Trying again. I am such a MUPPET when it comes to this Hi tech bit.
Julian,
Well done easy getting pic? (lol)
Looks just like mine… his… hers… s
So, without any hint of bias, we can all exclaim a cracking wee car, owned by a person with impeccable taste!
I am sure we all agree.
RonMac
Just seen in the December issue of STHT
“Merlot For Sale”
If you want to join the “Special Ones”
here’s you chance!!!
JulianHJT 
Here’s a photo of my Merlot which I bought in Sept 2010. I took it up to the Lake District (from Portsmouth) in Oct which was really great. I’m looking forward to enjoying it in the spring and summer.
Looking through all the photos of the other MX5 Merlots on this forum, there’s definitely something very special about this model - it really has class!
I often see another Merlot parked around the corner from my house but I haven’t seen who the owner is as yet.
Hi lazzauk<o:p></o:p>
Welcome to the little band of brothers that are Merlot owners. I would like to congratulate you on having the good taste to by a Merlot out of all the other MX-5’s out there. It is in my honest opinion the best looking Mk1 special edition made. I am also very biased.<v:shapetype coordsize=“21600,21600” o:spt=“75” o:preferrelative=“t” path=“m@4@5l@4@11@9@11@9@5xe” filled=“f” stroked=“f” id="_x0000_t75"> 
</v:shapetype>
Looks like a nice car mate, any more piccys? One small point on a different topic, you have appeared to have pinched my signature piccy. Naughty, naughty. 
hi Nemesis,
My sincere apologies for pinching your sig pic - as you know i’m a new member and i’d noticed when just browsing around the forum that a number of other members were using the same or similar graphic images in their sig so i thought that using the same sig pic as yourself was ok - especially as your one was so cool!
Anyway, as you can see i’ve replaced it now with another pic of my merlot. If however you want to grant me special permission to use your sig pic then that would be amazing!
I also share your (biased!) view about the merlot being the best looking mk1 special edition. Probably like you i’m always spotting other mx5s on the road and the merlot is definitely in a class of its own!
Hi - sorry for interloping - not having a Merlot and all, but are these of any use? They’re nothing to do with me or anyone I know but just stumbled on them:
http://shop.ebay.co.uk/golfpapamike/m.html
Might not even be from a Merlot - but look very similar - well for someone with a sparkle green berkeley all other’s look the same!?!?
Looks like they are from a Japanese market version. Can’t remember what the model was called but the colour is the same. Jap shaped number plate panel, no rear fog cutout in bumper and thirrd brake light in the boot lid. Still very handy if anybody needs the bits for a Merlot. Not having to paint keeps the price down. Thanks for pointing it out to us all.
Japanese version of the Merlot is the VR-LTD
Hi to all Merlot lovers.
Noticed in the latest issue of STHT (page 19) that Robbie is putting together a register of all Mk1 Special editions. Just send him the information that he has requested to:
Regards
Julian
Hello,
hello, are we allowed to introduce ourselfs and our 1996 MX-5 “Cosmo” from Germany? Sorry for my english… 
We got to know this site from a german Forum called “www.mx-5.de”, were we are since 1999. Some Users of you posted there.
Our MX-5 is painted in Merlot / Vin Rouge Mica and was sold in Germany as a Limted Version called “Cosmo”. 500 were officially sold in Germany.
It has got a 1.6l Motor with 66KW/90HP and comes along with double Airbag, power Windows, tan leather seats and interior and a tan roof. It seems to be a re-import, because it has got no ABS, but a trunk
carrier. The first owner installed a Cobra Car Alarm with power door locks. We bought it last December and changed the shocks to adjustable KAYABA AGX.
What else can I say? It is our third NA or MK1. We are Oliver and Claudia from the West of Germany, called the “Münsterland”.
Here are some Pictures with winter rims. We will change them to april after the cold weather.
hi Oliver and Claudia,
Thanks for posting the details of your lovely MX5 Cosmo and the pictures are great!
We bought our very first MX5 Merlot last September and really love it. One small thing that has been a bit frustrating is the lack of places inside the car just to put things - for example, sun glasses, CDs, a map etc. There is the glove compartment of course but that’s filled up before we even start! So a small detail that we both noticed on your car is the small storage compartment on the inside of the driver’s door - does the Cosmos already have this as part of the original design or is it something you’ve added? We intend to buy a couple of storage bags that fit behind the seats so that should help but it’s also helpful to have something immediately to the side of the driver.
We live in Portsmouth on the south coast so if you ever drive across to the UK then please come and have a cup of tea!
Hello,
thanks for compliments.
The small storage compartement is original design. All of our MK1 got this. I assume Mazda changed it 1995, when they also changed the dash-board with the double-airbags.
Additionally we installed a storage compartent under the Radio and one instead of the ashtray. You can see it on picture No. 5.
Here are some Links:
http://www.mx5parts.co.uk/product_info.php/products_id/119
http://www.mx5parts.co.uk/product_info.php/products_id/1479
Believe me, we would come as soon as possible to drink a cup of tea. On the other side we are three. My wife, our eight year old son and me. Who shall we leave at home?
Welcome to the UK forum. I had never heard of the ‘Cosmo’ edition. So similar to the Merlot but so many differences. The dash looks very different to any UK models. Don’t think we ever got the double airbag dash over here. My 96 Merlot dash is identical to my previous 93 Eunos. We got the Mk2.5 and the Mk3.5. Looks like DE got the missing Mk1.5. Strange that when you have the un-restricted Autobahns Mazda only gave you the 1.6 90bhp engine. Not fair at all.
No need to leave anyone at home. That’s what the boot rack is for. If you zip out the back window you can pass sweets and drinks to the extra passenger. Bubble wrap will perform two functions. Protection against bad weather and multiple airbags. Sorted. 
Just a thought. EU and JDM models in Vin Rouge Mica got cream seats and hood. UK models had grey seats and a black hood. Has anybody else wondered how it would look with a grey hood to match the seats? Better still, has anyone done it?
Yes not very fair. The 90bhp engine was the german bread and butter model. In Germany it was the top selling model, don’t know why. Anyway we don’t drive very fast on the Autobahn, because it is to loud and uncomfortable. We prefer Cruising through
small villages and some serpetines in the “Sauerland”, an area between some artificial lakes near the town Winterberg.
May as well +1 while I’m here… 
Here are the promised pictures with original german Cosmo wheels.
Hello fellow Merlot owners (and nice looking car Oliver!).
First post, for Maizie, my Merlot. Bought last year with 98,000 miles has been from the Durham area from new until I bought her down to Yorkshire.
Three owners from new, and full Mazda dealer history upto 86k miles. My plan is to keep her standard. Wood trim had been removed, so I fitted a kit last year. Just kept doing service jobs since, and looked for any problems. As for work needed…
My plans are; new hood, new n/s wheel arch section and re-spray (not a bodge job). Longer term new front wings will be in order and replacement seat covers. Must say that she drives like a dream and always turns heads.
Photos not great, taken for insurance… Proud to be part of an exclusive few!
Maizie looks very proud and pretty in her beautiful surroundings. There does seem to be a high percentage of Merlot owners who want to keep their cars pretty much standard. Took my nephew to his first MX5OC event at Silverstone on Sunday. Well over 100 cars and he looked along the line and commented that there were no two cars alike. Everybody seems to do there own few personal touches. Us Merlot owners don’t have to though. We’ve got the one that Mazda got ‘just right’ at the factory. Got a shot of mine with Project Merlot. Now that one has had the odd change or two!
