I have a 1998 MX5 Mk2 roadster 1.8 in dark metallic blue with 6 speed gearbox, cloth interior with 1 piece seatbacks, a bodykit, front strut brace and fully adjustable suspension. It was first registered in the UK in 2003 as an SE on an R plate after being imported (I believe) from Japan, and then bought by my dad about 4 years ago as the second UK owner. My problem is that I havent been able to find anything that tells me whether its a standard car with aftermarket or dealer/factory fitted accessories or if its a special edition. It doesn’t seem to match any of the special editions I’ve read about although I’ve seen lots of pictures of US cars with similar bodykits and colour. Its got 16" wheels which were originally polished but we have since powder coated. Can anyone please give me any details on what the car might be as its driving me nuts not knowing ? Any info would be greatly appreciated.
Guys, thanks for the advice and the compliments. I found a post showing that the model designation is on the sticker in the door jam and I’ve just checked and it says RS special edition so thats confirmed.
Piecing together this and other information I can find on the RS the spec should be as follows:
6 speed gearbox (check)
Torsen LSD (3.9:1) (didn't know that although had always wondered if it might)
Strut brace (check)
Lightweight flywheel (is this correct ?)
145 bhp (bp5A head - ?)
Twighlight Blue metallic (RS colour and the desciption seems to fit)
Nardi steering wheel and gearnob (check)
Bose speakers (got them but not sure if they were optional or standard on the RS)
Driver and passenger airbags (check)
Bilstein shock absorbers (mine has fully adjustable - ride height and damping, but dont think they are Bilstein)
Cloth interior (my interior is the same as those in the pictures I've now seen of other RS's)
Mazda aero bodykit either factory or dealer fitted (not standard on RS).
No ABS (I understand this was an option on the RS)
The Mk2 RS wasn’t actually a special edition, at least not as we understand it. It was a regular trim level in the Mazda line-up, roughly equivlanet to (in range positioning, but with a superior spec) to the iS in the UK.
Unless the car came with a BIMTA certificate, I would not assume the mileage is correct. Cars imported by BIMTA members came with certificates attesting to the mileage in Japan, as recorded at the auction. Generally, cars in Japan seem to do 5-10k kms per year.
Reminds me of my old Sport!
