bought an ND1 2 litre MX5. Made sure it had the diff & billies etc, low miles, ramped and stamped and an AUC Mazda car. 2 weeks & 250 miles after purchase the gearbox started to fail. Back to the main dealer, salesman was fine about it, his boss in Edinburgh was complete tool over it, so we rejected the car, full refund etc.

Lately, we have fancied another convertible, looked at the usual Boxsters, Z3 & 4's, TT's etc but they for whatever reason don't really do it for us. Up popped this RF in red, 1 owner, fsh & just 11k miles just an hour and a half away. They were happy to take our partX (EV, many weren't) and a deal was done.

Gotta say, the updated motor (184bhp v 158) and higher revving nature makes it more interesting than it's short lived predecessor and the gearboxes are "supposed" to be better (ie stronger) too. There's an almost old school twin cam vibe from 5k rpm on (almost, but not quite vtecy) in nature and it really gets a move on up towards 7500rpm.

Th RF part of it makes more sense living on the jaggy bit at the top of englandshire..... Underneath will get scrubbed and either Dinitroled or Bilt Hamber'd to keep it solid.

Couple of issues arose on the way home, a/c not working properly and the tyre pressures 50% higher than they should have been..... I thought it was the pair of ditch finders they had fitted, but no, car wandering all over the road was the tyre pressures being so far out. Dealer apologised and will sort so we shall see. I'm taking to a trusted place I know (RJM & Sons) in Glenrothes who have completed jobs on all sorts for me over the years and they are going to go through it just in case there is anything else hiding..... Warranty co. have sanctioned etc.

Little trip out around St Andrews in the sunshine today, some terrible road surfaces that it just breathes over now the T'&P's are correct, nice wee bark from the exhaust and still doing over 40mpg.


Just hope this one lasts!

[Roboticarm]

Always thought the RF was actually better looking than the convertible.
Always thought they'd look even better with a small drop, 30mm or so.

Nice car, enjoy

[stickylabels]

Cheers chap, agree on the slight lowering. Some mods will end up happening in time. Certainly more sprightly than folk want to admit and the small size gives you options on the road too.

Cheers

[Sai]

I like the RF over the standard convertible as well, and in that shade of red .

Lovely car, I hope you get many miles of happy motoring

Edited by Sai on Friday 27th June 20:09

[Davie]

Strange coincidence but I pass you a couple of days back, stopped in a layby just before Devilla?

[danb79]

Looks good that Kenny; gorgeous colour too

When you pop to Glenrothes; pick me a bottle up please

https://www.masterofmalt.com/whiskies/glenrothes/g...

[ben5575]

Congratulations. I do like the RF although I ultimately went for the straight convertible.

The Mazda sports springs are a great and inexpensive upgrade both in terms of stance and body roll.

I also did the sound tube mod which is great fun if the car's for high days rather than everyday.

[stickylabels]

Sai said:

I like the RF over the standard convertible as well, and in that shade of red .

Lovely car, I hope you get many miles of happy motoring

Edited by Sai on Friday 27th June 20:09

Thanks! Enjoying it so far, gearbox still has the correct no. of bits in it!

[stickylabels]

Davie said:

Strange coincidence but I pass you a couple of days back, stopped in a layby just before Devilla?

We were over Tillicoultry way so might have been us?!

[stickylabels]

danb79 said:

Looks good that Kenny; gorgeous colour too

When you pop to Glenrothes; pick me a bottle up please

https://www.masterofmalt.com/whiskies/glenrothes/g...

Just for you Dan! Decent drop that, I'm roughing it with a Glenlivet tonight. Hope you're ok. man.

[stickylabels]

ben5575 said:

Congratulations. I do like the RF although I ultimately went for the straight convertible.

The Mazda sports springs are a great and inexpensive upgrade both in terms of stance and body roll.

I also did the sound tube mod which is great fun if the car's for high days rather than everyday.

Looking at both of those options as easy/cheap upgrades. Kinda like Flyin' Miatas Hush-o-matic exhaust system too!

[OPC100]

Absolutely love the ND. And the RF has some lovely fastback lines to the design. Such a breath of fresh air in this modern world. I hope you have some great fun with it.

[danb79]

stickylabels said:

danb79 said:

Looks good that Kenny; gorgeous colour too

When you pop to Glenrothes; pick me a bottle up please

https://www.masterofmalt.com/whiskies/glenrothes/g...

