tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-73562596935223909062024-02-29T21:08:22.172-08:00MX5 MutteringsUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger118125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7356259693522390906.post-63044288800577400312024-02-29T21:07:00.000-08:002024-02-29T21:07:41.708-08:00Project Rondo<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkqu3UMWZC7eSU5n-UeezF4dw6FmLOF6FrYOw718pNXY04kp-bEHDI5FmJ-5xP-LZ0ACIw2VDdLB_UBp6N-nyerXpzOPgUD9MOACFQrJPPED8R6OX7Pu7n7LpjR84KbVuTCnQejAxYh0nj2Kws-dxFMH6Vv1KEIufrsiQGU-Mqrl1c1eWGvp4A1IEhJ_4/s4032/IMG_3162.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkqu3UMWZC7eSU5n-UeezF4dw6FmLOF6FrYOw718pNXY04kp-bEHDI5FmJ-5xP-LZ0ACIw2VDdLB_UBp6N-nyerXpzOPgUD9MOACFQrJPPED8R6OX7Pu7n7LpjR84KbVuTCnQejAxYh0nj2Kws-dxFMH6Vv1KEIufrsiQGU-Mqrl1c1eWGvp4A1IEhJ_4/w400-h300/IMG_3162.heic" width="400" /></a></div><p><br /></p>For some time now, I've been looking for a Kia Rondo with low kilometers.<p></p><p>Last week I found one; a 2017 model, with 34000 on the clock, and the best part of one year's warranty left. </p><p>The low kilometers is a product of Covid, as the car was used by a local health service for outpatient transport. It sat in the depot for the duration, and averaged only about 5000 kms annually.</p><p>The only downside was that it was located in Nowra, so a 2000 km round trip was necessary. </p><p>After much swapping of photographs and negotiation over the phone, the deal was done. The CX-3 was my trade, and in the end, no actual transfer of funds (except for the deposit) was necessary. The transaction cost me only travel and accommodation expenses. </p><p>The reason for swapping a perfectly good Mazda CX-3 for a base specification Kia Rondo, is very simple. You can't sleep in a CX-3, but you can in a Kia Rondo.</p><p>The project will involve a very minimalistic conversion. </p><p>Here are the details - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E3cfH39yPIg</p><p>Wish me luck....</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7356259693522390906.post-63489960074293319872022-12-11T14:13:00.004-08:002022-12-12T11:52:30.324-08:00A Blast from the Past<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqrBefkCXICi-ksjQSiyPffsmdcxDTZ4jYI2_q5gmABFNbp9Qsz1FBK72vyPS0LONkosgOZneVpmUEPk6ZNlOqMQhcTCynXPQTtw_-yK-rk2kGAp1WriJGYCPTqedRKQnaPz1DRHpCjsQ2WKo3C5lsHjdrKQYHEaS5EsA6qLhzOu_ACqOkURYSEV8z/s4032/IMG_2640.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqrBefkCXICi-ksjQSiyPffsmdcxDTZ4jYI2_q5gmABFNbp9Qsz1FBK72vyPS0LONkosgOZneVpmUEPk6ZNlOqMQhcTCynXPQTtw_-yK-rk2kGAp1WriJGYCPTqedRKQnaPz1DRHpCjsQ2WKo3C5lsHjdrKQYHEaS5EsA6qLhzOu_ACqOkURYSEV8z/w400-h300/IMG_2640.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My rego was PDS 332</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>I came across this piece of motorised nostalgia whilst visiting a local museum. </p><p>It's nostalgic for me because I owned an almost identical vehicle from 1971 until 1974. My dad sold it to me after he bought it new in 1967. We arrived at a price by getting two trade-in valuations from a couple of Holden dealers. They were a dime a dozen (Holden dealers) back then.</p><p>They have now disappeared.</p><p>I write "almost" identical, because although it was the same colour and year, and had the same red upholstery it differed in engine and transmission. My car had the smaller 161 cubic inch engine. (That's 2.6 litres). This one was a 186 (3.04 litres).</p><p>This museum piece also had the optional disc brakes, and an Opel 4 speed floor shift from the GM parts bin. My car had drum brakes and a three on the tree shift. PDS 332 was very reliable in the three years I owned it, but those drum brakes were a problem once when they went out of round causing grabbing, and a pull to the right if applied vigorously. That was exciting.</p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgInImpJQrVruFGRtgxZiCe23PsccRkk9nAEItiM0I9IWnOgDpRcdhODg2SVSJI7GFyU7GydTGndDn4csevVUNXx_UbsotNg3j0Nv6Zi1qXrgOxx1oSJQ79GJpnC27tlE8QgszWXA0ge3p0lDXOio98_ZJUA6iFG9dxgrOd6_BJb48ifLRdHZa_acUu/s4032/IMG_2641.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgInImpJQrVruFGRtgxZiCe23PsccRkk9nAEItiM0I9IWnOgDpRcdhODg2SVSJI7GFyU7GydTGndDn4csevVUNXx_UbsotNg3j0Nv6Zi1qXrgOxx1oSJQ79GJpnC27tlE8QgszWXA0ge3p0lDXOio98_ZJUA6iFG9dxgrOd6_BJb48ifLRdHZa_acUu/w400-h300/IMG_2641.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Some detail on this car</td></tr></tbody></table><br />In every other respect it was completely satisfactory and surprisingly economical on a long trip, although with fuel at 30 something cents a litre at the time, that wasn't really an issue.I undertook some remarkable trips in it, including Brisbane -Townsville - Mount Isa - Darwin - Alice Springs and return. It performed faultlessly and rescued my mate's near-new Toyota Corolla when it chewed up a fan belt between Katherine and Darwin.<p></p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiYkXNjBpfgSZ1SNYmq7lg6bmfKgRLwxuXXEY0fu5izpY3H1rWSaxG_pVp41AqNGDkVSmpspC6c5hDu8uZhpwaOcdSseSkJX1W9mQAwR0I6TV2zoLK09KNG31JaQTqcplK0PLcTaH7LMnDZvIvsINcyhUTFZqqyTc3wfwF84IPX734GR_zNiSLouyb/s200/hrandcorolla.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="134" data-original-width="200" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiYkXNjBpfgSZ1SNYmq7lg6bmfKgRLwxuXXEY0fu5izpY3H1rWSaxG_pVp41AqNGDkVSmpspC6c5hDu8uZhpwaOcdSseSkJX1W9mQAwR0I6TV2zoLK09KNG31JaQTqcplK0PLcTaH7LMnDZvIvsINcyhUTFZqqyTc3wfwF84IPX734GR_zNiSLouyb/w400-h268/hrandcorolla.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rescuing the Corolla</td></tr></tbody></table><br />I'd love to drive this one. Not possible....</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7356259693522390906.post-39904219749049901672022-10-19T16:52:00.002-07:002022-10-19T16:52:47.761-07:00A Superior Household Appliance?<p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7ZeDqZCdgdURcUd1p8YOKZHwXfM-twTYxXwVu2VITIfBz5xlP7Yi9Z8n8mBa8oNwL1In7ZrKIYvTA0BpqoF_v4zWrFYelHeUklYZpYvCUMp9F-g0XyZp-xDDTZ3QQ7o2GsyfcOovw9f947uoXLTk6Yx8FFtDExF4KnPnv6OKUKlnGelJIW-QPGB9K/s4032/IMG_2494.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7ZeDqZCdgdURcUd1p8YOKZHwXfM-twTYxXwVu2VITIfBz5xlP7Yi9Z8n8mBa8oNwL1In7ZrKIYvTA0BpqoF_v4zWrFYelHeUklYZpYvCUMp9F-g0XyZp-xDDTZ3QQ7o2GsyfcOovw9f947uoXLTk6Yx8FFtDExF4KnPnv6OKUKlnGelJIW-QPGB9K/w400-h300/IMG_2494.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Appearance is pleasing</td></tr></tbody></table></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>On a recent tour of FNQ* I had the opportunity to spend a week driving a hired Toyota Corolla. <p></p><p>It was the barebones hire car version, but nevertheless was equipped with just about every conceivable feature, some more useful than others. Apple Carplay was extremely useful, especially as I have become used to what you can do with it based on experience with the CX-3.</p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdt3If3sgHQQf_fMB0nXM4jz22H8FTyd0kvlpf_w_dR_kZHutYo_XsTwU7fBHfX1HJ2NQvs2Yuj4nADYZRGamr0MT_1aSXFHspq1h-oY36uqP0uSUOHXngV2QuxdWg7AD8G2HDVfCR7lOBHFyTWWku-05xKGjcDFnfqWVPVNcWEoUvIpRO_IYRKobz/s4032/IMG_2496.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdt3If3sgHQQf_fMB0nXM4jz22H8FTyd0kvlpf_w_dR_kZHutYo_XsTwU7fBHfX1HJ2NQvs2Yuj4nADYZRGamr0MT_1aSXFHspq1h-oY36uqP0uSUOHXngV2QuxdWg7AD8G2HDVfCR7lOBHFyTWWku-05xKGjcDFnfqWVPVNcWEoUvIpRO_IYRKobz/w400-h300/IMG_2496.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Toyota interior finish is solid</td></tr></tbody></table><br />We are in the habit of watching the ABC's Insiders on Sunday, and we were able to do this on the iView App playing on the audio. Sound is all you need on a panel show, and I was surprised how well the signal held despite negotiating at the time the convoluted and relatively remote Palmerston highway.</p><p>One feature I did not appreciate was the lane keep assist. It seemed to kick in over 60 kph as we headed North from Townsville, and nearly drove me bonkers as we proceeded along the Bruce Highway. It is supposed to prevent the car wandering out of its lane, but seemed to cantankerously want to take over the steering at the most inconvenient times. My guess is that it is engineered for your well-designed dual carriageway, and there aren't too many of these in FNQ. </p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF6J4fHxLeoBkhMBKiXdqQgdWhWJA7bN9qB82HuJtK6PZT3K76SFHlWJEiMYAdo-eVJK1m1LISHHUE0h7KD9Ps3WAEhIon3lwcgvAX9lydUVlpLVlHXsfj5ZtC6Exdq3zfCDZ6lUd_oHa3ilpHz2-69zdZtqy6TCeAIMj4yKAOwMUQYO2hZZBznz1h/s4032/IMG_2497.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF6J4fHxLeoBkhMBKiXdqQgdWhWJA7bN9qB82HuJtK6PZT3K76SFHlWJEiMYAdo-eVJK1m1LISHHUE0h7KD9Ps3WAEhIon3lwcgvAX9lydUVlpLVlHXsfj5ZtC6Exdq3zfCDZ6lUd_oHa3ilpHz2-69zdZtqy6TCeAIMj4yKAOwMUQYO2hZZBznz1h/w400-h300/IMG_2497.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Plenty of space here</td></tr></tbody></table><br />I pulled over, grabbed the driver's handbook and figured out how to turn it off. this transformed the car, and made it almost enjoyable to drive. Even the CVT (which I did not appreciate at first) managed to be in the right gear most of the time, and actually provided quite respectable engine braking in the mountains.</p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhevaRxOYmVyW_N8CFQtZyN5daqGNkHS5G-1pqmxk1eQzjb2JNVXc2muGazNM_EGDswUhNcI6Su6DR9cQ6oDAojHD6ig1VhtuINnolEHp9BFrktBaPNaJ1W2Be3njVmMF9Q7bKRhBu9ML-rjqS4Ac_ixvX0ZejAoEVjIbmMdfCL4RS20epty-_udr-P/s4032/IMG_2498.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhevaRxOYmVyW_N8CFQtZyN5daqGNkHS5G-1pqmxk1eQzjb2JNVXc2muGazNM_EGDswUhNcI6Su6DR9cQ6oDAojHD6ig1VhtuINnolEHp9BFrktBaPNaJ1W2Be3njVmMF9Q7bKRhBu9ML-rjqS4Ac_ixvX0ZejAoEVjIbmMdfCL4RS20epty-_udr-P/w400-h300/IMG_2498.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Full size alloy spare is a bonus</td></tr></tbody></table><br />The seats were comfortable, the road noise less intrusive than in the Toyo Kogyo competition, and it was very economical. We saw 6 lit/100km cruising. It seemed to handle a lot better than Corollas I have previously driven, and is a little bit further along a continuum with household appliances at one end, and fun driving machines at the other.</p><p>I don't know that I could ever own one, but it was a very pleasant little thing, and served our purposes well across a wide variety of roads and conditions.</p><p>Eight out of ten I reckon....</p><p>*Far North Queensland - generally North of Cardwell. </p><p> </p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7356259693522390906.post-52323112255784158332022-08-22T00:58:00.002-07:002022-08-22T16:58:09.445-07:00Trusting the Tech<p> </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMXnOOU50yOGeyWPigi-30fvZtVmo_tgAqTAiw4XmzxAIhVakwSN01ETyHKhjeTgfaeSwuNT196_GqZwjXAUtkhJb6IAZvPvM3_qFLJh5gCC09zEu58RlhaWRNo7aZkCd7Fc-izfYo7sd_CAWCz0KPrNeTqBOsaR_LHCKAfQv6K0SZ-XTfJ72RC--B/s253/cx3.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="199" data-original-width="253" height="315" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMXnOOU50yOGeyWPigi-30fvZtVmo_tgAqTAiw4XmzxAIhVakwSN01ETyHKhjeTgfaeSwuNT196_GqZwjXAUtkhJb6IAZvPvM3_qFLJh5gCC09zEu58RlhaWRNo7aZkCd7Fc-izfYo7sd_CAWCz0KPrNeTqBOsaR_LHCKAfQv6K0SZ-XTfJ72RC--B/w400-h315/cx3.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pic courtesy Mazda.com</td></tr></tbody></table><br />In my most <a href="http://mx5mutterings.blogspot.com/2022/07/mazda-fifth.html">recent post</a> about the CX-3, I made reference to the I-Stop feature.<p></p><p>This is just one example of the digital technology that came with this car, and is typical of many vehicles produced during the last five years.</p><p>For a boomer who was first licensed to drive in 1964, old driving habits die hard.</p><p>So when the I-Stop feature stops the engine, I feel very uneasy. But once you get used to it, it works very well. Whether it actually saves any fuel of consequence is another matter, but it is indeed a reliable piece of tech that functions as intended.</p><p>Then there's the "Auto Hold" gismo.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8C1h0vnNQBevi8wzqfnuZ0rA310aQw5Ii8g-z1RuOC5NgoDLaRbedg8Vxfdw0cxaKaEp3NzrQiuu4Kgf7Y_WQeE05mXHNJ0z9ehnHvBzu_Wv4Oy9AV6ixUANOOd6lcaKc8dvXI-4wBk60Rxw0YK4tDasKwy1aW1tGf51f4o4lR2AIPgdoCuTcYh_G/s2016/handbrake2436.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8C1h0vnNQBevi8wzqfnuZ0rA310aQw5Ii8g-z1RuOC5NgoDLaRbedg8Vxfdw0cxaKaEp3NzrQiuu4Kgf7Y_WQeE05mXHNJ0z9ehnHvBzu_Wv4Oy9AV6ixUANOOd6lcaKc8dvXI-4wBk60Rxw0YK4tDasKwy1aW1tGf51f4o4lR2AIPgdoCuTcYh_G/w300-h400/handbrake2436.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">P for handbrake</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>This is a button the is located below the hand brake actuator (more about that later) on the centre console. When you're waiting at the lights on a slope in neutral, pressing this prevents the car from rolling back. It is a very useful feature, although it comes with a brief delay before it locks on, which is a little disconcerting.</p><p>But there's more....</p><p>The handbrake (mentioned above) is not one of those sturdy mechanical things typical of Mazdas of old, which made a welcome ratcheting sound when you pulled them on. Instead there is another (not exactly a button) device which you activate by lifting it slightly, and release by pushing it down. It does work very well, and even makes a slight clunking noise when you set it to "on". I find the mechanical noise reassuring.</p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim-23n06rk7vBEvcN3UemJcij-Cdg683JjE_36KBN11cV9uveW842ci84PKFDa70PrdHmfMkVeGJsv8LKoBIu9zapXVxwTs3vFckpW8SCrQWualr57ThV4wEsSnYUvd3VLzuwJXprZnx4BwyEthLHq0OtxGAt0IlE_rJA9Wzj54NWkhtVrJVpH9WKL/s2016/mirrors2434.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim-23n06rk7vBEvcN3UemJcij-Cdg683JjE_36KBN11cV9uveW842ci84PKFDa70PrdHmfMkVeGJsv8LKoBIu9zapXVxwTs3vFckpW8SCrQWualr57ThV4wEsSnYUvd3VLzuwJXprZnx4BwyEthLHq0OtxGAt0IlE_rJA9Wzj54NWkhtVrJVpH9WKL/w300-h400/mirrors2434.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mirror folding switch</td></tr></tbody></table><br />One piece of tech that caused me some alarm is the tyre pressure warning system. This is makes a buzzing noise when one or more tyres has lost pressure. Not long after I bought the car, I adjusted the tyre pressures. I always do this, as experience has taught me that some dealers have a very eccentric idea of what constitutes correct tyre pressures.<p></p><p>To my alarm, when I drove away after setting the pressures to slightly above Mazda's recommendation, the buzzer sounded and the warning light stubbornly stayed on. A check with the War and Peace sized instruction manual was not useful, as it simply acknowledged the presence of the feature, so I went to Google.</p><p>This showed that after tyre pressures were adjusted, the thing had to be reset. This was a very simple exercise (holding the button down for two seconds until the warning light flashed twice) and it has been happy since. Replacing the tyres elicited the same behaviour, but I was now wise to this particular quirk.</p><p>The blind spot warning system and the reversing warning buzzer that kicks in if any vehicle is within cooee when you're backing out of a parking spot is a very useful thing, although it tends to over compensate more than somewhat. But that's OK. </p><p>Lastly, I accidentally discovered that the rear vision mirrors fold. Because they didn't automatically do that when the car is locked, I had no idea the feature was present until I had a quiet read of the driver's manual. It simply isn't automatic (or maybe it is and I haven't set it properly).</p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEpvNxQ9a7-zoT32PSItwu0m2gKTfuewSrygMU51XRz3ODBH_jr0dM5KvuABUpmdqTBLcUeZJ-U9hwlJiOzTtDpUT-YHXGJm6S58z1QOL1m0YU4kIiKCyB02NSDyyFfdEMeYWNctjBBHN6STCSe_yPNuzhpykHiQVfKTxUyP_q638rcnD2kT52jWql/s2016/tyre2435.