Poppy's Interior

I went outside today to take some photos of Poppy's interior as is:

My PG Tips monkey lives in the ashtray...'cause, y'know, why not? Either way, the interior is tidy.

 Headrest speakers, a roll bar and wind break too.

 MOMO steering wheel

Pretty standard centre console, although the bluetooth radio is pretty good.

Chrome trim looks good but am considering different coloured dials and red needles. Hmm.

Not strictly the interior but I absolutely love this little touch.










So that's how Poppy currently looks; this will be updated as and when I modify her - give something of a datum off which to work, anyhow. Hope you all enjoy the pictures!

Snow!

So, lets be honest here, I'm a wimp when it comes to driving. 

I categorically hated taking the Astra out in the snow (this may have been something to do with once skidding and driving straight into a bank...a bank of earth, that is, not a money lending facility) and that wasn't a rear wheel drive. The MX-5 grips much betters on the roads as a general rule, although that'd arguably not be all that difficult, but is apparently a right nightmare to drive in the ice and snow. Of course, me being me, I heard these rumours and, at the first sign of any snow, panicked. 

I'm glad I didn't go out last night, mind, as an almost 40 mile drive in the snow, down a few steep hills (and back up on the way home...) in a new, rear wheel drive car would have been...er...a laugh. Seriously though, I don't feel that my life is worth gambling with in that way - or my bank account contents, for that matter.

That said, we went out and got some pics of Poppy looking very chilly - I drew a heart on her boot, mostly for entertainment's sake, but it has come out very well!




Today has dawned a beautiful, crisp, sunny day with a couple of inches of snow here. So I hope everyone has fun driving today. But be safe!

Poppy's first long run

Well, yesterday, I took Poppy from Reading up to Banbury for work. I was secretly dreading the drive up as I thought her fuel economy would be sod all but, actually, she did very well and we got 260km out of half a tank. As it only took me 25 litres to fill her up from "almost empty", suggesting that her gauge is screwed, that's damn good really. Anyway, she drove like a dream, purring happily up the A34.

I took her to Abingdon today, with work again, and thoroughly enjoyed the drive. Admittedly, it was soured somewhat by the exceptional road rage incident I encountered while passing a lorry up a hill, again on the A34 - I'm not entirely sure where the bloke behind me expected me to go when he spent a few hundred metres tailgating me and beeping his horn. Idiot. She was, however, suitably admired at the Abingdon office - glad my colleagues have taste ;-)

I forgot, too - I need to change the horn for a less pathetic one (the current is definitely not in keeping with the rest of the car's image) and I'd like to get a more practical ashtray replacement. All the current one is good for is my PG tips monkey living in it.

Anyone want to buy a Mk1 ashtray?!

Welcome!

Welcome, welcome, one and all. Come in, make yourselves at home while I put the kettle on...

This is my blog about my beautiful new 1989 MX-5 Mk1, Poppy, and the journey she's (hopefully!) going to go through over the next few years in my mission to make her as perfect as she can be. Quite frankly, she's not far off as yet but I think we can improve her a little.

I bought Poppy last week for, frankly, very little. She'd been acquired by a 19 year old as his second car (*ahem*) and he realised that he couldn't afford the insurance as it was worth twice what she was. I had no intentions of buying an MX-5 to replace my faithful, but rather tired, little Astra but the boyfriend convinced me to go and see her. He bought his MX-5, Scarlett, to replace his Peugeot at the very beginning of January and absolutely fell in love with her - he thought I might like one too.

Well, having seen her at her previous home and had a look around, I was smitten. Didn't drive her that day, as I wasn't sure about driving a car so utterly different to anything I'd ever driven, but the boyfriend had a quick drive. Well, that was it - she drove wonderfully, apparently, and I decided to buy her there and then. Yes, without ever having driven her.

The following day, we went down and picked her up - I drove her home, via a pub for some dinner, and she really was wonderful. Took a bit of getting used to, considering I'd only been driving an Astra for the previous 2 1/2 years, but I did fall for her well and truly.

Poppy has a twin exhaust and beautiful chrome blower trims, as well as an awful lot of the cute additions that came with her actually being an Eunos import, such as the 'Roadster' emblazoned passenger mat, and a pretty good bluetooth radio. However, my wish list for the next few months:

• New black mohair hood with a glass screen (my vinyl/PVC one is in pretty good nick, albeit with a few minor tears, but I'm not loving the PVC rear window). 
• New dials - possibly white with red needles.
• New mats.
• Digital clock, or at least an analogue upgrade.
• Fit central locking (we have the bits, it just needs installed). 
• Possibly improve the fuel economy. Somehow. Bless her, she does seem quite thirsty.

Oh, and I've spares to sell so if anyone needs a tonneau cover or, in a few months, a good condition, albeit not perfect, cheap hood, do let me know!