Testimonials for Fulcrum Suspensions:

“We have had a couple of wheel alignments done by Fulcrum and also some suspension work done on the MX- 5 and a Nissan Pulsar. In all instances, we have been very happy with the service and the end result – great company to deal with.”

Neville Fair

“I took my NB8A to Fulcrum Suspensions last Saturday and was very impressed by the state of the art computerized equipment they use. The guys were very friendly and happy to explain the job to me, including the need to align all four wheels, not just the fronts. Driving the car afterwards was a delight – no more twitching on bumpy roads! I previously have used a well-known tyre company for alignments, but felt I got a better job at a better price at Fulcrum Suspensions. Fulcrum offer MX-5 Club members a generous discount on their work, as well as providing Sponsorship to our Club, so they are well worth our support in return.”

David Rosenberg

“{Browns Plains Service Centre (Hillcrest), 2/108 Anzac Avenue & Tradelink, Hillcrest. Telephone Number (07) 3800 7306. Email: Hillcrest@fulcrumsuspensions.com.au}

“Kim & I recently fitted new tyres onto our MX-5, and in keeping with common sense, booked our car in for a wheel alignment. Our choice of aligners was simple . . . Fulcrum Suspensions is one of the Club’s Sponsors and is held in high regard and the fact that their Hillcrest branch is only a stone’s throw from where we live. So, I went down to discuss my requirements with Darren Buchanan at Fulcrum.

As our car had not been changed from the factory settings when we bought it and I'd had nearly four years to settle in to the car, I had a fair idea of where the car was at, handling-wise, and also, where I wanted it to be AFTER the wheel alignment.

I found Darren and his staff to be friendly and communicative and only too willing to take the time to talk to me (rather than at me) about what I wanted out of the car. Darren took the time to find out how the car was used and explain what needed to be done to fulfill those requirements. He also took me through other options, suspension-wise, for future improvement, if required. Booking the car in was easy, with Darren only too willing to work in with our schedule, and the car was done on the day and in the timeframe stated.

When I went down to pick the car up, I was taken through everything they had done and why and also given an outlook on how they saw the tyres wearing with these settings. I was also told that if I had any problems whatsoever, to bring the car back in and they would rectify it. Along with a healthy discount for Club members and the friendly approach, I would have no hesitation in recommending Darren and his staff at Fulcrum Suspension/Hillcrest to any Club member for their suspension and wheel alignment requirements.”

Clive Barnard

“{TEIN Super Street Suspension by Fulcrum and fitted by A1 Automotive Suspension & Exhaust of South Tweed Heads; Telephone Number (07) 5524 3411; 2008 Fulcrum Awards Winner. www.fulcrumsuspensions.com.au/dealers-and-distributors/Print.html#QLD or www.southtweedautos.com.au}

“My quest for a better ride in my MX-5 started during an after-breakfast talk with Club members at last year’s Hervey Bay Whale watching weekend. The discussion centred around what to do with my NA. Did I want to race or just use it on our Club runs? Club member, Brian Hegerty, showed me what he had done to his car, brakes, turbo, handling, air intake, the works. He suggested that brakes, steering, and suspension were essential--words to that effect followed. “Well, Son, it depends on what you want to do to your car . . . race it, drive it, keep it standard, but most of all, you need to be able to stop it and steer it.”

I said that the brakes were good and that the car handled like it was on train tracks, but the ride was like driving over the railway sleepers on the tracks, even on normal roads. It was a bit like the Princess in the old fairy tale who kept feeling the PEA under all of the mattresses.

His words stuck in my mind on the long trip home on a wet and windy Sunday afternoon.

Over the next few weeks, I surfed the web, got into chat rooms, and was no closer to a decision on what to do.

I had a discussion with my non-MX-5 driving wife, Ronda, who, at this stage, was a bit sick and tired of being tossed around in her seat on every trip and coming home with a sore back and b*m.

Idea! Our Club magazine, Rag-Top Review, had a Sponsor listed— Fulcrum Suspensions. Why not try them out.

Problem! I did not want to drive up to Yeerongpilly (wherever that is!!). I'm still a NSWelshman and live at Banora Point.

Solution! There was a local ‘Fulcrum’ dealer in South Tweed, just a five-minute drive from home: A1 Automotive Suspension & Exhaust in Machinery Drive, South Tweed Heads.

I made an appointment to get a suspension test and on the appointed day, met with the staff, John, Nick, Greg, Adam, and Nick. The car was left with the boys to do their thing. I got a phone call, ‘we have had a test drive, now come and see us.’ What was wrong? The car was still up on the machine, and John, Nick, and Adam showed me the problem areas. Nick explained that even though it seemed that the car was set up correctly with no sign of tyre wear, and that the car had been lowered professionally and the set up was OK, the springs had basically collapsed and there was only about 1 to 2-inch clearance to the rubbers and the shocks were worn.

