2006 MX-5 2.0 Option Pack
Discussion
I'm pretty chuffed with how the covers turned out, it seemed worth taking some photos out of the gloom of my garage...
I wore my knob out at Bedford
I toyed with getting something aftermarket, but I'm happy with the weight of the standard shifter so I picked up another from a 2014 car for not a lot. I didn't fancy the £140 Mazda wanted for a new one!
I also took some melamine foam (commonly sold as a 'magic eraser') to my steering wheel, it's removed the shine from 120k of hand sweat nicely.
I wore my knob out at Bedford
I toyed with getting something aftermarket, but I'm happy with the weight of the standard shifter so I picked up another from a 2014 car for not a lot. I didn't fancy the £140 Mazda wanted for a new one!I also took some melamine foam (commonly sold as a 'magic eraser') to my steering wheel, it's removed the shine from 120k of hand sweat nicely.
Geordietom said:
Do you have a link to what you used for the steering wheel?
This sort of thing on eBay - https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/5x-Magic-Cleaning-Foam-... or a Flash Magic Eraser from a supermarket. It's essentially a very very fine abrasive, use it damp and just spend a couple of minutes rubbing the wheel, doesn't take long at all.Accelebrate said:
I think my silver covers were originally black plastic. They'd been sprayed by a previous owner but were peeling a bit so I redid them, despite sanding back fairly thoroughly they peeled again, so I sprayed a second time last year, but it still doesn't seem too well stuck. I don't have any plans for them as it's probably unlikely that I'll ever bother to source the trim that I'd need to return the car to stock, but if you're fussy they aren't the best examples.
OK, thanks for the reply. Yeah, I will be looking for some covers in nice condition. Thanks anyway.
Just sat with a couple of cups of tea and read through the whole thing.
Honestly, some stellar work here. Man after my own heart. I'm always looking to do things myself if possible simply because of the satisfaction and rewards of doing it.
I'm selling my 2003 Porsche Boxster S to pick up an MX-5 NC like yours to do exactly what you're doing. Track days and European trips. It's been on my mind for years now. I love the Boxster don't get me wrong, it's beautifully fast, well designed and sounds outstanding, but it's too... I don't know. I'm always afraid to touch it and always paranoid of something going wrong with it (it's been quite unreliable in the past but is now in top condition). It's also naturally very expensive to maintain, even doing things myself, and I'd certainly be too afraid to track it.
We're also looking to buy our first house in January onward, and selling the Boxster and getting an MX-5 means I can put the other half of the sale money into the house on top of the deposit, and is the difference between a nice house, and a nice house with a garage. MX-5 NC for the track with a garage, or a Boxster that I'm scared of pushing without a garage... choice is easy really.
I also drove an NC option pack, exactly like yours with the same wheels and same colour, back just after I purchased my Boxster and instantly thought I'd made a mistake. The way the 5 drove was beautiful and so engaging. Obviously the Boxster is one hell of a machine and extremely capable, but I found that I can use the MX-5 for what it's made for much more often than what the Boxster was made for. As you said in a previous post, you almost can't enjoy it unless you're doing something illegal in it.
So I'll be picking up an MX-5 after the Boxster goes on sale next week, and this thread has been a huge help. It's made me excited knowing the fun you can have and how well the car can put up with extensive (and hard) use.
Again, a huge well done for the work you've put into your car. Any more news?
Honestly, some stellar work here. Man after my own heart. I'm always looking to do things myself if possible simply because of the satisfaction and rewards of doing it.
I'm selling my 2003 Porsche Boxster S to pick up an MX-5 NC like yours to do exactly what you're doing. Track days and European trips. It's been on my mind for years now. I love the Boxster don't get me wrong, it's beautifully fast, well designed and sounds outstanding, but it's too... I don't know. I'm always afraid to touch it and always paranoid of something going wrong with it (it's been quite unreliable in the past but is now in top condition). It's also naturally very expensive to maintain, even doing things myself, and I'd certainly be too afraid to track it.
We're also looking to buy our first house in January onward, and selling the Boxster and getting an MX-5 means I can put the other half of the sale money into the house on top of the deposit, and is the difference between a nice house, and a nice house with a garage. MX-5 NC for the track with a garage, or a Boxster that I'm scared of pushing without a garage... choice is easy really.
