jish's 2000 mazda miata weblog

What's this about???
my 2000 mazda miata This page on my site documents the modifications/ journeys/ installations related to my car - a 2000 Mazda Miata LS. It's not my intent to take the car to the race track, so most modifications are for cosmetic, safety, or "ooomph/vrooom" reasons.

Who am I???
I will always be a car nut. It all started when I was a child, one of the things I enjoyed most was playing with toy cars. I was constantly in trouble for bringing my 'Hot Wheels' cars to school. My pockets were bursting with them and I can recall my elementary school teachers confiscating them. And now, several years later, I am not a car "collector" anymore, I am more of an "enthusiast" or an "admirer". If you're interested, you can read more about me here.

April 04, 2006

New Tires. I had 4 new tires installed today. I ordered the tires from Tire Rack ($357) and had them shipped to 4 Your Wheelz, they balanced and mounted them for $96 ... that's about $113 per wheel all said and done. I opted to get the exact same tires as I previously had, the "ultra high performance" Kumho Ecsta Supra 712 (I got 215/40ZR16 for those that are interested).

[11:07 AM] []

January 12, 2006

In 2005 I spent VERY little money on the Miata, thanks to the availability of my company car and little time spent customizing. Here's a summary of what went down, as compared with 2002, 2003, 2004, and 2005 numbers (yes, I like to collect data):

Money spent on gas:
2002 - $1110.50
2003 - $1102.63
2004 - $1220.40
2005 - $236.89

Miles driven:
2002 - 15909
2003 - 12845
2004 - 12251
2005 - 2515

Although I don't expect to drive the car much more than that in 2006, I'd like to get some projects completed. Namely:
- replace rotors (I already bought the Powerslots as replacements)
- paint calipers (red?)
- change brake pads (likely while changing rotors and painting calipers)
- change tires (still gonna get the Kumho Ecsta Supra 712's)
- 4 wheel alignment
- buy, install dual exhaust

I'd also love to get the car re-painted at some point. The front lower spoiler is awfully chipped up and the all in all, the paint job is looking a little dull. Who knows, maybe closer to the end of the year?

[3:16 PM] []

May 02, 2005

AEM Short Ram Intake. I installed a blue AEM Short Ram Intake today. I purchased it on eBay for the low, low price of $119 (+$20 shipping). Although I don't normally spend a lot of time under the hood, I do consider myself "mechanically inclined". The install took me about one hour (20 mins of which I spent trying to loosen a single bolt).

The first thing I noticed when I took the car out for a drive ... VRRROOOOMMMM. There's a low grumbly growl that emanates from under the hood when I accelerate hard. It sounds so damn good that I spent most of the time driving today with the radio off.

You can bet that I'll be shifting at much higher rpm's now.

Here's a photo (click for larger image):

[9:29 PM] []

OEM Rims For Sale!. Check out the photos here and the advertisement here. First offer over $500 gets them!!! (folks in San Francisco Bay Area only please).

[5:47 PM] []

April 26, 2005

PowerSlot Rotors. It looks like the "Miata Bug" has bitten me once again ... a set of 4 Powerslot rotors are on their way to me!!! I don't know the first thing about installing them, but I'll sure try.

It might be a good time to change brake pads/fluid and possibly paint the calipers ... but given that I am a complete amateur at this, I think I'll work up my courage by doing the rotors first.

[6:35 PM] []

April 25, 2005

AEM Short Ram Intake. After a LONG while, I've ordered a new part for my Miata ... a cold air intake. Apparently, one will notice an immediate improvement in throttle response and a throaty growl emanating from the engine.

I'm really looking forward to the throaty growl. Grrrowwwwlll!!!!!

[5:42 PM] []

October 12, 2004

Front Grille. KNow what's a pain? The front grille on my car (aftermarket product from buckdiamond.com) keeps sagging and sorta poking out at one edge. I'm constantly re-adjusting it, removing it, reinstalling it.

That's a pain.

Bad product, from my viewpoint.

[11:15 AM] []

September 04, 2004

Got my 60,000 mile service today. Also had the "clutch slave" replaced, whatever that means.

[1:23 AM] []

August 12, 2004

2006 Miata?. Is this a preview of what the 2006 Miata will look like? Hard to tell, but looks snazzy.

[7:01 PM] []

July 23, 2004

Shift Knob. My birthday came and went and I forget that I wanted to buy this shift knob for myself. Oh well, maybe for Christmas!

[1:29 AM] []

July 22, 2004

Front Grille. Attaching and re-attaching the grille on the front of my car is a pain, but I'm getting used to it. I like to remove it every now and then before I go in for a car wash. I wish there was more of a "plug and play" grille on the market. Anyone???

[1:46 PM] []

July 21, 2004

Wide Rear End. Not really a Miata item, but still. Here's a gem from autoblog.com: "The 2005 Subaru WRX STi sees some interesting improvements. Most remarkably is a wider rear-end, a trait only heralded in the auto-world."

[1:07 PM] []

June 23, 2004

57,000 miles. My car turned 57,000 miles old Father's Day (June 20).

[12:56 PM] []

May 04, 2004

55,555. Without any fanfare whatsoever, my car turned 55,555 miles old on May 1.

[12:43 PM] []

April 01, 2004

60,000 Approaching. The 60,000 mile mark for my car is quickly approaching (well, actually I have about 7k to go) and I'm already starting to come up with ideas for other mods/repairs to take care of at the same time. For instance: paint calipers, change exhaust, and 4 wheel alignment. We'll see.

[3:25 PM] []

March 05, 2004

Topless Time. The warmer spring and summer weather is quickly approaching and I'm looking forward to driving around topless more often! Of course, I mean that I want to take my car's top off, not mine.

[1:44 PM] []

February 26, 2004

Sold? Just for fun, I placed an ad on Craigslist to sell my car. I met with someone this afternoon who appeared to be quite interested in buying it.

Is this the end of my Miata ownership? Hmm...

If I did sell the car, I'm somewhat convinced that I would purchase a 2000-2001 Audi S4. Two other cars I'd consider (but which wouldn't offer a huge upgrade in space) are the 1999-2000 Mercedes-Benz SLK or a much older Porsche 911.

Anyhow, for now this is all fun and games. Stay tuned for more news...

UPDATE: The potential buyer decided to go with another car. Oh well, it's not like I was desperate to sell the car or anything.

[5:23 PM] []

Headlight Bulb. I noticed a day or two ago that the passenger-side headlight was out. I did a quick search online and found these easy to follow instuctions (steps 1 & 2 are the same step, really). The owner's manual also has some fairly detailed instructions.

