Self Service

Stick to genuine oil filters - may cost 2GBP more but if the replacement filter is wrong an engine rebuild costs a lot more - and any buyer seeing a real filter should be reassured - one of those checks - a bit like looking at the quality of tyres fitted - it tells you a lot about the mentality of the owner. Local garage here uses flushing agent.

So how many miles?

And if it is a Eunos with no service history we are really talking;

Engine oil filter

Engine oil flushing agent

Engine sump plug washer

Engine oil - known brand minimum, synthetic if you love it!

Air filter

Set of spark plugs - NGK are the best

DOT 3 or 4 or 5.1 brake fluid - 2.5 litres min

Anti-Freeze - 5 litres - you will use it eventually

Screen wash - just to make it professional

WD40 spray tin - big one!

Timing belt - 60,000 miles in manual - 36,000 miles in my head!

Change engine oil

Change air filter

Change spark plugs

Check fan belts for any signs of cracking - replace as required

Change and rebleed brake fluid

- while you have the wheels off check pad wear, disc condition and that calipers still float on pins

Change and rebleed clutch fluid

Check transmission fluid level (and upper linkage oil .. just add)

Check differential fluid level

Change the radiator water using 25% antifreeze

Check spark plug leads - dark night is best - open the bonnet and look for sparks while the engine is running - they die at 30,000 to 70,000 miles

Use WD40 on all locks and hinges

Use WD40 on all exposed electrical connectors and rusty bits - it might help!

Fill up your screen wash - 25% min as it's frosty

Check all parts for lose items, chaffing, and leaks

Now you should have a base point to start servicing from!

7,500 miles oil and filter change

30,000 miles spark plugs, air filter and radiator water

Brake pads as required

Brake fluid should be 12 months

Radiator water 24 months

In Sept/Oct '94 the service interval changed from 6000 to 9000 miles

AON 01384 552 880 or 01384 552 660 (club scheme)

Axa (formerley Guardian Direct) 0800 282820
Vince Clark at Domel Insurance, 01908 265555

http://www.screentrade.co.uk/

http://www.insurenow.insuranceuk.net/

http://www.belldirect.co.uk/ 0800 140 180

http://www.admiral-insurance.co.uk/

Experiences of two renewals;

KK: 25 year male, SP30 (3 pts) , no claims, parked on drive way, 4 yrs no claims, Thatcham CAT 1&2 alarm/immobiliser. 98 Mx5 (140bhp) living in Manchester. Non-mazda alloys.

JH; 30 year male +26 year female driver, no convictions, no claims, garaged, 8 years NCB protected. Laserline Thatcham Cat 1 & 2 Alarm/immoboliser. £1200 of Mazda extras and £650 of stereo equip.1998 MX51.8i (140bhp) New style

Commercial Union (Don't Cover MX5's) Put me onto Select Direct 01698 892691
JH premium :£599, £100 excess, Unlimited audio cover, payments : deposit £149.98 9 X £55.37
Dial Direct 0800 0688001
JH Premium :£409.12, £250 excess, £500 audio cover, payments : deposit £81.82 10 x £36.55
Direct line (Don't cover MX5's) put me onto Privilege insurance 0870 2436666
JH Premium : £399 (+ £55 for protected no claims), £250 excess, Payments : Deposit £76.00 10 x £41.81
KK Premium: £1237, inc NCD protection and low excesses

