Miata Washings

I got so worked up yesterday about getting the sort of late flyer from Mazda that I forgot to blog about the car washing. On Friday I washed the car, vacuumed the inside (even trimmed some of the stray fibers on the coco mats) and washed the windows. I had good intentions about waxing the car today, but the promised afternoon rain arrived in the morning canceling that endeavor. I know better than to attempt to wax the car inside, there just isn’t enough light to do a good job.

This evening, after the line of storms had long passed we went out to eat with some friends. I was pretty sure it was safe, but a passing stray shower left enough behind to leave tiny little water spots all over the horizontal surfaces of the car. So, maybe tomorrow, I can find a couple hours of afternoon to spot clean (pun intended) and then wax the car.

Washed the car this afternoon. It wasn’t real dirty, but it was covered with water spots from the rain of Thursday, mixing with the last of the pine pollen. I parked under the awning to keep the oak pollen clusters that are dropping off the big tree near the driveway from falling all over the car as I cleaned it. I had just finished drying it off when Donna came back from the store and announced the MSV needed gas, so I needed to take it out and fill it up. While I was out I should take her downtown for ice cream for good measure.

I left the Miata where it was and took a little trip. When we returned about 30 minutes later, I moved the Miata into the garage, so the Civic could get it’s awning back, I noticed there was a fine layer of pine pollen already collected on the hood. I thought that stuff was through falling…

In case the pictures I’ve been posting here aren’t enough to satisfy your hunger for new MX-5 info, you can see a streaming video of the launch at the Geneva Auto Show. Go to the registration page, enter your email address and this code: id5499a2. You will get a login and password back in your email which will allow you to watch the stream on Monday. You will also be able to download later a promotional video, which will include some of the launch stream as well as other stuff the following day.

Decided to go ahead and wash the car this evening instead of waiting for tomorrow. All nice and shiny again, which will last until Sunday, when our next rain is predicted.

I was middle 60s and sunny today, so I took the opportunity to wash the car. First, being a good son-in-law, I washed the MSV (Mom’s Civic.) Then I did the Miata, it wasn’t real dirty, but there was a layer of road dust that needed removing. After the top had dried I sprayed it real good with some 303 convertible top protectant. The car is sitting in the garage now letting it dry and giving off a nice little chemical smell. The smell will disappear when the protectant is completely dry, which they say should take 24 hours in 70 degree weather. It will take a little longer because we aren’t going to be that warm. I washed the car and did the top because the forecast this morning for Aiken showed no hint of precipitation that they were calling for earlier in the week. Well wouldn’t you know it, the possibility of wet weather for tomorrow is back in tonight…

After much consternation, on Tuesday, I went ahead and ordered the fake Japanese license plate from AutoGeek. Brown Santa will be here on Monday. Now I guess I better start designing a mounting bracket. Rspeed has one they import from Japan for $50, but seeing as I work in a manufacturing plant I can draw something up, find a piece of scrap metal and make that sucker for free.

I really need help on this whole Help! movie thing as I didn’t realize it is OOP. I wondered when I went to Amazon.com the there was no “Add to Cart” button, can’t buy it new because it is Out Of Print. I can but like new ones that have been imported from overseas for around $20. If I would like a brand new MPI official 1965 copy, they sell for around $200. Yikes. I’m thinking I’ll be waiting around for a re-release.

Took advantage of the warm weather to wash and then wax the car this morning. What kind of wax does Mr. Miata use you are asking yourself. Because if someone who has a blog based on life with his Miata and registered the domain name mr-miata.net he must use a special 7 step waxing regimen using the finest ingredients that money can buy. Well, not really. I finally used up some Mequier’s paste wax in a can I have had for about a decade the last time I did some touch up waxing in September. The other week when I knew I was going to be waxing the car I bought a bottle of some Black Magic Wet Shine Liquid Wax, cost, around eight bucks. Wax is pretty much wax to me. This stuff went on super easy, but a bit more difficult to get off. Plus if you didn’t get a couple of good passes with a clean part of the towel the color of the paint underneath looked streaky and kind of subtly two-toned. Once you got all the wax off, the car really looks good, I would swear it looked more red, less dull maroon, under today’s cloudy sky.