FAQ
I started with a very very solid car, which has been in the Octane family since landing in Ireland from Japan. Magnus and CMYK have owned this car and can attest to its condition (if they made it over to the new website!). No rust (even behind the front bumper). No modifications to the body, interior, suspension.
The basic spec of the car is as follows:
- 1994 Mazda Eunos 1.8L
- LSD
- Tax until end April
- NCT until end August
- Mileage: 110,000 km
- Air conditioning
- Original floor mats, still in good condition
- Original 14” Daisy wheels
- Sony stereo with USB connection
- Speakers in the seat headrests
- Tan leather seats
- Electric windows & mirrors
- Pop up headlights for the ultimate 90’s win!
The car has an extensive service history. Loads and loads of receipts, manuals and booklets from Japan. It was fitted with some choice upgrades in Japan, many of them I suspect were fitted from new by Mazda. Upgrades include:
- MazdaSpeed exhaust manifold
- MazdaSpeed short shifter
- MazdaSpeed leather gearknob
- Braided brake hoses
- Mocal oil cooler
- Mazda hard top
- Nardi steering wheel
- Polished cam cover
Recent love and attention it has received includes:
- Oil change, spark plug change, clutch fluid change (DOT4), brake fluid change (DOT5.1)
- New(ish) tan vinyl soft top in excellent condition (as it spent most of it’s life under the hard top)
- New ARB drop links
- New exhaust (stock pattern) fitted 3 months ago
- Radio aerial replaced (telescopic motorised)
- Door cards replaced with better condition and newer designed ones
- New door speakers
- Spare wheel reconditioned
- Passenger window regulator replaced
- Boot lid replaced as paint was faded
- 15” BBS wheels with nearly new Toyo T1R tyres
As some of you may know, I set about supercharging the MX5, which is now fitted and running perfectly. I kept a spreadsheet of all the costs of the parts, and it came to €3170. Here’s a list of what was fitted:
- Eaton M45 supercharger from Mini Cooper S Works (which has upgraded pulley)
- Alloy intercooler Kit
- Megasquirt ECU and temp sensor
- Wideband sensor and gauge
- 460cc RX7 injectors
- Dual throttle body kit (gives smoother idle)
- Tim Lane supercharger parts (mount, outlet, inlet, tensioner plate & pulleys, hoses)
- 10" Slimline fan
- Bonnet lifter kit
It’s never been rolling roaded, but power is suspected to be around 200bhp, but more impressive is the instant torque and linear power delivery. Wails like a banshee when under boost, but very quiet when maintaining speed (thanks to the stock exhaust).
Negatives:
- Small rip in the seat
- A few marks on the dash
- Hard top has a few small marks, but I’ll touch these up when I get a chance
Price:
Winter is a terrible time to sell a convertible, but I’m in no rush as it’s taxed and insured until end May. It would be great to sell it as it is, as it’s a fantastic all-round package due to the comfort of stock suspension with the extra oomph of the supercharger, but if someone is interested in the car without the charger, I would restore it back to stock. Either way, I won’t be selling bits separately until the car is sold, so please don’t ask.
As there are so many upgrades, I’ll state a variation of prices:
- All modifications, supercharger, hard top, 14” and 15” BBS wheels: €4400
- Without hard top: minus €400
- Without BBS wheels: minus €300
- Without supercharger: minus €1300
The car has cost me well over €6000 to get it where it is now, and I feel it’s very reasonably priced, so I’ll hold out for the money I want, and enjoy the car in the meantime! Everyone knows MX5s are ultra-reliable, but are fairly slow in stock format. This car brings the best of everything (except a V8). If you’re interested in it, please don’t hesitate to get in touch to take it for a test drive – the proof is in the driving!
How it looked on stock 14" wheels (yellow lights now removed and returned to stock ride height)
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