Admiral 0800 600800
JH Premium : £549.82, £250 excess, Payments: Deposit £106.14 11 x £44.03
KK Premium: £1076.66
Budget 0800 716577
JH Premium : £469.76, £???? Excess, £500 stereo, goes up to £509.76 inc. interest to pay monthly.
KK Premium: £1233.99
Norwich Union 0800 888111
JH Premium : £453.00 (1x 81.64 10x £40.82), £100 excess, After Alarm Discount, Premium : £367.10, 1x £66.08 10 x £33.04
KK Premium: £1246
Hastings Direct 0800 00 1066
JH Premium : £301.82, 1 x £64.36 1x £28.34 9x £28.29 (Total £347.31) BEST VALUE !!!!!!!!!!
KK Premium: Wouldn't quote against my renewal.
Colannade Direct 0800 678678
JH Premium : £371.85 Through Cornhill, £100 excess, 1 x 62.19 10 x £35.61
KK Premium: £738
Churchill 0800 200300
JH Premium : £499.20, £100 Excess
KK Premium: £840 (doesn't include 5% discount for approved alarm)
Eagle Star 0800 333800
ONLY COVER OVER 28 YEAR OLDS
Guardian Direct 0800 282820
JH Premium : £378.39, £125 excess, 1x 68.16 10x £34.05
KK Premium: £1158 (inc protected NCD)
Halifax 0800 200370
JH Premium : £513.70, £100 excess NB: I am currently insured with Halifax. Quote does not include NCD Protection Increased by £20 from last year. Excess: F&T-£100; WS-£50; Acc Damage:£150
KK Premium: £667.99
Hill House Hammond
JH COMPLETE SET OF WANKERS !!!!!!
KK: Didn't call them
Premium Search
JH Premium : £456.00
KK: Didn't call them
Royal & Sun Alliance 0800 300220
JH Premium : £353.36 - £20 MARKS & SPENCER VOUCHER UPON APPLICATION, 12 x £31.22
KK Premium: Will only give fully comp insurance if car is garaged.
TSB 0800 7313687
JH Premium : £405.60 (££420.24 inc. legal cover), £100excess
KK: Didn't call them
Swinton 0800 600700
JH Premium : £412.38 (£300 excess) From Cornhill, £423.27 (£200 excess), Inc free foreign driving
KK: Didn't call them
Firebond 01223 566020
KK Premium: Wouldn't quote against renewal

Can't remember the weights, but Crazy Red Italian charged $50 US postage (surface) for a header - took 10 weeks to arrive ! More recently, Mroadster charged $136 for a *huge* (6 feet) box containing a well-packed catback. This took just 3 days to arrive by UPS. Didn't have to pay VAT or customs !

"You have to pay VAT and Import Duty on both the good and cost of shipping. I would ring the Customs and Excise commodity code section 01702 366077 and check the code for what you want. If you don't you can bet UPS etc won't look very hard (there's an awful lot of commodity codes) and will just charge a standard 10%. For the description "car parts (i.e. Superchargers/Turbos etc) for use on spark ignited petrol/diesel engine" commodity code is 8409910000. This equals 2.7% import duty. Give customs a ring, they're unhelpful, but you should get there in the end." Steve Willington

"$289 for Borla (Mk1) from Moss US, plus $170 shipping (BAX Global door to door). Duty and VAT totalled £160 on a total order of $1016 (£731)."

Description Commodity Code Import Tax

Car parts - engines 8409910000 2.7%
Car parts - body 8708299090 4.5%
Car parts - brake pads 8708319900 4.5%
Car parts - brake discs 8708399000 4.5%
Not great, but better than 10% normal charged…You could always give them a call...Customs and Excise commodity code section 01702 366077

Stocks around 600 MX5 models and has an MX5 model brochure
Diapet Mk1 in 1:43rd scale15 GBP
Gate and Kyosho 1:18th models
1:4th Pedal car from Japan

UK Owners club; Eunos Roadster owners make up 16.34 percent of the membership

But look at the Japanese volume sales figures:

90: 25226
91: 22594
92: 18657

95: 7178
96: 4413

Mazda (UK) Ltd., 77 Mount Ephraim, Tunbridge Wells, Kent, TN4 8BS

Bracket, Washer Tank, NA1767521 £14.65 + VAT = £17.21 = Mk1 ABS windscreen washer bottle

Fuel consumption

MX-5s generally are not as frugal as you might expect, and automatics inevitably use more fuel. Driving style makes a big difference; average 29.5 mpg (UK/imp gall) - sometimes a good bit more and sometimes a lot less