Arisu Topless Life

"mXxxxXm24 /O/ /O/" (mxxxxxm24) 07/30/2019 at 18:10 • Filed to: Arisu, Miata, Roadster, Convertible, top down life

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Arisu and I have not had the typical convertible Miata life that many have come to associate with the little Roadsters. When I bought her, the factory soft top had a window that was ripped at the seams. I didn’t really care because I wasn’t buying a Miata for its convertibility. Even so I planned to have it fixed or replaced, but with all the other expenses adding up: I eventually ended up removing it all together. This saved about 40 lbs and probably is what sparked my obsession with lowering weight.

Having only a hardtop, I really don’t remove it often. With a soft top, you simply unlatch and pull back. With a hardtop, it’s a little more involved. It’s a bit like Netflix’s convenience to Blockbuster’s sense of occasion. First off you are going to want a second person to help. Then you’ll need a place to store it safely. Being that I live in an apartment this means a nice walk to it’s storage spot in the middle of my living room. It makes a great center piece. A welcome addition to anyone’s living room decor.

If you’re saying to yourself, “well that’s not so bad.” Think again. Picture yourself driving around without the top off in a place like western North Carolina with highly variable weather. The sky opens up and you are miles from home. Your car interior is going to take on some water damage and at best you are going to end up stranded under an overhang like a road tripping biker.

Recently though I’ve been getting the itch for the top down life. To my surprise the weather cooperated! I had Wednesday through Monday of sunshine and no rain (well almost no rain). So I took my top off and stored it away in its rightful place in my living room for 6 days! It was like a vacation in the same way a mustache is a vacation from yourself.

At night and while at work I put this car cover on and it did a great job. During the one brief rain we had if allowed zero water inside. People did ask me what was wrong with my car because the cover basically looks like a tarp thrown over in a jam . This isn’t necessarily a bad thing as far as security goes though (in some ways at least ).

The week reminded me how awesome top down life is. Everything is better with the top down. The sound of my exhaust is night and day better. The car is even lighter without the top. Visibility is amazing and the sky is everywhere. The sense of Jinba Ittai is never stronger. It was really really tough to bring myself to put the top back on, but after getting hit with a light rain on the way home from a lovely afternoon downtown, I knew the time had come.

It was an awesome week and while having easier accessibility to put the top down more often would be nice; it would become to normal and too easy. I like that it is a little bit of a hassle. The sense of occasion is what really makes it special. Its why people get stuck in a loop looking for something to watch on Netflix. We are searching for that occasion. We miss it in movie rental and in other aspects of our life. Here’s to keeping some of that occasion in our lives.

Cheers Oppo.

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Miata weight savings tip of the day: Replace hard top side latches with fixed mounts. Save about 4lbs.

vicali > mXxxxXm24 /O/ /O/ 07/30/2019 at 18:27

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This lady figured it out..

VajazzleMcDildertits - read carefully, respond politely > mXxxxXm24 /O/ /O/ 07/30/2019 at 18:30

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What’s Arisu’s current weight? 

CaptDale - is secretly British > mXxxxXm24 /O/ /O/ 07/30/2019 at 18:32

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I remove the Miata hardtop by myself. 

mXxxxXm24 /O/ /O/ > vicali 07/30/2019 at 18:38

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Haha I’ve seen those, but it would have to be modified to work with roll bars!

mXxxxXm24 /O/ /O/ > VajazzleMcDildertits - read carefully, respond politely 07/30/2019 at 18:41

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Not sure exactly, but I’ve saved going on 200 lbs from factory weight.

mXxxxXm24 /O/ /O/ > CaptDale - is secretly British 07/30/2019 at 18:43

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I’m not saying it can’t be done, just saying it’s much easier with help.  Especially when you have carry it up a flight of steps and open a spring loaded door before getting it inside

CaptDale - is secretly British > mXxxxXm24 /O/ /O/ 07/30/2019 at 18:44

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I am just giving you a hard time. 

mXxxxXm24 /O/ /O/ > CaptDale - is secretly British 07/30/2019 at 18:48

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Lol ok no worries. I have removed it and put it back on by myself, but it’s kind of a b*tch.

vicali > mXxxxXm24 /O/ /O/ 07/30/2019 at 18:52

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Not impossible, but it does up the difficulty..

VajazzleMcDildertits - read carefully, respond politely > mXxxxXm24 /O/ /O/ 07/30/2019 at 19:01

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It looks like a NA? If so, 200 lbs is a significant weight loss over OEM since it’s so light already. 

mXxxxXm24 /O/ /O/ > vicali 07/30/2019 at 19:02

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Man those do not look water tight at all haha

CaptDale - is secretly British > mXxxxXm24 /O/ /O/ 07/30/2019 at 19:02

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Yeah it is an awkward shape

mXxxxXm24 /O/ /O/ > VajazzleMcDildertits - read carefully, respond politely 07/30/2019 at 19:14

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Yeah this includes removing   a lot of things like s oft top, spare and jack, air bags, visors, arm rests , etc. and adding lightweight wheels, lightweight flywheel, coil on plugs, etc.

