Conference terri::cars_uk

    Well it's on sale as of today in the U.K. at �14,250 - seems a
    bit steep to me. 1000 have been ordered and there are apparently 750 in
    the country right now with a further 1250 to be shipped this year.
    Order now and you'll get it in May.
    
    Turbocharging kit will be available through dealers pushing the
    standard car from 114 bhp to 150 bhp. 
    
    The optional hard top does not have a heated rear screen, roof lining
    or a courtesy light so Mazda U.K. are providing their own hard top -
    available as an accessory in April.
    
    A clock is an optional extra at �99.95
    Metallic paint at �150
    
    See this weeks Autocar and Motor for full details and yet another test
    report. The Autocar guys wax poetical over this machine.
    
    Rich
    

	In the filling station here you can get a digital watch for
	99p. Just thought I'd mention this.

	Nice car, shame about the price.

	-John

    
    Makes the MR2 look cheap.
    
    (And I will not be getting the new one.  It's better than the Celica,
    but thats not saying a lot...)
    
    Nigel
    
    No Cizetta at Geneva.  What's the world coming to ?

    While in San Jose, CA two months ago, I took the opportunity to
    testdrive the Miata. I was totally impressed with the car. First
    thing I noticed was there was sufficient headroom for tall me in
    it (6'2"). Off with the hard top and off we drove. Driving in the
    sunny West Coast on a late January afternoon (compared to the storms
    in Ireland at the time) was great fun. 
    
    The engine is a great puller even with emission controls. The gearbox
    was lovely with short throws between shifts. The car I drove was
    offered to me complete with air conditioning (in an open top car???)
    for about $19,000. If only.........
    
                   

A friend is getting me some brochures - he has his name down for one of these
rather pretty cars.  I'm part of a long queue for a test-passenger.

As for air conditioning in an open top, if it's really hot, how else are you 
going to get cooled air into the car?  Even in the UK, last year there were 
times when, even on the move, an open top can get quite hot (not as hot as
a clone box, though!).  All the fan does in that case is to move hot air around,
what you need is a source of cold air.

Dave

I was sent about 3 or 4 copies of the brochures last week, they're not very 
informative!
Saw one a couple of weeks back when I was getting something done on the RX,
They're very pretty on the move. The garage owners kept taking it out for a
spin because they reckoned it was such fun to drive! It looks fairly plain
inside, but then that seems to have been the idea ... back to basics ...
Talking to the mechanics who'd been out in it, they reckoned it was quite
noisy with the roof up, but loads of fun. The roof was unbelievably easy to do,
much easier than the RX, even tho' that's "powered"

    
    Who does the supercharging? How much extra? Can u get the supercharged
    version on the scheme? Like the car, but far too lethargic in basic
    trim. With 150bhp, should be interesting. 
    
    Saw a US roadtest of a supercharged version some months back. Added
    about 40% to price, but at least it went well in straight lines as
    well as round corners.                                   
    
    Colin Osborne

    Turbo charging by Dave Brodie Racing...
    
    That's all I know - sorry..
    
    Rich
    

    A lot of the turbocharging of the US Miatas has been done by Rod Millen
    Motorsport in California.  Rod has been the dominant force in US
    Rallying since John Buffum 'retired' a few years ago.
    
    Dave

For what it's worth, Mazda are not allowing _any_ sales of the MX to leasing 
companies. How long they'll keep that up isn't known yet.
The book of accessories is quite novel ... everything from tonneau covers, to
flying jacket/helmet/goggles, and even an MX-5 Airfix-type model!!
The Mazda garage in Hilsea (Portsmouth) say they're taking orders now for 
September!!

Peter

that sounds kinda illegal to me ("restraint of trade")

In any event I wonder what the logic behind it is?

/. Ian .\

How about exclusivity?  Plus, they don't need to sell to lease companys (which
usually get discounts), they've enough other demand...

Dave

Maybe they just refuse to give the discount. Then its the PHH/HERTZ people
who are doing the refusing, not Mazda...