I replaced the bulb with a Sylvania Cool Blue bulb (model 9003 CB). The light that is emitted has an intense "white" quality (as opposed to the yellowish tinge you see with some headlamps) and is of the same brightness as the stock lamps. The light doesn't have the blue tint of some other headlamps, which is fine by me (if you want blue light don't get these bulbs). I have an extra bulb for the driver's side lamp, but will wait until it burns out or until I get sick of the lights being lopsided. :-)

[4:00 PM] []

February 12, 2004

Kenwood Stereo. I'm having some terrible luck with Kenwood stereos ... I had to return to Good Guys to have my stereo removed and sent in for repair since there was a single non-illuminated line in the display. They said it will take 3-4 weeks.

3-4 weeks without any tunes in my car - ugh.

P.S. I'm happy to see that Google has indexed me as the second search result for Putnam Mazda Service (they suck).

[3:03 PM] []

February 07, 2004

KYB AGX Settings. Weird ... my shocks were all set to the #1 setting - the stiffest of the 4 selections. I don't remember doing that ... unless I completely goofed and was trying to get a more comfortable ride and set them all on the opposite end of the scale. Anyhow, I just re-adjusted and set them to #3 on the fronts (similar to the stock setting) and #2 on the rears (stiffer than stock), an intial recommendation I received before installation.

Note to self: #4 is the "bouncier" end of the scale and #1 is the stiffer end of the scale.

[12:00 PM] []

February 03, 2004

Putnam Mazda Service is Terrible. I wanted to stress something to my local readers: stay away from the service department at Putnam Mazda (that's in Burlingame, CA on California Avenue). I received extremely rude service repeatedly from one of the sales manager ... I actually got the feeling that the simpleton thought he was doing me a favour. An excerpt from our last phone call:

Me: I cannot begin to tell you how disappointed I am with the service I received from the service department at Putnam Mazda.
Michael: Well, I am happy to hear that.
Me: Excuse me?
Michael: Well, you're basically insulting me and my service.
Me: And you're happy that I'm disappointed?
Michael: Hey, what can I say?

Aside from the rudeness, I had to bring my car in twice for a simple adjustment to a hinge on the convertible top ... in both cases (where my car was left for almost two weeks in their possession!!!) the car was returned to me without the work being completed ... though they told me on both occasions that it was completed.

My frustration likely stems from the fact that they've hired a completely incompetent individual to work in their service department, but the management and Mazda USA have also been of little assistance in this matter.

It's very frustrating when you're far more in tune with what it takes to provide good customer service than everyone else.

[Other Bay Area shops for Mazda servicing: PR Motorosports (in Hayward), Menlo Mazda (Redwood City), Royal Mazda (San Francisco), Val Strough Mazda (Oakland), Magnussen's Mazda (Fremont), and Sunnyvale Mazda. You can also enjoy a drive down the coast and visit my friends at Serious Auto (Santa Cruz area), they're real nice.]

[11:22 AM] []

January 16, 2004

Clear Corner Lense Stolen. To the person who store my passenger side clear corner lense: Thank you. Well, thanks for leaving the screws, bulb, and driver-side lense behind.

Unrelated: my car turned 51,000 miles old today.

[1:20 PM] []

January 02, 2004

Stats From 2003. I maintain a spreadsheet with some basic information about my car. Here's some data that I accumulated over 2003.

- Miles driven in 2003: 12845
(daily average = 35, weekly average = 247, monthly average = 1070)
- Money spent on gas: $1102.63
(daily average = $3.02, weekly average = $21.20, monthly average = $91.89)
- Gallons of gas consumed: 569.23
(daily average = 1.56, weekly average = 10.95, monthly average = 47.44)
- Average annual miles/gallon: 22.57
- Average annual price/gallon: $1.937
- Average annual price/mile: $0.086
- Number of fill-ups: 65
- Average fill-up price: $16.96

[2:21 PM] []

December 17, 2003

Ch-ch-ch-changes. Some mods/maintenance that I want to take car of in 2004, split into two groups:

Need:
- Brake pad replacement
- 4 wheel alignment
- Tires (one of 'em appears to have a slow leak)

Want:
- Dual exhaust
- Paint calipers
- Slotted rotors
- Stiffer springs
- Intake
- Speakers
- Gauge faces/rings
- Racing pedals

[10:32 PM] []

December 14, 2003

KYB AGX Shocks. I've been living with the 4-way adjustable KYB AGX shocks on my car for over a year now and I thought I would share my observations.

First of all, it's hard to remember what the ride was like before getting the shocks installed, however I can recall that the #3 setting was somewhat similar to the stock ride (#1 is stiffest, #4 is "loosest"). Since I don't take my car to the racetrack, I find that most often I leave the car on the most comfortable setting (#4) ... but I may switch back the inital suggestion I received from a neighbour ... fronts set to #3 and rears set to #2. It will be a slightly stiffer ride, but I can handle it. :-)

[6:18 PM] []

50,000. Car turned 50,000 miles old today!

[5:31 PM] []

December 07, 2003

Shift Knob. I wouldn't say that this is all I want for Christmas, but it would be a nice: yet another shift knob.

[5:15 PM] []

December 02, 2003

Miata Coupe. Check it out, a Miata coupe (of course, not available in North America). Oh, and in case you think the image is doctored in some way, here's the official Mazda Japanese webpage.

[8:28 AM] []

December 01, 2003

Finally. I finally dropped off my car at the dealership for the 45,000 mile service (the car's actually at 49,510 right now). In addition to the routine service, I asked for the rear differential fluid and transmisison fluid to be replaced, but with Redline fluid that I provided. I also asked them to replace the passenger side foglamp and to fix the rattle in the top near the driver's side.

I'll save the brake job for later ... I realized that I only have EBC Green Stuff brake pads for the front of my car, I might as well get the rears done at the same time. If I'm a really good boy, perhaps I'll also treat myself to some brand new rotors in the new year (along with a new exhaust and intake!).

[8:08 PM] []

November 30, 2003

Service Needed. The month of November has slipped by and I still haven't taken my car in for its 45,000 mile service ... and I'm almost at 50k!! My excuse? I'm out of town too much and can't seem to find a convenient time to drop it off/pick it up.

[6:26 PM] []

October 23, 2003

New Car Stereo. This weekend my old stereo crapped out on me. I was about to begin a lovely drive down the coast with a lovely girl ... upon insertion of a CD ("Bryan Adams, why have you forsaken me?!?!?!?"), the whole unit died. The next day (Monday the 20th) I went to my local Good Guys store and bought myself another Kenwood, this time the KDC-722 (this time I opted for the optional 5 year warranty).

Much like my previous stereo, this one has two security features which are important to me: 1) detachable faceplate, 2) If I choose not to detach the plate, the face of the stereo flips right over and presents a simple black panel to the casual passerby (when the car or stereo is shut off).

So far, I have no complaints ... and I'm rather enjoying the larg-ish control for volume.

[9:58 AM] []

October 06, 2003

47,000 I took a top-down drive to Santa Cruz along highway 1 yesterday ... and the car turned 47,000 miles old.

