You can call me weird, but..

"Aya, Almost Has A Cosmo With Toyota Engine Owned by a BMW." (aya-yu)
11/24/2013 at 18:57 • Filed to: None

..This car just an underpowered SLK. For me a Miata is meant to be as light as possible, why you add a heavy roof there?
*Flamesuit on*

DISCUSSION (15)

Milky > Aya, Almost Has A Cosmo With Toyota Engine Owned by a BMW.
11/24/2013 at 19:06

I could live with 70 more pounds.

Desu-San-Desu > Aya, Almost Has A Cosmo With Toyota Engine Owned by a BMW.
11/24/2013 at 19:07

!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!

There are a number of reasons. Here are some:

The Spec Miata racing series requires Original Equipment (OE) hard tops or no top at all.

The hard top increases chassis rigidity and reduces aerodynamic drag for better performance.

The car is quieter and more comfortable on the highway with the hard top on.

The OE top's large window reduces blind spots.

The hard top has a rear defroster and is more insulated for winter use.

The hard top increases vehicle security. Many people never lock their cars for fear of the soft top being cut.

It makes the car look entirely different. I think it looks much more anonymous - I never get comments on the car when the top is on!

It increases resale value, since hard tops do not depreciate significantly. A 10-year old Miata with a hard top would be worth 20% more than one without!

From Miata.net's hardtop page .

Also of note: the hardtop only weighs about 25lbs. For me, its benefits far outweigh the increase in pounds. No pun intended.

The Transporter > Aya, Almost Has A Cosmo With Toyota Engine Owned by a BMW.
11/24/2013 at 19:08

It's not like the original soft top was hard to put up quickly or anything. I have no idea why Mazda felt the need to add the weight, cost, and complexity of an automatic folding hardtop.

dogisbadob > Aya, Almost Has A Cosmo With Toyota Engine Owned by a BMW.
11/24/2013 at 19:09

I kind of agree with you on the power folding hardtop at least.

However, I would definitely order the regular removable hardtop though.

D > The Transporter
11/24/2013 at 19:17

Expand the car's audience. The interior is quieter and cabin temperature is better regulated when the hardtop is up versus the soft top. It also increases security of the vehicle and does not have to be replaced every ten years.

davedave1111 > Aya, Almost Has A Cosmo With Toyota Engine Owned by a BMW.
11/24/2013 at 19:33

I think it's more the other way around. Folding hardtops have become so good that you get them even on MX-5s.

Anyway, it's not like the MX-5 has ever been supposed to be a stripped-out car. You're supposed to have some luxuries like carpets and a radio and so-on. The roof's light enough that it falls into that category.

48 Spoons > Desu-San-Desu
11/24/2013 at 19:35

I think the OP is talking about the most recent gen of miata. The hardtop version adds about 80lbs and isn't removable if I remember correctly. I would say its mostly for people that just buy the car as a mid life crisis machine than an enthusiast.

Aya, Almost Has A Cosmo With Toyota Engine Owned by a BMW. > The Transporter
11/24/2013 at 19:37

I love the original soft top. That's the second best thing about miata, just about the pop-up headlights.

Aya, Almost Has A Cosmo With Toyota Engine Owned by a BMW. > Desu-San-Desu
11/24/2013 at 19:38

The removable hardtop is entirely different story. I'm talking about the Automatic folding roof.

Desu-San-Desu > Aya, Almost Has A Cosmo With Toyota Engine Owned by a BMW.
11/24/2013 at 19:50

Ah, ok. Gotcha.

Really, it's no different than having a REALLY skinny passenger, so far as weight increase goes. :-P

RotaryLover > Aya, Almost Has A Cosmo With Toyota Engine Owned by a BMW.
11/24/2013 at 20:11

You can still get it with a soft top. The power hard top is there for people who want the Miata experience all year long and dont have space for a hardtop or don't feel like having to remove it/put it back when they feel like it. Some wanna have less cabin noise (after a while with the NA, you wanna get it sometimes), while some want better rigidity. Others wanna show off at red lights. Then you got the true reason, following the convertible market to stay at the top of their game. Most convertible buyers of this day and age like powered hard tops now. Mazda just wants to attract all the type of customers they can get, like all automakers.

Reigntastic > Aya, Almost Has A Cosmo With Toyota Engine Owned by a BMW.
11/24/2013 at 20:45

I've never been a fan of convertible cars, the extra rigidity and comfort makes it well worth it in my eyes.

Aya, Almost Has A Cosmo With Toyota Engine Owned by a BMW. > Reigntastic
11/24/2013 at 20:52

Well, i'm quite a fan of them actually.

I kinda feel having wind in your head while driving is really nice.

Reigntastic > Aya, Almost Has A Cosmo With Toyota Engine Owned by a BMW.
11/24/2013 at 20:53

Well, the new hard tops can fold flat, and I can do the same with my T-top. Extra security with both to boot.

anothermiatafanboy > Aya, Almost Has A Cosmo With Toyota Engine Owned by a BMW.
11/25/2013 at 13:21

I am the reason. My Miata's soft top is toast, so I run a hardtop year round. Occasionally I will take it off to go for a top down cruise, but only if rain is not expected because my ratty soft top isn't too water tight. I would loooove a hardtop that I could quickly, easily put down. That PRHT only adds about 49 pounds, which is nothing. Id totally take it.