Australian NA model years versus features?

I've been assigned the task of finding a 1989 through 1998 shape MX5 to replace a friend's Mini Moke.

(Never heard of a Moke? See url below)

She's decided after 16 years of Moking it's time she got a bigger car, a more "normal" car, with doors and a heater and all that stuff, and after briefly flirting with the idea of a new Proton Jumbuck, she drove an MX5, so an NA MX5 (Miata) it is.

We've driven a 1990 1.6 with no power steering. The Mazda dealer tryed to tell us none of them (at all, right to 1998) have power steering, so I've pretty much disregarded anything he told us about the cars.

My understanding is that Australian delivery cars did not generally come with "extras packages" the way American ones did, rather you could have an MX5 in red or white, with or without aircon, end of choices. More colours came along as time went by, and a few "specials", including one in a colour one of my friends christened "Monkey vomit yellow" at the time.

As far as I can tell, the major change was in Nov 1993 when the 1.6 motor was increased to 1.8, an auto was offered (hah!) and a bar was fitted behind the back seats (to restrain stuff on the shelf when the roof is up?). A boot release was fitted inside the centre console box, the car got electric mirrors around this point and doubtless the stereo changed annually.

The Australian Redbook automotive reference website:

would have me believe that power steering was fitted right from October

1989.

So my questions: Were we driving a car with no power steering belt, or were there in fact Aussie cars without power steering early on. If so, when was power steering added to the Australian spec?

What other significant changes occurred to the standard Australian delivery spec over the life of the NA body shape?

Is there anything about the Australian models in particular which I should know about before deciding what to buy?

We're not really interested in the specials, such as that awful tan leather interior, just the standard model specs from 1989 to 1998.

Thanks

Graham in sunny(?) Melbourne.

Reply to
Graham
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To meet US DOT side-impact collision requirements, I believe. I've heard it also noticably improves handling, but I've never driven one w/o, so I can't say.

Reply to
Grant Edwards

Over here (U.S.) power steering was either an option or part of a package. There are some with and some without, in all NA years I think...

Reply to
John McClary

From October 1989, motor was 1.6, only choices were Red or White, aircon or no aircon, hardtop or softtop. Steering was manual. Wheels were a Minilite style mag.

From 1992, power steering was an option. It's pretty rare. There were also a small number of a special model 1.6 with tan roof and interior which had power steering.

At the change to 1.8 in Sept 93, power steering became standard and an electric antenna was fitted. The strut tower brace was added (not a luggage restraint!), new mag wheels, new steering wheel design, different door trims with different map pockets, electric mirrors, boot release inside the centre console box.

There was a "Clubman" special model of 1.8 with a limited slip diff,

*manual* steering and various other differences. Rare.

There have been various other specials, in different colours, some with the ghastly tan interior, with various extras. See the Mazda site url at the end of this post.

I haven't really paid attention to when the standard radio/cassette from the 1.6 became a radio/CD, but I've seen the original type unit in early

1.8 cars. Judging from the Mazda site, it may be only the specials got the CD.

In 1996, different indicater and wiper stalks were introduce, with an upward dogleg. You'll know what I mean once you see one.

But it's wrong...

Power steering was a rare option from 1992 to introduction of 1.8 in Sep

  1. Power steering was standard in all 1.8 except the Clubman special pack from Sep 93 onwards.

Strut brace, boot release, electric mirrors, electric antenna, variations to interior light layout (not sure of details yet), optional auto all at intro of 1.8 in Sep 1993. Dogleg indicator and wiper stalks some time in 1996.

This website lists sales volumes in Australia and other markets:

The figures given for total world production and for Australia are:

1989 45266/657 1990 95640/1455 1991 63434/698 1992 52712/499 1993 44743/not given, est. 450? 1994 39623/404 1995 31886/ est. 320? 1996 33610 est. 340? 1997 24617 est. 250?

Where no Australian delivery volume is given, I've guestimated on the basis of 1% of total world volume.

As you can see, there were about 3500 1.6 cars sold into Australia, mostly in 1989 to 1991, but perhaps only 1500 1.8 cars. Since elsewhere in this page it tells us that more than 50% of all 1990/91 cars were red, this explains why there seem to be so many red 1989/90/91 MX5s around for sale.

Here's Mazda's own site:

Reply to
Graham

Well, I do a fair bit of looking for cars for friends, and I have NEVER found the right car at the right price in five days flat before.

My friend drove one on Saturday afternoon and she loved it. We looked at handful more in car yards to get a feel for their condition. I was told to find one before christmas.

Whenever I'm looking for a car, I do a statistical analysis of a sample of ads to get a good feel for price, so on Sunday I went over 37 ads from the last couple of weeks ads and did some analysis of asking prices versus features, year, mileage, etc.

Today I had an afternoon spare, so I rang for more details on a few ads and selected 4 to look at. #1 was gone, #2 was crummy (car yard advertised a March 93/1.6 as a 95 with a 95/1.8 price tag), #4 was an overpriced green with tan roof 1990 special which I never got to because #3 was "THE CAR"!

We've found a 1990/1.6 with air and hardtop, 110,000km (70,000 miles) full dealer service history, second owner has had it since 1993 and is very much the sort of person you would like to have drive your car around for 10 years before you, and the price is right.

It's even the colour she wants. Mind you, that wasn't very difficult - more than half of all MX5s advertised here at the moment are red.

Reply to
Graham

I assume you read up on the crankshaft issue and checked for it.

Leon

Reply to
Leon van Dommelen

Le> I assume you read up on the crankshaft issue and checked for it. Nope.

I check bodywork and trim; once I find something clean and straight and well cared for, I let someone else take the responsibility for checking mechanicals, to avoid nasty acrimonious arguments with friends if I get it wrong.

So I had the local MX5 specialist go over the car for me. 8-)

The cam cover gasket is weeping.

Reply to
Graham

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