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.

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] []

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]