Matt's MY08 NC Roadster.

[Hammer]

I would have never imagined this Corolla would be considered JDM (if not collectable). I had one in blue in my early days of driving but always thought it was old and under powered. Though I did like the RWD aspect, I never really appreciated it.

How times have changed.

[PAU61L]

Hello Matt, good run in your backyard, how long does it take you to do. It would be a good part of a club run, maybe start up north and incorporate it as the bottom part and have lunch somewhere in Kiama. Let me know what you think (do it sometime next year). I have been asked, nominated, pushed to be club captain at the end of the year. So I am looking for people to do a run in their own backyard and be drive captain for the day.
Regards Paul.

[CoffeeBoss]

I would have never imagined this Corolla would be considered JDM (if not collectable).

Well, like most of the cars in the JDMST collective, they tend to be Australian delivered, and then fettled with to inject that Japanese look/style/tune. Which isn't really a definitive thing in itself, since Japanese culture is so much about niches!

I'm not entirely across this car, but it had nice small dishy wheels in a decent offset, and this picture doesn't do that any justice. It also has those old school bonnet mounted mirrors. There's probably more going on that Corolla afficionado's would pick up on.

To me though, it simply represents one owners passion. From one enthusiast to another, that's a cool thing.

And it has cool plates

[Hammer]

Seeing the pix of this Corolla, makes me wish I kept my old one. I've always liked it's well proportioned body and overall design.

But growing up surrounded by V8 Commodores, RX3s, RX4s and Turbo TX3s made it pedestrian by comparison. Though the replacement I got, a 2nd-hand 1985 Toyota Celica Supra, answered all that.

[CoffeeBoss]

Hello Matt, good run in your backyard, how long does it take you to do.

All in all it's about 3-4 hours with stops. It's not all that far - i can odo and time it out one weekend if you like. I have notes from other club runs I've organised as well that incorporate part of this run.

I have been asked, nominated, pushed to be club captain at the end of the year. So I am looking for people to do a run in their own backyard and be drive captain for the day.

Haha! Already looking to delegate tasks? Sounds like you're perfect Captain material! Good luck though, in my experience there's always lots of call for more runs, more activities, and so forth, but you can never find any help when you need it! Car clubs, particularly forum based ones, seem to always have their share of armchair (driver's seat?) critics.

[CoffeeBoss]

Seeing the pix of this Corolla, makes me wish I kept my old one. .... the replacement I got, a 2nd-hand 1985 Toyota Celica Supra, answered all that.

Alan - so your an old Toyota driver from way back! I had a suspicion you were a kindred spirit! You should get along to one of the Toymods meets some time - their annual Toymods Toyotafest is certainly worthwhile.

[Alex]

Nice meeting up with you on Tuesday, here are some of the pics I got. (hope you don't mind me sticking them in here)

[Szemen]

There was a small contingent of MX5's present, hopefully we can band together for a group shot at the next EOMM.

Maybe we should...*slower* maybe we should... -_-

[CoffeeBoss]

Nice meeting up with you on Tuesday, here are some of the pics I got. (hope you don't mind me sticking them in here)

Thanks Alex, not at all! I contribute photos to other people's threads all the time.

And besides, your camera makes my car look really good.

There was a small contingent of MX5's present, hopefully we can band together for a group shot at the next EOMM.

Maybe we should...*slower* maybe we should... -_-

Haha! Dammit man, i'm typing this from the office and about to head off to a family function. Anyway, i have the flu Adam was carrying at the last EOMM. Next one, next one!!

Perhaps i shall see you on Sunday? (hope i can make it!)

[CoffeeBoss]

Setting Things Right
Popped in to Spinning Wheel on Tuesday.
Spinning Wheel Tires used to be in Woolloomooloo, and have now relocated to much much larger premises in Waterloo, right around the corner from the Sydney City Toyota/Lexus.



Stu at Spinning Wheel is something of a legend amongst MX5 drivers in Sydney. He's been fettling MX5's for 15 years or more now and is quite handy at it. I first sampled his skills behind the wheel of a friend's NB along the Putty Rd. I was amazed at the transformation from the car i had dríven just a week before.

When i had the Lexus i had Stu fettle the alignment a few times. We had some success, but by his reckoning, it would be a while before he got the hang of the Altezza's geometery, as he hadn't worked with them much beforehand.

Anyway, finally took the NC in for Stu to play with. Luckily enough, they were not to busy, and it was up on the hoist almost immediately.

I just stood back and let Stu do his thing. In short, he dialled in a bit more castor in the front, and some more camber in the front as well. Rear was dialled back a bit.

When he was done, he announced: "I've set it up to handle." Well, it already does... so my expectations were high.

From the moment i drove out of Spinning Wheel, i could feel that everything was just working so much better! Suffice to say, a short time later, i was here:



Pie In the Sky, on the Old Pac.