We discussed the different types of suspension available for the car. Three (3) suitable systems were available at varying costs.

--The TEIN Super Street series was one of the three mentioned.

I had read about this system on the net and that Fulcrum was the Australian distributor and a Corporate Sponsor of our MX-5 Club. The decision was easy--install the Street Pro System by TEIN.

As the Super Street suspension was fully adjustable, John from A1 made some phone calls to Fulcrum, and the settings to match my driving needs were chosen. My car was booked in for the install, and the next day I picked up the car.

The end result was fantastic—it still handled like it was on train tracks, but without the railway sleepers being on the road; no more sore backs and b*ms; and, the overall costs were well within our budget.

Ronda's Nissan Pulsar has also had a visit to A1 Automotive Suspension & Exhaust, and new front shocks and bushings were installed--same service and at a great price. The staff were always willing to talk and explain things, and we would recommend them to our Club members who are a bit closer to NSW than Brisbane.”

Russell & Ronda Luland

“Someone once said: ― ‘You can‘t improve on perfection.’  Well, sometimes there is a way!!”

Our NB was a spur of the moment acquisition.  We had never even sat in one before the day we actually bought it!  After three months with the car, we were very impressed with the handling and the performance. Having owned an Austin Healey and a Porsche in my misspent youth, I was prepared to make allowances for sports car handling.  However, after a couple of thousand k‘s, I was niggled by a hint of rebound tremor when traversing what we in Queensland call ‘roads‘.

Since I intended to get a proper steering alignment done as part of my work-up for second-hand cars, we went off to Fulcrum Suspensions, Capalaba Branch, and after consultation with Nick, the Manager, decided to fit the ―TEIN Super Street modification kit, together with a full wheel alignment.

The kit consists of new progressive rate coils, together with pressurised shock absorbers incorporating manual adjustment for damping on both compression and rebound. Ride height is also readily adjustable but, in the interest of maintaining ground clearance, I opted not to lower the car.

We had to wait a month for parts to arrive from Japan, but Fulcrum got the job done in a day, and we set off back home to Hervey Bay in the two cars for an eagerly awaited test run.

Frances (who is not normally impressed by things mechanical) had the first leg in the MX-5, and alighted at Gympie with a huge grin and remarked, ‘It is totally different and so much better to drive’.

When it was my turn, I could only agree wholeheartedly. The ride was a huge improvement, with all trace of harshness gone and the handling was still brilliant.  I went happily looking for bumps on the Maryborough leg and found myself sailing through them without the need for any teeth-clenching!

Expensive?  Well, perhaps just a little, but in fifty years’ involvement with engineering projects, I have learnt the lesson that when modifications result in long-term benefits, the cost is easier to justify.  Even in the best of manufactured projects, economics often have a say in the quality level of OEM parts.
I was greatly impressed with the quality of the components and with the obvious practical knowledge of the MX-5 displayed by Nick and Staff at Fulcrum, Capalaba.

For the rallying types, there is also available a remote control system which allows damping adjustments to be made while under way.  However, as the manual adjustment involves only the twitch of an allen key, I felt that it was not necessary to ‘gild the lily’ any further!

I have no hesitation in recommending the TEIN modification and Fulcrum Suspensions to any MX-5 owner wishing to make a ‘great car’ even better.

Bill & Frances Pennell

Testimonials for Grand Prix Mazda:

“This is an unsolicited testimonial about my experience with the Mazda Car Company. I just purchased my 48th car. Some of you may think I'd be mad, and you may well be right, but I've had cars ‘in the blood’ for my whole life.

Whilst not primarily involved in any form of car racing or family automotive heritage, vehicles just seemed to be part of my DNA. You might say, I’ve had ‘cars on the brain’ forever. I grew up in Sydney, and at the tender age of 13 drove my first car. I was hooked. I'd owned two cars before I'd even gotten my license at the tender age of 17. Throughout my youth, there was a constant stream of vehicles, including five (5) motorcycles. I had a few accidents and wrote the odd car off here and there, as young blokes do. By the age of 21, I'd had a fair assortment of vehicles including Ford, Holden, Leyland, Triumph, Morris, Datsun, Vanguard, Hillman, and a few more to boot. As I grew up, one make of vehicle escaped my clutches but did not escape my attention. A few of my friends owned and drove Mazdas. They were superb vehicles with great resale and a heap of creature comforts built in to each model, but unfortunately, the higher cost of owning one remained the sole reason for their non-inclusion to the evergrowing list of motor vehicles I'd owned. I followed V8 Supercar racing from an early age and had become a Ford stalwart. In later life, I purchased a late model AU Falcon. It was one of the nicest vehicles I'd purchased to date. When the new Model BA arrived in 2002, I traded my AU in on a brand new ‘Red’ SR Falcon, worth about 40,000 bucks. Whilst it still remains one of the best driving cars I've ever owned, the cost of running it was high, and I looked toward a smaller 4-cylinder car that could offer the same degree of comfort, yet run on the smell of an oily rag. I did my homework and discovered that the Mazda 3 SP23 fit the bill perfectly. Finally, at the age of 50, I would own a Mazda.