[7:43 PM] []

October 01, 2003

Servicing. My car is in need of servicing and I plan to take it in this month. Some things I am hoping to have done/fixed:

- oil change
- change spark plugs
- rattle behind driver's head
- replace differential and transmission fluids
- replace brake pads
- inspect exhaust
- fix passenger side fog lamp
- shifting is not as smooth as it used to be
- 4 wheel alignment
- tire rotation

[10:08 PM] []

September 07, 2003

Water Lovin' Miata. The nose of this amphibious car looks an awful lot like a Miata. I haven't read too many details, but my guess is they started out with an M2 to come up with the monster.

[3:09 PM] []

August 28, 2003

46,000. Not much new to report with respect to the car these days since I'm not spending much cash in that direction. The car turned 46,000 miles today.

[8:38 PM] []

July 31, 2003

45,000. Yesterday, my car turned 45,000 miles old.

[4:17 PM] []

July 21, 2003

Topless! Here's an article from Mazda's website that lists the most desirable spots in the USA to go "topless" (of course, that means driving with your car's top down).

[9:43 AM] []

July 14, 2003

2006 Mazda Miata? Is this a glimpse of what the next Miata will look like? Looks interesting to me.

[7:41 PM] []

July 02, 2003

Older. Yesterday (Canada Day), my car turned 40,000 miles old. I'm just sayin'.

[6:13 PM] []

June 26, 2003

Oil change yesterday!

[12:06 PM] []

May 08, 2003

Travel. I travel (by plane) for work. A lot. This takes me away from home. This means I don't drive my car as often as most do (well, those who have a "daily driver"). I suppose you could look at it optimistically and think that I'm saving money and am not racking up miles ... but I actually miss driving my car when I'm away. Weird?

[10:50 AM] []

April 27, 2003

Happy Birthday! As of today, I've had my car for two years. I'll try and take it in for a thorough cleaning this weekend as a b-day gift.

[5:59 PM] []

April 14, 2003

For some reason, the display on my Kenwood stereo decided to stop working this weekend. I've got to do something about that.

[11:59 AM] []

March 18, 2003

Forgot to mention: got an oil change yesterday. Also, had the air filter replaced. Grrrrowl.

[7:27 PM] []

March 04, 2003

40,000. My car turned 40,000 miles "old" today.

[3:11 PM] []

March 01, 2003

I noticed that my front air dam is already scratched - there goes the new paint job! Oh well, perhaps this will put a fire under my ass to get the air splitter installed.

Before I can do that, I'll need to get some jack stands and a specific drill bit. Once I've got the jack stands, I can also think about starting other projects ... like painting my calipers and rotor hubs.

[1:07 AM] []

February 19, 2003

Air Splitter to protect air dam. I forgot to mentioned that I bought an "air splitter" for the front of my car ... though my purpose is simply to prevent the front air dam from getting rubbed time and time again. You can get moe info on the air splitter from here.

Unfortunately, I haven't yet had a chance to install it ... I need to get myself some jack stands and the proper-sized drill bit. I'll let you know what happens when I get around to it.

[2:10 PM] []

January 18, 2003

Some pictures from a beautiful day.

Re-painted front air dam (the front grill is crooked here, I fixed it later):
2000 Mazda Miata front

My new lip spoiler:
2000 Mazda Miata rear lip spoiler

[5:16 PM] []

Hey good lookin'. I forgot to mention that yesterday I finally peeled off the disgusting headlamp shields on my car. They had become discolored and looked horrible. Though the vendor thinks it is due to the salt air near my home, I disagree since my neighbour has the same headlamp shields and his are still in great shape ... also, my foglight shields don't show any discoloration. Weird. I think I probably ran into some weird "road grime" that ate into the shield. In any case, the lamps look sooooo much better and brighter now.

Today, I re-installed my front grill. I removed it a while ago when I was shopping around for a body shop to do the work on my front air dam. I'd forgotten how much it improves the look of the car (and protects the innards from flying debris through that gaping mouth).

[11:56 AM] []

January 17, 2003

Feels like the first time. I picked up my car from the body shop this afternoon (Hack's Body Shop in Pacifica, CA - highly recommended small shop). The rear lip spoiler was painted and mounted, the rear bumper was completely refinished, and the front air dam was removed, sanded down, repainted, and re-mounted.

It literally feels like I'm driving a brand new car, I love it. Of course, I just jinxed myself and now I'm 100% certain to muck up the car when I go out this evening. Oh well, I had an awesome time driving it this afternoon!

[6:23 PM] []

January 15, 2003

Painting my rotors and calipers. I've wanted to replace my rotors for some time now ... mainly for cosmetic reasons. As you might know the rotor "top hat" (or the "hub", which is the non-contact area of the rotor) can get quite rusty. It's not that it is damaged in any way, it just looks horrible ... especially with rims like mine that allow you a great view of the brakes.

I've been reading several peoples' opinions on the matter and the general consensus is that it's a waste of cash to replace the rotor for these reasons. Also, there's no significant improvement in braking performance obtained by going to cross-drilled or slotted rotors.

For this reason, I think I will paint the rotor hubs and perhaps the calipers as well. If you're curious, here are some "articles" that take you through the process step-by-step: one, two, three.

I need to buy some things (jack stands, grease, paint, wire brush, paintbrush, brake cleaner, etc...) and clear a full weekend (I like to take it nice and slow) before I take on the job. Even with all of the "tools" I'll need to buy, I'll still be saving some cash versus getting 4 new rotors.

[8:44 AM] []

January 14, 2003

Body Shop. I dropped off my car at the body shop today to get some work done. I'm finally going to have my rear "lip spoiler" painted and mounted, the front air dam will be removed and repainted, the car will be de-badged, and the rear bumper damage will also be repaired.

In this sense it's a good thing that I travel frequently ... if I time it right, I'm not inconvenienced when I have to leave my car at the shop for a few days.

Some more good news today: I'm leaving my apartment. Though the ocean views here are spectacular, I know the salt air is doing some damage to the car ... or at least I *think* it is. The new place has an indoor secure parking garage ... I may even have a place to keep my old rims and shocks, instead of keeping them on the floor next to my dining table!!

[5:31 PM] []

December 12, 2002

I forgot to mentioned that my car turned 37,000 miles "old" on December 8. Indeed.

[5:29 PM] []

December 06, 2002

Freedom Design Shock Tower Brace. I received the shock tower brace in the mail today and quickly went to install it. It was very, very, very easy to install and I almost immediately notice that the front end is a bit stiffer ... and it looks great! It's too bad it's tucked under the hood. Anyhow, I'll update more later when I have a better feel for the real effect.

[4:21 PM] []

December 04, 2002

Shocks, lighter, fender bender. I picked up my car at the garage today after they were done installing my new shocks. For starters, I adjusted them to a setting of 2 in the front and 2 in the rear (1 is the stiffest setting, 4 is on the opposite end, bouncier). I've only driven a few miles, but it seems like some of the vibrations I've been complaining about have gone away ... maybe it's in my head, time will tell.

