Introduction
Hello all! Just a word of caution, could be image heavy
I decided to document my first and only Miata, which has been a big part in my life since owning it 2 years ago. I was involved in an accident (regretfully due to my carelessness driving early hours of morning and dozed off ), and decided to revive my NC not only because I am so attached to the car, but also because it saved my life during the accident and times of need. I only had a bruise on my left waist due to the safety features of the NC.
Currently I am the admin for the MX-5 Malaysia page (http://www.facebook.com/mx5my/) and also the unofficial videographer for many of the events we held.
My videos are mostly in my channel here (www.youtube.com/user/Thisisalamp)
Some examples:
Background:
Malaysia, is where I'm from. And the rarity of a Miata on the streets here is equivalent to finding a needle in a haystack; the recent ND spruce up interest from the public and its release has everyone thinking,
"Hey! Mazda has nice cars! Oh what's that? A convertible! Never knew they have convertibles!"
ND Launch event in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
The rarity and reluctance of the Malaysian public to drive manual transmission cars resulted in a not so popular Miata, subsequently giving the public AT transmission Miatas (). This forces me to find an NC in 6AT, because a manual is non-existent.
I bought the 6AT NC from a previous owner, who had a collection of cars but did not drive them. He kept the NC sitting in a Wheel/Tyre shop he owns at 14,000km mileage, practically stainless. It was in Sunlight Silver, a colour I wasn't fond of...I do not like silver cars at all, and before this I looked through 2 other NCs (Copper Red and a Stormy Blue). This was the last NC that was on sale in Malaysia then and it was my last choice due to the colour.
Called up, set a date, then I went to check out the car...in person it is beautiful; I was more attracted to the interior and the condition than the exterior colour.
The NC is a stock Mazda NCEC Roadster RS 6AT, imported from Japan with Japanese writing in the cabins and warning stickers, AKE, heated seats (not needed in Malaysian weather), Japanese radio...it still has the sticker on the LCD display!
A week or two later, deal is done and I got in touch with the MX-5 Club in Malaysia, where some members offered to pick the car keys up with me. And I was ecstatic to see 2 other MX-5s driving down to meet me despite not having met each other in person! Was a scary first drive! And immediately then I got the Miataddication...the first three days was driving everyday with the club!
By then, the club had given my car a name.
"Patin" or the Iridescent shark (catfish). With the top down, it looks like the silvery catfish haha. Cooking it in Malaysia is quite popular.
3 months later, I added an Alpine IDA-X200 Headunit to replace the OEM CD changer...which I hated. I'm a big music fan, and I wanted to have a USB enabled head unit. Top down driving, I will still have my music on. You can say it's my first and favourite mod and not the last.
Over the course of the year, the club held many events in which I was glad to be part of. Letting the pictures do the talking
Summernats Malaysia, with 2 laps around the F1 Sepang International Circuit.
Miata 25th Anniversary Drive with MX-5 Malaysia and Miata Club of Singapore, charity runs in between. We frequently do cross-country events together with Singapore and Thailand.
Classic Cars Gathering in Malaysia, spot my car haha
Then after a year of owning with lots of new friends and finding new places, the accident happened.
And me looking like a sad puppy. Brought a tear my eye looking at Patin in the junkyard.