I may remove the a/c and put me over 200lbs less than factory. Some of the things I remove weren’t on earlier Miatas, so at times it feels like I should have just gotten an earlier Miata lol. I look at it like This: I’m  making the M edition we should have gotten.

Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) > mXxxxXm24 /O/ /O/ 07/30/2019 at 20:08

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Southern California is the true promised land of top down life. I just dont put up the top ever on my Miata. If the weather says 10% or more chance of rain, I just take the Subaru instead. Thankfully, that rarely happens even in the “wet” season in the winter. Usually it just rains hard for a day here or there and then it doesnt rain unexpectedly. Driving into the mountains is the only time I need the top though. Then weather becomes unpredictable and I regrettably put up the top. And also have to duct tape the hole in it and just deal with that until the rain goes away.

Weight savings reasons, I have definitely considered removing the top entirely. But I enjoy having the roof there instead of an emergency top. Plus I have just been lazy to bother removing it anyways. There are definitely opportunities where I would want the top up for sun protection too though so thats the other reason to keep it. 110+ track days are slightly less unpleasant with a roof as a sun shade.

Also, I find your lack of roll bar padding concerning for street use! I could use more padding on mine but running with zero padding seems risky to me. 

daender > mXxxxXm24 /O/ /O/ 07/30/2019 at 20:09

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Fu n fact: Eunos, rather, M2 (Mazda Too) built and sold a track day Miata known as the M2-1028 “Street Competition” Roadster. You might be on your way to build your own version of his rare roadster!

From MazdaRoadster.net :

M2-CORP released it’s third Roadster in early 1994, based on the original “Jinba Ittai” concept made by Toshihiko Hirai. This was the track ready Competition Roadster. (The USA got a simpler version known as the R-Package. ) Offered in Chaste White or Brilliant Black only, this Roadster used the new 1.8L powerplant with upgraded pistons, and camshafts, and other similar goodies as the previous 1001, & 1002. However this Roadster had an output of close to 140hp!! It included 14" Eunos Factory Rims with a unique gunmetal paint with polished lip, this same lighter hollowspoke was found on some of the US-Spec Miatas. Some of the features here were a new set of lightweight side mirrors, MOMO Steering Wheel, Centerless console, Racing seats, racing tow hook, Lightweight Aluminum Shock Tower Brace, a set of front & rear lower lip spoilers, (R-Package) a newly designed (Aluminum) “Duck-Tail” trunklid with integrated spoiler (the M2-1028 trunklid was made from aluminium and weighed only 7.7-lbs. very light weight from original lid 15.5-lbs. ). Similar design used on the NB’s. Also came with a 6-point rollcage, but no soft-top (instead, you got a tarp that stretched over the cage). With optional FRP Hardtop with plexiglass rear window for more weight savings coming in at only 19-lbs.

mXxxxXm24 /O/ /O/ > Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) 07/30/2019 at 20:24

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Yeah yeah Cali bastard lol. It really does  sound amazing for a car enthusiast in general. As for your sun shade issue:

Well roll bar padding is designed for use with a helmet and wouldn’t be much better than none, but with the 6 point harness I wouldn’t hit the bar even with my height. This is the whole reason I bought my seat and subsequently my 6 point harness: to keep my head away from the bar. I’m more concerned with my head hitting the side of the hard top when it’s on.

mXxxxXm24 /O/ /O/ > daender 07/30/2019 at 20:35

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Woah! That is awesome! I didn’t know about this. Mazda made a legit performance miata. So cool! Thanks for sharing! That is very similar to my build philosophy! I’ve even thought about doing  lightweight hard top with plexiglass and aluminum trunk, but really I need weight savings off the front of the car to balance things out. Why the a/c needs to go. Also I wonder what the tarp stretched over the cage looks like.

Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) > mXxxxXm24 /O/ /O/ 07/30/2019 at 21:32

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The issue with simply wearing a hat is that the air in the cabin still gets way more heated in general. I might get less burned by covering up like I’m roaming the Sahara desert but I’d still cook. The top up in that scenario even without AC is much cooler due to the low humidity around here. My AC does also work but I don’t use that nonsense much in that car. Last time I tried it, it also smelled of refrigerant so “works” is certainly short lived.

