1. I see now it was probably a mistake to tell Ali I had transport and there was no hurry.
2. I should have read the instructions that came with the car because then I wouldn't have tried to take the roof down in the cold without first unzipping the rear screen, which subsequently tore a bit. And then tore a lot more when I did it again despite the fact I knew what the instructions said the second time.
So I bought a new hood off ebay and despite the fact I am mechanically incompetent tried to fit it myself and I've just finished! 4.5 hours the instructions said, only took me 14*.
I'd post a picture but I can't be arsed, it looks like a p reg mx5 with a new hood, including a rear screen bereft of sellotape and scratches. You can actually see through it, which is a bonus for the children at Millie's school who Suzy and I keep nearly mowing down trying to reverse out of parking spaces with no rear visibility.
Pete
(Just needed to tell someone and Suzy and Millie went to bed hours ago.)
*Happy provided I can get it closed (need some help because it's new), it doesn't leak and I can refit the cross bar thingy if I can un-bugger up the thread I stripped.
PS Anyone who tells you the Elise hood is hard work is talking sh*t. An S2 hood comes down damn near as fast as a MK1 MX5 and if you tear it you can replace it instantly. Not in 14 effing hours.
