by "Chuckles" (chucklesw37)
Published 11/25/2017 at 18:35
by "Chuckles" (chucklesw37)
Published 11/25/2017 at 18:35
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STARS: 7
Convertible season is rapidly coming to a close here in Pennsylvania. Some might say that it actually ended about 8 weeks ago, but those people would be wrong.
According to the Miata owner’s manual, you should not operate the convertible top at temps below 40 degrees Fahrenheit. It gets brittle, and it’s more prone to tears. The top is original, and the car is 23 years old, so I try to make sure it’s at least 50 degrees Fahrenheit before enjoying any top down driving. So when I saw that it would be in the low 50's today, I knew what I had to do. Here are a few pics from my 5 hour adventure:
It’s been several years since I bought the Miata, and all it takes is one good day behind the wheel to remind me why I love this car. I bought my Fiat 500 a few months ago to take over commuting duties, and hopefully that helps extend the life span of the Miata for years to come.
"arl" (arl1968)
11/25/2017 at 19:40, STARS: 2
Excellent read. Nice to see a Miata getting used as it should.
"AestheticsInMotion" (aestheticsinmotion)
11/25/2017 at 19:47, STARS: 0
Be especially careful if you have the plastic window, they’ll shatter under 30 degrees very easily. Same with a homemade plexiglass replacement. Ask me how I know.
What exhaust do you have peeking out from under?
"Chuckles" (chucklesw37)
11/25/2017 at 19:53, STARS: 0
Thanks. I definitely bought this car to drive it, and it’s just so much more fun when you aren’t using it for a 20 minute commute in stop and go traffic.
"Chuckles" (chucklesw37)
11/25/2017 at 20:02, STARS: 0
I’m usually pretty good about following the 40 degree rule, but it wasn’t really an issue before now because I lived in North Carolina. Now I’m in PA, and I’ve got a nice warm garage where this Miata will be spending most of the winter. It’s got the plastic rear window, and I’ve never actually unzipped it because I’m afraid it won’t ever zipper shut again. There was a slight bend in the window that made me think that it’s never been unzipped, instead just folding down. So far, so good.
As far as I know, the exhaust is stock for a 94. I haven’t done anything to it, but it’s possible that a previous owner did. I found it a few years ago at a dealership where my friend worked. It’s a 5 speed, but they listed it as an automatic so most people looking at Miatas probably ignored it. It had maybe at little over 70k on it when I bought it in 2015 (or 2014? I can’t remember right now). It does have at nice little rumble when it’s idling though. I’ll have to stick my head under there and look when there’s light.
"JR1" (type35bugatti)
11/26/2017 at 09:51, STARS: 1
Looks like a fun day!
"Chuckles" (chucklesw37)
11/26/2017 at 12:44, STARS: 1
It was a blast. Along with reminding me how much I love driving this Miata, it also reminded me how much I love living in PA. I spent the previous 5 years living in eastern North Carolina, which is incredibly flat. I missed these hills and mountains.
"Steve in Manhattan" (blogenfreude01)
02/17/2018 at 03:05, STARS: 0
Wait - convertible season is ending and it’s nearly Spring? Am I missing something?
"Chuckles" (chucklesw37)
02/17/2018 at 05:54, STARS: 0
It was reposted as an hour rule post this morning because I saw we needed something and I was too tired to write a new post.
"Steve in Manhattan" (blogenfreude01)
02/17/2018 at 09:26, STARS: 0
Oh yeah - could have looked at the date, couldn’t I? Let me just punch myself now .... And, great car.
"Chuckles" (chucklesw37)
02/17/2018 at 09:52, STARS: 0
No worries. I probably should have updated the title.
It really is a great car. Winter needs to end. We’re supposed to get 3-6 inches of snow tonight.
"winterlegacy, here 'till the end" (winterlegacy)
02/17/2018 at 10:30, STARS: 0
Up in Maine we’ve had a pretty good thaw for the past few days. Most of the snow that was in the way has either been shoved out of the way or has been melted away. I’ve seen teams of front loaders attacking the largest snow piles with a squad of dump trucks just to move the largest quantities of snow away.
"Chuckles" (chucklesw37)
02/17/2018 at 10:43, STARS: 0
Winters aren’t nearly as intense here in PA, but they dump so much salt on the roads that I prefer to just garage the Miata.
I’ve been to Maine once when I was a teenager and I’d love to go back someday.