How could they do it?

Lindsay · Post by **Lindsay** » Fri Jan 04, 2002 6:12 pm

Hi all,

On holiday in the Hawkes Bay this week, Jan and I needed two passes past a
Napier car yard to initially believe our eyes, and then fall about laughing
at what's either a drug induced conversion or was previously owned by a
young Japanese fan of Anime/Manga.

Picture a lavendar purple MX5 with a black bonnet, then add a body kit
(front air-dam and sills.) I hope like hell I am not starting a stampede of
potential buyers :=)

If you're in Napier any time soon go and have a look - I mean a laugh. It's
at a car yard on the inland route between the port and the city.

The only down side of the trip was not taking the jelly bean as we planned
to buy lots of wine, which we did. With the hot weather the AC in the big
car got a hammering and we can console ourselves that we would have burnt
ourselves to a crisp driving round the wineries this week with the roof
down.

Cheers,
Lindsay

Post by **zorruno** » Fri Jan 04, 2002 9:39 pm

we want photos! If someone in Napier has a camera handy...

redwon · Post by **redwon** » Mon Jan 07, 2002 11:44 am

Must be the season for weird paint jobs on MX5s.
I was cruising up the Motorway(Auck)the other day when I saw an MX5
completely painted over with a Union Jack flag.Given that the UK was
responsible for inflicting on the world some of the worst sports cars
ever made that would have to be the last flag to paint on a great Japanese
car.

Steve

Ian Watson · Post by **Ian Watson** » Mon Jan 07, 2002 12:14 pm

I bet Steve's mail will generate quite a few replies...

he must mean "worst sports cars" like Lotus, TVR, Triumph, MG, Jaguar,
etc...

and am I mistaken in thinking that the MX5 was deliberately designed to be
like British sports cars (the 1960's Lotus Elan to be specific) and that
it's chassis design was by an English man.

perhaps the Union flag on an MX5 is not so strange after all.

Ian

Graeme Naisbitt · Post by **Graeme Naisbitt** » Mon Jan 07, 2002 1:07 pm

Perhaps he was going for the Austin Powers Shaguar look? Oh thats another
of the worst uk sports cars, the Jaguar E-Type (hmmm, think you need to
reassess your feelings for the uk worst sports cars???)...

Gram
D4NGER

redwon · Post by **redwon** » Mon Jan 07, 2002 1:30 pm

Ian
It's all in the details.
All the marques you mention were well known for their leaking
roofs,electrical systems
that left you stranded at the hint of moisture,brakes that didn't brake too
well,
fuel systems from the ark etc etc..
Mazda may have copied the IDEA of the classic British sports car but the got
the DETAILS
right.

Steve

Ian Watson · Post by **Ian Watson** » Mon Jan 07, 2002 3:33 pm

But you're not comparing like with like, you're comparing 1960's technology
with 1990's - all softop's leaked in the 60's and electrics and all other
car systems were far more unreliable than the standards expected from all
car manufacturers by the 1990s. A bottom of the range Holden is a more
reliable car today than many top of the range motors from the 60s, but I'm
sure you'd rather have an old E-Type than a new little Holden.

You don't find many current Jag XK, TVR or Lotus owners complaining about
leaking roofs or unreliable electrics now...but of course we'll leave the
notorious MG-F out of this argument...the exception that proves the rule.

ian

Chrissy & Tony Hoys · Post by **Chrissy & Tony Hoys** » Mon Jan 07, 2002 6:14 pm

So if the MX5 was deliberately designed to be like the Lotus Elan, how can
you put Lotus in the list of worse sports cars. What I feel, a being a
newbie (slag me off if you will) that the MX5 is a 'cool chicks car' not a
British designed 'mans' car!
sorry guys but hey being a uk gal myself, I just couldn't resist.
don't get me wrong - I love the MX5 its so fab - just don't slag off
everyone else, imagine what they are saying about us!
Chrissy

darryl · Post by **darryl** » Mon Jan 07, 2002 6:29 pm

Even if the TVRs, Jag XK etc did leak, do you think the owners would let
people know they spent a load of cash on a seive?
haha

my2cta · Post by **my2cta** » Mon Jan 07, 2002 10:58 pm

Unless there are two like it in the country (seems unlikely) I know the
owner of the car. He was going for the Austin Powers look as an alternative
to racing stripes, his numberplate is OBHAVE (haven't seen the film, but
I'm told Austin Powers says "Oh behave" as a catch phrase?). The Union Jack
flag isn't a paint job at all - it's a very clever set of custom made vinyl
stickers on top of a standard Classic Red car, computer designed to give
the illusion of straight lines over the MX5 curves. It is apparently a
simple job to remove the stickers when required (i.e. to sell the car - but
why would anyone want to sell an MX5?) by using a hair drier of all things!

Tim Dutton
MY2CTA

Chrissy & Tony Hoys · Post by **Chrissy & Tony Hoys** » Mon Jan 07, 2002 11:22 pm

Where in the UK are you from Graham? I am from Bristol and yes you are right
about them being hairdressers cars in UK, but hey - we don't care! That and
the old Mk 1 MR2, hairdressers love them too.
Are there seat covers anywhere that fit our fave MX5 car?
Have you all got cool P Plates for your babies? I am trying to find an
appropriate one to have, it is quite stressful, but not as stressful as
buying new carpet, this I mean for the house not the car!
Regards Chrissy

Scott Elder · Post by **Scott Elder** » Tue Jan 08, 2002 6:59 pm

yea, he was on the news back when austin powers was first released.
Dont really know what to say about that

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