I visited Grand Prix Mazda in Caboolture and was offered the highest trade-in deal on my two-year-old ‘Red’ Falcon, and I drove away in my SP23. I had lost a lot of money on my Ford and for that reason, cannot ever see myself owning another Ford in my lifetime. The SP23 turned out to be a super buy. It was responsive, very comfortable, cheap to run, and above all, reliable. I had heard it before, and now I knew that when people say that Mazdas are over-engineered, they are quite correct.

Two years of exquisite motoring later, my kids had all grown up and had cars of their own (two of the three kids bought Mazdas from Grand Prix), so my wife, Liz, and I were free to pursue our dreams. I'm not sure about the wife, but to me, that meant buying a 2-door sports car, like the MX-5. I trotted down to Grand Prix Mazda again and told them I needed a ‘Red’ MX-5 Roadster. They obliged, and my new car arrived in March of 2008. I traded my SP23 after the two years and got a top trade for it, as well.

My ‘Red’ MX-5 was the beginning of a whole new ‘social life’, after we joined the Mazda MX-5 Club of Queensland. We've had the great privilege of sharing a year of great times with some of the nicest people on the planet and travelled some of the most scenic roads in Queensland, New South Wales, and Melbourne (travelled the Great Ocean Road last year). 2009 is the Anniversary year of the MX-5, and the new model will remain current for three years, so bearing that in mind, I headed back down to Grand Prix Mazda at Caboolture and ordered my 8th Mazda from them in the past three years. I have to say that I've been completely happy with the sales, service, and level of professional service that I've received from them, and Jake Camilleri has looked after my needs with my current purchase. It's nice to find a company who looks after their customers, when so many are just happy to get your chequebook and show you the door. When I'm looking for a replacement for ‘Number 48’, I'll be going back there, that's for sure!! ”

Frank Cooper

Testimonials for Caldwell Paint and Panel (Now known as Impact Panel Works):

“Dear Adrian, Thank you for repairing my car. I know it was only a small job to you, but you treated me and my car with respect. I appreciate your professionalism, your on-time, on-budget, high-quality result. I would recommend (and have recommended) your services to other MX-5 owners.”

Stuart Lutz

“My experience with Adrian from Caldwell Paint & Panel has been great. I had an insurance claim and also got some extra work done--got my front bar replaced and bonnet resprayed.
My insurance claim was from me ending up going sideways off the on-ramp on the Pacific Highway and onto a bunch of giant rocks, a few bigger than the stock height of my MX-5, which damaged the sill, underbody, wheels, exhaust, etc. . .

Although my excess is fixed, the extra work was reasonably priced. Adrian told me what was getting replaced/repaired . . . before the work had commenced . . . so I had an idea of what was going to happen. He did a great job--the colour matched the other panels well . . . can't tell the difference at all!

Very reliably, Adrian rang me to give me an update on what was happening and returns calls, unlike some panel shops I've gone to in the past. I highly recommend going to Caldwell Paint & Panel!”

Tien Nguyen

“We just had our Mercedes Benz repaired by Caldwell Paint and Panel, a Club sponsor. We contacted them because of good reviews in Rag-Top Review.
 
What a great decision! The price was competitive, the communication perfect, and the job stunning, to say the least. I cannot recommend this company highly enough—Just brilliant! If you want paint or panel work, whether you drive a new Merc or MX-5, please check them out.”

Dave Burbidge

“Diane and I were on our way to deliver one of our jukeboxes for a New Year’s Eve party at a client’s house on the road from Rathdowney to Maroon Dam.

