Hi Guys,
Just a quick question, i’m a new ( and very happy! ) MX5 owner and have a couple of stupid sounding questions.
I have an import L reg 1.8 and not too sure if its a roadster/eunos/miata. How can I tell??
Also i have noticed that other 5’s around have the square rear number plate, but mine has the standard one. is this right??
Thanks for your help,
Nai.
hello Nai
i also have an import eunos but like most of them it has a square rear plate & as its recessed, there is no room for a UK long plate.
so what is yours?. i’m not an expert by any means. maybe its been imported from somewhere other than japan? but, if its right hand drive, where else could that be from?
i suppose it could have been rear end shunted & had a uk rear to replace the damaged bit?
the plot thickens.
good luck.
[8-)]
If your five has a rectangular rear plate then it is probably either a UK spec (not an import) or it has had the rear panel changed for a UK model.
Eunos Roadsters have “Roadster” on the kickplates and generally have air conditioning.
EDIT: Miatas are generally LHD.
I’m sure someone will be along soon to say how very wrong I am though 
According to Dandycars website UK registered cars have 17 digit chassis number but Japanese cars only have 10 digits so that will tell you where the front comes from. The back panel remains a mystery !
Thanks guys,
It doesnt have the Mazda badge on the front or steering wheel, seems to be a different one.
I need to look into it really, I was told it was an import but then again I was told a lot of things by the dealer…
Does it have air-con?
Few UK cars had air-con.
No, it doesn’t. It does have an added rear fog though.
Hi,
Be careful to tell your insurance company what you have. If it is a Eunos it will cost more to insure it, if you insure a Eunos as an mx5 it may invalidate your insurance.
The eunos will have a round bonnet badge with a V-shape logo (unless it’s been changed for a lotus looky-likey like mine [:)]). The log book should tell you as well, it will have the date of import for a car that has come over from Japan.
Some Eunos Roadster features, not always found on UK cars, and other clues:-
Air-con
Power steering
Elec windows
Elec mirrors
ABS (rare on Eunos too)
Headrest speakers (different seat design)
Badges
Jap stickers (sometimes - bit like our Tax disk)
Odometer in km - look also for speedo dial replaced
Limited Edition - not all ltd editions were avail in UK
Radio - original Jap radio not fully compliant with UK radio stations unless expander used, and could be double din
Roadster sill plates
Roadster floor mats
Tick off the ones you have and guage it from there!
Correct me if I am wrong but in additon an Eunos Roadster seat will be an all in one complete seat from the chair to the (rounded headrest)
UK cars have a seperate headrest that is not attached to the chair.
Also the rear reflector on the side of the bumper will be orange if its a UK car and Red if is an import.
Over the years, rhd MX5s have been grey-imported from a number of places, besides Japan. The Republic of Ireland is a common source of lowered powered cars; these are virtually identical to UK cars though. Cyprus is also a common source. A few have come from Hong Kong; these appear identical to UK cars, externally, but sometimes have odd badging (like "MX5 V-Special). The oldest “MX5” in the UK is an ex-Australian car in Northern Ireland, imported around 1991. Chassis number 14 (Aussie Vin), probably making it a bit older than the oldest Roadsters known here. Both are beaten by the handful of pre-July 1989 Miatas still on UK roads.
In principle, cars from Singapore/Malysia, Thailand and South Africa are identical in appearance to UK cars.
Generally true, but dealer fit in the UK.
All UK 1990-94 cars have these. Not all 89-93 Roadsters have these.
Only from 1993 (1.8), and an optional extra except on certain special editions. S-Package option similar to UK 1.8iS.
Seems to be more common on UK cars (post 1993).
Identical seat design 89-93. After 1994, several Roadster seats were available, and some weren’t fitted with ehadrest speakers. Headrest speakers were virtually deleted after 1995 on Roadsters (green badge models).
Definitive method to determine a car’s origins is from the V5, and then from the chassis number. In principle generally true, but did you know there are quite a few Roadster owners in Japan fitting export parts to their cars; ofen even fitting UK numberplates. A couple of companies in Japan specialise in supplying US and European market Mazda parts (even foglights).
50% right. Pre-1994, identical seats. Post 1994, J-Limited 2 and G-Limited used “UK” style seats with a seperate headrest.
Thanks SAZ… Everydays a school day!