| Author | Message | ||
     David Towers Prolific User Username: xtriple Post Number: 119 Registered: 6-2010 |
Talk about extremes; Bentley and a Mazda convertible parked side by side in the garage. Poor little MX has been abandoned in there since August last year, under cover but totally untouched. I bought a Kia to serve daily duties... and really do not like it! It is just such a 'nothing' car, does the job but no verve. I dislike it so much that I have not washed it once since the day I got it and the black leather interior in the back (the dogs bit) would shame a third world ghetto! So, while the MX kills me on a daily basis (I am a cripple and so have to roll out of it onto the floor to extricate myself!) it was time to exhume it from its resting place. I re-fitted the battery and with the help of a friend (he did the deed and got in it as it was so tight against the garage wall, entry was only possible from the passenger side and then crawl over - not gonna happen with my wrecked body!) turned the key and it purred into life instantly, like it had been parked the day before! So, it was booked into the local Mazda main dealers for a full service, cammbelt and gearbox service plus an MOT (our roadworthiness test). Normally using a main dealer is a huge no-no, but I have found, round here that the main dealers are far better than the back street garages and usually, cheaper! This was the case here: full service, cambelt change, gearbox, MOT and a couple of other bits they found (wiper blades etc) came to £480 all in including VAT (20% added on top of the bill for our government to spend on jollies and fine dining) which I thought was bloody good. Passed its MOT with ease as well... I think at the specialist Bentley/RR dealers £480 would get you the bonnet opened and a sharp sucking of teeth/intake of breathe! Yes, the dogs do go in it constantly though they fight over the best bit of the seat (the side by the window) and sometimes Chester stands on the seat with his front paws on the dash so he can look over the windscreen, but they love the wind in the ears motoring  To be honest, so do I. It's getting old now (98) but still immaculate and drives so well (though it has got all new brakes/suspension/tyres etc which were all done a couple of years ago)and is so much fun to tear about in, I cannot understand why I hardly ever use it! Even the air-con works properly! I have decided that this year, it is getting used. It did 460 miles last year which is pathetic, so the target is to double that at least. Just thought I'd post about wonderful, reliable little heaps for once instead of huge, expensive unreliable heaps as I normally do! Anyone else got an MX5? Mine is a MK2 1.8 auto. | ||
| Robert Noel Reddington Grand Master Username: bob_uk Post Number: 1343 Registered: 5-2015 |
IMO the Mazda MX 5 is the best sports car in the world. Its not expensive goes and handles well. In real life modern traffic a supercar would be no faster. | ||
| David Towers Prolific User Username: xtriple Post Number: 121 Registered: 6-2010 |
It's odd, they get under your skin like our other obsessions and I am on my third. First one was a MK1 auto which I wish I still had, then I bought a nearly new MK3 manual which lasted a very short time, just not as much fun as the earlier cars and now a MK2 that took some finding. Autos that are rust free are few and far between in good old Blighty! It is a horrible day: not actually raining but very dull and threatening so it was going to be left alone but, it needed fuel so dogs got comfortable, the roof came down and out we went with the heater on our feet/bums and it was fun! It never seems particularly fast but it is very high geared for one of these and it does like to rev... it encourages 'boy racer' behaviour! Strangely, the Bentley makes me calm and considerate and I am at peace with the world and just let all the annoyance wash over me but the Kia... I am like an angry old man with a death wish and lousy attitude. It just makes me angry to drive it and I notice every idiot on the road doing all the stupid things and they incense me! | ||
| Robert Noel Reddington Grand Master Username: bob_uk Post Number: 1345 Registered: 5-2015 |
Its all about the feel of a car rather than the actual performance figures. The original mini has not much going for it on paper but when you drive one it feels much faster. | ||
| Graham Watson Experienced User Username: graham508 Post Number: 25 Registered: 3-2016 |
My Brother in law has one and I drive it every chance I get, it is a great little car. I have an old (92) BMW E30 convertible I save for sunny top down days. | ||
| Mark Aldridge Grand Master Username: mark_aldridge Post Number: 414 Registered: 10-2008 |
I have had Austin Healey Sprites or MG Midgets continuously for the last 40 years . On a sunny day I would not be without one ! Mark | ||
| Patrick Lockyer. Grand Master Username: pat_lockyer Post Number: 1163 Registered: 9-2004 |
Hi Mark, that had me thinking how long I had one of my Jowetts I know the feeling about not being without one, had this one for 47 years. road fund was £25.00 a year those were the days however now the road fund is free and also for all electric powered cars and some others.  |