As they don't fit into the MX-5, we were using our Commodore Ute.  About 5km from the main road, and whilst I don't mind a bit of steak, we encountered a rather large piece, but the problem was it still had legs.  It was in full flight from an open farm gate heading across the road.  I hit the anchors . . . Then, hit the cow!!! . . . Up the bonnet, smash the window screen, and up onto the roof.  It was about $7Ks worth of damage.  After getting the Ute home, the big question was who to take it to?  After a bit of searching in the yellow pages and ringing a couple of places, we realised most were still on Christmas holidays, and suddenly remembered, we had a Sponsor panel repair company called Caldwell Paint & Panel.  We rang the number in the Rag-Top Review and, low and behold, got Adrian, the owner.

Well, I have had dealings with some repair companies over some years whilst in corporate business and come into contact with some real shonks, but dealing with Caldwell was a dream.  They actually communicate with you!  When we dropped the Ute off, Adrian told us he had already been in touch with our insurance assessor and told us the day he would be in to look over the vehicle.  Rang to say they would be a day late (not his fault).  He actually RANG ME (what a new experience), unlike most others.  From then, as the vehicle progressed from stage to stage, an update was forthcoming.  Two weeks Adrian had told us when we dropped it off, but would you believe, we actually got the vehicle back in 8 days.  Great job and a pleasure to do business with them, let me tell you!  It's not a Merc but might as well have been, as the job was great!

Anyone wanting a repair job should get in touch with Adrian.  It may be well worth the effort.”

Col & Di Sargisson

Testimonials for MX-5 Plus:

"I have used MX-5 Plus recently, as I was chasing a power window switch assembly for an '89 NA. Although only open Saturdays, I found a quick response to email, and Richard Larsen has an extensive knowledge of the MX-5 model range. I would recommend them to anyone looking for MX-5 parts."

Jim Campbell

"Since my old mechanic retired and closed his business 4 or 5 years ago, I've never been happy taking my car to anyone else, and so have maintained all my cars in that time, myself. I have known Danny Irvine for a couple of years through the MX-5 Club, and when I heard that he was starting up the vehicle servicing arm of MX-5 Plus, I decided to give them a try. I'm a very fussy car owner, and I know that Danny is, too, and so I considered that something he would put his name to would be of a high standard. Having now done so on two occasions, I am very happy with the work that they have done and the friendly and professional service I have received. I expected that Danny's guys would work to a high standard, take good care of the car, and attend to all the little things which most mechanics don't care about, and they do. Unlike some workshops, they don't book many cars to be in the workshop at once, so the mechanics aren't pressured to complete a job within a strict timeframe - they can take their time and give your car the attention it should receive. I would recommend MX-5 Plus to anyone. They also service other makes and models, so if, like me, your sister's Honda Civic needs a service, send her their way too!."

Gerard Skehan

"Having been burnt somewhat by poor advice on dealing with the dying engine of my NA, I sought out Richard Larsen and found that he provided unbiased and accurate options for me to consider without any expectation that I would utilise his services for the work. When the time came to bite the bullet and swap out the motor, I happily committed to Danny Irvine and his team and have not been disappointed with the 1.8 conversion--at last a car that is a joy to drive! Throughout the process, I received great advice and the follow-up attention to the inevitable minor niggles has been first class. I would not hesitate to recommend MX-5 Plus to perform conversions such as mine and any servicing that your MX-5 may require."

Doug Parry

"I'd like to add my voice to those of other members who have praised Danny Irvine's MX-5 Plus service. Although I try to do all my own work whenever possible, I took my 1992 NA model to Danny recently because of a rear main seal oil leak.

Even from the first phone conversation, it was clear that this was no 'assembly line' operation. On the day, Danny, Rob, and Alan were just fantastic at treating the car as if it was their own. As well as allowing me to watch and ask questions at every turn, they involved me in all the various decisions along the way. It turned out to be less obvious than a simple oil seal leak, so they took the time needed to do plenty of extra checking - and they know these cars so well that they know what to look for. It was just as well we did the job, though, as the clutch was not in good shape . . .

Full marks to MX-5 Plus, and I'll be going back to them, without question, if anything else needs doing ."

Peter Lee

"I just wanted to share the recent experience Ann & I had with MX-5 Plus. For some time now, I have been intending to have a roll bar fitted to ‘Snow White’ (MX-5 SP), and the timing was good when the latest ‘Group Buy’ was published on Aus-Cartalk not long ago. Up to that point, I had my mind set on a Brown Davis bar, as they have an excellent reputation and are used by many MX-5 owners. However, Danny Irvine of MX-5 Plus had posted a range of photos of some Torque Box Roll Bars. The photos of the fabrication and installation stages, plus the extensive installation manual, were enough to convince me this solution was the best choice for ‘Snow White’. So, I posted my commitment, and a few days later I was contacted by Danny. At the time, I was working down in Sydney, and therefore no one was available to get the car to the Geebung workshop at anytime except for one particular Saturday morning in about a nine-week period. No problem, though. Danny said he could fit it in if I could get the car there for about 8.00am, so I went ahead with the booking.