I also drove an NC option pack, exactly like yours with the same wheels and same colour, back just after I purchased my Boxster and instantly thought I'd made a mistake. The way the 5 drove was beautiful and so engaging. Obviously the Boxster is one hell of a machine and extremely capable, but I found that I can use the MX-5 for what it's made for much more often than what the Boxster was made for. As you said in a previous post, you almost can't enjoy it unless you're doing something illegal in it.
So I'll be picking up an MX-5 after the Boxster goes on sale next week, and this thread has been a huge help. It's made me excited knowing the fun you can have and how well the car can put up with extensive (and hard) use.
Again, a huge well done for the work you've put into your car. Any more news?
That's very kind, thank you! I’m impressed that someone found the time to read through 20 pages of my ramblings 
Your plan sounds sensible, I think I'd always prioritise a house purchase over a car, particularly if it's a garage that's at stake. Cars can easily be purchased again when your savings recover, moving house is hard work and usually expensive.
Outside of trackday consumables my NC has cost me very little in maintenance, and you're correct that parts are cheap and readily available. It’s quite nice knowing that whatever goes wrong it shouldn’t be too financially painful. My only word of caution would be to be wary of the incremental cost of upgrades on the NC. They respond well to suspension changes and maybe a small power increase but it’s easy to spend the purchase price once or twice over, which might defeat your original objective!
Your plan sounds sensible, I think I'd always prioritise a house purchase over a car, particularly if it's a garage that's at stake. Cars can easily be purchased again when your savings recover, moving house is hard work and usually expensive.
Outside of trackday consumables my NC has cost me very little in maintenance, and you're correct that parts are cheap and readily available. It’s quite nice knowing that whatever goes wrong it shouldn’t be too financially painful. My only word of caution would be to be wary of the incremental cost of upgrades on the NC. They respond well to suspension changes and maybe a small power increase but it’s easy to spend the purchase price once or twice over, which might defeat your original objective!
I haven't been using the MX5 as much as I would have liked recently. Finding time to use a two seater car when you're a family of three isn't easy, I've also lost my 2-3 days a week commute as my office is remaining closed until September and my employer has shifted everyone to a 'remote first' basis indefinitely. As someone who moved out of town and accepted a long commute five years ago I'm happy, but I do miss my early morning cross-country blasts into work in the MX5.
The child is already a year old and has started nursery for part of the week. I quite enjoy taking and collecting him in the MX5 just to witness the looks of confusion and mild-horror on the faces of other parents... Mostly the Mums, a few of the Dads have come over for a chat about it.
A group of us have booked another track day at the Ring in October. Hopefully, we'll be able to make it there, that seemed more likely a few weeks ago. I might try and find another track day in the UK before then.
I've got a number of little jobs I need to do at some point. I've got the parts but need to find the time...
The child is already a year old and has started nursery for part of the week. I quite enjoy taking and collecting him in the MX5 just to witness the looks of confusion and mild-horror on the faces of other parents... Mostly the Mums, a few of the Dads have come over for a chat about it.
A group of us have booked another track day at the Ring in October. Hopefully, we'll be able to make it there, that seemed more likely a few weeks ago. I might try and find another track day in the UK before then.
I've got a number of little jobs I need to do at some point. I've got the parts but need to find the time...
- Change engine oil.
- Replace brake pads all round.
- Flush brake fluid.
- Replace the gasket where the the backbox seals as I think it might be blowing slightly.
- I'm pondering tinting the rear lights red again, I liked how it looked but the indicators flashed red. I've been experimenting with clear bulbs wrapped with green silicone covers, in theory that should produce orange light when it shines through a red film but it still just looks red/pink to me.
- I might change the spark plugs, I think the service interval is 60k and mine have only done half that, but given my usage it seems prudent.
- I bought a possibly-silly tiny little lithium battery a while ago, I need to make a mounting bracket for it. I might just bolt it in for track days as it will mean that I either need to isolate the battery whenever I leave the car or connect a trickle charger.
- I've got far too many wheels for this car already, but I'm tempted to get a set of RPF1 replicas. I can't bring myself to spend £1200 on Enkeis but I think these look quite nice in bronze and Bofi will deliver a set for under £400 https://www.ultraliteracing.com/wheels/ultralite-f...
Accelebrate said:
They respond well to suspension changes and maybe a small power increase but it’s easy to spend the purchase price once or twice over, which might defeat your original objective!
