Looking at S2 Racing's Japanese Cobra kits, the base car needed to be either a NA model (Mk 1 - 1989 to 1997) or NB (Mk2 - 1999 to 2005). I liked the NB model of MX-5 better (due to them having more power, airbags, ABS, etc) and the Cobra kit on the NB looks better I think.
To me an NB model was the way to go. But, in terms of the kits turns out they're slightly different depending on whether the NB model is either a 1998 to 2000 model, or a 2001 to 2005 'facelift' model. So, I needed to find a car first before I could order the kit. Let the hunt commence!
Wow, quite a few gold ones around! So, that got me thinking. If the final result was going to be blue - as let's face it, most Cobras are blue - then it would make sense if the base car was blue too. Less painting required, or I'd need to live with a blue Cobra on the outside and a gold MX-5 on the inside 😄. Can we find a blue-ish 1.8L (more power) NB MX-5 with low kms?
Well turns out there were a few, but would depend on what I was willing to pay. There were a couple of light blue 2002 models with soft & hard tops which looked good. One with lower kms (130k), but it had a tan top and tan interior (hmm, a bit yuk), and one with higher kms and black interior. Both were around the $5,000.
Then Turners auctions in Hamilton had a purply-blue 2002 with a "$4,000 to $5,000 estimated reserve". Went and had a look and took it for a short test drive (more fuel in your vehicles please Turners!) and yes it would definitely be suitable. I couldn't make the auction, so I did online bidding. I bid up to $4,600 and the reserve was met. But, then a floor bidder jumped in - "what?" A few quick alternate bids with them and we were up to $5,100 (my theoretical reserve). I thought I'd bid them up a bit until they slowed down. Bang we were up to $6,000! Still ok - let's bid a bit more (auction competitiveness kicking in). No, slowing down by the floor bidder and so I bowed out when it got to $6,900 ($7,000 would have to be my next bid). PS. Sorry, if you were that floor bidder and I bid you up 😉.
The auction was an interesting exercise in determining the "market rate" of the sort of car I was after. With the Turners buyers fee (approx $480) the buyer would have paid around $7,400 for the car. Hey, that makes the nice 2004 car I saw in Auckland for $7,700 not so expensive. A 2004, 146km, 160hp 1.8L with VVT (the Turners and other 2002 models were only 147hp) model, with larger 4.1 final drive (as opposed to other NB 6-speeds with 3.9), LSD, Mazdaspeed muffler (sounds great), lightweight flywheel, ILmotorsport stiffer engine mounts, 5X racing rear sway/anti-roll bar, Bilstein suspension, new Yokohama Neova AD08R tyres, new set of new DTM wheels, larger diameter sport brake discs, EBC Greenstuff rear brake pads and LED headlights - phew!
Off to Auckland we go for a look. Nice car - let's do a deal. After a bit of haggling I have the car for the project - yah! Bit, more than I budgeted - but look at all of that added value 😊. Here's a photo. Nice color too, eh!
To me an NB model was the way to go. But, in terms of the kits turns out they're slightly different depending on whether the NB model is either a 1998 to 2000 model, or a 2001 to 2005 'facelift' model. So, I needed to find a car first before I could order the kit. Let the hunt commence!
Wow, quite a few gold ones around! So, that got me thinking. If the final result was going to be blue - as let's face it, most Cobras are blue - then it would make sense if the base car was blue too. Less painting required, or I'd need to live with a blue Cobra on the outside and a gold MX-5 on the inside 😄. Can we find a blue-ish 1.8L (more power) NB MX-5 with low kms?
Well turns out there were a few, but would depend on what I was willing to pay. There were a couple of light blue 2002 models with soft & hard tops which looked good. One with lower kms (130k), but it had a tan top and tan interior (hmm, a bit yuk), and one with higher kms and black interior. Both were around the $5,000.
Then Turners auctions in Hamilton had a purply-blue 2002 with a "$4,000 to $5,000 estimated reserve". Went and had a look and took it for a short test drive (more fuel in your vehicles please Turners!) and yes it would definitely be suitable. I couldn't make the auction, so I did online bidding. I bid up to $4,600 and the reserve was met. But, then a floor bidder jumped in - "what?" A few quick alternate bids with them and we were up to $5,100 (my theoretical reserve). I thought I'd bid them up a bit until they slowed down. Bang we were up to $6,000! Still ok - let's bid a bit more (auction competitiveness kicking in). No, slowing down by the floor bidder and so I bowed out when it got to $6,900 ($7,000 would have to be my next bid). PS. Sorry, if you were that floor bidder and I bid you up 😉.
The auction was an interesting exercise in determining the "market rate" of the sort of car I was after. With the Turners buyers fee (approx $480) the buyer would have paid around $7,400 for the car. Hey, that makes the nice 2004 car I saw in Auckland for $7,700 not so expensive. A 2004, 146km, 160hp 1.8L with VVT (the Turners and other 2002 models were only 147hp) model, with larger 4.1 final drive (as opposed to other NB 6-speeds with 3.9), LSD, Mazdaspeed muffler (sounds great), lightweight flywheel, ILmotorsport stiffer engine mounts, 5X racing rear sway/anti-roll bar, Bilstein suspension, new Yokohama Neova AD08R tyres, new set of new DTM wheels, larger diameter sport brake discs, EBC Greenstuff rear brake pads and LED headlights - phew!
Off to Auckland we go for a look. Nice car - let's do a deal. After a bit of haggling I have the car for the project - yah! Bit, more than I budgeted - but look at all of that added value 😊. Here's a photo. Nice color too, eh!
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| My 2004 Mazda MX-5 Roadster |
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