Thanks to Dave Harp I now have exorcised the brushed aluminum interior tidbits and replaced them with black. Dave’s 2001 red base model has an all black interior and it really benefited from the silver vent rings, radio surround, shifter surround and interior door handles. Really nice when that happens, two people made happy at no cost (but a little sweat equity.)
While the dash was apart swapping aluminum for black, I pulled out the passenger airbag switch and popped in a nifty little pocket that goes there in the Japanese Miata. Not sure if anything will ever go in there, but it looks better than the switch. The switch is tucked up under and behind the glove box for now. I’ll have to secure it somehow, maybe tomorrow.
The new muffler is on with only one slight injury to me and none to the car.
The title of this post has to do with the sound of the new muffler. After all the subjects of Miata.netland had been effervescing over it, it just didn’t live up to my expectations of what it should have sounded like. Right now it doesn’t sound much louder than stock. At idle and cruise it is just as quiet with only a slightly louder tone under acceleration, I guess I expected it to be about two notches up instead of just barely different. So I hate to be the one to point this out, but the Emperor’s new clothes are nothing. (Get it, clothes, muffler?)
The first two Miatas never acquired names like so many of the Miatas out there. It was always “Our Car” or just plain “The Miata.” Occasionally it was “His Car” when it needed something done. The wisdom was you never forced a name on the car, it would always name itself. Well, that never happened. I think somehow that today this new car just got it’s name. Since the beginning with it we have treated it differently because of the color combo and it’s quieter, smoother ride, treated it a little like royalty. Henceforth the new Miata will be known as The Emperor, long may he reign.