+1 I spent about 50% of the purchase price on mine just sorting out dampers, knackered bushes and geo and a few other little items (droplinks). Transformed the car mind, and totally worth it!I need to update my thread on mine - I gave the brakes some attention (pads, discs and slider pins - so much better now), sorted the door lock and the exhaust and a few other little things. Good to see yours doing well. I know what you mean about usage - fortunately my commute halved so I could use the MX more, not less. Just ticked over 130,000 the other day and still going well
Accelebrate said:
The child is already a year old and has started nursery for part of the week. I quite enjoy taking and collecting him in the MX5 just to witness the looks of confusion and mild-horror on the faces of other parents... Mostly the Mums, a few of the Dads have come over for a chat about it.
That's fantastic news! I bet that's one hell of a feeling. The RPF1's replicas are going to be my go-to, originally saw them on demon-tweeks for around £450. How on earth did you get them for under £400?
Sko77y said:
Instead of wrapping the rear lights another option is the later design lights, the NC2 onwards rear lights fit and they've a bit more red in them.
They're very hard to come by though. I've looked for weeks whilst planning my to-do list on my new NC, and haven't found a single set pop up.timbobalob said:
Just realised you live over the road for me! 
Small world! 
I should have guessed that a local TVR owner would be on PH, I'd love to have a better look at it some time Sko77y said:
Instead of wrapping the rear lights another option is the later design lights, the NC2 onwards rear lights fit and they've a bit more red in them.
Do they fit ok with the NC1 rear bumper? I was under the impression I'd need to find an NC2 bumper, rear arch liners, get it painted etc etc.geraintthomas said:
The RPF1's replicas are going to be my go-to, originally saw them on demon-tweeks for around £450. How on earth did you get them for under £400
https://bofiracing.co.uk/ultralite-f1-17x7-5-et42-...There's a 5% off code for Bofi in the often-mentioned NC Facebook group.
Accelebrate said:
There's a 5% off code for Bofi in the often-mentioned NC Facebook group.
There's a set of actual Enkei RFP1 17x8's on ebay at the moment, with a full set of Toyo R888's for £995 ONO. By the time you put tyres on a replica set, you'll be close to the offering price of that.https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/4x-Enkei-RPF1-Alloy-Whe...
Thought you may be interested!
Thanks for the great write up and I've very much enjoyed reading through the whole thread!
How did you find the vogtland springs perform with the standard (Non bilstein) shocks? Like you im attracted to them because of the price and the worry that the eibach's can sag over time. Did you notice the vogtlands sagging at all?
I'm not putting mine on track so don't want to spend a fortune on suspension parts suck as new shocks or coilovers which a lot of people reccommend when all I want to do for now is get rid of the 4x4 look.
How did you find the vogtland springs perform with the standard (Non bilstein) shocks? Like you im attracted to them because of the price and the worry that the eibach's can sag over time. Did you notice the vogtlands sagging at all?
I'm not putting mine on track so don't want to spend a fortune on suspension parts suck as new shocks or coilovers which a lot of people reccommend when all I want to do for now is get rid of the 4x4 look.
geraintthomas said:
There's a set of actual Enkei RFP1 17x8's on ebay at the moment, with a full set of Toyo R888's for £995 ONO. By the time you put tyres on a replica set, you'll be close to the offering price of that.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/4x-Enkei-RPF1-Alloy-Whe...
Thought you may be interested!
The tyres are pretty worthless, they're only 215 which you can get put on a standard wheel. You're really only paying for the wheel and can get a set of new ones for £1k.https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/4x-Enkei-RPF1-Alloy-Whe...
Thought you may be interested!
Evoluzione said:
The tyres are pretty worthless, they're only 215 which you can get put on a standard wheel. You're really only paying for the wheel and can get a set of new ones for £1k.
Exactly, the even if the tyres had zero miles on them, the rubber is so old now that they're useless really.geraintthomas said:
How do you guys know the rubber was old/useless? I thought R888's were good? Unless I'm mistaken?
If they were any good they'd be keeping them. I wouldn't trust their 'approx 25 laps', but even that amount on a race car will have taken a lot out of the tyre - that's before the fact they're too narrow to be of much use. You want a 225 or 235 on an 8" rimGassing Station | Readers' Cars | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff