Driving a Miata and a Fear of Bro Trucks

"I Do It For Miatas, NC Owner" (forvolvo)
04/13/2014 at 10:01 • Filed to: None

So I am looking to buy an NA Miata next year as my first car, and it seems great! Good fuel economy, manual transmission, and FUN! But it's one of the lowest sitting cars on the road, and that makes me nervous. I just read the Bro Truck article and I get worried.

Are Bro trucks too tall to see a miata? Bro truck drivers are not very careful or care about other drivers, and certainly not a "girly" car like a Miata. I was considering putting a tall CB antenna on the back, or a flag to increase visibility, but i it necessary? Thankfully where I'm from (Raleigh) doesn't have bro trucks for the most part, but my current university I plan on transferring from as them everywhere. I was just wondering if any miata owners could tell me about their experiences. Thanks guys

DISCUSSION (17)

ttyymmnn > I Do It For Miatas, NC Owner
04/13/2014 at 10:08

I live in Texas, which has more than its share of bro trucks. I drive a Golf. Many times I'll be sitting at a light next to some big ass SUV or truck that has those ridiculous brush guards on the front, even though they have never, nor will they ever, drive off road. I've been parked next to trucks with winches on the front that are at my head level. So yeah, it's a concern, but I wouldn't obsess over it. You have to drive as if nobody on the road sees you, because even if they are driving a Smart Car, they're probably on the phone or texting.

JQJ213- Now With An Extra Cylinder! > I Do It For Miatas, NC Owner
04/13/2014 at 10:35

im not going to lie, even driving our stock Honda Pilot SUV, it is sometimes impossible to see Miatas.

I'm in Florida, full of them Bro Trucks. In my area, many are young kids and they enjoy doing dumb shit like intimidating cars and Rollin coal. So, they may try to be dicks to you and coal all over you, especially if you have the top down!

Nothing > I Do It For Miatas, NC Owner
04/13/2014 at 10:41

It's hard for normal cars to see Miatas, let alone trucks. Before I bought mine, I laughed at people that said they got loud horns. Now, I'm about to order some. As far as visibility goes, pretend you're a 4 wheel motorcycle.

yamahog > I Do It For Miatas, NC Owner
04/13/2014 at 10:48

If I'm in my Cherokee (3in lift) I don't see the headlights of most cars directly behind me in the rearview, especially the boyfriend's Miata, which doesn't even reach my door handles when they're sitting side to side in the driveway. I definitely think he could use a louder horn too, my motorcycle horn is more effective.

awe46m3zcp > I Do It For Miatas, NC Owner
04/13/2014 at 11:14

A regular Ford Explorer will go right over your crumple zone. Even IF they lined up height wise early 90's crash protection won't fare well against a modern car. Don't fret though. More people die in pickups every year than in miatas.

TheD0k_2many toys 2little time > I Do It For Miatas, NC Owner
04/13/2014 at 13:04

I drive defensively in mine. Also get loud exhaust to be heard. That is my next mod in the upcoming weeks :)

Bird > I Do It For Miatas, NC Owner
04/13/2014 at 13:33

Luckily I never experienced most of the dickish behavior some people on here have, but I owned three different Miatas for several years.

I don't think 'Bro-Trucks' are what you have to worry about. What you need to worry about are shitty drivers. They don't need stereotypes. They drive every kind of car imaginable.

I never had an issue with a lifted truck. Really I only ever had two issues. One was with a Range Rover. I honked my horn at the guy in front of me who started trying to double park in rush hour traffic. I hit the horn until he realized that was a dumb idea. Yes, I did make a lot of noise, but I stopped a dipshit driver from turning a two lane road into a one lane road because he was to entitled to find a parking spot.

Right as the guy started to move along, a Range Rover pulls up beside me and yells "stop honking f******". I did the only natural thing and pulled up beside him at the next light and honked to piss him off...when we pulled away, he jumped in front of me, and braked checked me. I slowed down to just let him drive away and he slowed down and started swerving at me. He eventually hit me.

The other incident was with a pickup towing a car on a single car trailer. I pulled up behind them in a left turn lane. As soon as I stopped, the pickup truck went into reverse (no trailer lights), and backed into me.

I was having a very hard time understanding why they decided to try to back up in a turn lane, until they explained they were stupid. They said that they had never pulled a trailer, and when they stopped at the light they heard a noise (you know the sound a trailer makes when attached to a truck). They had never towed before and thought that the hitch making a little noise was a problem, and instead of getting out to check it, the best choice of action was just blindly drive in reverse and see if it made the same sound...WTF.

So really the only thing to worry about is stupid drivers. I drive a lifted truck now , and the stupid drivers worry me even more than they did with the Miata. For exactly the same reason as Boneyard Rendezvous said. People dive in front of you and slam on their brakes to make a left or whatever. I'm getting a dashcam for that reason. I almost ran over a Prius that came around me on the right (I was going 35, in a neighborhood intending to make a left at the next light). They dove across my lane into the left hand turn lane, but didn't make it all the way in and I almost clipped them.

Louros > I Do It For Miatas, NC Owner
04/13/2014 at 13:41

It's not just bro trucks, it's all cars. I almost got hit yesterday by an FX35 that was changing lanes. Guy didn't even see me. Always keep your eye on your mirrors and make sure you have an out in case the person next to you decides to plow into your lane.