Aside from that, I was pissed to see that my chrome "Eject" cigarette lighter was gone!! Sheesh!!! I had them all search through the entire garage to look for it, but it was nowhere to be found. After they were finished with the work, the car was parked outside of the garage and the driver side window was rolled down ... my guess is that someone simply reached in and snagged it. For compensation I had them give me a free oil change the next time I come in.

To add insult to injury, as we fished around the front seat looking for the lighter, a lady was backing out of the garage and bumped right into the driver's side of my rear bumper!! [pictures soon] There appeared to be no body damage, but lots of paint rub. She was really apologetic and passed me her contact info. She called afterwards to tell me her insurance info and offered to pay for any damages if it was less than her deductible. I'll jump right on that and get a quote prepared to show her ASAP.

Talk about bad luck!

[8:44 PM] []

December 03, 2002

Installation of shocks ... getting rid of vibrations. I've handed over my car to my local garage along with my new KYB AGX shocks and am keeping my fingers crossed that they'll get 'em on right (I asked for all four knobs to be pointing towards the rear). I'll pick up the car tomorrow afternoon or the morning after that.

My neighbour (whose Miata recently got backed into by an SUV!) suggests I set the front shocks to "3" and the rears to "2". He also suggests that I get a four wheel alignment once the shocks are installed ... hopefully that will take care of some of the vibration. Also, I noticed yesterday that my tire pressure on all four corners was 35-40 psi!!! I reduced 'em to the recommended ~26-28 psi and there was much less vibration overall.

My shock tower brace should be here by Friday, I hope I can slap that on myself. I'm also hoping to get a rear chassis brace. Perhaps I'll put that on when it comes time to install the dual exhaust that I want.

[9:19 AM] []

November 26, 2002

Bad, bad, bad ... bad vibrations. I just ordered a Freedom Design Shock Tower Brace. Why? Well, ever since I got my new rims/tires, I've felt quite a bit of vibration throughout the car. Perhaps I'm just a tad too sensitive/picky, but I hope this takes care of what I'm feeling. Also, I'm not entirely certain that it is due to the tire/wheel combo ... these vibrations were certainly present in the past, but (and this may be in my head) not to this degree.

I decided on this particular shock tower brace over others for two main reasons: 1) ptuning.com had it for $90, shipping included, 2) I expect to buy the Racing Beat intake at some point and I understand that this brace is compatible with it.

So there you have it.

[4:45 PM] []

I got an oil change today (check out the bottom of this page for a full maintenance history). About a week ago I also got new windshield wipers. Damn, what a difference it makes when I change my wipers ... a certain song gets stuck in my head: "I can see clearly now..."

I got a quote today to have my KYB AGX shocks installed, $200 for all four. It's a local shop so it won't inconvenience me too much and the guy seems pretty honest. I'll likely have the work done next week.

Lastly, here is a year-to-date summary:
Total gallons = 633.25
Total $ (fuel) = $1,056.46
Total miles = 15177
Total fill-ups = 75
Miles/Gallon = 23.95
$/Gallon = $1.68
Avg. fill-up = $14.41

[3:14 PM] []

October 15, 2002

Look what I got! [pics below] They are 16 x 7" Enkei RS5 wheels wrapped in Kumho Ecsta Supra 712 215/40-16 tires. I think they look lovely. I only took a quick 5 minute drive around my neighbourhood, so I don't have any additional commentary other that they're stunning.

One downside is that my rusty rotors are plainly visible. Ugh. I guess I'll have to get some slotted or cross-drilled rotors soon enough.

FYI, I bought the wheel/tire combo from Discount Tire Direct. Each wheel was $109, each tire was $89, I bought their wheel installation kit for $35, and chrome sleeves for the valve stems for $5. Shipping was free, and I paid a local tire shop $30 to slap the tires on my car ... grand total of $862. I think I got a pretty good deal, don't you?

Also, I weighed the new tire/wheel combo and it was 36 lbs. The OEM tire/wheel combo weighed 28 lbs ... a difference of (lemme whip out my calculator...) 8 lbs. We'll see if I notice a difference in performance.

new (L) and old (R) wheels, side-by-side:

view from front passenger side:

view from rear passenger side:

[5:21 PM] []

October 07, 2002

I received my KYB AGX shocks in the mail today ... I'm still waiting on my rims/tires from discounttiredirect.com (who aren't that great in the communications department). Originally, I'd hoped to change my rotors, change my brake pads, paint my calipers, change my shocks, and mount my new wheels all in the same day ... with the help of a friend of mine and his garage & tools.

I'm thinking that's too much to do in one day (and I haven't purchased new rotors or paint for my calipers), so I'm hoping to put on my shocks, change my pads, and mount my new rims. I'll take care of the rotors and the calipers next time 'round. Due to my busy travel schedule, I'll likely only have a chance to do the job (and take pictures) in early November.

[5:36 PM] []

October 06, 2002

My car turned 35,000 miles "old" today.

[5:19 PM] []

September 27, 2002

I "won" the auction for the KYB AGX shocks. Luckily, a friend has offered up his tools and garage space to help with installing some of my recent purchases. I'm hoping I can get him to help with the installation of the shocks too.

[11:14 PM] []

September 25, 2002

I placed a "bid" on eBay for a set of four KYB AGX 4-way adjustable shocks. It is a dutch auction and the seller has 10 sets of shocks, so I'm almost guaranteed to get my set at my bid price. It's usually about $400 for the entire set, my price is $285. That's a good deal methinks.

[4:43 PM] []

I'm so happy I removed the bra ("front mask") from my car. It looks so much "smoother" now. All I need to do is have the front end painted ... I had put on the bar in the first place to mask all the paint chips and the fact that almost half of the paint on my front air damn was chipping.

[3:56 PM] []

Body shops. For shits and giggles, I have been visiting several body shops and requesting quotes to have my front air dam repainted and also to have my rear lip spoiler painted and mounted. What have I learned from this experience? It certainly certainly certainly pays for you to shop around for the best quote. I visited 5 body shops to dat and my quotes have varied from $310 to$755 ... for the exact same work on the exact same car.

I know, it's shocking. You are stunned, I can tell.

It turns out that the body shop that is within walking distance from my home is giving me the best quote. When the time comes for me to have the work done, I'll pop by their shop. It pays to be friendly with your neighbours, I suppose.

[2:05 PM] []

September 24, 2002

So, now what? I've been obsessing over which tires/rims to buy for the longest time and now I'm wondering what the next upgrade will be on my car. I mentioned a "modifications wishlist" before, but I still like to turn this stuff over in my head...

A) I bought some front/rear EBC GreenStuff brake pads a while ago and have yet to install them ... I wouldn't mind getting some PowerSlot rotors and red caliper paint and spending a day learning how to do a brake job.