The padding issue is why I went with the dual durometer sort of padding. I have the hard SFI padding for helmeted use. And then an extra layer on top that is much softer and designed to make unhelmeted contact survivable. It’s less an issue of being thrown into the bar and more so the bar being thrown into you. Should the rear be crumpled, the bar could come forward and smack you a bit. But also just the violence of a Collison could at least knock you into it a bit and any sort of padding is better than nothing for sure. I need to add more to account for more impact cases but at a minimum I have behind driver and passenger heads  and then side of driver covered. I don't wear the harness while street driving just because it would be annoying and not offer enough benefit to daily driving. I know after a 20 minute track session, escaping that harness is quite the relief. I could only imagine an hour would be hell. And making it loose enough for comfort would defeat it's original purpose/advantage over the three point. 

mXxxxXm24 /O/ /O/ > Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) 07/30/2019 at 21:53

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Oh right dry heat. I’ve never experienced it really. I didn’t realize it would be best to have cover rather than the breeze of open top in that scenario .

I have thought about dual durometer padding. It’s definitely not a bad idea.

As far as wearing a 6 point in daily driving. It is my only option. I cut out the factory seatbelt because it would not function as intended with the racing seat. It is a bit inconvenient. I have to take it off to access anything in the glovebox or to turn around to reverse into spots sometimes. But at least I know I won’t hit the steering wheel or roll bar in almost collision scenarios. I really don’t like thinking about these things to be honest. Messes with my head. Especially because the Miata is pretty unsafe (more-so with no roll bar). I knew a guy who was rear ended in his Miata  and his roll bar saved his life.

daender > mXxxxXm24 /O/ /O/ 07/30/2019 at 22:08

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I figured you’d like it! I imagine the tarp looks something like a Miata bikini top:

A suggestion for your weight saving measures: remove the front “baby teeth” and replace it with a single passenger side mounted racing hook. The same idea could be applied for the rear. As for finding an M2 aluminum trunk, that might be harder and more costly than sourcing a Carbon Miata or some Japanese aftermarket lightweight FRP trunk through Rev9 (although it seems none of them have a hole for the center brake light).

mXxxxXm24 /O/ /O/ > daender 07/30/2019 at 22:40

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Yeah I’m gonna look over the M2 1028 roadster for more inspiration! I have removed the exhaust side baby tooth and tried and failed to remove the front driver side baby tooth. I was able to remove one of the bolts but gave up after that. It really bothers me that it is still in. I need to take another crack at it I guess. Any pointers?

And I agree about the trunk, I have only looked at ducktail trunks and yeah I think it was carbon miata frp. Have other priorities than replacing my perfectly functional trunk at the moment lol. It is on the wish list though.

I have been thinking of replacing the power antenna with a shortie fixed antenna. I’m not sure how much weight savings is there, but it looks like it could be a few lbs.

daender > mXxxxXm24 /O/ /O/ 07/30/2019 at 23:27

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It’d probably take penetrating oil like PB blaster and let it sit overnight to get that stubborn bolt off but be careful because it might just snap the bolt head off.

Replacing the antenna with a fixed one or a cap isn’t a bad idea, especially since most aftermarket head units don’t work fluidly with the powered antenna.

Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) > mXxxxXm24 /O/ /O/ 07/31/2019 at 00:38

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Haha well safety structures are all I tend to think about sometimes with my engineering background. But it’s just suggestions anyways. I know I could do more for my safety as well. It’s why I prefer taking the Subaru for daily driving, especially if I get on the freeway. Backroads feel worth the risk in a Miata since I’m more at risk of driving off a cliff than being run into by an idiot. While the subaru isn’t new either, it’s got side airbags and real crash structure so I trust it a bit more in the high risk Los Angeles freeway environment.

But anyways, I hear you on the harness feeling safer in general and yeah I agree that regardless just having the roll bar is better than not. I think the worst was one time where I had accidentally dropped my keys onto the passenger floor after putting on my harness at the track and had to ask a passerby to grab them so that I wouldn’t have to unstrap again. The inconvenient part is re adjusting each time to get it right. 

mXxxxXm24 /O/ /O/ > daender 07/31/2019 at 09:55

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I’ve actually  tried the pb blaster before and it still didn’t want to move. Might have to try again. Hopefully it won’t snap off! That is the worst feeling.

I’ve looked at the shorty antennas and there are so many.  I don’t really care about reception considering I have no radio, but def want a solid looking and fitting piece

mXxxxXm24 /O/ /O/ > Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) 07/31/2019 at 10:35

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Yeah I’ve been looking at getting a new daily, for that and to preserve the Miata a bit,  but I kind of like the race car life lol.

Also haha the struggle is real. I had to move my sunglasses to the center console to be able to get to them with the harness on, cause I kept forgetting them.

Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) > mXxxxXm24 /O/ /O/ 07/31/2019 at 12:04

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Its funny because I try to drive the Miata more to preserve the Subaru lol. Putting mileage on the Miata is 100% irrelevant . It has 250k on it and I abuse it every chance I can get. So its sole purpose is just to drive. With nearing 170k on the Subaru, I have to be cautious of adding superfluous mileage because its still worth a fair chunk of money and who knows when things will start breaking. 

mXxxxXm24 /O/ /O/ > Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) 07/31/2019 at 12:47

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Fair. I mainly want to preserve the miata from rust and corrosion. I want to keep it forever.  Why I’m considering getting more of a beater at the moment. Although I may be looking at a 2001 miata lol. 4200 and only 88k on it.

Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) > mXxxxXm24 /O/ /O/ 07/31/2019 at 12:57

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Ahh rust and corrosion, I dont know what that is anymore =p. Thats a great price for such low mileage! For reference I spent the same with 242k on mine. I think it would feel silly to own two miatas but I could see value in it. 

mXxxxXm24 /O/ /O/ > Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) 07/31/2019 at 13:08

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Wait don’t you currently own 2 Miatas? Lol. I’ve never driven another miata let alone an nb. I am curious to how it will differ from mine, but I really want my friend to get it. And yeah wow  the price is very enticing and I’m sure it will be gone soon.

Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) > mXxxxXm24 /O/ /O/ 07/31/2019 at 18:42

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Yes of course I own two miatas but thats besides the point lolol. No, but the second miata is in pieces and in the process of being parted out and scrapped. I just have been slow about working on it due to other things getting in the way, mainly the new miata needing my attention. 

mXxxxXm24 /O/ /O/ > Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) 07/31/2019 at 19:36

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Haha I know. I obviously  had to give you shit. Also poor miata ;(

Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) > mXxxxXm24 /O/ /O/ 07/31/2019 at 19:51

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Ehh it was rusty on the rockers when I bought it (I have pictures from 2014 showing the rust) and I didnt even look at the frame forks then, I bet they were already bad. Considering I got 4 years and change out of it and around 90k miles, I gave it the best possible life. I do wish I spent less considering the condition, but such is life. It had enough wild trips including the cross country journey so it lived the best life a Miata could. If it weren’t for the rust I’d have fixed it but I do still plan on removing the motor, rebuilding it, and keeping as a spare to some day live on in the current Miata. Plus so many parts swapped over keeps the old car alive in spirit.

I thought it was funny when a coworker was confused why my Miata was a different color one day. They thought I just got the old one painted silver. Seeing as it had my seat and roll bar in it and is the exact same year, trim, and interior. 

mXxxxXm24 /O/ /O/ > Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) 07/31/2019 at 20:44

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Well you’re miata had a nice life :) Also you weren’t as crazy as me with spending I guess lol . Mine also had rusty rockers... $ 1,4 00 later it did not lol. I really shouldn’t have bought my car in hindsight, but I wanted a ‘96 m edition with a hard top . I had to have it. It had 80k on it and was pretty much all original. I’ve considered exactly what you are doing if it comes to it in the future, but I hope it won’t anytime soon .

daender > mXxxxXm24 /O/ /O/ 08/06/2019 at 19:56

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If you’re wanting to continue channeling that M2-1028 vibe, then there’s a member on the Miata.net selling his shorty NA console for $50 as part of a charity fundraiser for Race Against Kids Cancer. Looks like it’s missing a few decorative hardware pieces but nothing that can’t be fixed with a trip to the hardware store. https://forum.miata.net/vb/showthread.php?t=699499

His sale ends tomorrow, btw~!

mXxxxXm24 /O/ /O/ > daender 08/06/2019 at 21:38

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Thanks for the heads up! I’ve thought about doing a shorty console. My only reservation is that I use my center console for storage, but it would free up space and look more like the m2- 1028.  That price makes it very tempting.  And it’s a good cause.  

mXxxxXm24 /O/ /O/ > daender 08/06/2019 at 21:52

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Oh I’ m planning to do an a/c delete hopefully next week! I have been wanting to for a while and I really need a new radiator, so I’m gonna do it finally. I think I’ll call my car an m1028 edition. Modding these cars is so  addicting

daender > mXxxxXm24 /O/ /O/ 08/06/2019 at 22:11

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Sweet!  Make sure to get the right delete pulley and then I think there’s something different in the venting system between AC and non-AC cars but I can’t remember exactly which part it was!  If you want to go even further, consider deleting your PS but maintain the current steering rack ratio as the non-PS rack will have you spinning away to make the same corner!

mXxxxXm24 /O/ /O/ > daender 08/06/2019 at 22:38

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I’m actually going to a shop for the a/c delete. They race spec Miatas and know their stuff.  As much as I like to do most the work on my car,  I’m gonna have them do it rather than me trying to figure it out lol. I’ve also considered ps delete as well. Maybe even abs delete, but I haven’t looked into that at all yet.