Jimminy, you took my car, washed it and put on side marker lights. It's uncanny.

Also, we didn't get a "98". Did you have 3 years of non-VVT NB in europe?

 

Damn, I though the wash job would disguise the car.. You are not getting it back, man.

Seriously, post a pic of your car.

As for the "98" thing, I guess Mazda decided to skip that year model in the US only. Mine is almost identical to the US '99, but was released in late 1998.

I say almost identical because:
This one was way faster than my silver '99 I used to own in the US. The engine has a much better intake cam, the exhaust is not at all as restrictive, and (even thouf it is not the sports package) has a much better suspension.
Hardtop comes standard, along with a nifty header setup, ABS, driver adjustable headlights and power windows.

The stock engine, wlth stock everthing yielded 121.8 WHp on a baseline dyno run before I started my modifications. Comparable stock US cars see between 105 to 110. And, that run was with old oil, dirty filters, worn plugs and wires..

It also has a 4.1 rear end as opposed to the 4.3 on your side of the water.
A guy from Finland said the 10AE came with 3.63 even.

Also, people are shocked to hear how much I paid for the car. They say I practically stole it.

I paid $20.000 for it in december 2005. A new 2005 at the time was $55K.

 

Huh. Not bad. Interesting on the cams. I wonder how the cams compare to the MSM cams, I know they are more aggressive, and yes, my MSM head seems almost as good as my ported, polished, +1mm '00 head (us spec). That head had quite a bit of work into it and going to the MSM wasn't the step down I expected.

I'm trying desperately to decide between a '00 head (easy to improve) and a '01 head, since the cams are better.

I have the 4.3 I think and I'm swapping it for the 6 speed 3.63 set up soon as I get the new motor done and put in all the new parts in the tranny.

First set of lowering springs:


Front lowering springs only, read stock:


More recent:


No other reason than I like the picture:

 

Nice NB, I like the headlight conversion too.

I can relate. So many think that atheism is something to be ashamed of, like if you mention that you are one you're somehow a dick and trying to offend someone. At least that's the vibe I've gotten the few times that I've mentioned it. Maybe it wasn't a good idea to argue about creationism with my mother-in-law after all...

If you haven't seen it already, google "flying spaghetti monster". It's a great read!

BTW, FRT_Fun - Where do you consider Kurdistan to be? It's not a legitimate country yet. Did you mean Kyrgyzstan?

 

DAMN!
This is the picture I wish I could have taken...
Details?

 

There was a lightning storm some time after I'd gotten my camera, and I'd always wanted to take some pics. Got some great ones of the lightning on it's own, then I thought, hey I should get my can in some.

So, I just sat out in the pouring rain with my camera perched on a folding kitchen chair for hours and hours and hours and snapped a few awesome pics. Camera fell over, got water inside of it, wouldn't change it! Totally fun though one bolt hit a lightpole close enough to me to be pretty scary!



Check out more pics here:
Lightning Shots - AbeFM's Photos

More Miata stuff here:
AbeFM's Photos : Miata
(The majority is under "modifications)

More lightning shots here:
Lightning Shots - AbeFM's Photos