B) Of course, I could also get some new springs and shocks installed, something I wouldn't do myself.

C) Then again, the exhaust will need to be replaced soon enough too.

D) I've also got an unpainted lip spoiler that needs to be painted and installed. Additionally, the paint on my front air dam is chipped. Lastly, I'd love to debadge the car. For all this, I'd need to take the car into a body shop.

Hmm.

Let's brainstorm my priorities ... the exhaust can wait till the OEM one dies. The springs and shocks can wait till then too. And as for the bodywork, that's going to take a lot of running around to get quotes and whatnot.

That settles it, I'll do the brakes next. After all, I already have the brake pads sitting around ... all I'd need to complete the job is some caliper paint and front/rear rotors (ok, and some other stuff like tools, high-temperature grease, brake cleaner, anti-squeal compound...). Of course, I'll spend countless hours reading the Miata Forums beforehand to make sure the job is done properly. Siiiiigh, I'm a geeky grease monkey.

[1:06 AM] []

September 23, 2002

I'm selling the front mask (bra) from my car. You can bid on it here (many pictures are in the listing). Why am I selling it? I simply don't like the style ... nothing more, nothing less.

[4:54 PM] []

Finally. I did it, I finally bit the bullet and bought my rims/tires today, they should arrive in 3-4 business days ... though I'm not really in a rush. I bought Enkei RS5 16" rims with Kumho Ecsta Supra 712 tires (215/40/16). I hadn't mentioned these tires/rims on my site before, but I had done quite a bit of research online and had checked out many pictures before making my decision. I'm hoping it was the right one.

I bought the tires from Discount Tire Direct. I actually called them to place the order and they were really nice and helpful. The total (free shipping!) was $832, which I think is a pretty good deal.

They'll be mounted and balanced before shipping, I'll simply have to pop them on.

[2:57 PM] []

September 18, 2002

My tires are getting bare. Siiiigh. I'll have to invest in some new tires soooon, but still haven't decided on what rims I want! Kosei K1's are my favourite but are a bit pricey ... all of the Rota models seem to Miata favourites (and are very light), but I don't like any of the styles. Siiiigh. Life is so hard. ;-)

[6:28 PM] []

If you're ever out in New Mexico ... close to Santa Fe or Los Alamos or Taos in particular ... be sure to take your Miata for a spin on Highway 4 (leave Los Alamos and head for the "Bandelier National Monument". Awesome views and some twisty roads too.

[11:39 AM] []

August 29, 2002

Where to take a miata on a date.

[5:07 PM] []

Modifications Wishlist.
Here's my most recent "modifications wishlist" (yes, I can never make up my mind!). The prices are estimates, not including taxes, shipping, and installation:
Brakes:
- cross-drilled & slotted rotors ($300) (I might get Brembo rotors instead)
- red caliper paint ($42)

Wheels/tires:
- 16" Kosei K1 Racing wheels (silver) ($680) (I'd love to get Volk TE-37's or SSR Integrals, but I can't justify the cost)
- 205/45/16 Toyo Proxes T1-S tires or Kumho ECSTA Supra 712 tires ($312).

Handling/Suspension:
- shock tower brace ($89)
- KYB AGX adjustable front and rear shocks ($360)
- Flyin' Miata springs ($220)

Intake/Exhaust:
- Racing Beat intake ($190)
- Racing Beat dual exhaust ($375)

Misc.
- SRP racing pedals (alternate vendor) ($80)
- Trunk lid lift kit ($45)

The items I'll likely get first are the 16" rims and tires. Following that, I'm hoping to get the shock tower brace and air intake. Then, when I change my brake pads (I've got EBC "Greenstuff" kevlar brake pads sitting around, waiting to be installed), I'd love to get the cross-drilled/slotted rotors and paint my calipers. I'll get the dual exhaust, springs, and shocks when the OEM parts need replacing.

[4:50 PM] []

August 26, 2002

I keep flip-flopping on my decision on the type of rims to buy. This is based solely on the fact that I'm educating myself on the matter. I've now decided that 17" rims are not for me (or, more precisely, are not recommended for the Miata).

I've also been taking the weight of rims into serious consideration ... for this reason, I am leaning towards 16" Kosei K1's (15 lbs) or Enkei RS6's (19 lbs). As for rubber, I'm still trying to sort out which would be best for my needs ... I don't bring my car to the track, it's a daily driver. Though I'm leaning towards Toyo's, if you have any recommendations, I'd love to hear them!

[7:53 PM] []

August 24, 2002

Got an oil change on August 22. It's weird, with most of my previous cars the ride seemed "smoother" after an oil change ... with the Miata, I don't get the same satisfaction. In fact, my ride feels virtually the same.

In other news, my tire tread is getting pretty low. I'm thinking about getting 17" rims the next time around. I'm told that the ride quality may be slighty sacrificed (which is relative, I suppose), but that I'll have a much more aggressive "stance". I'm hoping to get some 17" Enkei Suzuka's with some Toyo Proxes T1-S tires.

[12:34 PM] []

August 12, 2002

I keep track of many things with respect to my car ... such as my expenses, modifications, and gas mileage. I'd never thought to keep track of how many times I take down my convertible top like this guy does.

[10:34 AM] []

August 02, 2002

Did I mention that I finally bought a bra for my car? Well, I did. Pictures to follow...

[5:33 PM] []

July 09, 2002

I just made a spreadsheet with information concerning my fuel consumption over a one year period. Here are some results:

May 2001 - Apr 2002 (12 months):
I used 734.76 gallons of fuel.
I spent $1329.84 ($110.82/month or $3.64/day or ~$25/week).
I travelled 17707 mi.
That's $1.81/gallon (I switch between 87, 89 and 92 octane ... usually 87).
It works out that my mileage was 24.1 mi/gallon ... pretty decent considering my driving habits.

I just needed to know and thought you might be curious too.

[8:34 PM] []

June 03, 2002

Tomorrow, I finally take my car in for my much anticipated 30,000 mile tune-up (I'm actually at about 29,600 miles). I've made a list of items (aside from the scheduled service) that I want repaired: my glove compartment is sagging, my passenger side foglight jiggles and bounces, and there's a rattle behind the driver's seat when I'm accelerating somewhere around 3500-4000 rpm. I hope this stuff is all covered under warranty, I'm already paying about $500 for the tune-up!!

[7:28 PM] []

May 31, 2002

My Buck diamond grille is all misaligned, I've removed it and will re-install/re-align it later. When I was messing around with the grille, I noticed how badly the entire front of my car is chipped (road debris) and has bug remains splattered all over it ... I need to get it re-painted at some point or cover it up with a bra. Ugh.

[4:44 PM] []

May 30, 2002

My 30,000 mile service is fast approaching. I'm amazed that it will cost close to $500 even though I'll be bringing my own spark plaugs, transmission fluid, and differential fluid. Ugh.

