MX-5 Special Edition RS, what is it?

mazdad · Post by **mazdad** » Tue May 26, 2009 8:42 pm

Hi there,

Finally got back home and picked up the 2002 Mazda MX-5 I'd agreed to purchase three weeks earlier. Exactly as advertised by Steve from New Plymouth - so off I set to drive the 700km south to Christchurch. An eventful baptism to MX-5 driving - we had storms all the way with 14mtr swells on the inter-island ferry (car was caked in salt following morning) Gales of over 100kph and a rock-fall that took out the front offside Yokohama DNA dB with a great gash in the wall. Eventually made it home and washed the salt off, then took a closer look at what I'd actually bought.

Apart from the brace in the engine bay, which I'd seen in the original ad and Steve had listed as 'aftermarket', there were a whole swag of other mods including more stiffening in boot (trunk), stiffening ladder under diff, Bilstein shocks, 16" wheels and large fron brake disc, up-rated sway bars and front bar etc . . .
The door sticker stated:-
Grade - Special Edition RS
Katasiki Ruibetsu 9002-104
Model Spec N069-4C3

and the VIN stated NB8C-203775

Now I've tried to search the VIN to find out a little more about this car without success, and I can't seem to find any reference to RS Special Editions.

Any assistance appreciated - incidentally, it's a fabulous machine!

Euen · Post by **Euen** » Wed May 27, 2009 10:06 am

Sounds like a nice car.

If you haven't already found it, there is a wealth of information on miata.net and the associated forum.

If you speak nicely to your local Mazda parts guys, they can retrieve the basic spec of your car when it left the factory from your VIN.

You mention ladder braces under the diff, the NB had a set of braces on the rear sub frame as standard. 2 longitudinal bars that run from the floor pan, back to 2 points on each side, front and rear of the subframe. These points are also tied together with lateral bars. There should also be a similar subframe brace across the rear of the front subframe.

Some of the later NBs also came with larger "sport brakes" and Bilsteins as standard and this could be one of those.

Enjoy!

mazdad · Post by **mazdad** » Wed May 27, 2009 10:42 am

Hi Euen,

Thanks for the info.

I took photo's of the relevant bits but couldn't figure how to post them to the forum - any idea's?

eric

Euen · Post by **Euen** » Wed May 27, 2009 10:55 am

Hi Eric

If you scroll down the page when posting or replying, there is a button labelled "Add an Attachment" . There is a restriction on the file size of about 250Kb so you may need to reformat your photos if they are high resolution.

Cheers
Euen

mazdad · Post by **mazdad** » Wed May 27, 2009 11:40 am

Hi Euen,

Right, I've got a few pics of the mods I'm talking about so here goes . . . .

Euen · Post by **Euen** » Wed May 27, 2009 12:00 pm

Very interesting. That is some serious bracing and I am pretty sure that none of it is standard fitting. Someone more knowledgable on the NB may be able to provide more info.

It also looks like you have a non-standard cold air intake as well. Most 5s have the intake and filter box on the exhaust side of the engine. It would be interesting to know what else has been done to the car. Does it still have the original computer or has that been changed as well? (Usually located in passenger foot well)

mazdad · Post by **mazdad** » Wed May 27, 2009 1:24 pm

Euen,

I've attached a pic taken off the Mazda website of a MX-5 they had on their stand at the 2001 Tokyo Motor Show showing exactly the same engine bracing and cold air-intake as on mine - hence the thought that all of this kit formed a Japanese RS Special Edition package?

Eric

sprsta · Post by **sprsta** » Wed May 27, 2009 6:03 pm

being the rs you should also have the torsen diff also as standard
any of the braces on the car that are shiny or coloured (not black) more than likely will be aftermarket
i was pretty happy when i got mine home after buying it and finding little bits and pieces that had been upgraded (swaybars port and polish etc)

Habanero666 · Post by **Habanero666** » Wed May 27, 2009 6:17 pm

Very Nice!

Now to set it all off........Forced Induction?

He he, I really like that set up though, and JDM parts are just fantastic, We could do well to learn how to apply our skills here in NZ to make the cars we love, that much better.

Aluminum welders take notice!

sprsta · Post by **sprsta** » Wed May 27, 2009 8:46 pm

im trying to trick the boss into getting a tig welder im keen to learn

mazdad · Post by **mazdad** » Wed May 27, 2009 9:04 pm

Habanero666 wrote:Very Nice!

Now to set it all off........Forced Induction?

He he, I really like that set up though, and JDM parts are just fantastic, We could do well to learn how to apply our skills here in NZ to make the cars we love, that much better.

Aluminum welders take notice!

Haa.. now when I look at your NA that thing on the right hand side of the engine looks like it may be something more serious than a hair dryer!
Nice looking car, you've obviously spent a lot of time on it

mazdad · Post by **mazdad** » Wed May 27, 2009 9:07 pm

sprsta wrote:being the rs you should also have the torsen diff also as standard
any of the braces on the car that are shiny or coloured (not black) more than likely will be aftermarket
i was pretty happy when i got mine home after buying it and finding little bits and pieces that had been upgraded (swaybars port and polish etc)

Haven't had a chance to check the diff out yet - this weekend. I'm absolutely delighted with the car, goes like an absolute dream - a heck of a lot quicker than I was expecting, and such a feeling of being on rails! Something tells me I'm going to be enjoying this

MX-5 Special Edition RS, what is it?

MX-5 Special Edition RS, what is it?

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