I recently (monday) picked up my first 5. What a great little car it is!!. It’s a Eunos Roadster import, 1.8 1993. The thing is, the appearance of it makes may beleive it may be an S-Special. It’s in Brillaint Black, has the optional pedals, footrest and sill plates, Nardi Tourino steeringwheel, gearlever and handbrake and BBS wheels.
If it is an S-Special it should have Bilstien Shocks and possible the optional extra of a LSD. The V5 just lists it as a 1.8 and doesn’t hint to the trim or spec.
Is there a database I get enter the chassis number in to find out? Or will there be any clues on the car, maybe in the make up / codes of the VIN?
Driver’s door shut will have a sticker identifying the car as a S-Special, as well as the suspension and interior package fitted (both of which may have been changed in the intervening 17 years). Torsen diff was standard on the S-Special.
The VIN will indicate the spec if you went to a Mazda dealer, and if they had the Roadster parts listing (not all do), and if tey have a parts manager who can be bothered. There is no code as such in the VIN to identify the spec, besides engine size.
Yep - A lot could have been changed in 17 years! I might try my local Mazda Dealer for help - although my experience of Main Dealers in genreal isn’t great.
Note; although I suspect you do have a S-Special, the presence of Bilsteins and a strut brace (and speaker cover, boot spoiler) does not necessarily mean you have a S-Special; these were also factory options for any model.
I’ve just aquired a 5 myself, a '92 1600 in black. I was just unblocking the drain holes and have seen the sticker on the door that describes the vehicle, it says S-SP which I’m guessing means S-Special? The description above is very familiar, I have bilstein shocks, a yelow strut brace, K&N air filter, Silver “Roadster” sill covers, and a nardi steering wheel.
I assumed that the strut brace meant that the car had been modified, but perhaps it hasn’t? Have I just bought expensive motor insurance when I could have gone with Direct Line as it’s standard spec???
It does indeed sound like an S-Special, Matt. In which case the yellow strut brace is standard equipment on this model, as you suspected. Not sure if Direct Line have the S-Special in their database, most of the online quote forms only seem to list the Roadster and V-Special models.
No, I have them! They’re a bit on the tired side, but they look ok.
I hope I’ve done ok with this car, it seems in good order. I didn’t get any history but I’ve had it serviced and the mechanic says it’s got a recent cambelt and looks like the waterpumps newish too. Fingers crossed, as it’s the first car I’ve had in 5 years that excites me. I plan to improve it if it holds together for a few months.
It’s got a very shiny top to the engine. Polished I think is the correct terminology. Is that normal for an S-Special? Also, was the LSD standard on the S-Special and if not, how does one check if they have one?
3 models of Roadster are used, covering Mk1, Mk2 and Mk2.5:
Mazda Eunos, Mazda Eunos V-Spec, and Mazda Eunos V-Limited. Yes, they made up the last one.
I was told by an insurance assessor that the Insurance Companies don 't know what a “standard” Eunos Roadster is. Besides the basic trim levels we know, there are also a multitude of factory fitted options; 3 different suspension packages for a start.