How it all happened...

To start of the story about my Mazda MX5 you have to go back in December 2015. That's when my researches for my second car began. I definitely wanted something fun to drive and also a bit unusual. I started taking the researches seriously with firstly and idiotically typing on google "fun students car".

Needless to say that it had to replace my 2010 Fiat Punto that I drove on a daily basis. This means that the "new" car had to be reliable, cheap an drivable on a daily basis without forgetting the fact that it had to be fun and unusual!

My choice reduced to only two cars after making like one week of researches. I had a MG ZR160 or a Mazda MX5 NA in my sights. Firstly looking for the MG, I quickly came to the point where I told myself that a MG would be difficult to have as a daily car because the brand isn't existing anymore and to find any small parts it would be a challenge every time.

So the choice was made, it would be a Mazda MX5 Na, so the mark 1. Why the mark 1? Because pop-up headlights!! Also because this model is from my generation, the 90's and it's relatively cheap comparing to the other generations (when I bought it).

Once the choice was made, started a long research time on website for second-hand cars. I went from local websites at first like luxauto.lu to more regional ones like leboncoin.fr or mobile.de.

I hugely recommend you to make your researches on mobile.de, the amount of cars available on there is enormous and I'm sure that, like me, you'll be able to find your perfect car on this website.

As you've read it, I found my perfect example of MX5 Na on mobile.de on the 22nd January 2016. Just two months after I had the idea of changing my daily car. But wait, it will go even faster to go and get it!

Only one week after, time to do some negotiations like everybody, the car was loaded on a trailer and my father, uncle and I drove back with it at home! It was a superb journey that took place on the 31st January 2016 to Wiesbaden in Germany and then back to Luxembourg. The weather was awful but my car was beautiful and that's all what counted for me on this day! My best day of 2016 if you hadn't already guessed it...

To be honest with you, I first found a MX5 Na here in Luxembourg a bit earlier, even went to have a look and a chat with the previous owner but I felt that it wasn't the one so I abandoned this green example and continued with my researches.

Have a look at the pictures from the green one and the actual one that I finally decided to buy and take back home.

The early days of ownership

Once the car was at home, the fun could begin! Or not...
Having problems with the papers which were not all right, I had to multiply my trips to the luxembourgish custom until my papers could be approved.
Next step, the technical control which is mandatory for every imported car in Luxembourg and also for others. Nothing to declare, everything went fine and my car was finally registered an ready to roll!

My first drive actually happened in Wiesbaden when I test drove the car with my uncle. Since then, lots of kilometers have been done and at this days when I'm writing this article I made about 18.000 kilometers already. This brings us to an average of about 1.500 kilometers per month. I told you, it's my daily!
Have a look at some of the pictures I took during the technical control as well as once the car was washed and had my beautiful license plate on!

I'm sure you want to know more about my car so here you go.

My particular example has been driven out of the production line in Hiroshima at the end of 1991 but was first registered in its destination country Germany at the beginning of 1992. It came in the traditional SU classic red color with a black interior, sports seat and a leather Momo steering wheel. Even the hard-top is straight from the factory! Also to mention that when I bought the car, it was fully stock, nothing at all had been modified.

After 24 years spent in Germany, this MX5 has come to Luxembourg to explore our fantastic roads along the Moselle, our awful weather and much more!

The first mission, which was done very rapidly, was to give the car a good service by changing the timing belt as well as changing all the liquids. The second step was changing the old tires for brand new winter tires.

Then, the aesthetic modifications started, you can't loose time, summer came very fast with this roadster! I first put a grill behind my license plate to protect the radiator from any stone chips as well as putting a nice front lip to start giving the car the look I always wanted to give her. Ilmotorsport became my new favorite website I must admit...

You can watch here how the MX5 was equipped with brand new tires as well as the front grill and lip.

Now it was time for her first long trip in March 2016, I decided to go to Spa-Francorchamps, one of my favorite tracks on earth. This was really the first time I drove a long distance with the MX5 and I have to say that it was very comfortable.

Of course, the weather was again not the best and it was impossible for me to put the soft top down... But hey, even driving with the soft-top isn't disturbing at all, not much wind-noise can be heard from the cabin. The obligatory souvenir-picture can be found just here.

Preparing the summer days!

After this fantastic trip, the weather began to change in a good way and it was also time for me to find summer wheels and tires!
You have to know that being not so lucky, the first of wheels I ordered, well... didn't go nicely on the car and I had to sell them afterwards and search for other wheels..

The first set of wheels I ordered where Rota BM8 in polished chrome with an ET0, 8" wide and 15" diameter. Let's face it, the ET0 dimension was a really bad idea as I had any suspension to lower the car nor wide arches. The wheels came so much out of the car that I had to find thinner ones. But still here are some pictures of the wheels that could have made it but didn't..

.After selling my Rota wheels with "success" thanks to a good friend of mine, it was time to search for other ones and with the good scale this time! I than choose some Japan Racing JR-3 in gunmetal grey.
The dimensions were far more acceptable as the are only 7" wide, have an ET40 but still 15" diameter as the original or my winter wheels are 14" diameter.

 Basically, I don't regret the fact that I bought these JR-3 ones. They give the car a far more "racecar" look than the Rota would have.
Putting them one some nice Toyo tires T1-R with tire writing is really something I'm proud of on my MX5. It might be a small touch but it gives that perfect look to my MX5 in my eyes. Also take a look at the red bolts to underline the red color of my car.

After the wheels and tires? The coilovers of course! The car needed to set lower, this didn't take long, one week after my new wheels were built on the car, the coilovers were too. For those who'd like more information about the coilovers, these are Vmaxx ones coming from ilmotorsport (again, I told you it's my favorite website now!). I really advice you, owner of a MX5, to buy these one, you can really bring your MX5 from bus height to slammed on the ground.

These modifications being made, it was time for some great meetings to come, but first I went on a end-of-day-drive with my best friends and God, these are just perfect moments!
We might have different cars or bikes, but there is that one thing who unites us all, the love of engines! I hope for everyone reading this article to find such amazing friends like me, it's a gift from God, really!

There's a lot more to come so subscribe to our newsletter to be the first one the read about all the new adventures of my MX5!


Xavier F.