I've decided that my front brakes don't need to be changed at the moment, besides that isn't included in the 30k service. Ugh. Oh well, perhaps I'l have the rotors and brake pads changed at the same time ... maybe I'll also take that opportunity to paint my calipers red.

[6:47 PM] []

May 16, 2002

You can use the penny test to determine when you should change your tires. Personally, I just eyeball it with the tread wear indicators.

I don't need new tires at the moment, but when I do, I'm planning on going with Toyo Proxes T1-S tires and also getting a new set of rims. I really can't decide what would look/feel best ... 16" or 17" rims. Grrr. Do you have any suggestions?

[3:58 PM] []

April 25, 2002

I updated the "notes" section with info on my crappy Saratoga saddlebag and my shiny Voodoo brake handle. I also uploaded two pics of my center console, highlighting the new brake handle: one, two. Lastly, if you follow my sidebar closely, you'll see I've updated my "planned modifications" and "wishlist" sections.

Coming next ... more pictures!!

[4:49 PM] []

April 24, 2002

20 steps to a super shiny car.
I cleaned my car's exterior today ... of course, if you're a car nut like myself, you know that doesn't mean a trip to the local gas station's drive-thru wash, it's more of "process". My back is aching. Damn, is it aching. Anyhow, here's my routine:

1) Pre-rinse car with power water jet.
2) Wash car with sudsy soap and soft bristle brush.
3) Rinse off soap with power water jet.
4) Hand dry with soft lint-free absorbent cloth.
5) Drive like a madman for a few minutes to get all the extra water out of the cracks.
6) Park car in shade.
7) Pre-wet a section of car with Paint Gloss.
8) Rub pre-wetted surface with a Perfect Putty clay bar.
9) Wipe down with clean lint-free cotton cloth.
10) Repeat steps 7-9 for entire surface of the car.
11) Use a clean lint-free cotton cloth to rub Klasse all-in-one on a section of the car.
12) Use another clean cloth to rub it off (think "wax on, wax off").
13) Repeat steps 11-12 for entire surface of the car.
14) Clean rims with paper towels and Windex.
15) Clean exterior windows with paper towels and Windex.
16) Apply Rain-X water repellent to windshield with clean cloth.
17) After Rain-X "hazes", wipe it off with another clean cloth.
18) Spray rims with Armor All Tire Foam.
19) Wipe down soft-top with 303 protectant applied to a lint-free cotton cloth.
20) Park car in the sun and take pictures, then drive around and smile at everyone.

[when I'm in a rush I stop at step #5, the bestest, funnest step in the process]

[5:34 PM] []

April 22, 2002

Aside from the dual exhaust mentioned below, here are some other items I'm hoping to get in the near (ahem, ahem) future:
- Rota SubZero 16" silver wheels.
- Cross-drilled/slotted rotors.
- KYB AGX adjustable shocks.
- Toyo Proxes T1S 215/40-16 tires.

[8:57 PM] []

Yesterday, I joined the Bay Area Miata Association on their "Konocti Backroads Run and Brunch". We met at the organizer's house in Napa and drove from there to the Konocti Harbor Resort for brunch. We were a caravan of 15 Miatas and it was quite a sight to see. For the most of the ride, we cruised along some twisty roads and the scenery was awesome.

As always, I enjoy taking a peek at upgrades/modifications that other Miata drivers have done to their vehicles ... and now I feel like getting that dual exhaust I've wanted and some new 16" rims too!

In other news ... I got an oil change today!

[7:28 PM] []

April 16, 2002

I drove out to Serious Auto this past Saturday, what a gorgeous day for driving it was! I intended to simply have my chrome fuel lid replaced (the chrome started to crack and bubble in certain spots) and have my horn fixed (it stopped working), but I also ended up buying a whack of stuff.

In anticipation of my 30k mile service, I bought Red Line transmission and differential synthetic oils, EBC Greenstuff kevlar front brake pads, and NGK spark plugs ... I figured that when I visit the dealership for the servicing, I would slap all of this on their counter and ask that it be used in place of the products they were going to use.

In addition, I bought a polished brake handle and button, as well as an unpainted rear lip spoiler which I will have to have painted and installed sometime soon ... likely when I get my front spoiler painted (it's all chipped up). Pictures coming soon!

[1:16 PM] []

April 07, 2002

I changed my windshield wipers yesterday - I can see again!

[1:57 PM] []

April 02, 2002

This month, my car and I spend our one year anniversary together. How sweet. Perhaps I should get a present (not for me, for the car) to commemorate the occasion.

[10:16 PM] []

March 31, 2002

Since I have the "appearance package" on my car, the front end is quite low due to the extra bodywork. I have to admit, I think the car looks extremely sharp with this lowered front dam ... but the paint is completely chipped and I need to have it re-painted. My guess is that everytime the car scrapes against a sidewalk it gets slightly warped or bent and the paint cracks.

Perhaps I should just get a bra?

[10:14 PM] []

March 02, 2002

My other ride is my wife.

[2:01 PM] []

February 28, 2002

Believe it or not, I'm looking forward to my car's 30k mile "checkup" ... particularly the tightening of the chassis. I'm curious how my driving has loosened it up ... and what additional stiffness this simple tightening will provide. Any ideas??

[10:25 PM] []

February 21, 2002

Yesterday, at the most inappropriate time, I noticed that my car horn is no longer working. Ugh. The wiring seems to be ok, I have to check the fuse box.

[2:43 PM] []

January 30, 2002

I installed a Voodoo polished shift knob a while ago. Today I decided to replace it with my old wooden Nardi knob. Why? I found the metal knob was too cold in the morning and too hot when the car was sitting in the sun.

I'm certain I'll go back to it once spring rolls around since I really like the feel of that round metal knob in my palm. Umm, yeah.

[9:10 PM] []

January 16, 2002

Recently, I've been thinking more and more about getting a dual exhaust (likely from Enthuza or Flyin' Miata). I also need/want to get some speakers, possibly from MB Quart. Do you have any feedback/suggestions?

[8:15 PM] []

January 11, 2002

My friends at Serious Auto have a new website, check it out.

[12:17 PM] []

November 30, 2001

Welcome viewers of TalkTV!

For those of you that don't know what I'm talking about ... I'll be on TalkTV's segment called "Plug and Play" this evening (6 pm PST) ... I'll be participating in a discussion about cars. If you watched the show, contact me and tell me what you think. The show is also broadcast online.

[5:10 PM] []

November 16, 2001

My car turned 20,000 miles (32k kms) old today! Yes, I snapped a pic of the odometer, it'll be up soon. I bought the car at the end of April, which means that so far I've driven about 10,000 miles in six and a half months. I thought you should know.

[5:33 PM] []

October 04, 2001

Ok, I'm getting sick of the local pussycats climbing onto my car. Luckily they seem to have been de-clawed, but their paws are always filthy. A while ago, a co-worker said he sprinkled Cayenne pepper around his boat to keep the animals off - maybe I should try the same on my car. Any other suggestions?

