Hi to everyone, especially the good folk who run the club, the website and the forum - I know how much hard work is involved, but how really enjoyable that work is when it’s in support of a passion, especially a passion shared by so many other good folk. And until now my passion’s been purely motorbikes, cars being little more than metal boxes that are useful for getting you around. However, in 2003 I had the good fortune to visit a now valued friend in New Zealand - a friendship cemented through a similar forum to this, but one for Honda Blackbird owners.
At that time my friend’s partner had a beloved Mk1 1.6 automatic Eunos which she was generous enough to allow me to use, and my friend borrowed back a BMW bike that he had once owned so that I was able to enjoy my fortnight with them touring the north island on both two and four wheels. This was my first exposure to the joys of open top motoring, and it lodged deep within me a seed that has often nudged my interest but has only recently germinated.
Faced with increasing maintenance costs on my current aging Vectra SRi, it was time seriously to consider its replacement, and guess what? That seed of interest led me to doing a lot of online research into the MX-5, and I found nothing but encouragement. There were vanishingly small criticisms set against a whole wealth of praise and fave reviews (even Jeremy Clarkeson!). I quickly learned that the 1.6 Mk1 Auto I’d driven in NZ wasn’t exactly the best example to demonstrate exhilarating performance, but it did greatly impress with its handling and sheer fun. So I was still sufficiently interested to test drive a more recent and more powerful manual model, which I did last Tuesday.
To cut to the chase, and to spare you what you have probably heard many times before from new members, all I really need to say is that the MX-5’s handling and feedback was the nearest I’ve come to big bore biking (albeit with considerably less acceleration), and I’m now impatiently awaiting delivery of my new copper red mica 2.0i-Sport-2DR RC (Bose) hopefully for next weekend.
I do have a few questions, which I’ll post in the appropriate place; that I hope will address a couple of those ‘small criticisms’. So for now, once again “Hi”, and I hope that Kit and myself get to meet up with some of you presently.
Thanks for the welcome MadBoy. Yep, I reckon that the Copper Red’s streets ahead of the other colours, but it is a personal thing of course. Rather like the black though that we saw when we were back in at the dealers this morning so that my better half Kit could have a proper look at what I’d bought. I was also wanting to make sure that the sales exec had me and my new car well uppermost in his mind - I’d like to see the quoted 12-14 days turn out to be nearer the 12 [;)]
Don’t tend to have sleepless nights whatever the circumstances - maybe working shifts has put paid to all that [|-)]. Not long after my head touches pillow I’m away. I also think that as you get older your patience increases … so, there are some benefits after all [^o)]
Thanks for all the welcomes … friendly lot MX-5 owners [:)] I also like the fact that you acknowledge each other on the road, which I’ve gathered from some of the post topics, something I’m used to with the bikes. Be nice to have this with the car as well.
I notice that you’re in Manchester as well Bluenoes. When I do get delivery of the car I’ll sort out our getting to one of the local NW meets and say hello in the flesh. 'Til then, I’ll also look out for you out and about. That reminds me, I must find out where the local group meets, and what events they’ve got planned.
Cheers Snowman. Typical, but the first event of any kind that we can get to is the Monthly Social on the 12th of May [:(] Downside of shift patterns! So, Kit and myself will look forward to it and hopefully see some of you then, until then we’ll just have to wave at any MX-5’s we see [;)]
Thanks for the welcome Nelsontvh. Will you be going for the soft top or RC next time?
And Mark, my apologies mate, in my excitement I didn’t read your post properly and missed the fact that you’d referred to the Cheshire & North Wales meets, which in fact are better scheduled for my shift pattern currently - so thanks for that pointer. We could make the Wednesday one on the 11th of this month, or the 8th of April one, and the Birch & Bottle’s only just down the road from us. I think the 11th’s a bit too soon after picking up the car - no doubt be getting out and about around the country, so looks like we’ll be at the April meet. Hopefully look forward to seeing you and others then.
