Winston the Mk2 MX5

[MicraFish]

I collected Winston on 20.02.2010, and I haven't stopped smiling since!

He is a 1999 1.8iS 140bhp edition Mk2 MX5 in Metallic BRG.
Limited Slip Diff, Power steering, electric windows, ABS, Heated Glass window, ducktail spoiler, foglights and Volks-lookalike Rota alloys.

He is sublimely quick, much quicker than Bubble Mks 1 and 2, and although I haven't tested him to the maximum, handles fairly well too!

I need to do a bit of work on him - new roof, which gets fitted Saturday; T&T due in April which will be fun...; general tidying up of the icky wood veneer interior and generally just tidying him up a little bit and giving him some TLC because I think he's had a hard 11 years of life!

Plans include:

* new green mohair roof - done
* anything required should he need it for the MOT. - done
* luggage rack on the way
* retrimmed dash
* de-tangoing of the headlights and side markers - partially done 25.07.10
* some better brakes or pads * maybe some lowering
* some shiny trinkets like an exhaust or roll bars


That's about it!

Some pics for you all:

Check out those sexy flanks

Lemme know your thoughts, folks :blues:

 

[jim_bling]

looks nice chuck hope i see a few updates on this

 

[MicraFish]

Cheers Jim!
Little update today - got the new roof fitted!

How the car has been for the past week:

On the way to Jack Smiths Trimmers in Swansea

Done, and on the way back

:blues:

 

[imp124]

i like the name looks a nice car, wouldnt mind something like this, would look good a bit lower too will it be at JAE this year?

 

[MicraFish]

Thanks!
Tis a very nice car - it's going to be his first night without a cover tonight!
Maybe going lower at some stage, but at the moment he handles just wonderfully, so I'm going to deal with the more pressing issues first!
Probably will be at JAE, yeah I've tried talking my mum into bringing the Cabriolet but she's not having it lol

 

[imp124]

Thanks!
Tis a very nice car - it's going to be his first night without a cover tonight!
Maybe going lower at some stage, but at the moment he handles just wonderfully, so I'm going to deal with the more pressing issues first!
Probably will be at JAE, yeah I've tried talking my mum into bringing the Cabriolet but she's not having it lol

aww that was ace, the sonic on the dash was ace

 

[Shaun]

Winston looks good! (Y)

 

[andyseadog]

liking the wheels they look to be whatever the opposite of 'all show no go' is

 

[MicraFish]

aww that was ace, the sonic on the dash was ace

yeah I know, but she won't have it lol

Winston looks good! (Y)

thanks mate

liking the wheels they look to be whatever the opposite of 'all show no go' is

cheers chap! He is definitely the opposite of all show no go I actually drifted unintentionly today which scared me a little lol

 

[MicraFish]

Gave the boy a clean last Saturday, and he is filthy again already *sigh*

Some pics

Bonnet open in this one...

Under the bonnet...

There's Metallicness under the grime somewhere...

The two hairdresser's cars together:

 

[MicraFish]

Took Winston to a track day at Colerne airfield yesterday, was a fanatabulous time, and he got a lot of abuse!
Didn't spin, and the only mishap wa the ABS light coming on, which has now been resolved.

Some pics:

Have also added some more of my beloved stickers - MSC, CKY, MissBanzai tunnel run and the Pistonheads smiley.

 

[Shaun]

CKY sticker!! (Y) awesome glad your having fun inside winston... (sorry that sounds wrong)

 

[MicraFish]

Of course! Along with my MissBanza tunnel run sticker from 13th March 20 0. Lol yes, I can see what you're saying, and yes mucho fun!

 

[MicraFish]

Just a couple of ickle updates:

Winston passed his MOT with no trouble, just needed a numberplate light replacing and the garage did it there and then free of charge.

Got a new gearknob and ripped some of the ghastly wooden veneer off the dash:

A week+ of shopping can fit in the boot, surprisingly!

 

[Shaun]

hey you got an 8ball knob too lol car looks good (Y) glad your slowly eating the wooden dash off of it

 

[MicraFish]

Yeah mate, it beats the wood haha! Slowly getting more and more off it each day, don't worry Only need to get the main fascia off now!

Just and ickle update - fairly new seats:

Also, taking Winston to Magna Mazda for a diagnostic tomorrow as he's running like crap - me thinks I need replacement HT leads, but I will see what they try to rip me off with...

