My Best Car Ever (Mazda MX-5) - Part 2

Once back in Hitlersaurus Ranch the car was given a once over and a list assembled before it went off to my mechanics for an inspection. The assembled list was quite comprehensive.

Something that worked in the cars favour was that it had already had a clutch replacement, and a previous owner had fitted Sachs dampers.

The rest needed a full workover, but parts don't cost the earth so a decision was taken to do a lot at the same time:

-        a new hood (a front garden DIY job)

-        some interior trim bits

-        wipers

-        the correct sealed battery

-        all ARBs

-        all droplinks

-        4x tyres

-        Goodridge brake hoses

-        all discs (OEM)

-        all pads (Greenstuff up front, Ultimax at the rear)

-        all fluids (diff, gearbox, coolant, oil, brake DOT 5.1)

-        plugs

-        all belts (cambelt, aux, aircon/PAS)

-        Magnecor HT leads

-        Camshaft and crankshaft seals

-        All Gearlever bushes

The oil was initially 20W50 (Millers) but this started to get a little thin if the car was at high rpm for extended periods so 10W60 was added which works perfectly and maintains strong oil pressure even after sustained runs. It also quietens the lifters which are a known issue on them, they start to tap after about 3,000 – 5,000 and serve as a handy oil change reminder.

Since that list above the car has thankfully needed very little:

- a headlamp lifter seized so I replaced both with eBay parts from a breaker.
- The passenger window regulator cable snapped but a repair kit is available.
- The clutch slave cylinder leaked and was replaced with a €30 OE part (OEM is into three figures)
- The dreaded tin worm did not stay away forever, with the drivers sill developing rust and getting patched this year.
- A great modification in 2012 was fitting a decat which added 3-4mpg, unleashed about 1hp and a nice exhaust burble and has since more than paid for itself.

Otherwise the car has been flawless, which I feel is a testimony to the depth of engineering in it. The engine and gearbox are thought unburstable and continue to be used as intended, the brake setup has never faded even on track and in the 11,058km it has covered in my ownership has been a faithful friend. It has resolutely averaged 30mpg and peaked at 36.57mpg which is not bad for 25-year old technology.

Truth be told I had considered selling it last year but then the wife got her grubby little hands on it. We sold her (BMW) Mini Cooper in the hope of going after a Mk1 TT (225) which since worked out well and cost-neutral to boot, but in the gap between ownership she used the MX-5 for about two months as a daily last summer, having previously only been a passenger and now feels that Manfred the Mazda is family.

A friend of mine who stores it for me is talking about buying it this year so I might be quitting on a high. The goal would be to go classic shopping - think BMW E21 323i - but something tells me I will miss the simplicity, reliability and overall feel-good factor of the humble Miata.

Decisions decisions.