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEpvNxQ9a7-zoT32PSItwu0m2gKTfuewSrygMU51XRz3ODBH_jr0dM5KvuABUpmdqTBLcUeZJ-U9hwlJiOzTtDpUT-YHXGJm6S58z1QOL1m0YU4kIiKCyB02NSDyyFfdEMeYWNctjBBHN6STCSe_yPNuzhpykHiQVfKTxUyP_q638rcnD2kT52jWql/w300-h400/tyre2435.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tyre warning reset button</td></tr></tbody></table><br />This model of the CX-3 doesn't have a lane-keeping feature or radar cruise control. The latter is probably useful, but experience I've had test driving vehicles with the former confirm my belief that they're an abomination. <p></p><p>If you're too dozy to keep the car in the lane, you shouldn't be driving.</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7356259693522390906.post-16591971966295543882022-07-15T14:00:00.001-07:002022-07-15T22:31:10.047-07:00Mazda the Fifth<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA5NxeWAOEazZrACnaUGoHsbplGjSmJrtBf3X9dmACw5Q5iyHaz1Tyl3i8bjAuSJDPacuufJ8mO2ySiScSAxKjJp8CyMrVj2C5uD6m6w56TxyxlpBWkf9CuxuQdUbmOsWHkoyEKFMJAk3DPu3HOddqJOOuoPPqIt6HFEpYH3zi59zAanlL21IWq9C1/s3086/IMG_2363.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2184" data-original-width="3086" height="283" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA5NxeWAOEazZrACnaUGoHsbplGjSmJrtBf3X9dmACw5Q5iyHaz1Tyl3i8bjAuSJDPacuufJ8mO2ySiScSAxKjJp8CyMrVj2C5uD6m6w56TxyxlpBWkf9CuxuQdUbmOsWHkoyEKFMJAk3DPu3HOddqJOOuoPPqIt6HFEpYH3zi59zAanlL21IWq9C1/w400-h283/IMG_2363.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>These things (Mazdas) are becoming an addiction.</p><p>This CX-3 is the fifth example of the marque that I've owned. It replaces the Mazda 3 that I hocked to pay for renovations in our new home. </p><p>I've never been good at sharing cars. My bride would tell you that if you asked her.</p><p>The list of machines in our family emanating from the Togyo Kogyo plant at Hiroshima in the land of the rising sun include three MX-5s (all NBs, and one of them an <a href="http://mx5mutterings.blogspot.com/2021/08/goodbye-and-hello.html">SE)</a> and my daughters <a href="http://mx5mutterings.blogspot.com/2020/12/basic-motoring.html">323,</a> and my recently sold <a href="http://mx5mutterings.blogspot.com/2021/10/another-mazda.html">Mazda 3. </a></p><p>To be completely truthful (and regular readers will know that I always am) this latest member of the Zoom Zoom family wasn't actually made in Japan. Mazda is now outsourcing manufacturing to an Auto Alliance factory in <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AutoAlliance_Thailand">Thailand </a>(Rayong province) and that is where the CX-3 was built.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMfXLi_9R7J4gm5TgFzxj-ZdW3N39azM4b1TQnbtaX-EIyhhvhPPF92_T62vD4KJlS-xaoxQ5l-gFvxAxF-nmpPdpdiEKlm2msYiWaS-BgTFvgCZ1g90ZLR2fumFGmE2M2vGhis-B4hZZIKnamP71ZyQsIVOZ4PKvZ6B-COyAAsaO825afmQy604_2/s3249/IMG_2364.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1839" data-original-width="3249" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMfXLi_9R7J4gm5TgFzxj-ZdW3N39azM4b1TQnbtaX-EIyhhvhPPF92_T62vD4KJlS-xaoxQ5l-gFvxAxF-nmpPdpdiEKlm2msYiWaS-BgTFvgCZ1g90ZLR2fumFGmE2M2vGhis-B4hZZIKnamP71ZyQsIVOZ4PKvZ6B-COyAAsaO825afmQy604_2/w400-h226/IMG_2364.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />Following my practice of avoiding new cars, as they depreciate as soon as you drive out of the showroom, I sourced this local 2019 example with 30000 kms on the clock locally. It's the cliche; with one local lady owner. It's a manual, and I was lucky to find it. Manuals are like hens teeth these days, as fewer and fewer millennials (and whatever the generation after them is called) can drive them.<p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQYep15wIDhLYAo7FJAns6xbpeLLY2xH47DFol-3K5-eZ1d48XrTTlbRY4u5aDT5DsGrpB5GVUE1FvR9-rHnQFDmnFcKgDVSPqMnORM37psaVVX2SW0czvIQmsfRuz7xsWx0V6xHd8BmWBkrwjTkbkua7YIw-n8K7ZUKQLVDFkpQmzf6WPKNAgYzl5/s4032/IMG_2365.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQYep15wIDhLYAo7FJAns6xbpeLLY2xH47DFol-3K5-eZ1d48XrTTlbRY4u5aDT5DsGrpB5GVUE1FvR9-rHnQFDmnFcKgDVSPqMnORM37psaVVX2SW0czvIQmsfRuz7xsWx0V6xHd8BmWBkrwjTkbkua7YIw-n8K7ZUKQLVDFkpQmzf6WPKNAgYzl5/w400-h300/IMG_2365.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />It really does remind me of my MX-5s, but it has the actual advantage of being accessible. My 75 year-old back is these days incompatible with sports cars. The higher hip point of the SUV body style is a real boon. There is very little adult room in the back seat, but generally I sit in the front to drive it, so am not bothered by that.<p></p><p>The drive train has some strong similarities to the MX-5, and both road feel and steering feedback are similar. The higher driving position gets you away from reading the sidewalls of B-double tyres whilst waiting beside them at the lights.</p><p>There is lots of whiz-bang tech which I'm getting my head around, including a feature called i-stop which cuts the engine when you're waiting at the lights. I can disable it, but it sparks up again every time you start the car. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjixHKE2hSwCPnX9qkG4lQRTBFxrAduhJPMWIRUwINQ56K5515E3mo_yEhgCnzXmN6MqdoI5fATZPVMiVJ_NBkk5m7-D3kBgXLbC5L54KZTPAlcu0zfuU8QFo6OdSbPfXl_72CgVRiBGa8tj6AIhsCu9vT9OUMUusGGUjB21Sa2zI_WmiW9qGN2eGn3/s1485/IMG_2366.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1018" data-original-width="1485" height="274" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjixHKE2hSwCPnX9qkG4lQRTBFxrAduhJPMWIRUwINQ56K5515E3mo_yEhgCnzXmN6MqdoI5fATZPVMiVJ_NBkk5m7-D3kBgXLbC5L54KZTPAlcu0zfuU8QFo6OdSbPfXl_72CgVRiBGa8tj6AIhsCu9vT9OUMUusGGUjB21Sa2zI_WmiW9qGN2eGn3/w400-h274/IMG_2366.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Is this my last Mazda? Most likely - so I'll do my best to enjoy it.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7356259693522390906.post-82921440201741118562022-02-17T15:13:00.007-08:002022-02-17T15:27:05.098-08:00<h3 0.75em="" 0px="" 22px="" class="post-title entry-title" font-size:="" font-stretch:="" font-variant-east-asian:="" font-variant-numeric:="" font-weight:="" itemprop="name" line-height:="" margin:="" normal="" position:="" relative="">Groundhog Day - Scamwatch Mk 2</h3><div 0px="" 1.5em="" 1.6="" 10.8px="" arial="" class="post-header" font-family:="" font-size:="" freesans="" helvetica="" line-height:="" margin:="" sans-serif="" seashell="" tahoma=""><div class="post-header-line-1"></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgEP_L6bw2__7162YI04kR0iUACut6FE4JNX0S8yPj4FDYXB8KmdyUoZmCnRpszaLMPl2R_SvycpHQP-VTvQZMlobFVoeM3ez0eZ9xWP3ax_9LX1S6Qi_g3s7OEGqsVfzagfKzBzZEiiIKTA1Iw4iWyTwtXsaoLf_jFMuygA3eIM2sttxr-V3Ar2IhD=s4272" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2848" data-original-width="4272" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgEP_L6bw2__7162YI04kR0iUACut6FE4JNX0S8yPj4FDYXB8KmdyUoZmCnRpszaLMPl2R_SvycpHQP-VTvQZMlobFVoeM3ez0eZ9xWP3ax_9LX1S6Qi_g3s7OEGqsVfzagfKzBzZEiiIKTA1Iw4iWyTwtXsaoLf_jFMuygA3eIM2sttxr-V3Ar2IhD=w400-h266" width="400" /></a></div><div 1.4="" 13.2px="" 570px="" arial="" class="post-body entry-content" font-family:="" font-size:="" freesans="" helvetica="" id="post-body-1023492027032601880" itemprop="description articleBody" line-height:="" position:="" relative="" sans-serif="" tahoma="" width:=""><span> </span><span> </span>This is the actual car. It would be a good buy.</div><p>Regular readers may remember<span style="background-color: #2b00fe;"> </span><a href="http://1735099.blogspot.com/2012/12/scamming-scammers.html"><span style="background-color: #2b00fe; color: #ffffcc;">this </span>post </a>back in 2012 when I was selling a car on line.</p><p>I'm at it again<span style="background-color: #2b00fe;"> <span style="color: #ffffcc;"><a href="https://www.carsales.com.au/cars/details/2012-mazda-3-maxx-sport-bl-series-2-manual/SSE-AD-12354113/?Cr=0">(selling a car, that is)</a></span></span><a href="https://www.carsales.com.au/cars/details/2012-mazda-3-maxx-sport-bl-series-2-manual/SSE-AD-12354113/?Cr=0"> </a>and so are the scammers.</p><p>Not much has changed. The 2022 pitch is similar. The narrative involves a prospective buyer working remotely who can't make phone or text contact because he's working in an area lacking mobile coverage.</p><p>It makes you wonder how the men and women in FIFO situations stay in touch with their families. I'll have to let these people know that they can actually use Facetime. I'd be doing them a favour.</p><p>Here are the two emails I received via the Carsales website -</p><p>First one (Monday 14th February) -</p><p><i> <span style="font-family: times;"> Glen Young <<u><span style="color: #2b00fe;">gleenyoung3@gmail.com</span></u>> wrote:</span></i></p><p><i style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: times;"><b>Subject:</b>Re: Mazda 3</i></p><div dir="ltr" id="divRplyFwdMsg" style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-family: times;"><i><br /></i></span><span style="font-family: times;"><div style="font-style: italic;"><i> Thanks for your response, confirm the asking price again, where is it located at the moment? Why are you selling it? Does it need anything to be replaced or repaired? I'm cool with the condition as described on the advert. I work on a remote mine site in WA presently. and the reception is terrible. We do not have access to a phone at the moment, which is why I contacted you with an internet messaging facility.<br /><br /><br /> Regarding the payment,I can pay you through direct bank deposit (EFT), using PayPal instant bank wire transfer service. I will need your Account name, BSB, and Account number. If you are not comfortable with that, you can set up a PayPal account properly at </i><a contenteditable="false" href="http://www.paypal.com.au/" style="color: #ffffcc; text-decoration-line: none;" title="http://www.paypal.com.au/">www.PayPal.com.au</a><i> and I will make the payment through PayPal, this way, all I will need is your PayPal email address.<br /><br /> I have also contacted my courier who will come to pick up and deliver it to my place in Darwin after the whole fund has been cleared into your account. As regards the papers, all I will need is a receipt, the rego will have to be done in NT Darwin at my place of residence, so there will be no use for the existing Reg and RWC and i can buy it Unregistered<br /><br /><br /> Cheers</i></div><div style="font-style: italic;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="font-style: italic;"><i> Glenn<br /></i></div><div style="font-style: italic;"><i><br /></i></div><div>Second one - (Thursday 17th February) -</div><div style="font-style: italic;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="font-style: italic;"><i> Joanne Boughton <<a contenteditable="false" href="mailto:joanneboughton01@gmail.com" style="color: #0078d4; text-decoration-line: none;" title="mailto:joanneboughton01@gmail.com">joanneboughton01@gmail.com</a>> wrote:</i></div><div style="font-style: italic;"><i><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><blockquote type="cite"><i><b>Subject:</b>Re: Mazda 3</i></blockquote><p> Thanks for your response,I am okay with the price, where is it located at the moment? Why are you selling it? Does it need anything to be replaced or repaired? I'm cool with the condition as described on the advert. I work for Fly In Fly Out (FIFO)Mining, Oil and Gas and we are presently in a remote area. We do not have access to a phone at the moment and that's why I contacted you with an internet messaging facility.</p></div></div></i></div></span></div><p> <i style="font-family: Calibri;">Regarding the payment,I can pay you through direct bank deposit (EFT), using PayPal instant bank wire transfer service. I will need your Account name, BSB, and Account number. If you are not comfortable with that, you can set up a PayPal account properly at <a contenteditable="false" href="http://www.paypal.com.au/" style="color: #ffffcc; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank" title="http://www.paypal.com.au/">www.PayPal.com.au</a> and I will make the payment through PayPal, this way, all I will need is your PayPal email address.</i></p><p><i> </i><i style="font-family: Calibri;">I have also contacted my courier who will come to pick up and deliver it to my place in Darwin after the whole fund has been cleared into your account. With the issue of my details, transferring the name of ownership and signing of all paperwork will be done by the pickup agent. If you are not comfortable with that, you can cancel the registration and I will buy unregistered because I am taking it interstate.</i></p><p><i> </i><i style="font-family: Calibri;">I have limited time on the computer, your quick response will be appreciated.</i></p><p><i style="font-family: Calibri;"> Cheers<br /></i></p><p><i style="font-family: Calibri;"> Joanne<br /></i></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">The scammers probably use bots, so replying to vent your spleen probably is a waste of time, but reporting them isn't. I did both. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Feel free gentle reader, to use those email addresses to hassle them a little. It will waste their time. They're thieves, so should be wasting time in jail.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">These scams have persisted (in my experience) for at least ten years, so they must work occasionally, and the scammers don't get caught.</span></p><div style="clear: both;"></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7356259693522390906.post-76644970080996141642021-10-23T01:01:00.005-07:002021-10-23T01:03:13.855-07:00Another Mazda<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyvUIKCmyMnuPgfkTfpxrHYkTrBf25jnPv5gDDa7rkgUrK96TGDzHxNFtQhzmbSer-oMY8wPs-Rmv4OfPtxJ8WSzckNXjCq91N8mZlGOSJb29xtADjkgdmPgkgzpykhmlOq1N-VU2N5vA/s2048/IMG_1479.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyvUIKCmyMnuPgfkTfpxrHYkTrBf25jnPv5gDDa7rkgUrK96TGDzHxNFtQhzmbSer-oMY8wPs-Rmv4OfPtxJ8WSzckNXjCq91N8mZlGOSJb29xtADjkgdmPgkgzpykhmlOq1N-VU2N5vA/w400-h300/IMG_1479.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p><p>The MX5 is gone, but not forgotten.</p><p>The replacement is a pleasant machine. It drives well, is extremely comfortable, and some of its characteristics (gearshift and road manners) remind me of the MX5. </p><p>It's a whole lot easier for a septuagenarian to access, and I don't have to make agonising decisions about preserving its value by not driving it in the rain, and keeping the kilometres low</p><p>I thought I knew a bit about Mazdas, but this car has provided a few surprises. Despite the smaller Mazdas having a bad reputation for road noise, I haven't found it a problem. Perhaps the tyres (almost new Michelins) help.</p><p>Whilst the seats feel hard and basic, I can drive long distances without developing the dreaded numb bum syndrome. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzZ1uL-4enLdQZrcqJIl5YVxv65NqbYDFs_SgT0ISt9eOIQvXzEccvdEOHfXyg5zAhQFOpvBPF9kJ7KtvHS4NIBVfPHm3ctK7EAfUeYhMcuQSnC1I8nnGi4mBYssvPN76jR60PFzfplx4/s2048/Space_1500.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzZ1uL-4enLdQZrcqJIl5YVxv65NqbYDFs_SgT0ISt9eOIQvXzEccvdEOHfXyg5zAhQFOpvBPF9kJ7KtvHS4NIBVfPHm3ctK7EAfUeYhMcuQSnC1I8nnGi4mBYssvPN76jR60PFzfplx4/w400-h300/Space_1500.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>Seats folded, it can shift a surprising amount of kit, as I discovered when helping my daughter shift her gear after her return from the UK. It also will accomodate a road bike, as my son discovered.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiv9m-h7CKt6TgV2mScJSpbCN6zYit63WuoZVf7uSrvZ8x_rermi-UccLk9qly_WmYnOh8qPhlF8vEuM3716wlpDED-wBjw785T2_IiiosaLlV65eC7tUC2GFVv2Br2G7W9gSVWX7KgoQ/s2048/Audio_1599.