Jc

re .51
No, it's Mazda, I've been told this by two different Mazda dealers in the last
couple of weeks. The dealers have also been told that no-one associated with
the dealerships is allowed to have one ... including the garage themselves as
as demonstrator, Mazda want to see ALL of the MX-5's out on the road as soon
as possible, and believe that the reports and tests are quite enough information
to persuade some-one to buy one. The only exception is that each dealer had
to keep _one_ (of the maximum of 10 per dealer allocated), around for a special
MX-5 weekend to be set on the weekend of the dealers choice (within certain
timeframes). 
How the garage I bought the RX-7 from managed to drive their first one around 
for a while I don't know, (probably by disconnecting the milometer and not
telling the future owner:-) but I hope not!!
Mazda are also setting up a one-make series of races, for a set of specially
prepared MX's. Not sure how exciting that'll be tho' I went along to a couple
of the TVR Tuscan series ones, thinking it'll be wonderful watching a load of
thundering V8's tanking around a track, but the similarity of all the cars
(apart from paint jobs) seemed to deaden the excitement, so I would've thought
it would be worse still without the V8 roar!!

Peter

       I'd be a bit dissapointed if they continue this policy of not
       supplying to lease companies. It seems a bit like "restraint of
       trade" to me as well, but then so does the fact that it sells for
       �9000 in the US. If they were forced to sell at the same price
       here, I'd order one today!

       There hasn't been one on VTX yet - anyone in a position to wack in
       a quote, just to see what happens?

       Ian (whose lease is due next year).

>           supplying to lease companies. It seems a bit like "restraint of
>       trade" to me as well, but then so does the fact that it sells for
>       �9000 in the US. If they were forced to sell at the same price
 
    I can assure you that they sell for more than that. (probably closer
    to �11k). You have to remember that just about all quoted US car 
    prices, at least for imports, are for the "bare bones" version of a 
    model, (i.e. no mudflaps, radio, rear screen demister, etc.) which in 
    reality often doesn't exist (the cars come ready with the "options" 
    fitted straight from the factory). So just about any US car price can \
    be upped by at least $1000 from the base list price. (Then of course
    add any applicable state sales taxes, which in Massachusetts is 5%)
    
    Also, US car dealers have been selling Miatas at prices *higher* than
    list (often by several thousands), demand has been so great.   
    
    So saying though, US car prices *are* lower than UK ones, for several
    reasons: more volume sold; fewer restrictions on Japanese car import;
    lower import duties; no special car taxes; lower rates of sales tax.
                                                             
    John
            

re .52 
Hopefully Jane is about to put in quotes for the MX and for the Elan, see what
happens ...

Took one of them out for an hour or so over the weekend, was possibly the most
fun car I've driven, an exceptionally enjoyable experience ... it really isn't
very quick at all, but feels nippy, the exhaust has quite a pleasant note to it,
it handles like a dream, couldn't put the back end out, and I was pushing it
quite hard towards the end of my run in it ... the seats aren't obviously
bolstered or anything, but seem to hold you perfectly adequately, driving 
position seemed OK for both of us, instrumentation was clear, the stalks looked
a bit tacky, like the cheapest sort of Japanese cars, but are well positioned,
and have a reasonably solid feel to them. The hood is exceptionally easy to
put up/down and can easily be done from the drivers seat in about 10 seconds 
or so (with the seat belt still on), unlike the RX, which although electric
involves more fuss, and you have to virtually get out of the car to complete, 
the MX you just throw it back once the clips are undone and the rear window
unzipped.
Basically we both loved the car and Jane ordered one ... roll on August delivery

Peter

      Does anyone know what the availability of the MX-5 is in France,
      and particularly if there are any dealers in the Ferney area? I've
      seen the price quoted in a magazine article as FF139,500,
      presumably plus tax - is this the same spec as UK ones?

      Cheers,

      Graham.

   re. .57
    
    The BP Garage across the border in Gd. Saconnex is a Mazda dealer,
    and has MX-5's dotted about.
    
    Not too sure about dealership in France though. The MX-5 may be
    another example of 'not-imported here' a la MR-2.
    
    AMS

    The MX-5 Miata is available in France. Only local modification is
    the steering wheel (they did not like the original one). Official
    list price is the one quoted above. If you read the auto magazines
    there are a number of offers for new cars (they usually quote prices
    higher than list, but don't worry).

    Summer next year...
    
    Watch out for an MX-3.
    
