新年おめでとうございます!

Happy new year! It has been a long while since the last update. I guess I can blame it on the lack of time and money. Since the last post, my coilovers have been in use for close to half a year now, and except for one time when I had to bring it back to the dealer's because of some squeaking noise, it has been problem-free so far. Since this is the start of the year, I figured some new year resolutions regarding the MX5 are in order, more specifically, what do I expect in this coming year.

Since my objective is street-oriented rather than track, there are quite a lot of mods that I am not considering, as they're probably overkill, stuff like roll-cages, full underbody bracing, brake ducting, straight through exhausts and so on. I've got the ride height and stiffness down pat, so the next natural progression would be front and rear sways, and that will probably be it for the suspension/bracing department. I'll probably get the used ones off the RX8s or this one from mx5parts. Its going for slightly less than US$280 for both front and rear, which I figured is quite a good deal. I'm not going for a front strut bar since I don't have the mounting bracket for it and getting both of them is not exactly cost-efficient in my opinion.

Next up will probably be brakes. To be honest, this is a "want" mod more than a "need" mod. I think I need the sways to make this a better car, but I want the brakes more for the looks than the performance, since the stock brakes are already plenty decent. I've not narrowed down any brands yet, but I do know I will probably go for a mid-sized 4pot(brembo?), or if the finances permit, a decent sized 6 piston kit(project μ?) for the front. I don't think I will change the rear.

And that wraps up the entire modlist for the whole of 2010(I hope!). Just two items. I am not ruling anything out but I figured thats about all I need; any more modifications will probably detract from what I intended the car to be. But then again, you never know....=)

 In the meantime, here are some overdue pictures. I have just gotten a new digital camera(Panasonic LX3), so I'm still adjusting to it. Pictures aren't exactly top-rate but I'll be posting better pics now and then.

Here's one thats showing the blacktop I had done way back in May last year. Still holding up!

Here's how the stance looks like. Its not exactly slammed but I guess this is good enough for me. We have numerous humps and slopes in this tiny country to make lowering anymore impractical.

Here's a profile shot.

Here's how much frontlip clearance I have off the ground.

Here are some pictures of the car at night, those LEDs done close to one year ago are still looking the stuff!

one from further away

I like this shot below although you can't really see much of the car.

In any case, I had relocated the Blitz Powermeter up from to the vent nearer the steering wheel. I think this is closer to eye level and easier to see when I'm on the road.

And now for two "arty-farty" shots. Was trying to create a bokeh effect with the words. Turns out wasn't too well done, since you can't exactly make out the first letter(its "Prodrive" by the way).

One year on and still shiny as ever.