So I advertised my MX5 Merlot Edition Car on Car and Classic and got this self-righteous message:
'Hi, I feel I have to say something regarding the sale of this '96 Merlot painted NA Mazda. Firstly it’s not a 1996 Limited Edition. How do I know, I have 2 ‘originals’. One factory mica green & the other factory Merlot. Both imported as ‘used cars’ from Japan but is 1st class original condition. I have been for many years and still are a very active member of the local Mazda MX5 Club so I know these cars exceptionally well. If you are saying it’s a 1996 1.8 Ltr Limited Edition I’m assuming you are referring to the 1996 1.8 'Mazda Eunos Roadster ‘VR’ Ltd Merlot color, a model that was only manufactured and sold exclusively for the Japanese market, 700 made and ‘NONE’ exported as new cars for overseas markets including the UK. The model you are selling is missing many vital original parts that would distinguish it as an 'original ‘VR’. For a start the badges are wrong, and then just looking at the interior, the original model had light colored leather seats with the ‘Roadster’ logo in the headrest, all the interior was a light color,the Gear lever and handbrake were ‘stainless steel, and the gear surround was also stainless steel with the ‘unos’ logo imprinted on it. The door speaker covers were also stainless steel. The soft top factory original was Tan not black.They all had air-conditioning and power steering, your’s doesn’t appear have aircon". The dash/instrument panel should have the ‘VR’ logo imprinted on the bottom left hand corner. So as you can see anyone who knows these ‘rare models’ will know straight away this is not a 1996 MAZDA EUNOS ROADSTER ‘VR’ LTD. I suggest you do some research and re print your add before you get a few embarrassing questions.’
My Reply:
‘Well, how embarrasing this is… for you. This Car is a ‘Merlot’ UK specific limited edition - at no point do i mention this is a VR limited, or a Eunos, or an import. The cars you are referring to are the VR limited editions - combination A and Combination B - the Combination A having the Same Art Vin Red colour as the Merlot. I suggest you do some more research next time before embarrasing yourself like this - I assume I won’t hear back from you! Farewell!’
Needless to say I didn’t get a reply! My only regret is not saying ‘Good Day to you Sir, GOOD DAY’ at the end! I have noticed this with owning a few mk1’s over the years and subsequently selling them - there is always some guy who has a special edition and feel they understand the market better than everyone else and feel as an expert they need to inform you of your incorrect price or mistakes.
To be fair, its a Merlot missing most of the Merlot leather interior (steering wheel left) and the Merlot wheels. Someone stuck in base model seats but strangely retrimmed the custom Merlot door cards rather than fitting OE black. So there is not much of the Limited Edition left.
The Merlot painted cars shipped to the UK were basically 1.8i models in a special order colour (the colour was used all over the world, notably the M-Edition in the US), whereupon MCL got them retrimmed and refitted at their Tilbury warehouse.
I had a factory limited edition once. One of 100 made by the factory, by hand (M2-1002). Back then the market in the UK was fairly ignorant about the limited editions made by the factory. Sold it at a loss, but such was the market back then. It would be a different case now.
Also ’ The centre console featured wood ‘effect’ trim complimented with a wooden gear knob and hand-brake grip’ - likewise missing. Lovely colour - and a nice looking car regardless.
The exchange illustrates a lot about MX5 “special editions”. Yes, there were “only” 1500 VR Limited made for 1996 (they went on sale in December 1995). But in 1996, 1 in 3 Eunos Roadsters sold was a VR Limited. 1996 also saw 500 R-Limiteds and 1000 B2-Limited, leaving “only” 1400 standard cars. And on the other side of the world, 600 Merlots were sold out of 3800 or so MX5s sold in the UK in 1996.
Mazda made the marketing special edition into an art form. Yes, there were the self indulgant limited editions, where it didn’t matter if they sold out or not (Le Mans, the M2-Inc cars, the C-Spec), but most limited editions were created to move metal as MX5 sales wobbled after 1992.
I know about all the missing bits - I actually do have the badges and from what I’ve seen the seats and wheels aren’t too hard to come by - a few hundred to get them based on current listings on FB and ebay. Just thought it funny he had it confused with a VR and felt he had to tirade at me for it. Anyway I literally just sold the car so all a mute point now I guess!
I agree about the special editions ast, most are just different trim levels and badges. It’s more a case of choosing the colour combo that’s right for you.
Well it was on another website - and I didn’t divulge his name or any other specifics - so I don’t really see the issue. Over many years of MX5 ownership and having owned many of the limited editions it get’s tiresome when someone feels they need to put you down because they think they know better - I’m all for advice but there seem to be a handful of ‘know it alls’ who just want to flex their superiority because of the cars they own or have had - and often they are mistaken or lack knowledge themselves like in this case.