 

[r-reg-sr]

winston green is looking good
how is it handling the heat

 

[Ian]

Love these... Been looking at them myself recently, the idea of dropping the roof on a Friday after finishing work and driving the long way home in the sun

 

[Balloo2u]

Awesome pics, If I have any "race" parts through my door I'll give you the heads up. You'll have to come along to the Marham track day in Oct. Best of the year

 

[MicraFish]

winston green is looking good
how is it handling the heat

Thanks! Handling the heat beautifully, starting first time, and it's a joy to drop the top on the way back from work!

Love these... Been looking at them myself recently, the idea of dropping the roof on a Friday after finishing work and driving the long way home in the sun

Exactly mate, that's what these are all about - It makes you look forward to the end of the day even more! Even if you get a cheap 1.6 Eunos, it's worth it for the experience Beautiful handling car too

Awesome pics, If I have any "race" parts through my door I'll give you the heads up. You'll have to come along to the Marham track day in Oct. Best of the year

Aww cheers mate, that'd be much appreciated! The main things on my list are exhaust and roll bar at the moment, but I'll give anything a mull over I will try and see if I can afford the track day - got the wedding to save up for at the mo!

 

[Ian]

I'd have to get a boosted one . I'd miss the power if i never. But that means spending about 5 grand.

 

[MicraFish]

Unfortuantely, yeah - they're still keeping their prices quite well, especially FI'd ones!

 

[kamisama]

i love mx5's and would love one but them damn mazda people built them for people under 6 foot! lol im 6'7'' and have to drive them in our car par with the door open.

Winston looks sweet, love the rims alot. Dont be scared to drift, wait for rain and enjoy the fun(Y)

 

[MicraFish]

Wow, you're really tall!
Thanks, they're not Volks, just fake Rota rims, but they're not too bad! I think I might wait to drift in a wide open space in the rain

 

[MicraFish]

Ickle update, tinted the side markers,and indicators, and put a new sticky front numberplate on!

Icky amber sidemarkers that I don't need

Numberplate plinth off waiting for tints to dry:

Tinting in progress:

Had a neighbour ask me what I was doing as she was curious and had never seen newspaper attached to the side of a car before!

Gorgeous front end, sans plinth and no. plate

Gawjuss

New no. plate on, courtesy of IMP124

All tinted and smexshy:

 

[r-reg-sr]

easyer to read the paper when all spread out you shoulda told her:laugh:
little touches that make a big difrunce

 

[MicraFish]

I think I did haha!
Yeah tht was my thinking - better than horrible bright orange ones!

 

[MicraFish]

I have spent pretty much all day sorting out my car for JAE. yes it is still dented and scratched and crashed, but at least it looks relatively presentable now lol
This was absolutely shattering - I am so tired right now!

New plate, new vinyls, new tracking/alignment

Comments are welcome, but may not be listened to!
A cuddly toy will be added when it's time for JAE!

It may look naff who knows, but it's a gimmick for JAE to hide the damge, I'm purposely taking the mick out of people who have UK cars and try to make them look 'JDM'. It's not JDM if it's UKDM. Simples.

For anyone who's wondering, the Cabriolet is still fine! Now THIS is a JDM car!

 

[Shaun]

Nothing wrong with UKDM better than Jap-styled corsa's lol

 

[MicraFish]

Definitely! But that's what I'm getting at - I just don't geddit?
Still each to their own!

 

[Shaun]

but i would love my car to be UKDM just need monies. anywho stickers don't make you JDM, Grinding your oil sump along speedbumps does. :grinning:

 

[MicraFish]

Yeah but I can't afford to lower it! To be fair, it really is low enough - it grinds the chassis rails on uneven surfaces and high kerbs already!
You'll get there dude - don't worry!

 

[whipit]

Wow that is looking a lot better, the new plate and new vinyls tidy the front right up. Looking forward to seeing him in the flesh.

