Hello
Finally got round to buying an MX 5. I’m not entirely sure what I’ve bought (!) but I understand it was modified by Jota Sport from new. It has a full exhaust including manifold with central dual exit tips within a carbon diffuser. It’s also been remapped and has had the steering tweaked.
It sits very very low and any speed bumps/strips across car park entrances etc are a challenge!
It’s also very noisy but so far I’m loving it.
Probably the most fun I’ve ever had and I wish I’d bought one sooner (I’m just about to hit 59!)
Anyway, I’m really glad to join your community and if any of you know anything worrying about my car please don’t tell me as it will keep me awake!
Saw a procession of MX 5’s in the Welsh mountains today, headed by a number of orange ND 30th Anniversary cars and everybody waved!
It seems that nice folk drive MX 5’s.
Best wishes
Tim
Welcome , nice 5 that 
A rare beast indeed.
My last NC was a Recaro, similar it never turned into a full blown Jota, so ended up just Recaro.
I was actually looking for the Recaro model when I saw the Jota. I’d missed a 2013 one a couple of months ago.
I was told the Recaro models had been originally destined for Jota conversion.
Nice looking car!
From memory the original intention was a collaboration of Jota with Lodge Garage Mazda Aylesbury originally of 10-20 converted cars but they were v expensive (29k?) so only a couple sold. The rest were sold on after the project was abandoned. Also a few sent over from Japan with Recaro seats were badged as the Recaro edition but not sure they were for the project, more end of run cars prior to facelift but I could be wrong. Does it have the original Jota parts in the engine bay also, only ever saw two with those bits.
I think from memory without searching 38 eventually were ‘Recaro’ how many were intentionally to become ‘Jota’ could be that figure, again uncertain, maybe all??
As Harco says again were 4 built only 2 sold, the story was (have a search) 2 were then, possibly reverted back to just Recaro’s.
Of the colours available, white, red and black. I have known since owning mine of possibly 3 or 4 white being OC member cars, a black one too, maybe 2 of those. Never ever seen a red one anywhere or advertised for sale, I do look from time to time. Not all OC members will post up on a forum what car they have.
It seems to be a mystery as to how many of each colour were sent to end up being a Recaro, I’m guessing more white than the other colours, who knows?
Anyways a little reading, it didn’t turn out so well if you read on to the foot of the page…
As a footnote around 18 months ago someone was offering for sale the centre exit back box, the rear diffuser with centre cut out, I think the boot lip and some engine cams. All these were remnants of the failed Jota project, parts that were sold off but never fitted.
I nearly bought the rear diffuser and back box but stopped myself spending hundreds of pounds trying to make mine look more like a Jota. Also I wasn’t sure I wanted the noise of the back box, no going back once you’ve cut up the rear bumper.
Do you know what Jota bits should be in the engine bay?
It’s got a sticker which I think relates to the remapping but everything else looks Mazda-I’ll post a pic later.
It’s got a Jota badge between the seats above the storage compartment with first customers name on.
I was told just 2 sold and the other is red and in Wales and that one has optional ohlins road and track suspension.
Mine just has bilstein shocks and springs.
The exhaust is pretty noisy Mick so you likely did the right thing!(unless you love noise)
I couldn’t find any info in any journo write up about cams being changed but the previous keeper said he was told it had different cams by Aylesbury Mazda.
The car was bought by the seller from Aylesbury Mazda in 2022 as an approved used car. It had been serviced there by its original owner and fortunately has been serviced annually with Mazda and not missed a year.
No idea what I’ll do if I need to replace the Jota bits …….
Thanks for all the info.
Sorry to say I’ve had a noisy exhaust on a previous NC and found it to be hard on the ears after a while, especially on dual carriageways etc when going on a long journey. Around the lanes not too bad, it eventually got swapped out for something else bearable , with just a hint of a sports car exhaust note, whatever that should sound like or personal preference.
Sounds like with the badge too in the cabin you’ve got a genuine ‘Jota’ intended car, how far they went with it, who knows, maybe try and track down more of it’s history from to exact spec, worth a try.
Has it carbon fibre interior trim pieces and Jota floor mats?
Hi Mick
I’m going to phone Aylesbury Mazda and Jota and see if I can get more info. I’ll try and see if I can contact original owner who had car until 2022.
It’s got no carbon inside but has the Jota floor mats.
Carbon diffuser, boot lip and front spoiler trim are present.
Here are some pics.
Just found an old thread on this site with the original owner of my car discussing it- forum name -flak_monkey.
Not sure if he’s still around?
Looks like you might be out of luck with @Flak_Monkey - last posts were Feb 2018.
There look to be a few snippets of info though, from some of their posts:
Cheers,
Steve
That’s a shame he’s gone!
I’ve attempted to send a message to him anyway.
Jota put cams in them, the guy who engineered it and mapped it was called Richard
He now has his own company……
I recently bought some stuff off him
Thanks for that info-I think I’d read somewhere that there had been no engine changes other than remapping so that’s useful to know.
Interesting reading, haven’t seen that before and I tried to find out more on the Jota when I bought my Recaro.
As I mentioned above in this thread about buying some Jota parts, this is the advert from only last year, now sold of course.
Thanks for the info Mick
Good to know all the spares have been sold off !
Hi Rodders.
Would there be any chance of contact details for Richard?
Here is the rear end of my Recaro , no it is not a Jota, I bought it from Paul Roddison
(Rodders) 2017. O/E cams, but Paul did various engine & suspension modifications.
My centre exit exhaust was custom built by a company in Blackpool, not sure if they
survived Covid
Enjoy Your Car
Keith
Thanks Keith!
Nice looking car.
Looking through some receipts I can see Rodders put some rear discs and pads in my car last year.
Sounds like he knows his MX 5’s!
Congratulations.
Looks like very nice purchase.
Also like number plates.