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiv9m-h7CKt6TgV2mScJSpbCN6zYit63WuoZVf7uSrvZ8x_rermi-UccLk9qly_WmYnOh8qPhlF8vEuM3716wlpDED-wBjw785T2_IiiosaLlV65eC7tUC2GFVv2Br2G7W9gSVWX7KgoQ/w400-h300/Audio_1599.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Existing audio. Works well, but way too many buttons.</td></tr></tbody></table><p>These things come equipped with a good amount of tech, (GPS, bluetooth, voice activated calls) but I am replacing the stock audio setup with a touch screen with all the bells and whistles. The new audio won't do anything the old one wouldn't do by pairing it with a phone, but it's less fiddly and Apple Carplay is a good thing.</p><p>And with this car, I no longer am a worshipper on the "keep it original" altar. It's quite liberating.</p><p>It's mechanically very sound, although one problem with buying sight unseen is that unbeknownst to me prior to purchase, the paint had a few nasty surprises. Previous owner must have owned a cat which had fun climbing all over it and leaving minute scratches in the clearcoat.</p><p>I've removed some of them, but others are still noticeable under some light conditions. </p><p>Next post I'll review the new audio kit. </p><p><br /></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7356259693522390906.post-10488000680947471562021-08-03T13:57:00.005-07:002022-06-19T12:47:55.991-07:00Goodbye and Hello<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL77AkIx53djc2yYFYonww1GgQgxLRCURy5HxODKxgJDWFJc9Mie_T2xJZ1cCkk6G3RVifqQxNdJDf4m0OZlHjU2j00m74pasZxuHa2Qi4NM0wYz2UnxrC8XaHAE2GRAj1dEUkWlB2CGc/s4032/IMG_1288.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL77AkIx53djc2yYFYonww1GgQgxLRCURy5HxODKxgJDWFJc9Mie_T2xJZ1cCkk6G3RVifqQxNdJDf4m0OZlHjU2j00m74pasZxuHa2Qi4NM0wYz2UnxrC8XaHAE2GRAj1dEUkWlB2CGc/w320-h240/IMG_1288.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>It's gone.</p><p>I sold it to a bloke in Melbourne for $7000 more than I paid for it three years ago, and it arrived via truck yesterday and was collected by the new owner this morning.</p><p>He phoned me and told me he was wrapt in the car. I'm glad. He bought it sight unseen, based on my description, and I would have felt bad if he had been disappointed.</p><p>I sold it because it had ceased to be an object of enjoyment (although it remained a lovely little thing to drive) and had become an artifact to be preserved. This meant that every time I wanted to drive it, I was considering how many kilometres I would put on it, and how that would affect its value. </p><p>The fact that my degenerating spine (a consequence of humping a military load in and out of choppers and for ten weeks at a time fifty-one years go) was making it increasingly painful to access its cockpit was also a factor.</p><p>Whilst all low-kilo NBs are holding their value well, this one, because of its Jasper Conran interior, is a collector's item. It probably should be on display in a museum, and a car like that is no good to me. Cars are for driving, not looking at.</p><p>I researched its replacement carefully and looked online for the most sensible and practical low mileage Japanese sedan with a manual six-speed gearbox. I found a 2013 Mazda 3 with 40000kms and (as the cliche goes, one lady owner). I bought it from a dealer, taking advantage of my TPI GST free concession. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaptcFw9V_Vjti6XnVBVtbhgmWQ0txyXr-GcN7S-A4B55zh8-hh1IT8PbmpqFdCr1PcXTOQ2v16qagNd6gWGBMOQsE1Vd09cgxDFmqZiz86yzWs_L69oQym83JoMwkN3tNv2ESS4A5R4k/s2048/edit.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaptcFw9V_Vjti6XnVBVtbhgmWQ0txyXr-GcN7S-A4B55zh8-hh1IT8PbmpqFdCr1PcXTOQ2v16qagNd6gWGBMOQsE1Vd09cgxDFmqZiz86yzWs_L69oQym83JoMwkN3tNv2ESS4A5R4k/s320/edit.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><p>The plan was to deliver the MX5 to its new owner in Melbourne and to collect the Mazda 3 from the dealer and bring it back to Queensland.</p><p>Then the lockdowns happened.</p><p>In the end, the buyer had the MX5 trucked south, and I had the 3 sent north. Shortly before my car arrived in Pinkenba (the Brisbane depot of the logistics company) SE Queensland was locked down, and I couldn't pick it up without being quarantined at home for two weeks, so I had to shell out for the Brisbane-Toowoomba leg.</p><p>So the savings I'd made buying GST free were cancelled out by the trucking costs. The car should arrive home today or tomorrow.</p><p>The blog will remain, despite the lack of an MX5 to write about. It will continue to cover matters motoring.</p><p>Watch this space.</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7356259693522390906.post-89485637411298985882021-05-23T01:05:00.010-07:002021-05-23T01:07:05.118-07:00They Don't Build Them Like They Used To - Fortunately<iframe frameborder="0" height="270" src="https://youtube.com/embed/C_r5UJrxcck" width="480"></iframe><div><br /></div><div>This crash test involving a 1959 Chevrolet Bel Air vs. a 2009 Chevrolet Malibu reveals how much progress has been made in vehicle safety during that fifty years.</div><div><br /></div><div>Further progress has been made since 2009, and the <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-01-25/every-road-death-in-australia-since-1989/9353794" target="_blank">statistics confirm it.</a></div><div><br /></div><div>The cliche holds - they don't build them like they used to.</div><div><br /></div><div>Thank the Good Lord for that.</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7356259693522390906.post-57076049604356032802021-05-18T19:12:00.006-07:002021-05-18T19:19:48.171-07:00David Hack - Post Covid<p><span style="font-size: x-small;">The David Hack meet, probably the most thoroughly representative display of classic cars and vehicles in the country, was staged last Sunday, after a pandemic-induced gap in 2020.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-small;">It was the most well-attended David Hack Meet I've seen, and I have been to all of them in the last five years. Sunday was a typically crisp autumn day, but very pleasant in the sunshine.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-small;">I took random pics of a few of the cars (and one aircraft) and I'll attempt to caption them correctly. If I get it wrong, please let me know.</span></p><p> <br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKuy6VIM9tDuEA-sKFEL2ur-MDoqZH8YzdvCxJ4FTSFKScIR17E8DQf44DHx_pVZRX1DzBqeiud-YA_TUwQiI8fSU5B0qNbrbmUI0Avot89R03eW75yZoCDmicXHDeDinAelS1Nn6qvvE/s2048/IMG_1314.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKuy6VIM9tDuEA-sKFEL2ur-MDoqZH8YzdvCxJ4FTSFKScIR17E8DQf44DHx_pVZRX1DzBqeiud-YA_TUwQiI8fSU5B0qNbrbmUI0Avot89R03eW75yZoCDmicXHDeDinAelS1Nn6qvvE/s320/IMG_1314.JPG" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">These things are springing up everywhere.</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPt0xbSjdgFqx55XGbMkl9d5Rvklqt4Njk3XM_HXPb5caU4VBP_1aCuoKq-9f1-OAG3mOZ8plfFOgcjxPAoWcsxShULC0aZo0mgmuBcXC1qpvvG8qz631nDNVXGl5zj6lM1YgyYJe4n8g/s4032/IMG_1301.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPt0xbSjdgFqx55XGbMkl9d5Rvklqt4Njk3XM_HXPb5caU4VBP_1aCuoKq-9f1-OAG3mOZ8plfFOgcjxPAoWcsxShULC0aZo0mgmuBcXC1qpvvG8qz631nDNVXGl5zj6lM1YgyYJe4n8g/s320/IMG_1301.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A very special 404 Ute.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">The blue ute is the product of a twenty-one-year-long rebuild and retro-mod of a Peugeot 404 "Bakkie" (South-African built ute) imported in the 60s. The engineering is brilliant, and the presentation remarkable.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">It features a fuel-injected 504 motor, a shortened and 504 equipped rear end, and all mod cons including A/C. the vehicle is a true labour of love.</div></td></tr></tbody></table></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3IsZX8CpXBPzJfXUHyijJW7S0bA_M1gUlTg7TNbWM1QysWngAxxLjCemx95PNYZ61zXOrxS8KCoeFwMpf_sR4Mepe7G9_wqO2kPLcm5MP0cA87TkPQZ_YTCRzcmIxwDY-vP1tYCn5Axo/s4032/IMG_1304.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3IsZX8CpXBPzJfXUHyijJW7S0bA_M1gUlTg7TNbWM1QysWngAxxLjCemx95PNYZ61zXOrxS8KCoeFwMpf_sR4Mepe7G9_wqO2kPLcm5MP0cA87TkPQZ_YTCRzcmIxwDY-vP1tYCn5Axo/s320/IMG_1304.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Count the engineering mods on the placard.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEOgMaGvotfhllIL07Gz8E8ekSJBIafGDgrTlgx-8TUtS_2G9zVWDHR33PDNCsK4EBhKtK1VLAdvhD0pDxXIMXqHt3SslByHDDwJos1Qsnkns-OLNm3wnXnldz2Z0zqvo9JNewGszPQic/s2048/IMG_3283.CR2" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEOgMaGvotfhllIL07Gz8E8ekSJBIafGDgrTlgx-8TUtS_2G9zVWDHR33PDNCsK4EBhKtK1VLAdvhD0pDxXIMXqHt3SslByHDDwJos1Qsnkns-OLNm3wnXnldz2Z0zqvo9JNewGszPQic/s320/IMG_3283.CR2" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking her best for the MX5 display.</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGhw0lGaoFdYOkCovKJUJODIitD5bGBuT_A6JdnkCYdPHcHASf5ba5JftV3CcfXtH9L-rPKn3IBsqFzeDPmu2lt2R9cqM2n-UwEBsjXPKSsw5OIrP0UJnsrh4c3RP8l7AkzMkNcl0Bb2A/s2048/IMG_3286.CR2" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGhw0lGaoFdYOkCovKJUJODIitD5bGBuT_A6JdnkCYdPHcHASf5ba5JftV3CcfXtH9L-rPKn3IBsqFzeDPmu2lt2R9cqM2n-UwEBsjXPKSsw5OIrP0UJnsrh4c3RP8l7AkzMkNcl0Bb2A/s320/IMG_3286.CR2" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A rather special Merc.</td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI1sTdCqzqdqgASn8ZSZZZ9f_UtzrCyxT0u0-jQppF4s072yrk99iqPX1O4dP6THCfVo37dNDCoejsJeGXcNpXuoNmIrzTN-omBn2Y0Lh1nhqg5pTH-2RJXETN8IELOtGkzVfqXAGAONU/s2048/IMG_3291.CR2" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI1sTdCqzqdqgASn8ZSZZZ9f_UtzrCyxT0u0-jQppF4s072yrk99iqPX1O4dP6THCfVo37dNDCoejsJeGXcNpXuoNmIrzTN-omBn2Y0Lh1nhqg5pTH-2RJXETN8IELOtGkzVfqXAGAONU/s320/IMG_3291.CR2" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fiat 125 - mid-sixties - I think.</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-ftwGllzWoKe32RTBtQ7FQbfkIFGBvSz3ZF3zkDu4TwYuwwvFAvLc47qKDpLC9GbWoSInDx5vwfYBr1a6LQAcid2Jo6dHnAvUhph4Q7q1iNjcV7qr63ZefzQHS1m3Boc8iubtIDshO3U/s2048/IMG_3292.CR2" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-ftwGllzWoKe32RTBtQ7FQbfkIFGBvSz3ZF3zkDu4TwYuwwvFAvLc47qKDpLC9GbWoSInDx5vwfYBr1a6LQAcid2Jo6dHnAvUhph4Q7q1iNjcV7qr63ZefzQHS1m3Boc8iubtIDshO3U/s320/IMG_3292.CR2" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Aero L 39 Albatros VH - SIC</td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNlUVUh-H1cEuk0iNXS3qWI_PG6rFQ-adflXmLMKoyKoU4BK3l9Um9VdZqTxqmCdAedIGlXQItmQPIiiBD4duOebUQgNq-v9XjCYCXubs3F-Px0Dol43I645QVFb3vDQW6byVFgTAyWhc/s2048/IMG_3295.CR2" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNlUVUh-H1cEuk0iNXS3qWI_PG6rFQ-adflXmLMKoyKoU4BK3l9Um9VdZqTxqmCdAedIGlXQItmQPIiiBD4duOebUQgNq-v9XjCYCXubs3F-Px0Dol43I645QVFb3vDQW6byVFgTAyWhc/s320/IMG_3295.CR2" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ford Capri</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhZXbx5jdb30Er_Sh3klvc_sFuz_UOGjwtY7ArRH0IPYbZqd_KA6DrQfKHddbmlyqA2wxtm9mSWX6XKcKHemCOb3kpmvZ-_4eQxjSxukwUHtOSK_M1JJek5Wx9LEyVrnnA6w5GAO6SxEs/s2048/IMG_3296.CR2" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhZXbx5jdb30Er_Sh3klvc_sFuz_UOGjwtY7ArRH0IPYbZqd_KA6DrQfKHddbmlyqA2wxtm9mSWX6XKcKHemCOb3kpmvZ-_4eQxjSxukwUHtOSK_M1JJek5Wx9LEyVrnnA6w5GAO6SxEs/s320/IMG_3296.CR2" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Anglia<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">The Anglia reminds me of a very frightening journey in 1965 with my cousin between Kilcoy and Landsborough, during which he attempted to kill us both whilst he showed me how well it cornered.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">It didn't - but we survived.</div></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br class="Apple-interchange-newline" /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLzIRFGJS8cANNf-HZ7RUYb9Xo9n72VRPnu5EZ2adnMpyR9LcssbWKrDs-OTh3m3ZtoGlXuVImX0DfEyqOtvh-Kep9IY0eD-hVBCweCgcsSkWG1_PbQqhcNkumLN_Nj_qMmIRHTypEQLc/s2048/IMG_1297.JPG"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLzIRFGJS8cANNf-HZ7RUYb9Xo9n72VRPnu5EZ2adnMpyR9LcssbWKrDs-OTh3m3ZtoGlXuVImX0DfEyqOtvh-Kep9IY0eD-hVBCweCgcsSkWG1_PbQqhcNkumLN_Nj_qMmIRHTypEQLc/s320/IMG_1297.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>107 Series SL Class Mercedes Roadster<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYJcrZkdwTTvfjoKhnsi91WmOSdI1CUXw8S7cEVU28wkYVsy6jfFEVPIb_BZyqyngr7hZe5Kap1cIJsjtXfEfMGzaSIjZr-b6_Wev_xABBDcBupbBDfnMEkWMTDAQIGOhO6liHbPjmyw4/s2048/IMG_1298.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYJcrZkdwTTvfjoKhnsi91WmOSdI1CUXw8S7cEVU28wkYVsy6jfFEVPIb_BZyqyngr7hZe5Kap1cIJsjtXfEfMGzaSIjZr-b6_Wev_xABBDcBupbBDfnMEkWMTDAQIGOhO6liHbPjmyw4/s320/IMG_1298.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Alpine A110</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid4uLpp09zX298hPuEnUh4-wTrZd-KRmPoWAFH-vRa51MiYP0HBP0ppw4beEaVCX6dcYDztG5MKSXm4PcnuV-RngeQoC8K-2uOyrHssYdgBZL5PJkux7GQJhyes6GW9zJ2H6NC_NuUuhc/s4032/IMG_1320.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid4uLpp09zX298hPuEnUh4-wTrZd-KRmPoWAFH-vRa51MiYP0HBP0ppw4beEaVCX6dcYDztG5MKSXm4PcnuV-RngeQoC8K-2uOyrHssYdgBZL5PJkux7GQJhyes6GW9zJ2H6NC_NuUuhc/s320/IMG_1320.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Renault 4CV motor view</div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM8xGximCFEw7cWqkGZnmHMeihf_C0jg8r0rgOAKu_68GnnyCI85XPc1-IXMQak7_b4ftcDIyVl2Od5hYWeDDRWZQwP9_KtmDNw94WL3hlTITfgUJeQRRY08aRMUuuPR0rcTSI8bpr3CQ/s4032/IMG_1318.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM8xGximCFEw7cWqkGZnmHMeihf_C0jg8r0rgOAKu_68GnnyCI85XPc1-IXMQak7_b4ftcDIyVl2Od5hYWeDDRWZQwP9_KtmDNw94WL3hlTITfgUJeQRRY08aRMUuuPR0rcTSI8bpr3CQ/s320/IMG_1318.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Renault 4 CV (Saigon Taxi).</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8cR1u_nMv23cwTAz2yHGoK6zAlzRZSbpfsLRCfYe0O9FDUnHR2OnFW6pwmGSj9fFAskwX0MNjw-mmbUabSWQ8FkTJ1ov2cu_iS8QKd5wfpT3IlkeZ4C5lwk53NVjMnrBmGAy9CRpY6LA/s4032/IMG_1321.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8cR1u_nMv23cwTAz2yHGoK6zAlzRZSbpfsLRCfYe0O9FDUnHR2OnFW6pwmGSj9fFAskwX0MNjw-mmbUabSWQ8FkTJ1ov2cu_iS8QKd5wfpT3IlkeZ4C5lwk53NVjMnrBmGAy9CRpY6LA/s320/IMG_1321.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Volvo 122S</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXGt6RukQKvwK66XL-7AX8lk-tWN72npEC0-bG6n8x_ccrSas1pXzQ6luCypnO-oQrGFhkLi-NtruzF9wvmSZrVcwQ6OJQU9AIDRW81piCy2zh4YFz8WVmDsBGiYhGSwa2_lN7Uq_IHKk/s2048/IMG_1294.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="243" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXGt6RukQKvwK66XL-7AX8lk-tWN72npEC0-bG6n8x_ccrSas1pXzQ6luCypnO-oQrGFhkLi-NtruzF9wvmSZrVcwQ6OJQU9AIDRW81piCy2zh4YFz8WVmDsBGiYhGSwa2_lN7Uq_IHKk/w324-h243/IMG_1294.JPG" width="324" /></a><br />Fiat Abarth 124 Spyder (MX5 in mufti)<br /><br /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7356259693522390906.post-38972635342870342652021-04-27T22:41:00.003-07:002021-04-27T22:56:47.609-07:00The Chinese Alternative<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaUR9T20qukHlxQvA871yyeCCusOTPiUbpIt08aD-DY9HVzuu2nawvyaeBE00KXpwrTe7tqAKXwhyphenhyphenscXLjy3cprermnVT7V9t52tYaA_oG4GkQIGhDCr1uQlZqxwcUhmCGbKrMLCT_PkQ/s2048/IMG_1212.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="295" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaUR9T20qukHlxQvA871yyeCCusOTPiUbpIt08aD-DY9HVzuu2nawvyaeBE00KXpwrTe7tqAKXwhyphenhyphenscXLjy3cprermnVT7V9t52tYaA_oG4GkQIGhDCr1uQlZqxwcUhmCGbKrMLCT_PkQ/w394-h295/IMG_1212.JPG" width="394" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p><span style="font-size: x-small;">Chinese vehicles are beginning to arrive in numbers on the Australian market. Frankly, I would never buy one for two good reasons.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-small;">The first is, I don't buy new cars. The fact that they lose a very large proportion of their value when you drive them out of the showroom explains that.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-small;">In the case of vehicles produced by Chinese companies, recent behaviour in their treatment of our exports is reason enough. Having said that, the research and development undertaken by SAIC, the Chinese company that owns the brand, takes place in Longbridge in the UK. The cars are actually manufactured in China or Thailand.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-small;">I had occasion to hire a car last week, and my promised Toyota Yaris somehow morphed into an MG3, so I'll write a brief review.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV16jquRXu7nWIcqOqf1atvTHYWciU0rTsg3IbONbsOUBaTxGmCVTHPnq_s1iz2SMZBe5xK5NhV_YQS6VDIp3zPcL0Akekj1_L8EagNzDb32sf1vuQicmC2DKr03TzCwn9wzUFCHxDA7I/s2048/IMG_1216.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="377" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV16jquRXu7nWIcqOqf1atvTHYWciU0rTsg3IbONbsOUBaTxGmCVTHPnq_s1iz2SMZBe5xK5NhV_YQS6VDIp3zPcL0Akekj1_L8EagNzDb32sf1vuQicmC2DKr03TzCwn9wzUFCHxDA7I/w283-h377/IMG_1216.JPG" width="283" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The MG logo is everywhere.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">The car was fun to drive, as steering, handling, and road feel were all of a pretty high standard compared with its rivals. Build quality was so-so, being let down by fit and finish and lots of hard plastic.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">The bells and whistles were all there, including a graphically excellent eight-inch touch screen, which handled the installed Apple Carplay very well. Bluetooth was simple and clear. Seating was basic but comfortable, although my trips were all short, so I can't say how it would fare on a highway run.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">It was also reasonably refined considering the price point, and road and engine noise were generally subdued. The power steering pump made a yowling noise which was only present on the first start-up of the day. Once warmed up, it disappeared.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYwIh6_gmyQWZFpPPiadWWOFfEZvS2sonicDjuSktpEX_5xMycCFFZGw9fu-xa2fXupBr_5CoDv_eq_VfwL5oA8h8scSztGmCzvmmKV_5Ps4G1zPKpJEkg4v8HR5yDycQAVyGbsHch3Hs/s2048/IMG_1217.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="282" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYwIh6_gmyQWZFpPPiadWWOFfEZvS2sonicDjuSktpEX_5xMycCFFZGw9fu-xa2fXupBr_5CoDv_eq_VfwL5oA8h8scSztGmCzvmmKV_5Ps4G1zPKpJEkg4v8HR5yDycQAVyGbsHch3Hs/w376-h282/IMG_1217.JPG" width="376" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Engine is 1.5 litres.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">The engine-transmission combination, whilst old-tech, works well. The auto is four-speed only, but preferable, in my opinion to the CVTs that are becoming commonplace in this market segment. It also used very little fuel. I didn't measure it but paid $8 to top the tank up after three or four trips from one side of town to the other.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglPbpLeKPChcjgpxQRtC-wRBicAIQUZOrcK9-l3FhlxKZKDbDO2_rVPMt2BR4IUb7_aIGqVPPmCyWzEvBIKevWXKVOJ3SkTMNe-YLoP1yQAJlupJu-7TLk67ZXuDFKGR0cyW6dzFnotPI/s2048/IMG_1218.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="273" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglPbpLeKPChcjgpxQRtC-wRBicAIQUZOrcK9-l3FhlxKZKDbDO2_rVPMt2BR4IUb7_aIGqVPPmCyWzEvBIKevWXKVOJ3SkTMNe-YLoP1yQAJlupJu-7TLk67ZXuDFKGR0cyW6dzFnotPI/w364-h273/IMG_1218.JPG" width="364" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">The seven-year warranty and entry price of $17490 are pretty convincing, and these are the factors that are persuading buyers. That's a lot of car for not much money.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">It seems to me that some Chinese manufacturers are following the pattern established by the Koreans. Their first offerings were pretty horrible, but they are learning quickly.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></td></tr></tbody></table>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7356259693522390906.post-29924709845850118702020-12-16T15:20:00.007-08:002020-12-16T15:33:48.932-08:00Basic Motoring<h3 class="post-title entry-title" style="font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 30px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; position: relative;"><br /></h3><div class="post-header" style="color: #997755; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 1em;"><div class="post-header-line-1"></div></div><div class="post-body entry-content" style="font-size: 13.524px; line-height: 1.5; position: relative; width: 708px;"><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT-sW1q5E4j1QBj6dKVrpM5C9WsUD6R7bVXJfPzXFUa-a1xsS58i-kTF4VNBgZzhnLgabAosvJO1aM1p-DqobD-sQ0ZYNK1IASGkr_5SJMbXxkYCGUoBKUSzki9WM94PnN5vUUkGyHvGA/s2048/IMG_1005%255B2%255D.jpg" style="color: #993322; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="258" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT-sW1q5E4j1QBj6dKVrpM5C9WsUD6R7bVXJfPzXFUa-a1xsS58i-kTF4VNBgZzhnLgabAosvJO1aM1p-DqobD-sQ0ZYNK1IASGkr_5SJMbXxkYCGUoBKUSzki9WM94PnN5vUUkGyHvGA/w340-h258/IMG_1005%255B2%255D.jpg" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: none; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.5) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 8px; position: relative;" width="340" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 13.524px; text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"> <span style="font-size: 13.524px;">Thinking about it, I begin to realise that I've spent a great deal of </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-size: 13.524px;">unnecessary </span><span style="font-size: 13.524px;">dollars on </span><span style="font-size: 13.524px;">motor vehicles. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"> I've owned <a href="http://mx5mutterings.blogspot.com/2010/01/wheels-brief-history.html" style="color: #993322; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">nearly thirty </a>at last count. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">At the moment, I'm looking after two vehicles belonging to offspring, </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">one because she's overseas, a<span style="font-size: 13.524px;">nd the other because he cycles to work </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-size: 13.524px;">and </span><span style="font-size: 13.524px;">doesn't need it, but won't sell it because he might be </span><span style="font-size: 13.524px;">transferred </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-size: 13.524px;">to a situation </span><span style="font-size: 13.524px;">where he does.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Because my garaging and custodianship includes, as a condition, </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">the <span style="font-size: 13.524px;">right to drive the cars, I had </span><span style="font-size: 13.524px;">the choice of four cars to use in </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-size: 13.524px;">my recent </span><span style="font-size: 13.524px;">excursion to Canberra and back.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Now the MX5 is fun to drive, and would possibly have been first </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">choice, <span style="font-size: 13.524px;">but it's appreciating </span><span style="font-size: 13.524px;">in value, and I'm trying to keep its </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-size: 13.524px;">distance covered low. </span><span style="font-size: 13.524px;">Besides, it is not all that enjoyable </span><span style="font-size: 13.524px;">on a long </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-size: 13.524px;">run down a highway. It's an interesting </span><span style="font-size: 13.524px;">car, built for interesting roads.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">My bride uses our "new" car, a <a href="http://mx5mutterings.blogspot.com/search?updated-max=2020-01-20T15:17:00-08:00&max-results=7" style="color: #993322; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Kia Rondo</a>, and whilst she doesn't </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">mind driving <span style="font-size: 13.524px;">the 323, is happier </span><span style="font-size: 13.524px;">with the Kia. This left my son's </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-size: 13.524px;">Mazda 323 Protege as the </span><span style="font-size: 13.524px;">weapon of choice for my Canberra excursion. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-size: 13.524px;">My daughter's Toyota Echo, whilst a pleasant </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-size: 13.524px;">little car, was never a consideration.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">It was a journey for research purposes at the AWM, and no other </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">family members <span style="font-size: 13.524px;">were all that interested, </span><span style="font-size: 13.524px;">so I was travelling solo. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-size: 13.524px;">The 323 has a number of features </span><span style="font-size: 13.524px;">that made it a good choice for a </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-size: 13.524px;">solo journey. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">First up, it has three music sources - the original cassette player, </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">an aftermarket <span style="font-size: 13.524px;">6 stacker CD player, </span><span style="font-size: 13.524px;">and my iPhone connected </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-size: 13.524px;">through a bluetooth plug-in device. </span><span style="font-size: 13.524px;">There was never going to be </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-size: 13.524px;">any shortage of mobile entertainment.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnl2UnPGxZYiNcVUhPkL_4EIK189t6WzV4ZAjwiArHb5vYaqSEjlP0LCIK8C57uW8-DAFdBIjAmm_ssbjmyW-iYIDoCpbBRGiX9XtMZkVIn4GK8NchYZwttoOMG_4CgoMbCe2t_MqTjVc/s402/IMG_0881.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="302" data-original-width="402" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnl2UnPGxZYiNcVUhPkL_4EIK189t6WzV4ZAjwiArHb5vYaqSEjlP0LCIK8C57uW8-DAFdBIjAmm_ssbjmyW-iYIDoCpbBRGiX9XtMZkVIn4GK8NchYZwttoOMG_4CgoMbCe2t_MqTjVc/s320/IMG_0881.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: 13.524px;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"> Aftermarket cruise</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Navigation was taken care of using the iPhone, on a magnetic </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">mount which meant <span style="font-size: 13.524px;">it was hands free </span><span style="font-size: 13.524px;">and legal. I have mastered </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-size: 13.524px;">the art of using the GPS app and the music </span><span style="font-size: 13.524px;">player simultaneously. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-size: 13.524px;">A recent </span><span style="font-size: 13.524px;">IOS upgrade has made this simple.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">This meant that all the features expected these days on a modern </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">vehicle (GPS, <span style="font-size: 13.524px;">bluetooth phone </span><span style="font-size: 13.524px;">connection, and music player) were </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-size: 13.524px;">all available in this twenty year </span><span style="font-size: 13.524px;">old car, for the price of a </span><span style="font-size: 13.524px;">magnetic </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-size: 13.524px;">phone mount and a bluetooth connector. All worked </span><span style="font-size: 13.524px;">a treat, with the </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-size: 13.524px;">possible exception </span><span style="font-size: 13.524px;">of the GPS, which when connected to Google maps </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-size: 13.524px;">had a bad habit of setting me up for a beeline </span><span style="font-size: 13.524px;">journey down some </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-size: 13.524px;">dodgy roads if </span><span style="font-size: 13.524px;">I took it literally.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">The Mazda performed beautifully. It delivered 7.3 Lit/100kms at a </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">cruise of 110km <span style="font-size: 13.524px;">on the Newell. </span><span style="font-size: 13.524px;">The aftermarket cruise control </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-size: 13.524px;">was a boon.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">The air conditioning in Mazdas is renowned for its efficiency, and </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">with the combination <span style="font-size: 13.524px;">of well-</span><span style="font-size: 13.524px;">shaped velour lined seats, and a steering </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-size: 13.524px;">column adjustable for rake and distance, </span><span style="font-size: 13.524px;">ensured a </span><span style="font-size: 13.524px;">very comfortable </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-size: 13.524px;">driving position. Cars of this vintage generally enjoy better vision, </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-size: 13.524px;">as the styling </span><span style="font-size: 13.524px;">fashion which creates blind spots for rear vision hadn't </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-size: 13.524px;">arrived in 1999.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRTqihQwqIVw1kHtoIWhJfxkGeTkAUYo1z2V6R0KiAKJ9zsCdBuG_tkYEITgbORcEmxr9sYSRR3Cc-j7hZKxiJ9ZJoehbko22IGFilL-7cN9fY-W_2rAi_MZM_MWbUHuOe59z43ncdMrA/s2048/323a.JPG" style="clear: left; color: #993322; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRTqihQwqIVw1kHtoIWhJfxkGeTkAUYo1z2V6R0KiAKJ9zsCdBuG_tkYEITgbORcEmxr9sYSRR3Cc-j7hZKxiJ9ZJoehbko22IGFilL-7cN9fY-W_2rAi_MZM_MWbUHuOe59z43ncdMrA/w278-h212/323a.JPG" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: none; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.5) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 8px; position: relative;" width="278" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-size: 13.524px; text-align: center;"> Mountain straight, Mount Panorama</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-size: 13.524px;">I got to drive it around the Mount Panorama circuit on the way home. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-size: 13.524px;">At 60kph, that was an </span><span style="font-size: 13.524px;">unexciting, </span><span style="font-size: 13.524px;">but interesting experience.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">These things are going for about <a href="https://www.carsales.com.au/cars/details/2002-mazda-323-protege-bj-ii-auto/SSE-AD-6916152/?Cr=1" style="color: #993322; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">$3500 used </a>at the moment. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">If you can find a low <span style="font-size: 13.524px;">kilometerage example </span><span style="font-size: 13.524px;">(like my son's car), they're a bargain.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br style="background-color: #ffcc7f; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.524px;" /></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7356259693522390906.post-64607531858564413452020-11-27T12:41:00.006-08:002020-11-27T12:48:32.013-08:00A Ghost in the Machine (II)<h3 class="post-title entry-title" style="font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 30px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; position: relative;"><br /></h3><div class="post-header" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 12.88px; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 1em;"><div class="post-header-line-1"></div></div><div class="post-body entry-content" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.524px; line-height: 1.5; position: relative; width: 708px;"><p> </p></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><div class="post-body entry-content" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.524px; line-height: 1.5; position: relative; width: 708px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" class="b-hbp-video b-uploaded" frameborder="0" height="266" id="BLOGGER-video-a9f28aa0116918bc-19803" mozallowfullscreen="mozallowfullscreen" src="https://draft.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxQ8ExcL8--0G_1DAJc6Wu1pIg7abJKMUVfpSsGwSlzlQUGgjvdvRSUKKjQaPd6JEymQ1toPMJs9QVzZwKKvt0_SvaIbKQts-_QplF4oIfOUe7u-Occk4A6__7hRq7UfNbkJGUC" webkitallowfullscreen="webkitallowfullscreen" width="320"></iframe></div></div></blockquote><div class="post-body entry-content" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.524px; line-height: 1.5; position: relative; width: 708px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">My MX5 is making a new noise.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">That is not as worrying as when the smoke comes out, but it is not a </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">good thing. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">(Cars run on smoke - </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">that's why <span style="font-size: 13.524px;">when it escapes you're usually in trouble).</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Anyhow, no smoke has yet appeared, but the noise is a worry.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">It seems to emanate from the water pump housing, isn't obvious </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">on idle or when the motor is cold, </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">but appears with a vengeance on the overrun when it's warmed up. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">My fellow members in the local MX5 owners' club have provided a </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">range of suggestions from a sick </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">alternator to a problem with the timing chain tensioner.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I know nuffink.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">That is why I took it to my local mechanic who had just replaced a water </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">pump on my son's Mazda 323. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Interestingly, it has covered a similar distance (about 120000 kms). </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">aybe there's something about </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Mazda BP-ZE engines and water pumps at 120000 kms. Or perhaps </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">here is some kind of perfidious virus. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">They shared a garage for a time. There was no social distancing.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">MLM* (whom I trust) had a listen and reckoned it was nothing to worry about. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">When I asked him if it would </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">be OK to drive to Canberra (which had been my plan) he said "sure".</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I trust him, but not that far. I have changed my plans.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Yesterday I took a deep breath and drove it the 146 kms to <a href="http://www.automotiveplus.com.au/" style="color: #993322; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Automotive Plus </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">(free plug) whose boss mechanic, </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">after complaining that the motor was hot (it was - after driving from Toowoomba), </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">declared that it was most </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">likely a water pump bearing.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">It got me home, and the noise is no worse. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">So now, I have to decide whether to get the job done locally, or at the </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">specialist's setup in Brisbane. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">The latter will require two days. You can't expect people to work on a </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">hot motor after a 146 km highway run.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I'll keep you posted.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">NB - <a href="http://1735099.blogspot.com/2011/09/ghost-in-machine.html" style="color: #993322; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">This is the second time I've used this title.</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Hence the II.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">*My Local Mechanic.</div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7356259693522390906.post-70295120657333405342020-09-01T14:36:00.004-07:002020-09-02T14:38:16.895-07:00X-Trailing<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW3ptfgPt1FXduTJJ2mMJaoUg_UKuB-vZSPh3Er7fRNPHrSNDx2eN9sW2Vc7nZrmiRaEfi-jQDgd7tY8mYxDERTGSWZGBypfl5wYUi08zNPgYQaR3JR_L6b0VOv7H0zagUXY7kNRVTyYE/s4032/IMG_0828.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="307" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW3ptfgPt1FXduTJJ2mMJaoUg_UKuB-vZSPh3Er7fRNPHrSNDx2eN9sW2Vc7nZrmiRaEfi-jQDgd7tY8mYxDERTGSWZGBypfl5wYUi08zNPgYQaR3JR_L6b0VOv7H0zagUXY7kNRVTyYE/w410-h307/IMG_0828.JPG" width="410" /></a></div> <span style="font-size: x-small;"> X-Trail ST</span><br /><p></p><p>I had a <a href="http://1735099.blogspot.com/2020/08/loose-ends.html" target="_blank">good reason </a>last week to drive from Townsville to Toowoomba, and had booked a Kia Rio for the 1400 km journey. This, in hindsight, was probably not a wise choice of vehicle, given the type of journey.</p><p>Vehicle choice became academic in any case, as when I turned up at the hire depot, the only vehicle available was a 2019 Nissan X-Trail, which was probably a better option. It was an upgrade, so didn't cost any more that the Rio would have, except perhaps, for fuel, but more about that later.</p><p>In another life, I had a fair bit of experience driving the earlier boxy version (T31) in my forays down the Warrego, and remembered them as solid, unexciting, but comfortable cars.</p><p>That hasn't changed. They remain unexciting and comfortable, and for such a journey - kilometre after kilometre of straight wide bitumen - eminently suitable. What really surprised me was the fuel consumption (or lack of it). It used 7 litres per 100 kms between the two cities, which combined with a fuel tank capacity of 60 litres provided for a range of around 800 kms. That's <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_Territory_(Australia)#:~:text=The%20Ford%20Territory%20is%20a,internal%20project%20codename%20was%20E265.">diesel territory</a> (excuse the pun). This thing did remind me of the late lamented Ford Territory.</p><p>Around Townsville (where I drove it for a few days before heading south) it was showing anything between 11 and 9 litres per 100 km, which is not shabby for a vehicle this size in an urban environment. It has an "Eco" feature which is supposed to improve economy by reprogramming the drivetrain computer, but I stopped using it because it made the performance too doughy and unresponsive for my liking.</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj665ndhOdHsKUqUmJiAsECrb-MzvRwQWYDvh06LOgWs1gZDCLlWxAtDdlGGPzQEiJMnEJAjz-afg9XVew8vWJLShOpO703u5tz83yVB44CvC7rg-Bn3GHU_L93Sz2I8kFWy4dY-1_6zJo/s4032/IMG_0859.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="307" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj665ndhOdHsKUqUmJiAsECrb-MzvRwQWYDvh06LOgWs1gZDCLlWxAtDdlGGPzQEiJMnEJAjz-afg9XVew8vWJLShOpO703u5tz83yVB44CvC7rg-Bn3GHU_L93Sz2I8kFWy4dY-1_6zJo/w410-h307/IMG_0859.JPG" width="410" /></a></div> <span style="font-size: x-small;"> There's an engine under all that plastic.</span><br /><br /><p></p><p>The thing was powered by a 2.5 litre four, which was combined with a CVT transmission. As a rule, I don't enjoy the driving characteristics of CVT setups, but this one didn't drone, and responded well when overtaking the occasional road train. No doubt the phenomenal fuel economy is a consequence of this transmission.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcag_D28bOs8sGNKPiTbGzmlXR5GzhsCpg614ZNGgmOjxD5XwvojKsuXUGlpDDDyauUp0FTvkbhRoknYeZhgMYxw1CD0YJsv1DQeYs1Ko3KdVxgInYNiA-WIhtEfV8ki0mMKQc06Tk_5g/s4032/IMG_0857.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="307" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcag_D28bOs8sGNKPiTbGzmlXR5GzhsCpg614ZNGgmOjxD5XwvojKsuXUGlpDDDyauUp0FTvkbhRoknYeZhgMYxw1CD0YJsv1DQeYs1Ko3KdVxgInYNiA-WIhtEfV8ki0mMKQc06Tk_5g/w410-h307/IMG_0857.JPG" width="410" /></a></div> <span style="font-size: x-small;">Roomy but basic interior. Phone mount top centre.</span><p>There was lots of room inside, and the seating was comfortable, but the tech was basic in this ST (bottom of the line) version. There was no Apple Carplay, but linking my iPhone through the usb port emulated GPS and bluetooth music functions very well. The suction mount I bought before setting out is a "must-have" if you do this. My dodgy back coped well with seven hours daily in the driver's seat, which has not always been the case in other vehicles. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL4cAzNP0liNH1PcQyUC5ZGKKwswpA1AZGNyJuX5l9hNBjdcpWrBJGzNftqs-zHM6m53fdlpcYLpJ3oHPSaq9o0CycaoA9ov1wBfGDjYxGpFGOLWw_wJd3NsN8xM5tqEsdurnpNDztvFA/s4032/IMG_0849.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="307" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL4cAzNP0liNH1PcQyUC5ZGKKwswpA1AZGNyJuX5l9hNBjdcpWrBJGzNftqs-zHM6m53fdlpcYLpJ3oHPSaq9o0CycaoA9ov1wBfGDjYxGpFGOLWw_wJd3NsN8xM5tqEsdurnpNDztvFA/w410-h307/IMG_0849.JPG" width="410" /></a></div> <span style="font-size: x-small;"> Belyando Crossing on day 1.</span><br /><p>Boot space was generous, and although these things can be bought with seven seats, this one was a five seater. It provides an interesting comparison with our Kia Rondo, offering comparable space with the addition of selectable 4WD, something the Rondo lacks. The rondo,however, is a much more engaging drive.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOUbrCSWTxa5c2A8n5HDWWdu2WgcUamDt_UXUeH7t_JLt-f77K0XTDOwq-2k4oCzhT1GUTm2zB8rLBiNbI9pPOFACyMhe9rx2QOwmTh8VeuVDupJhEB9pacx3MWT0j3gWq5sh7gwynJms/s4032/IMG_0855.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="307" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOUbrCSWTxa5c2A8n5HDWWdu2WgcUamDt_UXUeH7t_JLt-f77K0XTDOwq-2k4oCzhT1GUTm2zB8rLBiNbI9pPOFACyMhe9rx2QOwmTh8VeuVDupJhEB9pacx3MWT0j3gWq5sh7gwynJms/w410-h307/IMG_0855.JPG" width="410" /></a></div><div> <span style="font-size: x-small;">Plenty of space here.</span></div><div><br /></div>There were a couple of downsides. One was the reflective properties of the shiny black dashboard trim. Each morning of the two day journey,the sun would be over my left shoulder, and was reflected back directly into my eyes. Throwing a pullover across the offending section of the dashboard solved the problem, but it was an issue that could be easily fixed by using a matt finish.<div><br /></div><div>It was also a cumbersome thing to drive when negotiating shopping centre car parks, but it shares that issue with the bulk (another pun!) of SUVs. I'm probably spoiled by driving an MX5.</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7356259693522390906.post-60525485789976694942020-07-08T17:53:00.001-07:002020-07-08T17:53:21.036-07:00Dedinging an Echo<div>
Despite the title, this has nothing to do with music, and it isn't about my MX5, but it is car related, so what the heck...</div>
<div>
<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB_lH1s9fyvbiHYtPrHRHlO11ITZkDV5rq7mQDLv3NFbSa5xlKUFUK-mN6n5VfvLIJRdeP1PqTpm2mXpgVduTgwhx_cAKBaUPj_zFUuE-UsnUlWFRYak6lxsU5zWwoGT82_XwXX01sO_o/s1600/IMG_3187.tiff" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB_lH1s9fyvbiHYtPrHRHlO11ITZkDV5rq7mQDLv3NFbSa5xlKUFUK-mN6n5VfvLIJRdeP1PqTpm2mXpgVduTgwhx_cAKBaUPj_zFUuE-UsnUlWFRYak6lxsU5zWwoGT82_XwXX01sO_o/s400/IMG_3187.tiff" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Before - note my censoring of the number plate looks strange.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIekFLaF0ag5IdPPM1XX9cXfmDKEMffHY71XdUihPonkjFjc-xqudMdoqYki6OrPWW4zZT0CwGDGogfv70BS8CddYp9ug9eSdsCluwkuQ84uh9VgksLynX6XhVfj7QtBMkUfO60arftRI/s1600/IMG_0758.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIekFLaF0ag5IdPPM1XX9cXfmDKEMffHY71XdUihPonkjFjc-xqudMdoqYki6OrPWW4zZT0CwGDGogfv70BS8CddYp9ug9eSdsCluwkuQ84uh9VgksLynX6XhVfj7QtBMkUfO60arftRI/s400/IMG_0758.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">After - more censoring weirdness.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
I'm garaging my daughter's Toyota Echo whilst she's overseas, so decided to spend some time (but little money) on cleaning it up a bit.<br />
<br />
My daughter looked after the car well prior to travel, but backed it into hidden garage door stop some time ago. The car looked original apart from that, and the fact that over time, the wheel trims had gone missing.<br />
<br />
Toyota Echo wheel trims are cheap and plentiful, so I picked a set up from a local wrecker. The same wrecker had some Echos in stock, although none of the correct Winter White colour, so I collected a rear bumper and a lower valence in a silver tone.<br />
<br />
The original intention had been to find a wreck the same colour, so painting could be avoided, but there were none around locally, <a href="http://mx5mutterings.blogspot.com/2015/02/agghh-panel-work.html">unlike the situation </a>when I rejuvenated my son's Toyota Camry a few years ago.<br />
<br />
The whole shopping expedition cost $80, so the "little money" bit was achieved.<br />
<br />
Next step was to remove the damaged bits.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoTBjmH8ur5VSyPhNjv2DqwAiSWgbK1s-d1gc6jrcDgtHn7fhBjry-OYrBqxQ5b2jqB_MNFTlaEt4q3JhHBPpKiDvP9RYOhiIyJIVJH1CFW0hB8w8VQ4DeOlI44-swP9u4WYEphrvlylw/s1600/remove.CR2" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoTBjmH8ur5VSyPhNjv2DqwAiSWgbK1s-d1gc6jrcDgtHn7fhBjry-OYrBqxQ5b2jqB_MNFTlaEt4q3JhHBPpKiDvP9RYOhiIyJIVJH1CFW0hB8w8VQ4DeOlI44-swP9u4WYEphrvlylw/s400/remove.CR2" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Removing the damaged bumper was the hard bit.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
I found some youtube videos which ostensibly showed the way, but <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WiqNaEaHUeM">they all cut out </a>after the retaining bolts were removed. At this point, the bumper bar stubbornly refused to separate from the subframe, so I was stuck.<br />
<br />
Browsing through a second hand bookstore (the lockdown encourages this type of time filling) I found a Haynes Repair Manual for the Echo. Finding this particular book was, to say the least, a fluke, but it became clear after quick reference to the manual, that the bumper was held on by plastic clips, and you simply had to exert force until the clips cried "enough".<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMze0qzNVYXN6ds7Jrvdsc4KvU_DF_GcwhvBBp0Tz3-ESf_DIvZmCZh7qPdKlXy-2KiFRy5FGF92P4Ykj8zmifAtOsDqeXC9acowylcQaej1DALSJEhzhsSiZdth7EWyvQq7LGdpnfQe0/s1600/manual.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1223" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMze0qzNVYXN6ds7Jrvdsc4KvU_DF_GcwhvBBp0Tz3-ESf_DIvZmCZh7qPdKlXy-2KiFRy5FGF92P4Ykj8zmifAtOsDqeXC9acowylcQaej1DALSJEhzhsSiZdth7EWyvQq7LGdpnfQe0/s320/manual.jpeg" width="244" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This was handy.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
Toyota has a thing about plastic clips...<br />
<br />
Anyway, once I was aware that brute force was required, and it wouldn't damage anything, the job became straightforward.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwgYL_jIodsPJYHu679UtjEVo21r1Ge_5FYBvVgzW7zFVpvJbWK2I8Esisl4NUPobS_1fiBmt_nHX-c9uRdP_VwVw1qJ5LwGwFdKOTotDW0JX9K7SsfuFPJZHhUlRkIGVQE97_3IMLh60/s1600/paint.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwgYL_jIodsPJYHu679UtjEVo21r1Ge_5FYBvVgzW7zFVpvJbWK2I8Esisl4NUPobS_1fiBmt_nHX-c9uRdP_VwVw1qJ5LwGwFdKOTotDW0JX9K7SsfuFPJZHhUlRkIGVQE97_3IMLh60/s400/paint.jpeg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Suspended for spray painting.<br /><br /><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The weather turned nasty halfway through the process which slowed things down a little, but the result was pleasing. By the time I'd bought the paint and manual, total costs were about $100. A panel beater would have probably quoted at least $750.<br />
<br />
Next job is to restore the headlamps. They've gone yellow through age.<br />
<br />
Watch this space...<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7356259693522390906.post-73429565215516075482020-06-19T21:24:00.000-07:002020-06-19T21:24:14.051-07:00Some Small Improvements<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4yjD2X0J2ORw99HI3S23pRLWU01-_KrZr2dPQqKJ_5CyLMeNzBI3HreD-owNBasgBRpJ3J9uC3WI7Jd0HNVjQ2QXvL23PydC7JUHmdWwmq2Ght4qsxev_xmc0zWv6NHirb9XQzDqKm4E/s1600/wheels.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4yjD2X0J2ORw99HI3S23pRLWU01-_KrZr2dPQqKJ_5CyLMeNzBI3HreD-owNBasgBRpJ3J9uC3WI7Jd0HNVjQ2QXvL23PydC7JUHmdWwmq2Ght4qsxev_xmc0zWv6NHirb9XQzDqKm4E/s400/wheels.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Being stuck at home by the dreaded virus has allowed time to create some improvements.<br />
<br />
The first (and most expensive) was a complete brake overhaul. The car has always stopped well, but I began to notice some juddering through the pedal with sustained heavy braking, such as the descent of the Toowoomba range.<br />
<br />
Pedders (No Bull) did a comprehensive, if expensive job of completely overhauling the system, including replacing both front and rear rotors.<br />
<br />
They also aligned all four wheels, and replaced the clutch fluid, jobs which didn't leave much change from $1000.<br />
<br />
It's been worth it, as the car is much more pleasant to drive, as a consequence of the alignment settings. The appearance has also been improved by the new rotors.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhftcYPvxGoQwzrBXRPjDQBahkRWHSpE4bBSA9WQnZsq8epXlLxnggH-wwy0Qd1ktDpgB4iGCqSSHNC7ylvUKLJSE4J1QG7V-igQI_iVS_T3zkDRrBUZwWp4Bu0YJdTvQZglvz9T9OikSA/s1600/extinguisher.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhftcYPvxGoQwzrBXRPjDQBahkRWHSpE4bBSA9WQnZsq8epXlLxnggH-wwy0Qd1ktDpgB4iGCqSSHNC7ylvUKLJSE4J1QG7V-igQI_iVS_T3zkDRrBUZwWp4Bu0YJdTvQZglvz9T9OikSA/s400/extinguisher.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
I had, for a long time, intended to mount a fire extinguisher in the cabin, but hadn't been able to source a decent mount. Eventually I found one for $40 from MX5 Mania, and installed it without too much trouble, although I had to source slightly longer bolts to attach the bracket to the passenger seat mounts.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI1zACZOUSy3ek5c9uMCpqVtxkIRqxwhwoOJ8SFYE-mcNHVWL0XwrOFvnmhZ-yOADJ0-_OhC7Osnm2xl_xOJ2Zbmv6bAgO-ALf-LiHeh-C_7aNsrG8kFBgtH8lRhVk3tmLghR6n0SnDpE/s1600/gearleverboot.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI1zACZOUSy3ek5c9uMCpqVtxkIRqxwhwoOJ8SFYE-mcNHVWL0XwrOFvnmhZ-yOADJ0-_OhC7Osnm2xl_xOJ2Zbmv6bAgO-ALf-LiHeh-C_7aNsrG8kFBgtH8lRhVk3tmLghR6n0SnDpE/s320/gearleverboot.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Finally, the gear lever boot had cracked, so I found a replacement at Automotive Plus in Aspley, and installed it without hassles. You'll note the re-covered gear lever knob, which cost me $50 at a local bootmaker.<br />
<br />
I'm still trying to source a factory cruise control from the USA, but no luck so far.<br />
Watch this space.<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7356259693522390906.post-7226844782943559032020-04-09T16:47:00.001-07:002020-04-09T16:47:35.925-07:00Lockdown Meanderings<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/0sQKs-uKAGA" width="560"></iframe><br />
<br />
In the shutdown, my SE has been a source of entertainment and relief from boredom.<br />
<br />
Here is a video of a local brief drive.<br />
<br />
I'm an amateur at this, so forgive the camera shake and wind noise.<br />
<br />
It was done with an iPhone mounted on the rear window. Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7356259693522390906.post-62012020328401910012020-03-05T13:07:00.000-08:002020-03-05T13:07:11.540-08:00Motoring Nostalgia<h3 0px="" 30px="" alatino="" class="post-title entry-title" font-size:="" font-stretch:="" font-variant-east-asian:="" font-variant-numeric:="" font-weight:="" georgia="" line-height:="" linotype="" margin:="" normal="" palatino="" position:="" quot="" relative="" serif="" utopia="">
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<div class="post-header" style="background-color: #ffcc7f; color: #997755; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 12.88px; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 1em;">
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<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/lgEm9likj-c" width="560"></iframe><br />
<br />
This popped up in my Youtube feed.<br />
<br />
It was posted by kiapenna1 who was selling it. <br />
<br />
In that he/she was successful.<br />
<br />
I'm posting it because it is almost identical to the first car I owned. Back in 1966 I bought a 1956 Volkswagen 1200 from a used car dealer in Caloundra. I had saved my earnings from holiday jobs such as tobacco picking and delivering mail.<br />
<br />
From memory, it set me back two hundred pounds. I have no idea whether that was good value or not, but it was unmarked, rust free, and it was just what I was looking for as a student teacher needing basic transport.<br />
<br />
Looking back on it, I had no strong preference for make or model at age 19. I had learned to drive on a Morris 850 which belonged to my cousin, and passed my (rudimentary) licence test in my father's EJ Holden.<br />
<br />
On the whole, it was a reliable car, although it chewed up a differential bearing not long after I acquired it, which drained my meagre savings.<br />
<br />
I used it initially to drive daily to teachers' college, and weekly to drive the 70kms home to Landsborough most weekends. Post graduation, it took me home to Texas (Queensland - not USA) and to teaching appointments, first at Inglewood, and then Goondiwindi.<br />
<br />
It came to grief halfway through my first year at Goondiwindi when it put a valve through a piston, as a consequence of the cooling fins on one of the cylinder heads being clogged with dried mud after an adventure in a flooded creek.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.5) 1px 1px 5px; color: #333333; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding: 8px; position: relative; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjitXAsR3vImfVIgY9peRjao5A_O4HIH78Cmik2EhE14GUb7qzLtAkhBA-pF0xGhIOMhOq4t3dwmRmvsuisXcpt0hGsy6X0R0ldxGlNmAdTQZ65_Mv3G2j19X2SrsaYTb40N_gTrTJ26H0/s1600/ntw004a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="color: #993322; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" data-original-height="491" data-original-width="874" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjitXAsR3vImfVIgY9peRjao5A_O4HIH78Cmik2EhE14GUb7qzLtAkhBA-pF0xGhIOMhOq4t3dwmRmvsuisXcpt0hGsy6X0R0ldxGlNmAdTQZ65_Mv3G2j19X2SrsaYTb40N_gTrTJ26H0/s400/ntw004a.jpg" style="background: transparent; border: none; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) 0px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative;" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 10.8192px;">The only surviving photo. Note the indicators on the door pillars.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
I put a long motor (out of a Kombi) in it, and drove it until I traded it on another Volkswagen, a 62 model, after a month or two.<br />
<br />
The second beetle was OK, but it somehow lacked the mystique of the first one. They are a remarkable piece of engineering.<br />
<br />
This US model differs in the positioning of the steering wheel, the presence of bumper overriders, and the parking lights and indicator setup. My car had pop-out trafficators, which I replaced with indicators mounted in the door pillars. where the trafficators had been.<br />
<br />
They worked OK.<br />
<br />
Beetles continue to have a special place in my heart.</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7356259693522390906.post-86445624291041004802020-01-20T15:17:00.001-08:002020-01-21T02:13:18.381-08:00All the Dozens<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxvqxtJIxl1qnYpmZO4ijqIoPPbz1HtvBfQUw9QtSVgkSMv-yNi-lwhn4VLjRY2hAwh29KwCMGm62QTvXUzfKWzJud1dmK-drZkYTOpp80isXvrHcXYMThoYR1SGPODT1N8ZKUvof8p2Q/s1600/IMG_0510.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxvqxtJIxl1qnYpmZO4ijqIoPPbz1HtvBfQUw9QtSVgkSMv-yNi-lwhn4VLjRY2hAwh29KwCMGm62QTvXUzfKWzJud1dmK-drZkYTOpp80isXvrHcXYMThoYR1SGPODT1N8ZKUvof8p2Q/s400/IMG_0510.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
This set of digits has an intriguing pattern, although that's not why I posted it.<br />
<br />
The clicking over of 120000 kms is significant.<br />
<br />
It marks a couple of milestones, one being that I've put 10000 kms on the odometer since purchase of the SE in September 2018.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWsgBABevQGtBzZl_DYoCRN0IMYwZx_UYd3DnMCP6VG25G_R-V-YYf0tDdN6-zZiswIo2gzEw7cEGPCTEfTtjBJVAc8lW60XNABcR_kZqWcMr_SUKXeEl94UaFGy42cppRTI6m6Gv-o0Y/s1600/IMG_0459.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWsgBABevQGtBzZl_DYoCRN0IMYwZx_UYd3DnMCP6VG25G_R-V-YYf0tDdN6-zZiswIo2gzEw7cEGPCTEfTtjBJVAc8lW60XNABcR_kZqWcMr_SUKXeEl94UaFGy42cppRTI6m6Gv-o0Y/s400/IMG_0459.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hardtop and wing resprayed</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
The other is that I've actually spent some dollars on cosmetic restoration - $1500, in fact. This paid for a respray of the front bumper and the hardtop. The bumper was showing all kinds of gravel rash, typical for an MX5 of this vintage, and I had the hardtop sprayed maroon, a darker shade than the original cherry red.<br />
<br />
Choice of colour is always a matter of taste, I suppose, but I chose this over respraying the top the same colour as the rest of the vehicle. which was my original intention.<br />
<br />
I also had the rear wing resprayed, as it had deteriorated from (I think) sun damage. The finished job is excellent, and together with a windscreen replacement (which cost me nothing via insurance) has lifted the appearance. It's not concours, but is pleasing.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZN6rk8ouVO3vEFLmMtWGUPD5w9UeeWoJz0lAaHtIsX7fDlzJ6f2AxGZGaJz_2NDH51q_I2vbIvuDlec_8o0RMJKLYz2mUE2n30ZDn6DZ1qlEzaclwIfrpO1AxPbGyh66RMZD5mimvrkE/s1600/IMG_0458.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZN6rk8ouVO3vEFLmMtWGUPD5w9UeeWoJz0lAaHtIsX7fDlzJ6f2AxGZGaJz_2NDH51q_I2vbIvuDlec_8o0RMJKLYz2mUE2n30ZDn6DZ1qlEzaclwIfrpO1AxPbGyh66RMZD5mimvrkE/s400/IMG_0458.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gravel rash is gone.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
The car is now pristine, paint wise, and exhibits a striking interior which matches the hardtop. The upholstery wear (call it patina) doesn't bother me, and I feed the leather regularly.<br />
<br />
I've also taken to using the hardtop only when parking in unsecured areas, which given my pattern of use, is not often. I've never been entirely happy with its fit, and it is noisy. At low speed, it creaks and groans no matter how it is adjusted, and at high speed, the wind noise is a problem.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5tFHu-NV8SeBzoCv1cuntiJPm1t04MABx_Eadw6Rm-Gj5rV7wcglFGXKQMK4FdxvCUH4DM3qkf-F8ybhKuvikUoTvamPF-k13a-DVR5RIrtgCsPcj_CV1-Ue5DuDZSbcpL8QXIvuFQWI/s1600/IMG_0471.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5tFHu-NV8SeBzoCv1cuntiJPm1t04MABx_Eadw6Rm-Gj5rV7wcglFGXKQMK4FdxvCUH4DM3qkf-F8ybhKuvikUoTvamPF-k13a-DVR5RIrtgCsPcj_CV1-Ue5DuDZSbcpL8QXIvuFQWI/s400/IMG_0471.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Interior looks OK.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Driving with the top down is the way to go, especially early in the morning, but my dermatologist, after observing my comprehensive skin damage from a misspent youth, demands that I put it up when in bright sunshine.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtglBR6wCFYMsRupBGYfTNI_kTp9OLQMI7SfwvIdYf58kFzfp40XD09cogwldz_cepcSj4iEEMy2TybMVxhWKsd3AZrK-J8Avk-OwbJYCfV7PVL3HYsAWO0iLQwiL1z8lNMDwFFvmrwK0/s1600/IMG_0470.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1375" data-original-width="1600" height="343" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtglBR6wCFYMsRupBGYfTNI_kTp9OLQMI7SfwvIdYf58kFzfp40XD09cogwldz_cepcSj4iEEMy2TybMVxhWKsd3AZrK-J8Avk-OwbJYCfV7PVL3HYsAWO0iLQwiL1z8lNMDwFFvmrwK0/s400/IMG_0470.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Top down is the way to go.</td></tr>
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The only other improvement I'm considering at this stage is cruise control. The US Miata came with it equipped, but when I made enquiries about importing a kit, I discovered that they are incompatible with RHD, because of complications with the brake pedal fitted to the Oz version.<br />
<br />
This means I'll be looking for an after market version, something discrete that doesn't compromise the originality of the vehicle.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7356259693522390906.post-82016903417619226712019-10-18T13:43:00.002-07:002019-10-18T13:45:56.842-07:00Not an SUV<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxbdA1-54sijEfS7iTH5zULYoBqMRQ-lr9eJ7zW-z3MCI7xmxABsnjby9FuU5AF3vjPPgZEDb32ph_Fr0w6hFXWpbxK2LCDmMT3tkaaYFpKhYpG9nDv1J9IrjYL4VwOCFOs8btDc68zHo/s1600/IMG_0308.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxbdA1-54sijEfS7iTH5zULYoBqMRQ-lr9eJ7zW-z3MCI7xmxABsnjby9FuU5AF3vjPPgZEDb32ph_Fr0w6hFXWpbxK2LCDmMT3tkaaYFpKhYpG9nDv1J9IrjYL4VwOCFOs8btDc68zHo/s400/IMG_0308.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The background is very dry</td></tr>
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<br />
The Cerato is sold, and now this is the "family" car.<br />
<br />
It's a Kia Rondo (called <a href="https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kia_Carens">"Carens" </a>in most other markets, and they're no longer sold in Oz.<br />
That cessation of sales should not be an issue, as the vehicle, like all Kias these days, comes with a seven year warranty.<br />
<br />
These things have the same running gear (motor, transmission, steering, brakes etc. as the Cerato, but have a different body.<br />
<br />
Dimensionally, they're the same length and width as the Cerato, but much taller. In that respect, the Rondo resembles an SUV, with an elevated seat height and much easier passenger access.<br />
<br />
That's why we bought it. We're both at the age where entry and egress is an issue, and in this car it's a doddle, compared with most small hatches. There are other advantages, such as increased luggage capacity, and a better driver's view because of the elevated seating position.<br />
<br />
This particular specification (The "S" - although it's sporty in name only) has a third row of seats, although they're really only suitable for children. We have folded them down, and put a dog-liner in the rear. We can harness the dogs to the rear most seat belts, and they can travel in comfort and safety back there.<br />
<br />
The car was a demonstrator with 10000 kms on the clock, and finding it was a hassle. There was nothing local, so we had to use a Kia dealer in Brisbane.<br />
<br />
It drives very much like the Cerato, but is quieter, roomier, and has slightly later tech.<br />
<br />
Kias are always well-equipped, and they are also well put together. I guess if you're going to warranty your product for seven years, that's a given.<br />
<br />
But the best thing is that it's not an SUV.<br />
<br />
Why pay to cart around a lot of extra metal?<br />
<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7356259693522390906.post-2967878529193012622019-09-17T20:47:00.001-07:002020-06-19T21:30:24.662-07:00Buy My Kia<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho-01Ivk_Utj-FBBT1wN5zQEhp_tuH1dFsgpSDmgStyXaXMgfDnK-1Sbwnfv4wrS12sW_HE2V9X_VYmxmZ0g7oL6HJgm8-LDgVSIu5naqV88Fd3Qk-Yg-AkHgCfBK7Pbyv-6Dt_QO942o/s1600/IMG_2120%255B973%255D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho-01Ivk_Utj-FBBT1wN5zQEhp_tuH1dFsgpSDmgStyXaXMgfDnK-1Sbwnfv4wrS12sW_HE2V9X_VYmxmZ0g7oL6HJgm8-LDgVSIu5naqV88Fd3Qk-Yg-AkHgCfBK7Pbyv-6Dt_QO942o/s400/IMG_2120%255B973%255D.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
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This Dec 2015 Kia Cerato is for sale.</div>
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It's done 25000k and has been well looked after.</div>
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It comes with a couple of accessories, namely a reversing camera installed in the rear vision mirror, and a tow bar which has never been used.</div>
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It has the balance of Kia's 7 year warranty.</div>
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We're looking at $12000 ONO.</div>
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Check the photos and email me on 1735099@gmail.com if you're interested.</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJUMq6ZoxKP4EXlhOZAjfpx6VxP-RAilaXm2aN69zbDvqz4G1aq42inAM6Ar4ZMWmDJt3h5QsTTJhhbOw_qWX85LzDdNpePtBACQO50pGwARylSHliE7QUHJATtyQlq28uX4wLZ4xm5dw/s1600/IMG_0280.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="240" data-original-width="320" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJUMq6ZoxKP4EXlhOZAjfpx6VxP-RAilaXm2aN69zbDvqz4G1aq42inAM6Ar4ZMWmDJt3h5QsTTJhhbOw_qWX85LzDdNpePtBACQO50pGwARylSHliE7QUHJATtyQlq28uX4wLZ4xm5dw/s400/IMG_0280.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Car has a tow bar - never used.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiiJhSJN3RRzTLsmTYLPZOIRrLQYT84kj9JdH7zSfhpEOnXbwt73xi09BA7UwDEJvUHmTm-nFjJHSi2meS9cce1KxITIHpJOS19mCiWBixfuV217SR64etrxOY7tS_Vkq490QOYKziM00/s1600/IMG_2884.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiiJhSJN3RRzTLsmTYLPZOIRrLQYT84kj9JdH7zSfhpEOnXbwt73xi09BA7UwDEJvUHmTm-nFjJHSi2meS9cce1KxITIHpJOS19mCiWBixfuV217SR64etrxOY7tS_Vkq490QOYKziM00/s400/IMG_2884.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Seats have always had covers on.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyJVjK-J1L82LgmcBPzMlAihufOy83vb4pOrLUXHh2ZanGcDWfK7_fskN4JsYqzMRkTA2ctzurthaju1vmKnKDDmQ5y0iytFvsU3q_6_dtt1zguUq-byJ9YXXPnw1DucuGwAwoAShyphenhypheny34/s1600/IMG_0276.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="240" data-original-width="320" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyJVjK-J1L82LgmcBPzMlAihufOy83vb4pOrLUXHh2ZanGcDWfK7_fskN4JsYqzMRkTA2ctzurthaju1vmKnKDDmQ5y0iytFvsU3q_6_dtt1zguUq-byJ9YXXPnw1DucuGwAwoAShyphenhypheny34/s400/IMG_0276.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One trim curbed</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMpRCc_0zw3rWa3gn99HCzy2vRKimNhECNLGsCk0kaUScSazGBetQLVabtaasSPBXpkFnjuqPKPZ0uNRmF7Wgl1ErkJhllcNc1m5n0iADbrbhWM-pi1JzPFrrTuOLmmF6s1vrOeOtm_0M/s1600/IMG_2881.CR2" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMpRCc_0zw3rWa3gn99HCzy2vRKimNhECNLGsCk0kaUScSazGBetQLVabtaasSPBXpkFnjuqPKPZ0uNRmF7Wgl1ErkJhllcNc1m5n0iADbrbhWM-pi1JzPFrrTuOLmmF6s1vrOeOtm_0M/s400/IMG_2881.CR2" width="400" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxwUc5NLZqm3J-Tw-BGOXoL31SkhxAgFyZefZY-Xf6BWqgU-AhO0VM0hxMJuoj23UyRZd4TrmTxDkgDObTXZ5ZL3PEjE6etBPkaO3zREnVk3t2Qi6s6WjuYEBoCAb0mBT_adifgpeW2DA/s1600/IMG_2883.CR2" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxwUc5NLZqm3J-Tw-BGOXoL31SkhxAgFyZefZY-Xf6BWqgU-AhO0VM0hxMJuoj23UyRZd4TrmTxDkgDObTXZ5ZL3PEjE6etBPkaO3zREnVk3t2Qi6s6WjuYEBoCAb0mBT_adifgpeW2DA/s400/IMG_2883.CR2" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mercury silver<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9P5YFgvu0-EddcwgTY_oOQTQT451UCceREIqc5nKqqjA9o3WV6IJhixj5XzhdMrMsvQhn0VWBJlsckkeE-p1Lqg-X1uNnYRVA4nuoERbuNWd-zakFhL-5N4TY1jxiLyKF0D5HQni2rzw/s1600/IMG_0296.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9P5YFgvu0-EddcwgTY_oOQTQT451UCceREIqc5nKqqjA9o3WV6IJhixj5XzhdMrMsvQhn0VWBJlsckkeE-p1Lqg-X1uNnYRVA4nuoERbuNWd-zakFhL-5N4TY1jxiLyKF0D5HQni2rzw/s320/IMG_0296.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dec 2015 build<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwj8c7qP_iqa5lPmY3iUbifxDLoAF0tY4VtYfG0Z_qPgY-8iwJhXmzm1WvyFd9CVC1faxJqYFuVj3o0Ck8jPKXbdBbnP5NvgZXBt_-CHHyNz0YLwMXzEqYgWYisda8xzoBo24bPQLH4Yk/s1600/IMG_0300.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwj8c7qP_iqa5lPmY3iUbifxDLoAF0tY4VtYfG0Z_qPgY-8iwJhXmzm1WvyFd9CVC1faxJqYFuVj3o0Ck8jPKXbdBbnP5NvgZXBt_-CHHyNz0YLwMXzEqYgWYisda8xzoBo24bPQLH4Yk/s320/IMG_0300.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Small windscreen chip</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijds-wTTvU47cf6iWG8TLXwBI1eXWb-hcT8xTmGiweovWfkTuqybB-i8xr6j883IrkwybnWhHqGGEFEU0kCDT78e1kYgokN9sjKQOkap6Qe8YN6gadh0-NVMaB2a2eDDzUCRvcY8tQlzM/s1600/IMG_0303.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijds-wTTvU47cf6iWG8TLXwBI1eXWb-hcT8xTmGiweovWfkTuqybB-i8xr6j883IrkwybnWhHqGGEFEU0kCDT78e1kYgokN9sjKQOkap6Qe8YN6gadh0-NVMaB2a2eDDzUCRvcY8tQlzM/s400/IMG_0303.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Service book, keys and owner's manual.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjarnoDEMsT0H3N5oHdw6m20X0afqa-HjY9Vo0s_VcsH4s63Id2lbAJMmiBxrwivsJrWauo3TwLmuyEiwQxWNhI6NKUcmhFp-Yy4xF5a6LRtmG6qIJQ09AYGDKus6rnezdunx_ve7p3nMs/s1600/IMG_0301.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjarnoDEMsT0H3N5oHdw6m20X0afqa-HjY9Vo0s_VcsH4s63Id2lbAJMmiBxrwivsJrWauo3TwLmuyEiwQxWNhI6NKUcmhFp-Yy4xF5a6LRtmG6qIJQ09AYGDKus6rnezdunx_ve7p3nMs/s400/IMG_0301.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Small stone chip</td></tr>
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<b>Update</b> - It's sold.</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7356259693522390906.post-20751534882492100982019-07-04T00:51:00.000-07:002019-07-04T00:51:14.229-07:00Travelling North<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic1Efib7uEIpM8ttUzwhW_tIMXzxw0S-u0lIC3tWxW4xVF1-XpncDcmEUCDGAgDQux3I58hIbYTkG_3pr5tyxw8RGsvbC_VKpluMfQVI8Y1CDI0ujmkaYMKncabXWnIYb-AO7PM-g99yU/s1600/1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic1Efib7uEIpM8ttUzwhW_tIMXzxw0S-u0lIC3tWxW4xVF1-XpncDcmEUCDGAgDQux3I58hIbYTkG_3pr5tyxw8RGsvbC_VKpluMfQVI8Y1CDI0ujmkaYMKncabXWnIYb-AO7PM-g99yU/s400/1.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small; text-align: start;">An early start was the go.</span></td></tr>
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<br />I've been a bit slack with postings of late, gentle reader.<br />
<br />
the major distraction has been enrolling at Uni after a gap of 39 years.<br />
<br />
The tertiary institutions that I earned RPL* from have had problems with their archives, caused, I understand by the most recent Brisbane floods.<br />
<br />
Anyway, they have resurrected sufficient of my academic record to mollify the campus I'm dealing with, so it's all good.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNcs-F5Ar-Y3j-co4umSqxuu_fuMdYxHdONt7HBw40Xona-mc6JFHJeCJmnjqF1yAefoL_GOq85CFPhsGVmDYQZnV50FeQvLgmijbHByGuWB3e5QjSd8oh_0JXfoXI1IcKorHXjPdZgY0/s1600/2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNcs-F5Ar-Y3j-co4umSqxuu_fuMdYxHdONt7HBw40Xona-mc6JFHJeCJmnjqF1yAefoL_GOq85CFPhsGVmDYQZnV50FeQvLgmijbHByGuWB3e5QjSd8oh_0JXfoXI1IcKorHXjPdZgY0/s400/2.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small; text-align: start;">Roadworks were a pain.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
To fill in the time whilst waiting to get started at the beginning of semester 2, I took a long road trip north - to Mackay, to be exact, where my 90-year-old aunt was celebrating her birthday.<br />
<br />
There were many cousins, most whom I haven't seen for 30+ years, so it was interesting (and revelatory). I seem to have worn better than most of them.<br />
<br />
It's all that clean living.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjexnGJrEO1KB0Ug6DLzj0wbODMkkUHzsMf3fQeUcn9_nW1Vq_ftPlR84Vz46awDqeRekwPYvaDY0Fr-FvZO58zIvo3IXeyAXYQAiMmbc5xCnDPHG1pOo9sXeRHqljfhp9ihmxXIbIRSfI/s1600/3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="996" data-original-width="1600" height="248" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjexnGJrEO1KB0Ug6DLzj0wbODMkkUHzsMf3fQeUcn9_nW1Vq_ftPlR84Vz46awDqeRekwPYvaDY0Fr-FvZO58zIvo3IXeyAXYQAiMmbc5xCnDPHG1pOo9sXeRHqljfhp9ihmxXIbIRSfI/s400/3.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small; text-align: start;">Travel stained at Bororen.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Anyway, I pointed the nose of the MX5 north, and set out early.<br />
<br />
An MX5 SE is not designed for long distance cruising, but this little machine acquitted itself well.<br />
<br />
It has an excellent driving position, and cruises at about 3000rpm. An overdrive would be nice, but it doesn’t feel (or sound) stressed at this rev range.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiW0tze2I72oSx_hkqvGy_EIIgQKsoM0CG0jaMTTjYp0PMFXyIigv5A4R2Z4B12gfEo0f70kXppcW774Wo3V7ktR7uoa-_DNflprji_IODg56A8jLQUgjbPnL9Pk1nnIaes4M-IIzBdCU/s1600/4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiW0tze2I72oSx_hkqvGy_EIIgQKsoM0CG0jaMTTjYp0PMFXyIigv5A4R2Z4B12gfEo0f70kXppcW774Wo3V7ktR7uoa-_DNflprji_IODg56A8jLQUgjbPnL9Pk1nnIaes4M-IIzBdCU/s400/4.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small; text-align: start;">Safely in Mackay.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
The only problem I had was in 110km/hr zones, because the turbo kicks in at about 105km/hr in top gear, and holding it below the limit required lots of concentration.<br />
<br />
It used 7.5lit/100kms of 98 octane, which is pretty good. Prices were surprisingly consistent except for Mackay city.<br />
<br />
Despite wet weather and loads of caravans, the trip north ws enjoyable, and the journey back, in fine weather, was great fun.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNbZWMHB00vcD4heBH5LVnZAOQhWZ9rrq54F_JBYxQaM12wCnHF0UzvLg_MTVVo8QnNO-oIXLO6r8oMyDB3zaL2-SZ8k416TicKs6-BoHA_k8-dtyIzBNYG_ELS4WZEbPZWhYyuHAbpGA/s1600/IMG_0176+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNbZWMHB00vcD4heBH5LVnZAOQhWZ9rrq54F_JBYxQaM12wCnHF0UzvLg_MTVVo8QnNO-oIXLO6r8oMyDB3zaL2-SZ8k416TicKs6-BoHA_k8-dtyIzBNYG_ELS4WZEbPZWhYyuHAbpGA/s400/IMG_0176+%25282%2529.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small; text-align: start;">Agnes Water</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9tZ3o3vXEwf1q4B8-gNgTTtVHiSYrXJeA9hy3JRNgxowzjhm7REdQZAlmVTJ6DuWftS7mRy39tuttKVT6e1hu-tnso69OKndHy8H2pFEgbSTTECXkzEVGZwiOsqyyKenNjT4UAFwhB_Q/s1600/6.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9tZ3o3vXEwf1q4B8-gNgTTtVHiSYrXJeA9hy3JRNgxowzjhm7REdQZAlmVTJ6DuWftS7mRy39tuttKVT6e1hu-tnso69OKndHy8H2pFEgbSTTECXkzEVGZwiOsqyyKenNjT4UAFwhB_Q/s400/6.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />EV chargers at Marlborough.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7356259693522390906.post-13704650986207132212018-11-16T13:45:00.001-08:002018-11-16T13:45:46.372-08:00Fords - My Chequered History<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkw04j46_dI8sXxe_MVme_meshJGvBXLnNA1FQIe4HwS7PPM5YOZHMIIZ6wkTQIQmqe2Y7Pwiet-RmGBWespVSJ2vO5BLmnaOllbrvLgZP4LDudLs6_yI484HdeT1DMqugsoSYvFg6c8c/s1600/446tmr.CR2" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkw04j46_dI8sXxe_MVme_meshJGvBXLnNA1FQIe4HwS7PPM5YOZHMIIZ6wkTQIQmqe2Y7Pwiet-RmGBWespVSJ2vO5BLmnaOllbrvLgZP4LDudLs6_yI484HdeT1DMqugsoSYvFg6c8c/s400/446tmr.CR2" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cranky Car</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
We've disposed of our last Ford.<br />
<br />
Over the years, we've owned (in sequence) two Falcon SRs, and two Focuses (Foci???).<br />
<br />
All except for the Focus Trend illustrated have been reliable and good cars to drive. Not so this one, and this is the reason for unloading it. We've also signed up for the <a href="http://fordclassaction.com.au/">class action</a>.<br />
<br />
It has been off the road four times as a consequence of the completely unsatisfactory dual clutch auto. Ford calls it "Powershift". Others have coined a <a href="https://autoexpert.com.au/posts/ford-focus-transmission-problems">different </a>moniker.<br />
<br />
The last episode was a broken half shaft, no doubt as a consequence of the juddering that was a characteristic of the transmission during most of our ownership. This last episode, occurring as it did simultaneously with my bride's discharge from hospital after breast surgery was the last straw.<br />
<br />
The local Ford dealer (no doubt as tired of these recurring episodes as the owners) was brilliant. They loaned us a Ford Escape for the duration of the repair, which took over a week. The repair didn't cost us, as I'd taken out an extended (5 year) warranty when we purchased the car in 2014. That turned out to be a very good decision.<br />
<br />
We traded two vehicles (our Commodore ute and the cranky Focus) on a 2016 Kia Cerato hatch. It has the benefit of a seven year warranty, and because it's a hatch is both dog and bike friendly. If I need to shift stuff, I'll revert to ute hire.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR41S5m9uuxara57QRamID6NEzDSDFlSLMRbIlziArjluE_objicxPfnkoS-fqbTo8Nq5zJeR8GOyhWAAjIzP22LITk1DEr8F3jBWsUsTvk-YTnFgC0pFN5BL0A9ziSgseX3EaSjLoItM/s1600/IMG_2120%255B973%255D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR41S5m9uuxara57QRamID6NEzDSDFlSLMRbIlziArjluE_objicxPfnkoS-fqbTo8Nq5zJeR8GOyhWAAjIzP22LITk1DEr8F3jBWsUsTvk-YTnFgC0pFN5BL0A9ziSgseX3EaSjLoItM/s320/IMG_2120%255B973%255D.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The replacement</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Kia has come a long way in a short time on the Australian market, and they make very good cars as demonstrated by their rapidly improving market share.<br />
<br />
Ford, on the other hand, are going backwards. It's a shame, as the small Fords were always fun cars to drive.<br />
<br />