    1.8 V6 24 valve twin-cam, about 160/170 bhp
    
    Roughly same size as a Honda CRX, looks like a smaller chunkier VW
    Corrado. About �15,000
    
    Rich
    

    If the mx3 is as good as mx5 I'll not bother.  I saw the first race in
    the mx5 challenge this year at silverstone, they were dropping like
    flys. They didn't seem much better at Donnington in september. Perhaps
    thats a bias view I was not at all inpressed .
    
    
    Garry

    MX3 ?
�    Roughly same size as a Honda CRX, looks like a smaller chunkier VW
�    Corrado. About �15,000
    
    if it is 'chunkier' than the Corrado, then it must be ugly !
    
    The engine sounds potent though, performance might be good
    enough to disregard the looks...

Yes, but Garry, don't people usually buy cars to drive in, not to
race around tracks causing noise, pollution and wasting petrol?


Ian

    
    Re .64
    
� Yes, but Garry, don't people usually buy cars to drive in, not to
� race around tracks causing noise, pollution and wasting petrol?
    
    Isn't that what cars do!!!!!! 
    
    Mark
    
    PS What else can you do with petrol except burn it?

	As for wasting petrol racing, I can't remember who said it, but 
	more petrol is used by fishermen than by cars on the racetrack...

	Dave

	What, they have motorised reels on their rods these days?

    Looks like the MX-3/MX-5 has a new challenger on the horizon - todays
    L'Equipe has a picture of the Honda RX. It's a small two-seater cabriolet
    using a 3cyl 12v 650cc engine. It goes on sale in February in Japan, and 
    should be here for the summer.
    
    The list price is expected to be around 80,000FF.

    I'm the proud owner of a nice blue one, its great. Previous motor X1/9.
    Similar character but lots more poke and things work!
    
    Almost.... 14,000 miles later and at v.high speeds oil pressure
    suddenly shoots up - loadsa smoke and power drop. Still under guarantee
    but local dealer (Galway) a bit flummoxed. Any hints from mechanical
    maestros out there?
    
    Dave Early

    The way I see it, there can only be two likely causes.
    
    First, your head gasket has gone - not too sure how much this can
    increase oil pressure, but it could have this effect.
    
    Second, the oil pressure relief valve is sticking.
    This could result in further problems as extra-high oil pressure
    is very likely to blow a gasket somewhere around the engine.
    
    Neither of these sound too good, hope it's something more simple.
    
    J.R.

             <<< DLOACT::APP$DISK:[NOTES$LIBRARY]CARBUFFS.NOTE;1 >>>
                                 -< Carbuffs >-
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Note 143.100                    Mazda Miata Note                      100 of 100
CAPITN::HALLIDAY_SC                                  32 lines  17-JUN-1991 11:02
                       -< Radio Installation Questions >-
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    Hello out there!  I recently purchased a blue 91 Miata NOP (no
    options).  It's a great replacement for my 1977 MGB.  It's now time to
    install a sterio.  Has anyone done this yet?
                                                            
    I purchased a Pioneer 2828 and a pair of Pioneer 6 1/2 inch speakers. 
    Not the worlds best, but adequate for top-down driving.  The first
    problem encountered was that the speaker openings in the doors are too
    big and the screws appear to be in a non-standard pattern.  They are
    approx. 1/8 inch to far out.  I went to a couple of auto sterio stores,
    but could not find any speakers that matched.  Does this mean that I will 
    have to
    purchase a pair of genuine Mazda speakers at some rediculous price?  I
    really don't want to start drilling holes to "customize" the mounting,
    as some of the shops suggested.
    
    The second problem that I encountered was that it is not obvious as to
    how the Hell the dash/console face is removed.  I hear that the center
    vents have to be popped out to expose the top screws.  Is there a
    secret as to how to do this without damaging anything?  
    
    The next question concerns the electrical and speaker hook-up.  Are the
    adaptors that the shops sell to plug into the Mazda connector adequate?
    
    And, finally, does anyone have any suggestions as to how to mount the
    sterio without eliminating that little tray?
    
    Almost forgot, how do you find the Miata Owners club?  The dealer is
    absolutely no help.  They may as well be selling kitchen appliances!
    
    Thanks,
    
    Scott Halliday at JULIET::HALLIDAY_SC OR SCOTT HALLIDAY @WRO