In the lead-up time, I also enquired about the supply and installation of some anti-sway bars, which Danny was able to give me a quote for, but he advised me that getting them delivered to the workshop in time could be an issue due to the short notice. Anyway, a couple of hours later he had managed to wangle something with the shipping company, and the bars would be ready on the day. When I met Danny for the first time that Saturday, it didn't take long to figure out ‘Hey, this guy really knows his stuff ’. This was reinforced by the impressive line-up of MX-5s in for a service, as well as a few MX-5 racing cars, to boot. When I mentioned I was considering an LSD (Limited Slip Differential), Danny was able to give me a quote and confirm within a few minutes that all the parts were available. I was satisfied with the price but really pleased that he could arrange the installation at the same time the car was in the shop that day. Whooo-hoo!

As the installation was going to take several hours, Danny dropped Ann & me off at the train station so we could get the train into ‘Briz-vegas’ and to await his call, which was received at the allotted time. There was one minor hitch during the installation involving the speedo adjustment, but Danny's crew worked on a creative solution that didn't involve fencing wire and duct tape. Danny picked us up at the station later that afternoon and had a wry smile on his face when he handed back the keys for me to test drive ‘Snow White’ with her new stealth gear. Wow! What a difference! In just a quick squirt around the block, it was obvious the car's handling was significantly improved.

The MX-5 is a mighty little car and responds well to some little modifications, so credit for that must go to Mazda (but I can't figure out why Alan Horsley's mob didn't install the LSD and anti-sway bars as standard equipment?). However, I must mention that the attentive and personalised service provided by Danny and the guys at MX-5 Plus was exceptional and way beyond anything I have experienced with similar organisations. Danny is an obvious MX-5 enthusiast ( . . . even if he does prefer rotary engines), and I left with the impression I had received first class service at a fair price . . . and given the time restrictions I had placed on Danny, I was suitably impressed with the responsiveness of the team at MX-5 Plus. In closing, I think the following words from Ann sum it up perfectly . . . ‘Hey, Danny sounds like he really knows his MX-5s. Why don't you have ‘Snow White’ serviced up here next time?’ Even though we live 93km away, the answer just has to be ‘Whatever you say, Dear’ ."

Andrew & Ann Darby

"Most of you will be familiar with the ‘ND’ (a.k.a. The Lexus). I was dragging it out to give it a bath a few weeks ago and decided to pull the wheels off and give them a good scrub. Whilst trying to clean the front left, I noticed the inside of it was covered in grease, hmmm, so I grabbed a torch and had a peek inside the wheel arch . . . Yep, even more grease . . . so I took a look at the boots for the CV joints . . . oooh! not good.

The following day was Track Day, so I managed to have a word with Danny Irvine about it and whether it would survive driving it any further. Danny was very helpful with his advice, so the day after Track Day, the ND was off for some loving at the ‘MX-5 Plus Day Spa for Cars’.

The ‘ND’ (Lexus) also needed a service, which I believe involved putting hot rocks on the seats or something. Whilst the wheels were off, I'm sure I saw Alan giving the tyres a nice soft massage.

As is attested by others, at MX-5 Plus you can wait, watch, and learn. All questions get answered, and no request is too much trouble.

All of the above only cost me an arm. Danny said I could keep the leg for next time . . . and there will be a next time.

I highly recommend the ‘MX-5 Plus Day Spa for Cars’, where you will get impeccable service by gentlemen."

Mark Schwertfeger

"I needed to have some Whiteline sway bars and new front brake pads supplied and fitted for our NC MX-5. It was all done under the one roof at MX-5 Plus Service at the most competitive price.

Danny rounded up all the components required in advance. Rhys, the mechanic, did the fitting and was out to road test the finished product in no time at all. Danny and Rhys gave superb personal service and were only too happy to explain things as required as the job went along.

I had also been trying to figure out the best way to mount a fire extinguisher in the car without drilling holes anywhere. Danny to the rescue again. A solid mounting bar was fabricated to use the seat rail mounting points. Danny sourced a suitable CAMS approved extinguisher and bolted it to the bar – no holes needed in the car. A perfect solution, professionally prepared.

The drive home with the new sway bars and brake pads was very rewarding. I managed to find an extra 30 km or so for the route home, grinning from ear to ear and very happy with my decision to take the car to MX-5 Plus Service. Danny called just after I arrived home to ask how it went and to check all was OK – now how’s that?"

John Tait