The improvement is dramatic, particularly on a road like the old pac. The car is far more composed mid corner, and the improvement in balance when dealing with mid-corner bumps is exceptional. Really, Stu's handywork has exceeded my expectations.

Whilst getting re-aquainted with The Old Road, i came across a fellow MX5er out to test his new 5D. Nice piece of kit, that! Alex has posted some of his top images on the previous page, thanks Alex!

[CoffeeBoss]

Iceberg Run II - South Coast Chaos

So, after regretfully missing the Brass Monkey Run of a few weeks ago, last Sunday i managed to sake my thirst for some decent winter top-down motoring with the club - the Iceberg II Run.

Awoke on Sunday at 6AM to a crisp, clear 6 degree morning(!). Gave the car a quick bath... nice idea, had zero feeling in my hands afterwards.

I met the group at the base of Maquarie Pass - they had made a 6am sharp departure from Sydney, and were already nearing the bass of Macquarie Pass when i got there at 7:30 AM! One of the things i love about MX5 drivers, so many keen beans!

We drove down into Kangaroo Valley for a brief stopover.



That's Gavin's NB parked behind me, wearing his new set of 6UL's, complete with semi slicks. Looks well 'ard!



Also finally made Chris/Zawrilla's acquaintance. And was reaquainted with his SE... turns out it's the exact car i test drove at Eurocars before i settled on the NC! It's decidedly more interesting now, and sounds quite sporty with it's new exhaust.



Tried to get some on-the-go shots with my compact, not easy when your trying to keep up with these guys!



We made our way down to Berry for a breakkie stop. I had to part ways with the group here unfortunately, but that is the great thing about an early morning run, still have the remainder of the day to catch up with other commitments. A guilt-free drive!



More photos on in my Flickr album here.

[Hammer]

Seeing the pix of this Corolla, makes me wish I kept my old one. .... the replacement I got, a 2nd-hand 1985 Toyota Celica Supra, answered all that.

Alan - so your an old Toyota driver from way back! I had a suspicion you were a kindred spirit! You should get along to one of the Toymods meets some time - their annual Toymods Toyotafest is certainly worthwhile.

I guess you can say that.

[CoffeeBoss]

50K Service
Well my 50'000 service has come and gone. I can. not. stop. driving this thing.

Service went largely without a hitch. There is one niggling thing i have found with my NC. The NC's roof, unlike the NA and NB, folds forward to meet the windscreen, rather than up and over. When you have the roof down, it is secured by a latch. Pulling a latch between the seats releases the roof so you can pull it closed.
When i first got the car, pulling the latch would cause the roof to 'pop' up about an inch or two so you could easily grab it and pull it over your head. Like this:



However now it barely pops up at all. The service department assured me that there is no mechanism that causes the roof to pop up, it's simply the tension in the canvas, and this stretches over time.
It's, at worst, mildly annoying as occasionally it doesn't pop clear of the latch. But i'm used to it now anyhow.

Before my next service however, new front pads and discs will be needed. So looking around to see what people are using, and canvassing opinions. One thing i have discovered is that there are very little in the way of aftermarket discs for the NC. Apparently the stock ones are considered to be quite up to the task, as they should be, it's not a heavy car by modern standards. But even in Japan, where the aftermarket is turned to almost as a matter of course, most NC drivers are not changing their front discs even for competition.

They had an interesting car parked in the service foyer for a change. Quite well appointed these things. Would make an awesome daily IMHO. I love a car that's maligned and largely misunderstood like this one. Will have to have a drive of one at some stage. Like the lines of the new one, but prefer the sleeper-ness of the older model. This probably suits the 'boy-racer' target market better though.

[CoffeeBoss]

JDMST EOMM
A great JDMST End Of Month Meet yesterday. And a solid MX5 *ahem* Mazda Roadster turnout as well. It's the world's most popular sports car, this shouldn't be all that surprising. However it's good to see this car being embraced by a community that has a wide variety of tastes, but also a common thread of enthusiasm towards great cars and car ownership in general.









Nath's NA6, despite what he will tell you, this is one clean car





Zawrilla's SE at it's new sensible height and looking oh so right (in profile at least ). Chris has a spoiler suggestion for me which i am quite interested to see.



Blackster was there also, there's a glimpse of his SE which he parked up infront of mine. People who roll on RPF1s stick together



This was one of the show pieces of the event. And it's not even completed yet.



This afternoon went for a quick afternoon blat to get the milk (JDM Style milk actually. No really! Bonsoy. It's the bomb.) In Robertson i chance meeting with the Illawarra Sport Cars Club. Just a loose collective of enthusiasts from the region who do a drive once a month. Along with an immaculate MGA and Austin Healey 3000 were two NA's, two NB's (including a concours standard NB8A) and two NCs. Had a great chat to them, may go with a drive with them down the track. The couple in the MGA had another at home. And an NC at home as well

[sliq]

nice write up