Miata Mailing List: August 1995, Message #17
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   From: "Robert Wolov" 
Subject: Mazda Supplied Accessories in Japan
   Date: Tue, 1 Aug 1995 11:10:53 -0400

Just an observation to share. 

I just received a copy of the Japanese Miata factory accessory catalog from 
the folks at Typhoon. It is all in kanji (not surprising) so I'm frustrated in 
not being able to read the commentary and descriptions, but I was quite 
surprised at the extremely wide range of accessories and mods available 
directly from Mazda, only a tiny handful of which are available in this 
country. (BTW our beloved Miatae are "Eunos Roadsters" in Japan)

Admittedly, several are for products most of us would not find of interest or 
for products frankly which are probably of better design right here in the 
states (pardon my chauvinism). The Japanese market calls for patterned floor 
mats which from a styling standpoint, shall I say diplomatically, are "unique" 
But, there were more than a few that I wish Mazda America did routinely carry 
(Typhoon imports only a fraction of what's available).

Mazda seems to carry a line of performance suspension mods (springs, sway bars 
and shocks) though I can't tell what the characteristcs are (all in kanji!) 
though my "gut" feeling is that the American products are probably better 
(when I think of setting up a race car, I do think of the USA...Japan still 
does not spring to my mind as one of the road racing countries)

If you are not a smoker, and like me use your ash tray as a mini storage bin, 
you only have the option of swapping it for either a Mazda supplied or third 
party cup holder, which is not as useful to me as a storage area. Mazda Japan 
sells a formal mini glove box with a proper hinged cover that drops right in 
place of the ash tray. It is long and deep enough to hold a pair of glasses. 
Unfortunately, neither Mazda USA or Typhoon imports this item.

For those that wish a wider choice of wheels (not that our home grown 
selection is bad) Mazda not only supplies the post 94 alloys (chromed or 
plain) as well as the BBS's of the M edition but what looks like a miata 
version of the wheel from the RX-7 plus a few others for good measure. There 
is also a wide selection of factory fog and driving lamps (small to fit in the 
mouth) and larger Cibie's (which hang outside the mouth).

They are not encumbered by airbag laws over there so there is a choice of 
wooden and leather steering wheels.

As a newcomer to the miata community, I've come to appreciate the efforts of 
the various 3rd party suppliers I've been doing business with (PBC, 
Brainstorm, Imparts, etc) and realize that if Mazda brought more of these 
accessories into the country, much of their business would disappear. But, a 
few more of these items might be nice to increase options.

It certainly was an education on the approach to the car that the Japanese 
exhibit vs right here at home.

         Robb W