Project 10AE Miata

fiveoh2go · 08-21-2009, 11:13 PM

Looks good. Old school fox body guys (me included) are usually pretty familiar with spray bomb "detailing". Fox quarter window moldings suck.

**Goodspeed** · 09-02-2009, 09:17 PM

Thoughts?

Procrastination + PS is a wonderful thing. I don't like the look of deep dish/stepped lip wheels on Miatas. I saw these at Summit on a NB and the lust started. They're OEM 2002 SE Miata wheels, 16". Might have to start saving....

ScottyB · 09-02-2009, 10:01 PM

not really feeling it. i think it looks awesome stock.

***ViPER1313*** · 09-02-2009, 11:30 PM

I think those look awesome fwiw - I'm not a huge fan of the stock chrome wheels.

**Goodspeed** · 09-02-2009, 11:46 PM

I agree Scotty, I love the stockers. I think they're gorgeous and they weigh 13lbs; I could keep them forever and be happy (I'd keep them regardless, either way). Mazda's design team really nailed the look of the wheels for the car (don't you love it when that happens?)

I like mesh wheels, and I like "flat" faced wheels, so these make me completely gaga....on the car, for me they may be on par with the stockers. Might be worth picking up a set to throw on now and then. For a stock OEM wheel, they're incredibly race-looking.

**JustinG** · 09-03-2009, 08:56 AM

did you fix that one problem yet????

ScottyB · 09-03-2009, 10:25 AM

Goodspeed Wrote:I like mesh wheels, and I like "flat" faced wheels, so these make me completely gaga....

well there's your answer. get em! again, i don't think they look bad, i just like the stockies so much (love contoured 5 spokes).

D_Eclipse9916 · 09-03-2009, 10:40 AM

Get them and put Nexen tires on em for cheap thatll last a good time, and then get some Dunlops or Kumho XS for your stock chromies for track/autox duty.

Dave · 09-03-2009, 02:46 PM

white97dsm Wrote:did you fix that one problem yet????

I heard the ointment doesn't appear to be working this time...

Steve85 · 09-03-2009, 03:18 PM

maybe it's from looking at the grand sport vette's but I think a flat black center and polished lip (and i agree, not a big one on this car) would look great on that blue.

**Goodspeed** · 12-12-2009, 01:05 AM

Quick Q...I know in winter temps some (?) coolants will "shrink" and then expand when the car warms up. I just noticed this today w/o driving it but my overflow is empty and rad level is a little low. Fill it up to the min/cold line?

Other then that the car has been great. Driven a little less than 2500 mi in the almost half-year I've had it and every one has been pure fun. Coming springtime will likely see a lot of maintenance including TB/water pump to get that out of the way before any more mods. I also really really want to give it a quality re-spray, but we'll see if funds allow for that down the road

Dave · 12-12-2009, 02:14 AM

srsly dude? Your paint is in great shape from the pictures and what I've seen of it. If that is the best thing you can spend your money on, I've got a laundry list of stuff you can buy for me and the Z.

**Mike** · 12-12-2009, 07:53 AM

i can only imagine a "quality respray" will detract from the value of the car.

**JustinG** · 12-12-2009, 10:56 AM

yea what they said, your paint is pristine, its a 10 yr old car that your prob gonna get rid of in 2 years, so dont waste your money on making it pretty, get some gofast, drive on rails parts

.RJ · 12-12-2009, 05:38 PM

Unless the paint on your car is really, really damaged a proper detail job will go a long way.

**Goodspeed** · 12-12-2009, 07:31 PM

Yeaaahh we'll see. I'm not at all worried about resale value, its a Miata, not a Ferrari :lol: But in all seriousness Mazda paint sucks. It cleans up really, really well but the sideskirts have a ton of road rash, front has a million rock chips and there are a few deep scratches here and there, all of which is a no-no for a paint perfectionist like me. Just seems like a very "weak" paint/clearcoat from the factory.

I met a guy at Verona with a 10AE (with almost the exact same mileage) that had been repainted and it made mine look terrible, I'm convinced a good shop with good prep skills could do wonders on the car. I would like to keep this car (much) longer than the Supra so if I'm going to be seeing it everyday its going to need to meet my standards, or else I wouldn't care, we'll see.

Yeah I'm weird, even though I want to S/C it i'd probably spend the money instead on a paintjob and clear-shielding the crap out of it :evileye:

.RJ · 12-12-2009, 08:20 PM

Goodspeed Wrote:I'm convinced a good shop with good prep skills could do wonders on the car.

Goodspeed Wrote:its a Miata, not a Ferrari :lol:

:dunno: :lol:

Seriously, dont bother, its 10 years old at this point and its still a miata. It wont hurt the resale and the hunnieZ wont notice.

Dave · 12-13-2009, 11:41 AM

Not to mention that when you put it up for sale, no buyer is going to care when you say "I had it painted b/c the paint didn't meet my standards." What they are gonna hear is "My car was in an accident so bad that I had to paint the entire car to make it match." It won't even be a matter of getting less money for it, but a matter of selling the car at all.
And don't tell me that they won't worry b/c Carfax doesn't show an accident.

Seriously dude, it's an amazing and rare color and your car is in great condition for its age. If you spend the kind of dough you're gonna pay for a "quality" body job, you're gonna have a car that looks and feels like it did 10 years ago. And that's great. OR you can take half that money and liven it up and make it better than it drove 10 years ago and more exciting and fun to drive (which is why we have cars anyways).

I can appreciate wanting a car to look good, but if you can make a car more fun to be IN and it already looks good, it seems like a no-brainer to me. If your car looked even remotely like a turd, we'd probably all be backing the paint idea, but it just doesn't.

ScottyB · 12-13-2009, 02:32 PM

first of all, own a subaru. then you'll know what crappy paint is like :lol:

secondly, do what RJ said. high quality detail first - then see. a detail done right, by someone who knows what they're doing will amaze you.

flintster55 · 12-13-2009, 03:55 PM

+1 on the wheels man. I think that looks amazing.

As far as the paint goes, Im with these guys. Your car looks great for being 10 years old. Like Scotty said, Subaru paint is as bad, if not worse than anything I've ever seen. The front of my car looked so awful and drove me nuts too since I'm pretty anal like you. I had my front bumper and fenders resprayed when it was in the shop for the hail damage and so the new hood would match the rest of the front and it only cost $600-700 at one of the best body shops here in Roanoke so keep that in mind as an option. As far as matching, 99% of the people that look at my car can't even tell what's been painted and what hasn't so as long as you go with a quality shop you shouldnt have to worry too much.

And I'm not sure if you've shopped around for estimates for a full respray, but I know Wes has with his since his paint is awful, and the quotes ranged from 3-5k. I know you like your car to look good, but that's quite a chunk of change. 3-5k in go fast or handling goodies would go quite a long way.

And RJ is right about the detail. It can completely change a paint job. If you dont have a buffer, I have 2 so you're more than welcome to borrow one and I'd be happy to lend a hand or supplies if you need any. It might not even be a bad idea to spend the 100-150 bucks for a professional job and just have him do paint correction for you.

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