Paging the MX5 Poofs

Female car-based idiocy reached a new level yesterday, when V completely
forgot she even owned one.

Really.

 

Ah, fair enough. Though unlike the ancient Pug 306D I had without PAS,
the steering isn't heavy once properly on the move. You really only
notice the lack of PAS when parking.

Get some decent tyres on it then unless it also has ABS. Tail wagging is
one thing, locked up front wheels is another.
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Yebbut she's 'special'.

 

My 306 had power steering and it was still like lead.

Not quite as bad as when the power cut out though, that
was...interesting.

 

I think I told the story about the Audi 100 I used to have which had a
dodgy idle stabilizer valve, also a dodgy hydraulic reservoir. So as you
changed gear under braking into a corner, the engine would cut out and you
would lose the power assistance on the steering at the same time.

 

There's an easy test just in case the banjo isn't marked with "LSD" in
big red letters: jack up the rear end and spin a wheel. If the other
side spins the same way, it's a LSD. If it spins the opposite way,
it's just an ordinary diff.

Have you ever driven a RWD car with a LSD? It can be ... interesting,
depending on how 'tight' it is.

 

Especially when it's the manually adjustable one on a Kubelwagen &
you've got it wound right up.

 

There are quite a few differences betwen a Eunos and an MX5,3.:

Thinner windscreen,.
Limited to 180 kph /112mph .. (before you remove the screw in the
cluster )
No rear fog light
Sealed beam headlights
Red reflectors
Rear numberplate surround is square
Catalytic converter overheat warning light in dash
Hole in Cat for overheat warning sensor
Roadsters not fitted with a hard top were not supplied with
'Frankenstein' bolts.
The side hard top mounts were not fitted to Roadsters unless a
hard top was fitted in production.
Fuel filler restrictor not fitted to Roadsters. Not that you'll find
leaded petrol anywhere too often
Instrument panel warning lights on Roadsters include one for seat belt
not fastened - and there's a buzzer for seat belt not fastened.
MX5's have a hazard flasher warning light and a 'rear fog light on'
warning on the instrument panel
Double DIN radio was fitted to Roadsters
Automatic gearbox is available on Roadsters. There are a lot of
specification differences with automatics - radiator, camshafts, etc
are different, apart from the gearbox.
In 1994, a bigger (1.8 litre) engine was fitted. UK versions of this
have EGR (Exhaust Gas Recirculation) fitted. Roadster versions do not.
Power steering, air con and electric windows were an option on MX5's
Different seats.

I have a 1993 Eunos, when I was looking I looked at Eunos's because as
a rule they don't rust and have much lower mileages. They don't rust
because in Japan it seems they use no, or very little salt on the
roads, so if it's a Eunos, get one that has been as recently inported
as possible. Mine only had 70,000km when I bought it 2 years ago and
is still completely rust free. The Eunos is a bit more expensive to
insure, I am told, I paid £235 Fuly comp on a 5000 mile classic policy
last week, so I'm not sure you would insure anything for much less.
The V specials with leather seats all wear through on the bolsters,
the cloth seats are much harder wearing, but not as nice. Beware of a
89-91 car with the shortnose crank, as the crank pulley doesn't fit
tight, Look at the crank pulley - 4 slots is a short nose crank, 8
slots is a long nose crank. Short nose crank has problems with the
bolt coming loose and damaging the keyway if it wasn't assembled
correctly, it slips around the crank retarding the ignition. It's not
fixable without replacing the engine.

I am over 6' and fit fine into mine, I've done a few long trips
(Nurburgring) and never found it uncomfortable. have a lok at www.mx5nutz.co.uk
for more info, there is a fair amount of stuff there that would be of
use.

 

My 75 has an LSD - not very 'tight', though.

 

Mine was stalling at low revs due to a fucked lambda sensor or
something. Parking up required judicious balancing of throttle, brake
and clutch, all at the same time, to avoid the engine cutting out and
effectively locking the steering in position while turning into a space.

That was the point where I decided to get it fixed.

 

Heh. LSDs were banned on our local road rallies. Suspicious
scrutineers would jack up one side, start the car and tell the owner
to put it into 1st.

 

I'd hazard a guess that Adrian's not quite that shape...

 

Ummm... <looks around for webcam>

 

You've just reminded me of something that's confused me. When I had the
Outlander up on stands, I could spin all four wheels by hand, even
though the gearbox was in park. How's that work then? It definitely
won't roll in park when the wheels are on the ground.

<light dawns>

It's a mechnical lockout, & the only thing near the gear lever it can
possibly work on is the transfer case, so it must work on the viscous
coupling & therefore only stop it when at least one front & one back
wheel are trying to turn at the same time. Or something.

 

Depends how long they've been in the UK - if they're recent imports,
chances are the bodywork is in better condition, too. Generally they
seem to have more kit than the UK ones, not that this makes that much of
a difference.

I'm not sure - I've not seen a Eunos without, but I've seen a bunch of
people who 'depowered' the racks. It doesn't make as much difference to
the feel as they want you to believe, either.

Make sure it's got all the kit - it should have a wooden Nardi wheel and
a wooden Nardi gearknob, both tend to go walkabouts. The leather on the
seats isn't super-durable so make sure you check that it hasn't split.

 

No, but a lot do. Keep in mind that most of the viscous LSDs have lost
the 'L' part years ago. The 1.8 torsen diff is a worthwhile and sought
after upgrade, but make sure that it's actually an LSD and not an open
diff.

 

And you nearly are.

 

.....and wide angle lens.

 

cnut.

 

(SteveH) wrote in :

It's a shame you can't get a tachograph printout for your bikes & cars. If
your GP saw such a thing then he'd realise there is less risk to your
health when riding a bike than when in a car.