[11:55 AM] []

September 23, 2001

I added some new interior shots to my Miata Gallery. If you're interested, compare the more recent shots with previous shots. It sure is shaping up nicely, isn't it?? I also updated my miata notes.

[11:38 AM] []

With the help of the guys at Serious Auto, yesterday I installed a few new toys into my car: 1) storage tray (replaces the passenger airbag switch panel), 2) polished round Voodoo shift knob and trim ring, and 3) center console CD caddy. I also bought some clear impact shields to put on the foglights, like the ones I have pasted on the headlamps. Pictures/notes will follow soon.

I have to say that the storage tray is a absolutely fabulous addition for only $12. The hideous looking switch for the passenger airbag is now hidden from view (I left the airbag on) and some much-needed storage space is added.

[8:54 AM] []

September 06, 2001

Two valve caps from my car got stolen last night. Again. Sheesh. I wish someone would just take all four of them - what am I supposed to do with the remaining two??

[9:34 AM] []

September 01, 2001

When I bought my car, I wasn't 100% convinced it would be "waterproof". To date, the only leak happened when I was washing the car and used a high-pressure water sprayer ... and 'twas a minor leak.

[12:20 AM] []

August 19, 2001

Went to a BAMO (Bay Area Miata Outlaws) "Tech Day" today and installed my NGK spark plugs and Magnecor spark plug wires. No noticeable difference in performance whatsoever. I must say that the red wires look great though.

[6:05 PM] []

August 02, 2001

I updated my Miata Notes page. Check it out.

[7:02 PM] []

New front grille.
I removed the old crappy, wavy, bendy front grille from my car today and added "Buck's Diamond Grille". You can see pictures of it in my miata gallery. You can order the grille online from buckdiamond.com.

It took less than half an hour to physically install the grille ... it's a shame that it took about as long to understand the instructions. Sheesh.

[6:19 PM] []

July 27, 2001

I bought a new car stereo - a Kenwood KDC-716S. It has an awesome security feature, which just about sold me on the product: the stereo face flips over, displaying a plain black panel when you leave the car ... it's all motorized and looks awesome in motion. You also have the option of removing the stereo face completely.

I have to go back into the shop that installed it though - when I crank up the volume my Bose tweeters sound horrible ... perhaps because they had to bypass the OEM amplifier??

[bonus: the small round chrome button matches a lot of the chrome in my interior]

[5:42 PM] []

July 11, 2001

According to Mazda officials, the word Miata means "reward" in Old High German. Here's some more info and other possible meanings.

[9:11 PM] []

If I put a few stickers on my car, I'm almost sure it will make it go faster. A boost of at least 5 horsepower is what I hear. ;-)

[9:04 PM] []

July 09, 2001

I added some additional product notes - read them here.

[3:10 PM] []

You toucha my car, I breaka you face.
For the first time yesterday, my Miata was vandalized - my chrome valve caps were stolen. I know, I know - it's such a small thing, who cares, right???

I noticed that they were missing late in the afternoon but couldn't pinpoint when/where it happened since I had been many places during the day. I returned back home and parked in my usual spot, right next to a fellow Miata nut. I looked at his car and noticed that his valve caps were also removed ... coincidence??? I thought not.

I went to his apartment and told him what had happened to our cars, he immediately sprang up and said "I know exactly who did it". We began to walk around the block in search of the culprits. Apparently, earlier on in the day, he had seen some young kids scootering around our parking lot and they had stopped to take a look at our cars.

We could not find the kids as we walked around, so we returned and called the police. As we sat in our lobby waiting for the police to arrive, my neighbor saw one of the kids scooter right past our building!!! He ran through the door and screamed out to the kid to come back. It turns out that this little guy had observed the whole thing and was more than willing to tell us all about the thieves and where they went.

As we spoke to this guy (he was less than 10 years old), he looked down the street and said "Hey, here come the guys who took your stuff." We approached them and asked where our caps were. They peristently denied the crime - then the cop pulled up right behind them. They (both were around 10 years old) immediately reached into their pockets and returned our stolen caps and started to confess to the cop. Sheesh. We left the rest to the policeman to deal with.

So ... all is well yet again. Hopefully these guys aren't out to seek revenge.

[9:53 AM] []

July 08, 2001

I've added a "parts" section. Here you will find FREE parts and parts for sale (stock items that I replaced), removed from my own Miata.

[6:29 PM] []

July 07, 2001

Check out my miata gallery to see pics I took of my car today right after a nice detailing job.

[11:57 PM] []

I had no idea that this much work went into re-painting a car. In this project, a brand new '99 Miata is painted using that awesome ColorShift paint. Here's the finished car - looks very sharp, but I wouldn't want to drive it around without a force field around me.

[11:56 PM] []

July 06, 2001

As promised, here is my Miata photo gallery. I'll let you know when I add more pics to it.

[8:32 PM] []

Wow, this part of my site just keeps on growing. The latest section here is the miata links page (see 'elsewhere' in the right sidebar). This is a listing of the Miata websites I have found interesting and will likely re-visit. Feel free to make suggestions for other Miata-related sites.

Next section to appear will be a photo gallery.

[3:31 PM] []

July 05, 2001

I added a notes section (see 'elsewhere' in the right sidebar) - the modifications I've done and the products I've purchased are reviewed, itemized, and discussed in greater detail.

[8:51 PM] []

Stuff I added today: radiator baffle shroud [1,2] and chrome valve stem caps [1,2].

[4:48 PM] []

There are only 23 hours left on my eBay auction for a gorgeous MOMO F-16 shift knob. [update: sold for $55 ... which is about a $30 loss for me.]

[1:02 PM] []

Dear Mister/Miss Pussycat,

You climb onto my car once or twice a week, usually you prefer the day after I wash my car. Of course, you like to wet your feet first, stomp through some sand, and *then* leave your pawprints - presumably to make certain that I am fully aware that you were around. Thanks a lot buster.

I don't mind if you climb onto my car for a little nap, in the future please do so only when my car cover is on .... or at least when my car is filthy.

Thank you, JISH

PS - To date you haven't left any scratches, thanks for keeping your claws trimmed.
PS2 - If I ever catch you on my car, I'm going to scare the bejesus out of you.
PS3 - Your momma has tunabreath.

[12:58 PM] []

After washing my car yesterday, I shot some pictures to update the links on this page's sidebar. Here are some of them: 1, 2, 3, 4 [hover over links for details].

[1:33 AM] []

July 04, 2001

Those of you that have Miatas probably know you can buy teeth for your car. For those of you that haven't seen them, you might chuckle when you take a peek. Don't get me wrong, they're actually kind of cute in a silly way. The "shark attack" model car is what my car looks like - without the teeth, of course.

[10:35 AM] []

About 2 weeks ago I scraped the side of my car.