Just for you Dan! Decent drop that, I'm roughing it with a Glenlivet tonight. Hope you're ok. man.

It is; had one a few years back but it evaporated

Alas I haven't touched a drop since 6th Feb 2024 Kenny; makes me very unwell so staying away from it all. System cannot cope with alcohol at all; so vimto is my poison

I got my Dad a Glenlivet for Fathers Day the other week: https://www.masterofmalt.com/whiskies/the-glenlive...

Said its very nice and not too sweet at all with it being a first fill

I've got this Auchentoshan in my arsenal; it's like Christmas puddin, dates/figs and molasses all rolled into one

[TameRacingDriver]

I do like these, I've been thinking of an ND in the future when I inevitably want another convertible. I do wonder which is best though, my cars live outside but I've never had any issues with leaking with my soft tops, but I do think the RF would be a more robust solution, but it is a bit heavier and I've heard some say it's like a big sunroof rather than a proper drop top, what do you make of it in that respect OP?

[CarlosSainz100]

Do these have anymore space in them than the normal MX-5? I don't fit in those comfortably, unfortunately

[stickylabels]

danb79 said:

It is; had one a few years back but it evaporated

Alas I haven't touched a drop since 6th Feb 2024 Kenny; makes me very unwell so staying away from it all. System cannot cope with alcohol at all; so vimto is my poison

I got my Dad a Glenlivet for Fathers Day the other week: https://www.masterofmalt.com/whiskies/the-glenlive...

Said its very nice and not too sweet at all with it being a first fill

I've got this Auchentoshan in my arsenal; it's like Christmas puddin, dates/figs and molasses all rolled into one

You can't beat Christmas Pud in a glass! We do like Signatory's stuff here, they do things properly

Glenfarclas 105 does a similar thing too. Not sure what you can add to Vimto for a similar effect....

[stickylabels]

CarlosSainz100 said:

Do these have anymore space in them than the normal MX-5? I don't fit in those comfortably, unfortunately

They don't, small local car meet last night and an X Cerbera chum turned up in a Bentley Continental, then sat in the 5....and filled it, he's only marginally bigger than me at 5' 8" ish and extra medium (!) build. The passenger seat is even tighter room wise.

[mikebradford]

Perfect car, in the perfect colour.

[danb79]

stickylabels said:

danb79 said:

It is; had one a few years back but it evaporated

Alas I haven't touched a drop since 6th Feb 2024 Kenny; makes me very unwell so staying away from it all. System cannot cope with alcohol at all; so vimto is my poison

I got my Dad a Glenlivet for Fathers Day the other week: https://www.masterofmalt.com/whiskies/the-glenlive...

Said its very nice and not too sweet at all with it being a first fill

I've got this Auchentoshan in my arsenal; it's like Christmas puddin, dates/figs and molasses all rolled into one

You can't beat Christmas Pud in a glass! We do like Signatory's stuff here, they do things properly

Glenfarclas 105 does a similar thing too. Not sure what you can add to Vimto for a similar effect....

Haha not a lot realy Kenny; although with boiling water it makes a nice change to a brew...

Sorry; did you say Christmas in a glass?



That's Atom Labs (Masters of Malt own bottling - well worth looking into)

[stickylabels]

TameRacingDriver said:

I do like these, I've been thinking of an ND in the future when I inevitably want another convertible. I do wonder which is best though, my cars live outside but I've never had any issues with leaking with my soft tops, but I do think the RF would be a more robust solution, but it is a bit heavier and I've heard some say it's like a big sunroof rather than a proper drop top, what do you make of it in that respect OP?

It's definitely a compromise in that respect as you don't get the full just a windscreen effect, I also think (although it has been a while), that there is slightly more buffeting at speed in the RF. It is more of a big targa really, but like yourself, this one will have to live outside so it does make more sense overall.

I have already cleaned & gummi phleged all the seals just to be safe, it is certainly quieter roof up at motorway speeds and from what I have read, the weight penalty is < 50kg so we are still around the 1100kg mark or thereabouts. The uprated donkey more than compensates for that. Ultimately they are both good etc.

Favourite bit so far? The view out the windscreen, those 2 front wings sit up giving a lovely old 911 style reference where you are pointing.