Miata Mailing List: August 1994, Message #83
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   From: a.mccombs3@genie.geis.com
Subject: Kansei Returns, etc.
   Date: Wed, 3 Aug 1994 22:30:53 -0400

Jack & Anne are back from our two weeks in CA, where we went to the Nat'l
Datsun/Nissan Z Car Convention in San Diego (yeah, I know, but we like our
'71 Z car too, and scheduled this a LONG time ago).  Meanwhile, Kansei was
in the body shop, getting a nose job (replaced dinged up front bumper
cover).  It's taken a few days to get through the several hundred msgs (we
even logged on w/ Anne's Dad's unit to catch up, about 2/3 of the way
through the trip), so haven't had a chance to write anything (except for a
few tips on draining the water from the valve covers and etc.)  At least
you'll note that I refrained from saying anything about anyone driving
around naked in a Miata (or naked Miatas, or whatever).
 
We were in the San Diego area for exactly a week, and found it interesting
in our travels to count Miatas, top up/top down.  Why are most Miateers in
the San Diego area driving around with their tops up?  The weather was great
- low cloud cover most mornings, burning off around mid-morning and warming
up to about 80 degrees or a bit more, depending on how close one was to the
water.  In other words, classic summer San Diego weather (I know; I've spent
some time out there in the  past) and well nigh perfect for running
around with the top down.  These folks didn't have their windows up, either,
on any cars that I observed - so they weren't using their A/C.  We counted
exactly twenty five Miatas, of which precisely twenty had the tops up - I
mean the ones that were moving.  Parked, unattended Miatas with the tops up
were not included in the above survey.  This isn't a huge sample, but it was
pretty consistent throughout our week there.  What's wrong with those people?
 
OTOH, we were in the south SF bay area (Santa Clara) for three days (didn't
get out every day, due to pressure to sit around with the folks) and saw a
few Miatas, of which about half had the tops down - and at least a couple of
those with the tops up also had the windows up (A/C on. presumably.  Gets
hotter in the Santa Clara Valley.)  On over to Modesto (the other set of
folks) and saw another few, of which only one had the top down, as I recall -
but it was hitting the high 90s in the San Joaquin Valley.  (Modesto has
never been real big on sports cars.  I grew up in that town, where when you
say "Lucas," 999 of 1000 assume you mean George, of American Graffiti fame.)
 
We meant to drive that road where the unfortunate couple and their
unfortunate Miata rolled off the road a couple months ago, but forgot which
road it was -so never did take a look at the terrain.  If there's anyone out
there who recalls what I'm talking about and has taken a look, please let us
know.  Meanwhile, Anne's father may not have a Miata, but we're trying to
convince him.  The '85 Fiero with 5 speed will never be a Miata, but it's
not my father in law's Oldsmobile, either, and he's gracious enough to let
us use it when we visit every few years or so.  What the hell, he's not a
subscriber, so he'll never read this to find out where we took his car.
 
Those of you near the SF bay area all know about highway 9, betw. the Los
Gatos area and Santa Cruz.  It would have been even better in a Miata, and
for that matter would have been a lot better in the Fiero if the throttle
cable hadn't been sticking.  Smooth downshifts and power applications in the
turns are hell when your throttle cable housing has melted through from a
close encounter with the exhaust manifold.  (No, not my fault!)  After a
temporary repair (lotsa Nylon wire ties) it was much improved, and the Del
Puerto Canyon road from Patterson to Mt. Hamilton was fun, although warm for
most of the route.  It's been paved entirely for the past few years at
least, so try that one with your Miatas.
 
Meanwhile, Kansei has a new nose.  We tried a body shop just a couple blocks
from the house (convenience), and they did an adequate job.  There are a
couple very small blemishes, but OTOH they touched up a minor parking lot
ding in the left front fender at no add'l charge.  Maybe they felt bad about
placing the "MAZDA" decal in the wrong place (installed on the right side of
the bumper cover, rather than the left! - We don't mind; it adds a little
more individuality that way. BTW: Where is it on the RHD versions?)  But it
seems that I'm 0 for 2 on having body shops tighten the battery cables after
they complete their work.  Same thing as last time, different shop:
Couldn't get the radio to work, even after re-entering the anti-theft code.
Checked out the battery cables, and sure enough, the + was loose.  After
tightening it down, the radio seems to work again.  (Symptoms are that when
the on/off switch is pushed, one may see an "AM" indication for a split
second, before the clock time reappears.  No radio operation.)  Multiple
pushes of the switch accomplished nothing before tightening up the clamp,
but it seemed to work afterward, at least one out of two or so.  The battery
probably didn't have a good charge at that point. Just tried it again after
the car had been driven for a day, and it seems to be working just like it's
supposed to now.  The master mechanic and electronic genius (???) strikes
again.  Now to order all those other goodies for the car --
 
                                                --Jack & Anne & Kansei--