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7356259693522390906.post-2192105884822433812018-11-13T12:54:00.000-08:002018-11-13T12:54:47.597-08:00Photo Essay - SE<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu4onG64UglkyZGBQiL0D32z6egb7KfCnlQsq5JsVYyOrwvcmyhSe66OmsPJBghwB6oeEg20P_fk4HXnY4hu8k0yPErbosTjk5O_FulGeFKW01xRiCxLnnK3js8oLnlgBjlQUiBI_zAfI/s1600/_DSC2829.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1064" data-original-width="1600" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu4onG64UglkyZGBQiL0D32z6egb7KfCnlQsq5JsVYyOrwvcmyhSe66OmsPJBghwB6oeEg20P_fk4HXnY4hu8k0yPErbosTjk5O_FulGeFKW01xRiCxLnnK3js8oLnlgBjlQUiBI_zAfI/s320/_DSC2829.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Before I bought it.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
I have a number of pics of the SE, so I've decided with this post to create a photographic essay showing the car.<br />
<br />
Some show it before purchase, and some with the hardtop fitted.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
It needs cosmetic work, and I'm slowly building up to cleaning up the front bumper (damaged by contact with the number plate frame) and the rear wing which seems to be sun damaged.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I've had quotes for the work from a professional, so if I stuff it up (entirely possible) I can fall back to that.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnyv1bqKAi4qlOFvLojVISJ-bBePE1MdvgdN3kSyvY67TUCBm88TT96o82Ut8wCSGz1xN9Wkvyl0j47w-yU2kH0ua6msYTj36nn0iQKSpyfjCSWuFfEtHZeiRKa__Y3m6P_C3BhZ3s90s/s1600/2018-11-14+05.47.52.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1078" data-original-width="1600" height="215" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnyv1bqKAi4qlOFvLojVISJ-bBePE1MdvgdN3kSyvY67TUCBm88TT96o82Ut8wCSGz1xN9Wkvyl0j47w-yU2kH0ua6msYTj36nn0iQKSpyfjCSWuFfEtHZeiRKa__Y3m6P_C3BhZ3s90s/s320/2018-11-14+05.47.52.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Silver trim</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVfjTa8DOJi_-hBe-tES_t84Uhp7G1mljjJN-3iWbUmOQyo1C0gfz4KTKD3x-l-eE44zJRYdGkljRFrBksdSJv-uaZcVqQvV4ndLzBVMdIVL2q_qwqb40Kvm9nx7MuaTGljwWiLvBF8JM/s1600/2018-11-14+05.47.26.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="990" data-original-width="1600" height="197" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVfjTa8DOJi_-hBe-tES_t84Uhp7G1mljjJN-3iWbUmOQyo1C0gfz4KTKD3x-l-eE44zJRYdGkljRFrBksdSJv-uaZcVqQvV4ndLzBVMdIVL2q_qwqb40Kvm9nx7MuaTGljwWiLvBF8JM/s320/2018-11-14+05.47.26.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There's a thing that looks like a hair dryer in there.....</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHPEqrJGZ7PuW3LQW72Jta3d8H9-f6_PTKPakfqHcnFWISCB_LVKoZ8k9wHxDSQoNkoSBBAZMVPYhMI1SvlfRJmxuf4jM7liUvI0_PlabMX6qhSh_u2N86hdPnX0Sw5jo3wtsI8kLcANE/s1600/2018-11-14+05.47.41.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1025" data-original-width="1600" height="205" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHPEqrJGZ7PuW3LQW72Jta3d8H9-f6_PTKPakfqHcnFWISCB_LVKoZ8k9wHxDSQoNkoSBBAZMVPYhMI1SvlfRJmxuf4jM7liUvI0_PlabMX6qhSh_u2N86hdPnX0Sw5jo3wtsI8kLcANE/s320/2018-11-14+05.47.41.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Soft top is mohair - not vinyl.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY6MWzxPVIziM_qQr0HOM4qAVoiPYCNiw_i4f6UvUCPdVEn-d0qyw3hG1rMWLtx4eG4Ka0NRMx0w_DEm1Oc6fglpSBnfmducz-1MOkIMgB5VSxOxCdf4VnwsI0L-gla0o4SHxoIiWn10I/s1600/_DSC2830.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1064" data-original-width="1600" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY6MWzxPVIziM_qQr0HOM4qAVoiPYCNiw_i4f6UvUCPdVEn-d0qyw3hG1rMWLtx4eG4Ka0NRMx0w_DEm1Oc6fglpSBnfmducz-1MOkIMgB5VSxOxCdf4VnwsI0L-gla0o4SHxoIiWn10I/s320/_DSC2830.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bumper damage. (Old number plate)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYCB1Uhu7s5o9MCs5L55Xl9zfC0k2rA4l_0uj1uHPC_BDaCSVrJn3n3DOr0eSqzFvd3p_8tpu5KJT4M05QRuLZioX41xRtxxYWwORHAn_R695TjD0XnBmi3_7Y82CJ8_BvXBQkWFiz4-s/s1600/2018-11-14+05.48.09.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="885" data-original-width="1600" height="176" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYCB1Uhu7s5o9MCs5L55Xl9zfC0k2rA4l_0uj1uHPC_BDaCSVrJn3n3DOr0eSqzFvd3p_8tpu5KJT4M05QRuLZioX41xRtxxYWwORHAn_R695TjD0XnBmi3_7Y82CJ8_BvXBQkWFiz4-s/s320/2018-11-14+05.48.09.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Half the Kms of the last one I owned.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMIM2uxOkAqyUUEYMeWbm0PtnlW6JraDIJEL3k1THl8n_NKMv_qcm58EdsiSHMAT2OQy6n0ucpd9j3IIZy4sxT_nmA5n7UbWL6N9VVapF_EoP2c8PX4SHkVkYZwSwGy2Us4oMgD980SrM/s1600/2018-11-14+05.48.40.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="961" data-original-width="1600" height="192" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMIM2uxOkAqyUUEYMeWbm0PtnlW6JraDIJEL3k1THl8n_NKMv_qcm58EdsiSHMAT2OQy6n0ucpd9j3IIZy4sxT_nmA5n7UbWL6N9VVapF_EoP2c8PX4SHkVkYZwSwGy2Us4oMgD980SrM/s320/2018-11-14+05.48.40.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">UK blurb about the interior.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLbC42X8qSWeOfixL6g3bRQVxx6eIjajTIta5lrIDl8pLC7l_LjYMmaeBJZ8HofT7Hsh_YAE1Jo8AmP-h-N_3gjOEtM-8NYyTzSa7USUNFTNzviu9TG_Q6Q8jjRXBExh5PZaN0_0hkYrI/s1600/IMG_2090%255B481%255D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="861" data-original-width="1600" height="172" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLbC42X8qSWeOfixL6g3bRQVxx6eIjajTIta5lrIDl8pLC7l_LjYMmaeBJZ8HofT7Hsh_YAE1Jo8AmP-h-N_3gjOEtM-8NYyTzSa7USUNFTNzviu9TG_Q6Q8jjRXBExh5PZaN0_0hkYrI/s320/IMG_2090%255B481%255D.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">With the hardtop.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUHXMOrXRFCtssF92u9-So8k66j7_M1avYZq_bRqy-hsTm1LcCq3EtAfINqtwM2kizq8UyvPnDDlEZXhkjdi4pcQKBL3NO3hKEeaGztT0mKQVkLxELDv-aopSARG1nKFT0fFyJeZA531Y/s1600/2018-11-14+05.48.35.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="965" data-original-width="1600" height="192" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUHXMOrXRFCtssF92u9-So8k66j7_M1avYZq_bRqy-hsTm1LcCq3EtAfINqtwM2kizq8UyvPnDDlEZXhkjdi4pcQKBL3NO3hKEeaGztT0mKQVkLxELDv-aopSARG1nKFT0fFyJeZA531Y/s320/2018-11-14+05.48.35.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tyres are lower profile (45) than the regular MX5, and wheels 1" larger.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgryH-Kklx7hv6oGocb54eQ7e2hARMea9rNsC-mdbU5Ak_zQiBvL89tee9SV3ql5uUyeVvQ3kVSqAldycKEwI2XPMXxsg6OOFi_145hQoIehjU6K30XWgIaolNUwR7HP2OBVeF40WvEwKY/s1600/2018-11-14+05.47.05.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="966" data-original-width="1600" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgryH-Kklx7hv6oGocb54eQ7e2hARMea9rNsC-mdbU5Ak_zQiBvL89tee9SV3ql5uUyeVvQ3kVSqAldycKEwI2XPMXxsg6OOFi_145hQoIehjU6K30XWgIaolNUwR7HP2OBVeF40WvEwKY/s320/2018-11-14+05.47.05.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Boot is fully lined.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb6V7o35HwmoH5wwmjKNcDMON-7wLiQx5ct3BKE4UfhAHuwJPtiokYh-KFABqMx-9q_uqdxHONh4kRDemgfqrrZkA9qMXgsdheBgbPB9d2Ec59_JySKces4Ovjc8vYsE-vIlSBwOIjwRk/s1600/2018-11-14+05.47.12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="993" data-original-width="1600" height="198" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb6V7o35HwmoH5wwmjKNcDMON-7wLiQx5ct3BKE4UfhAHuwJPtiokYh-KFABqMx-9q_uqdxHONh4kRDemgfqrrZkA9qMXgsdheBgbPB9d2Ec59_JySKces4Ovjc8vYsE-vIlSBwOIjwRk/s320/2018-11-14+05.47.12.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And so is the glovebox.....</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD2lazgZtwBw5LFEi_aksVJoUpxzDfZ7Ff1gyICjiIrYI1ygTGytvdX7An-S-TiZmW041gfap4FFiAzJdzhZ2-wTZvGblhiftG4h-e0FtaAv9Dj5HM8gpgi5OwrKOtWlBjZolcRk8rrR8/s1600/2018-11-14+05.46.41.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="987" data-original-width="1600" height="197" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD2lazgZtwBw5LFEi_aksVJoUpxzDfZ7Ff1gyICjiIrYI1ygTGytvdX7An-S-TiZmW041gfap4FFiAzJdzhZ2-wTZvGblhiftG4h-e0FtaAv9Dj5HM8gpgi5OwrKOtWlBjZolcRk8rrR8/s320/2018-11-14+05.46.41.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div>
Jasper Conran interior<br />
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">I'll keep you posted.</span><b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7356259693522390906.post-53440105119863774582018-10-15T15:50:00.002-07:002018-10-15T21:14:04.805-07:00Hello and Goodbye<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZXuRVQlHY14QrF1Fl-zrmd7pLExNyqU88V2mtHGZeQin01MBHHILBytOAAduK6b3G22bOqQ5cMVetNEVnkeNOB4_9l5_tCdpWYADw6hUFPWVtHqaFG8m4smExg9wXfXASKOmHrw026Uw/s1600/_DSC2822.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1064" data-original-width="1600" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZXuRVQlHY14QrF1Fl-zrmd7pLExNyqU88V2mtHGZeQin01MBHHILBytOAAduK6b3G22bOqQ5cMVetNEVnkeNOB4_9l5_tCdpWYADw6hUFPWVtHqaFG8m4smExg9wXfXASKOmHrw026Uw/s400/_DSC2822.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div>
Before purchase (note NSW plates)</div>
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As indicated in my last post, I have swapped my 2000 MX5 for this 2004 SE.<br />
<br />
I've coveted one of these for a long time, and this one came up on the interwebs and looked OK. I drove the ute to Newcastle to check it out, and wasn't disappointed.<br />
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This particular car is unique, with a <a href="http://www.roadster.blog/2015/10/mazda-mx-5-jasper-conran.html">special interior fitout </a>which I thought might coordinate with the red hardtop. You can look at the pics and decide whether this is in fact the case.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxqZcMTGEkntdIcNtGoB-fc1OgBfUNaTGi4kHKZKWHb4TTDm3WDxF42Jm8NY-CLXdk5Oe7mZUO8IqEl-7RDuHlanxzSRONkSwTBiSDOVLAqmVdUejjoHUCcR5fie3qmJP2H-rmORoHJrM/s1600/IMG_2090%255B481%255D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="861" data-original-width="1600" height="215" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxqZcMTGEkntdIcNtGoB-fc1OgBfUNaTGi4kHKZKWHb4TTDm3WDxF42Jm8NY-CLXdk5Oe7mZUO8IqEl-7RDuHlanxzSRONkSwTBiSDOVLAqmVdUejjoHUCcR5fie3qmJP2H-rmORoHJrM/s400/IMG_2090%255B481%255D.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">With hardtop in place.</td></tr>
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Whilst this one and the previous car are both MX5s, the driving experience is completely different.<br />
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The previous car felt soft and slow in comparison. This one, by virtue of a stiffer set of spring rates, tighter steering ratio, and thicker anti-roll bars is further along a continuum which starts at grand tourer and progresses towards sports car.<br />
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It also features 17" mags, and lower (40 profile) tyres.<br />
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There were actually two different versions of turbocharged MX5s sold in Australia. Read all about it<br />
<a href="http://www.mx5cartalk.com/SP_SE_Comparison/">here</a><br />
It's actually not as pleasant to drive around the burbs, but once on smooth blacktop out of town, it is a revelation.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie4DIi5E-PhRZbgoV4y3Yy2dL9tze0Hy6WZQE_SumdE7nqdGRIblvJNTnmNZ5XnO9KNJ0T1qy_BkuMhTCGSDYjZYRT-tKUyIoRMRIErDnrH8N7XFDG7leEj4-IHJVgZfUlh57F3GBDN_8/s1600/IMG_2101%255B932%255D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie4DIi5E-PhRZbgoV4y3Yy2dL9tze0Hy6WZQE_SumdE7nqdGRIblvJNTnmNZ5XnO9KNJ0T1qy_BkuMhTCGSDYjZYRT-tKUyIoRMRIErDnrH8N7XFDG7leEj4-IHJVgZfUlh57F3GBDN_8/s400/IMG_2101%255B932%255D.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is what makes it so much fun.</td></tr>
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What I find particularly attractive is its overtaking ability. The previous car could leave you stranded in the passing lane unless you made careful judgements and kept the revs up by downshifting - usually twice.<br />
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This one simply goes once the turbo kicks in, which seems to be about 3000 rpm.<br />
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It also has travelled less than half the kilometres of the old one, and should therefore cost less to maintain. The turbo setup is Mazda engineered and conservative. A heavy duty clutch and radiator should help with maintainability.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5y7rcyyQb8ukKxEr0iRtlCIVEr2hvgqiJz4M8-tbp1QyxFwA8Yf9AURILytkGAVqIpVNDN2FMyXu5zR4r6xNa5FHhyphenhyphenhSGAwsc3WPe_7gaiP_4XKjkVKiv3D6Ej6Ku91rNksExAJV5hmQ/s1600/interior.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5y7rcyyQb8ukKxEr0iRtlCIVEr2hvgqiJz4M8-tbp1QyxFwA8Yf9AURILytkGAVqIpVNDN2FMyXu5zR4r6xNa5FHhyphenhyphenhSGAwsc3WPe_7gaiP_4XKjkVKiv3D6Ej6Ku91rNksExAJV5hmQ/s400/interior.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jasper Conran interior</td></tr>
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It's not perfect. There's extensive road rash on the front bumper, the paint on rear wing (an SE feature) is faded, and the windscreen is pitted. This windscreen issue seems common to MX5s, possibly because they sit low, where there are more stones and detritus flying around.<br />
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Replacing the screen and curing the paint blemishes are both improvements I'll attend to ASAP.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH32ZKrWIyOph3Gf6RxehNQ0vweGCLOoiXJyYIdux_-0ZYYfzLqcvdowpI_kBbXCzmhPql1XyF59Hhyphenhypheng6DB-EgzDBobVo9m3_wk2rsOOaKFUOBN6ops3URrUFsQ6pauJJMEklRR3OfKZQ/s1600/_DSC2830.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1064" data-original-width="1600" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH32ZKrWIyOph3Gf6RxehNQ0vweGCLOoiXJyYIdux_-0ZYYfzLqcvdowpI_kBbXCzmhPql1XyF59Hhyphenhypheng6DB-EgzDBobVo9m3_wk2rsOOaKFUOBN6ops3URrUFsQ6pauJJMEklRR3OfKZQ/s400/_DSC2830.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Road rash here.</td></tr>
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The gearlever knob is also worn, but my friendly local bootmaker can fix that, just as he did for the previous car.<br />
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This car does not have the excellent Alpine stereo (with Bluetooth and USB access) that was a feature of the previous car. I thought long and hard about doing a swap, but decided to keep this one original.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhzFtEFFaQsIrSk6mDjLJi97VnuxKVqz7RVs_7_hviD9EqqcH_Da8JwvhpIm_UWH4HWBlcNVrPVPZGGo3YGSHSmSd9Am6YnAEubDSXELIkEn7qfRFZknh9a9DyuW1PHLKUzbzNPGfbUXo/s1600/_DSC2826.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1064" data-original-width="1600" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhzFtEFFaQsIrSk6mDjLJi97VnuxKVqz7RVs_7_hviD9EqqcH_Da8JwvhpIm_UWH4HWBlcNVrPVPZGGo3YGSHSmSd9Am6YnAEubDSXELIkEn7qfRFZknh9a9DyuW1PHLKUzbzNPGfbUXo/s400/_DSC2826.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wing is faded (hard to see in this pic)</td></tr>
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This means leaving the six stacker CD player (a feature of the SE) in place, and using a Bluetooth adapter to take calls on the go.<br />
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The hardtop creaks a lot more in the SE, possibly as a consequence of the firmer suspension settings, but I can live with that. Generally, most of this can be eliminated with careful adjustment of the catches.<br />
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I'll keep you posted with the improvements.<br />
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The old car sold within a week, for the same price I bought it a year ago. A generous dad bought it for his son and daughter. His wife also has an MX5, as does his eldest daughter, which means there are now three in the family.<br />
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That's enthusiasm!<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2