 

[MicraFish]

And I'm looking forward to seeing the Throttle bodies in the flesh!
But yeah the numberplate has made a massive difference, and havent been pulled for it yet which is even better! The vinyls will only probably be staying on for JAE - I did it to hide the damage :blush:

 

[imp124]

And I'm looking forward to seeing the Throttle bodies in the flesh!
But yeah the numberplate has made a massive difference, and havent been pulled for it yet which is even better! The vinyls will only probably be staying on for JAE - I did it to hide the damage :blush:

My friend with his MX hasnt been pulled for the numberplate at all and hes a nutter. I think they would only really be annoyed if there wasnt one all together as that one doesnt look illegal if you get me, glad you like it anyway, hope to see you at JAE

 

[MicraFish]

lol that's reassuring then! :laugh:
It's annoying, because the car looks so nice without a numberplate on the front - shame it's a legal requirement
But yeah I do like it mate, this one's a lot better now me and my folks took our time to put it on lol Thanks a bunch for helping me out with that again - I owe you a drink at JAE!

 

[imp124]

no problem

 

[MicraFish]

A couple of updates.
Now taken the JAE stickers off the front of the car and TBH, it looks so much better.

Before:

After:

New rear end:

Well of course

Purdy colours on his hide:

Recent Mileage hit (now commuting 26 miles a day )

 

[K10 SHED]

nice i like mx5's (Y)

i wish those 1.6's were under 1549cc (cheap tax)

just 50cc over.....doh....:doh:

 

[Eliot]

Nice! I should have taken one of those fusion motorsport stickers.

 

[MicraFish]

nice i like mx5's (Y)
i wish those 1.6's were under 1549cc (cheap tax)
just 50cc over.....doh....:doh:

Then they would be 1.5's
I only pay 205 tax a year, and that's a 1,8 so not too bad!

Nice! I should have taken one of those fusion motorsport stickers.

You should have mate, there were loads!

 

[Eliot]

You should have mate, there were loads!

got any spare?

 

[MicraFish]

Fraid not fella, I only grabbed one for the Winston beast! Maybe PM Ed? See if he can send you some?

 

[r-reg-sr]

cars on point stickers or no stickers

 

[MicraFish]

Right slight update, taking the car to my dad's mate's garage tomorrow to get the ABS working - seems the whole system isn't working anymore, so isn't likely to just be a blown sensor anymore.

Am getting rid of the car end of the month anyway, as now I'm commuting I need a cheaper car! I've been offered a 2003 1.4 Civic (Non- Vtec ) in swap for it which I've accepted, and so this horrible little car is gong at the end of the month!

Will be glad to finally get rid of the car - I thought MX5 ownership was going to be fun and reliable. It's certainly been quite fun, but sooner I get rid of this car the better, I'm getting to the point I actually physically hate it! That'll teach me to buy the first one I see at a price that's too good to be true!

 

[Eliot]

but sooner I get rid of this car the better, I'm getting to the point I actually physically hate it!

Never thought I would here that!

 

[Guy]

Hear even . Nah, I was wondering that too. It's been 'my car's ace', 'my car's ace' and then ends with 'my car's $h1t'. Bit of a puzzler?

 

[MicraFish]

It's just got tiresome. Never ending problems. I guess I was so caught up in the idea of having an MX5, I haven't realised what a dire car I actualy have! I think it's a Friday one!

Considering this ABS problem will cost about £300 to get fixed, considering it's most likely the whole system is kaput, and I've got to tax it end of the month too, maybe that might help you realise the situation I'm in? I'm getting rid of it, but have to fork out £400+ just to get rid of it.

Not to mention the £260 I spent on the roof... £130 on the seats... £150 in april to get it through tax and test... £160 fuel bill last month just commuting to my new job... and now this £400 whopper.

Wow never thought I'd see such ignorance on the MSC... :S Then again. at least I can say I've owned one now!
And I'll probably get another MX5 once I can afford it again, but I'll be going with a Mk1. The idea is buy one cheap, run it to the ground, and kill it. This is the plan.

 

[karlj]

Wow that's quite a bill tbh micrafish I'd of done the same thing like Audis the problems just snowball next thing you know you'd have spent enough repairing to buy a new car, will your mum let you use the convertibubble?

 

[MicraFish]

Precisely Basically I've spent a grand on top of the original purchase price of the car, and I can't be bothered to spend out anymore lol
I can't get insured on the ConvertiBubble ironically, mum's insurer won't allow it (even though I was insured on it last year lol), but when this swap goes ahead, which should be the end of the month, I'll have a couple of months cheap motoring with the Civic. Sky have already told me that I'd be due a refund and wouldn't need to pay any more premiums until renewal now anyway, so that's £60 less I'm spending a month already! And then the fuel costs as well lol