For those of you who love your cars, you know how much this can give you that "ugh" sinking feeling.

What happened?? I was backing up into my carport (which I have done on a daily basis for about a year, without incident) and then I heard the scraping sound of my car. I blame myself for being careless ... but there was also a woman sunbathing nearby - I blame her a little bit too. ;-)

In any case, I just happen to have a Miata "freak" living in my building, so I wrote a note to him and slipped it under his apartment door about the whole incident. I figured that if anyone knew how to get the paint off the side of my car, it would be him (beige paint from my carport had rubbed onto the side of my car as a result of the scrape).

The next time my neighbour and I ran into each other, he whipped out his auto detailing supplies and managed to get all of the paint off with some sort of rubbing compound. I'll have to find out what it was.

All that remains from the incident is a teensy ding just above the rear passenger-side wheel. Phew.

[2:28 AM] []

Believe it or not, this horrendous beast is also a Miata.

[1:57 AM] []

This weblog's less than a day old - looks like Ev's already picked up on it. As you'll see below, it was selected as one of the "Blogs of Note" on blogger.com's homepage:

One of Blogger.com's 'blogs of note' for Jul.3.01

One of Blogger.com's 'blogs of note' for Jul.3.01

[1:30 AM] []

July 03, 2001

I drove down to Serious Auto today and bought/installed the following:

- chrome vent rings (4),
- chrome emergency flasher ring,
- silver embroidered visor gloves (2),
- chrome fuel lid,
- chrome hvac rings (2).

Almost $300 for all that. Everytime I go there, I end up spending a few hundred bucks. Sheesh.

Non-sticky saddlebag: I mentioned to the guys at Serious (Dale & Larry) that my Saratoga Saddlebag wasn't fit properly - one side was drooping because the adhesive was not in contact with the trunk (the saddlebag attaches to the underside of the trunk lid). Personally, I thought that I had just weighed it down with too much junk. We took the thing off and looked at the underside of my trunk for a good half-hour - all the while, trying to line up the saddlebag with it's contours. There was absolutely NO WAY that the mold of the saddlebag was done properly for my car. We walked over and checked it out on another Miata ... same thing, it didn't fit properly.

After trying it a few times, we got a bit frustrated and ended up cutting the damn thing to make it fit ... Larry said he'd send it back for me and would tell me what Saratoga had to say. Of course, they'll replace it for me. So, for the moment, I am without a saddlebag. Phooey.

Non-reatracting seatbelt: After I had my roll bar installed, I found that my seat belt wouldn't retract as it had in the past. Pre-roll bar, when I unbuckled the seat belt, it zipped back into the resting position. When the roll bar was installed, the angle in which the seat belt "mast" is located is shifted, changing the angle of the seat belt. This seems to cause some extra friction, slowing down the belt. There is some "pull", but I have to actually manually "feed" it back in most of the time. Keep this in mind if you decide to have a "Hard Dog" roll bar installed.

[9:47 PM] []

I purchased my Miata at the end of April, so I don't have many tales to tell as of yet ... to date, I have been customizing my car with some safety upgrades [roll bar, horn, headlamp impact shields ...] and cosmetic upgrades [chrome pieces, shift knob ...]. Next in line are some "performance upgrades". I don't intend on racing my car, my intention will be to squeeze out a little extra "oooomph".

I will be updating this periodically with information on travels, modifications, testimonials, etc... all related to my Miata. For now - here are a few pictures of my car, all of them taken before the installation of my roll bar and front grill:

2000 Miata Miata front passenger side quarter, clear corner lense detail.

2000 Miata Miata front passenger side quarter, clear corner lense detail.

2000 Mazda Miata rear driver side quarter, with Pacifica Ocean.

2000 Mazda Miata front passenger side quarter

2000 Mazda Miata rear passenger side quarter

[9:18 PM] []

Brief auto history (this'll be updated along with the weblog above):
Completed:
- Installed AEM Short Ram Intake - May.02.05.
- this list is not completely updated!!!
- Service: Oil change - May.??.04 [56,500 miles]
- Service: 45,000 mile service (used Redline fluids, fixed foglamp, adjusted convertible top) - Dec.4.03 [49,517 miles]
- Kenwood KDC-722 installed - Oct.20.03
- Service: Oil change/coolant flush - Jun.25.03 [43,727 miles]
- Service: Oil change - ??.02 [40,154 miles]
- Installed KYB AGX 4-way adjustable shocks - Dec.04.02 [36,828 miles]
- Service: Oil change - Nov.26.02 [36,613 miles]
- Changed wipers - Nov.19.02
- Installed Enkei RS5 wheels and Kumho Ecsta Supra 712 tires - Oct.15.02 [35,698 miles]
- Service: Oil change - Aug.22.02 [33,210 miles]
- Installed bra on front end - Jul.10.02.
- Service: 30k mile service at dealer - Jun.04 [29,617 miles]
- Service: Oil change - Apr.22.02 [27,451 miles]
- New polished brake handle and button - Apr.13.2002
- Changed windshield wipers.
- Service: Oil change - Feb.21.02 [24,048 miles]
- Service: Oil change - Nov.24.01 [20,351 miles]
- Installed CD caddy, Voodoo polished shift knob, airbag switch storage tray - Sep.22.01.
- Service: Magnecor wires & NGK spark plugs - Aug.19.01 [16,594 miles]
- Front diamond grill - Aug.2.01
- Kenwood KDC-716S installed - Jul.27.01
- K&N air filter installed - Jul.26.01
- Service: Oil change - Jul.17.01 [14,950 miles]
- Tan leather brake boot - Jul.13.01
- "Eject" chrome cigarette lighter - Jul.13.01
- "Miata Parking Only" sign - Jul.13.01
- Tan boot bag - Jul.13.01
- Twilight Blue Mica touch-up paint - Jul.13.01
- Bag for car cover - Jul.07.01
- Radiator baffle shroud - Jul.05.01
- Chrome valve stem caps (4) & keychain - Jul.05.01
- Chrome hvac rings (3) - Jul.03.01
- Chrome fuel lid - Jul.03.01
- Silver embroidered visor gloves (2) - Jul.03.01
- Chrome emergency flasher ring - Jul.03.01
- Chrome vent rings (4) - Jul.03.01
- Front grill - Jun.23.01
- Hard Dog Hard Bar - Jun.23.01
- Nardi wooden shift knob - Jun.22.01
- 'Saratoga' trunk saddlebag - Jun.12.01
- Service: Oil change, filter, tire rotation - Jun.08.01 [12,237 miles]
- Clear corner lenses - May.19.01
- Headlamp impact shields - May.18.01
- 'Wicked Loud' horn - May.18.01
- Flip-open cupholder - May.18.01
- Nokia holster for sun visor - May.16.01
- 'Noah' car cover - May.14.01
- Purchased car - Apr.27.01 [~10,100 miles]