Matt's MY08 NC Roadster.

[CoffeeBoss]

Hit a milestone last week

[CoffeeBoss]

20'000kms Service
Just completed. Trouble free transaction, was all done promptly, and they even did some warranty repairs - yes, turns out the A/C had a leak! Since i got the car just before winter, i hadn't used the A/C until recently when it started to get warm. Nothing.... it was as if it had not been gassed before delivery. Thanksfully, i have discovered as often mentioned around these parts that you really don't use the A/C that much in a roadster. However i'm still needing it for speedy demisting in the mornings.
Anyhow, the gas they use has a UV reactant in it, so they regassed it and then used a UV light to spot the leak, which was in one of the joins, so they just replaced it all.
I also had them replace the gearbox oil, surprised to hear it's scheduled for every 60'000kms. Could instantly feel the improvement when cold.

Some more piccies:







Wheel detail:



The multifunction wheel seemed superfluous in such a small car, but i love it - intuitive, the rocker switches have excellent feel, and everything is perfectly positioned.

[CoffeeBoss]

JDMStyleBadging.done

[bensale]

Those pictures two posts up are beautiful, I really really like them. You have a great looking car, yours has a great stance and the colour is great too.

[CoffeeBoss]

Thanks for the kind words, Ben!

Bath time:




Honestly, a huge pleasure to wash this car. I think this is mainly on account of the fact that the NC is styled like a bar of soap

[Alex]

don't forget to post some after shots as well.
After getting used to washing the 5 everything else seems like too much work (especially the roof on higher cars)

[CoffeeBoss]

Well, there's a few updates to report, have been just doing minor tinkering with asthetics and the interior appointments. Haven't had much time for the car lately, due to a recent event:



I can report that driving a Roadster with the time-honoured 'cans on strings' dragging behind is quite a surreal experience. Sounded like we had horses chasing us up the road!

Anyhow, to the new additions:

OEM chrome fuel door

I was quite 'meh' about the whole chrome fuel door look, at least until i started seeing them on the new Audi TT's, which i thought looked quite ok. Then i saw some NC's with them at the Illawarra Fly Run, and that was it. So i placed my order with Moss Motors, and waited patiently.

The result is, TBH, blingier than i had hoped. Interested to see what people think, and have decided to devote a topic to the chrome fuel door here

[sliq]

congrats mat. i would have loved to see some shots of the can tins with strings on the back of the roadster.

[PUR157]

Congratulations also!

Surely someone took a few happy snaps when you guys were on your way from the chapel?

[PAU61L]

Congrats Matt, on your two new partners in life. Have you looked into changing the sway bars. I have adjustable sway bars on our NC. PM me and you can have a drive, if the financial controller will let you spend money on the car now.
Paul @ Campbelltown "the gateway to the southern highlands"

[CoffeeBoss]

Hey Paul,
keen to meet up, will PM poste haste.

Meanwhile: planning the NC's first meaningful roadtrip. Naturally, i've started a thread
viewtopic.php?f=18&t=34577

[CoffeeBoss]

Moss Motors Glovebox Organiser
So, in my little Moss Motors carepack i also had the indespensible glovebox organiser. Sure, it's made for a LHD (Left Hand Drive) car, but it can be installed upside down and still functions in the same way. Makes life much better, particularly when retrieving items in the glovebox from the drivers seat. Like, gloves.... *shrugs*



Moss Motors boot lining
The other item in my Moss Motors carepack, the boot lining. This does serve to dampen the sound of the exhausts a little, which is important for me with all the freeway miles i do. Besides, if i want noise i just put the roof down

Sticky sided velcro is provided, which is cut into tabs and stuck under the boot. The lining then just adheres to the velcro. Only thing is, with the Australian summer heat, the provided tabs are not sufficient and it tends to pull off on the left hand side where it sits over the wiring for the boot lid lights. This was rectified with more sticky velcro from Bunnings.

[CoffeeBoss]

At Last - Track Time!
So, the NC has finally seen some track time. Twice thus far, at the new Marulan Driver Training Centre.

MDTC is like a mini Ebisu Circuit - tight, twisty, and no run-off. There is a crown in the track, and it is built on a hillside, which means plenty of dips, crests, and off camber corners. It's hugely entertaining.
Circuit Club had the exclusive first taste a few weeks ago. The roadster and I were fortunate enough to be among the chosen few. This will all be reported in the next issue of The Circuit out on Monday. Just quietly, there will also be a CC event there in the coming months, and I highly recommend it to anyone who would love to run through the Natio or Old Pac without the fear of oncoming traffic, polizia or wildlife

Yesterday i was back again at the IRS launch day for 2009. You'll have to wait a little longer to hear about all that

Here's some of Matt Mead's brilliant snaps:

Entry into the turn three, heading up the hill:



Exit of turn three. This is an up-hill right hander, 2nd gear, however the road dips off to the left so the back naturally hangs out on exit, you can see i'm starting to dial in some opp-lock at this point. The turn two-three-four section is like a minature version of the hill at Wakefield, only more fun (there's even a gutter run as you come off the other side)



Impressions: overall, veerrry happy with the balance and grip of the NC on the track, it's adjustable, grip is exceptional even on the worn RE050's. By the end of yesterday they were just mush, they have really gone off and will be replaced soon. Brake fluid also needs changing, due for a service anyhow but i will consider changing fluids to something more suitable before track days. Apart from brake fluid and tyres, the car is hugely entertaining on track, 2nd gear powerslides are more difficult to initiate than i expected thanks to the sheer mechanical grip. It turns in well, and communicates well when dríven hard. Considering i'm in the standard seat and have only had a basic alignment, i'm really pleased.

So, really keen to see how good it will be on better rubber and a decent alignment. That's next!

Also worthy of note, with 25'000kms clocked i've really noticed the engine opening up in the last few weeks. It's just a bit more responsive and a bit more willing under full noise.

In summary: Grin factor remains

[CoffeeBoss]

Wakefield At Last



Finally hit Wakefield in the Roadster, for Circuit Club's Australia Day Track Day.

Gosh - what a revelation! It was fantastic taking the Roadster out on a familiar circuit (at last!).

The complaints i had at the last track day of tires melting and brakes boiling where vastly reduced despite the extreme heat.... apparently MDTC is quite punishing by comparison, because the brakes and tires held up quite well throughout the four sessions i managed to get in. The last session was fantastic, 16 laps with a mix of open track and traffic. Glorious!

Brakes and tires were as they come from the factory, with 30'000kms of wear and the two previous days spent at MDTC under their belt as well. The tires are quite worn, it must be said. As in, well overdue for replacement.

Lap times were, sadly, not quite as good as expected if i'm honest. Consistency was down from my previous outings in my IS200, naturally i was getting used to the new car and there was traffic to contend with in every session. However i did manage to go out faster than my old car pretty much from the get-go, and final PB in the last session was 3 seconds faster than my previous PB in the Lexus. But still a-ways to go. So:

Previous PB at Wakefield in my old car (IS200): 1.19.220

New PB in the NC: 1:16:529

However, throwing the NC around Wakefield was huge fun, many parts of the track require a new approach for me now due to the higher grip, quicker turn in and higher entry speeds into corners. I also found the NC much less willing to power-oversteer than i expected, and i was sliding into the apex at turn 10 within a few laps, which is something i took a while to build up to in my old car. Gotta love that trademark MX5 communication!




Yummy


All images with thanks to Karl/Storms_of_fate

[CoffeeBoss]

a few more piccies (thanks Karl!)