We Rolled Our Dream Car, A 1997 Miata

Kinja'd!!! "RS Hole, I forgot my password for 8 months" (atlinke39)
01/22/2014 at 09:11 • Filed to: None

Kinja'd!!!39 Kinja'd!!! 100
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The rear end kicked out, I can see mile marker 102, our destination. "We're going to hit that pole." "Yep." I remember thinking, "We'll probably end up stuck in the snow bank". Distressed metal sounds, "Shit", I thought, "We're upside-down."

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!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!

(Welcome to the Continuing Misadventures of Aaron (Me) and Kenny (Miata owner) and his Miata, part one of a one-part series on how we rolled in a Miata.

So it's a cold morning in January, and I had recently won tickets to go to a radio station and meet and see a concert from English musician Jake Bugg. My roommate Kenny would tag along as my plus one to the event. Because it was 29 degrees and snowing, we thought, "Why not take the Miata to the station, with the top down?"

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The drive was an absolute blast, we are cruising on I-94 and people are taking pictures, laughing, and giving us thumbs up. But somewhere near Battle Creek, I (from the passenger seat) can feel the car lose traction. Kenny immediately eases off the accelerator and decreases speed by at least 10 MPH.

Then somewhere just outside Battle Creek, the rear kicks out to the right, Fuck, we're sliding. We slide across one lane, headed for the ditch. There's a strange split second when everything feels peaceful, but then we leave the freeway. We slide sideways approximately 25 feet until the rear catches the up-slope of the ditch. Faster than I can even process, we flip and I come-to, upside-down.

Fuck.

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After a quick self-assessment to see if I have any major injuries, I yell out Kenny's name to see if he is alright. He responds that he is okay, no major injuries (we both walked away unscathed). With my head and neck cocked against the ground, I am still buckled in. Kenny comes up underneath me, facing out my window. He was buried in snow when we landed, and had to unbuckle and dig himself out.


I try to open the door, but it will not budge. The top of the triangular window has stabbed into the icy ground. We are stuck here.

Luckily, after about five minutes, two truckers with Russian accents and a lady come to our aid, ask us if we are okay, how many people in the car etc. etc. After a short brainstorming seminar on how we can get out, we ask the truckers to pull on the door with all their might. They do, the window frame objects, the window pops, and we now have an exit.

We crawl out and begin to assess the damage. "We just had a near-life experience."

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The lady, one of the kindest people I have ever met, drives a bus, and says we can get warm in there while we wait for the wrecker. We thank the truckers and the lady for helping us, and wait for the EMT's to arrive. The truckers leave, and the state police arrives. Our entire encounter with the EMT's goes like this:

"Are you guys okay?""Yeah we think so.""Okay, bye."

The state trooper comes, chastises Kenny for driving too fast, and issues a ticket for violating the basic speed law.

It continues to snow.

I snap a few pictures with my phone.

The wrecker arrives, flips the Miata with ease, doubts the drivability of the car, and proceeds to tow the lugubrious little Japanese convertible away.

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The lady with the bus offers to give us a ride into Battle Creek, where Kenny's parents reside. We graciously accept and discuss the events that recently transpired in the warmth of her shuttle bus. I cannot express enough the gratitude I feel for the generosity her and the many other strangers we encountered that day showed us. Faith in humanity restored.

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We hung out with Kenny's parents for a while and drank coffee, and then he called the tow company. They said we could come down and inspect the vehicle, so we did.

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Seeing the Miata in that automotive graveyard was painful. After talking it out with the tow-people (who were also genuinely friendly, great people), he paid off the tow fee of $271. We got to the car to discover it is full of snow. We scoop out as much as we can, and Kenny proceeds to fire his baby back up.

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It's alive!

With a few puffs of burnt oil, albeit, but alive nonetheless.

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Kenny does a few celebratory donuts in the graveyard, and we depart for a body shop.

She's totaled, Jim.

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The top is obviously destroyed; the windshield frame has bent down about 10 degrees and the half-closed top gives the Miata a more sleek, Porsche 914-esque appearance.

It also has a few more dents than I recall.

But mechanically and electrically it remains indefatigable.Perhaps a LeMons racer in the making?


Time will tell. Safe driving, planet Earth.(We never made it to the radio station.) Photo credits:RS Hole


DISCUSSION (100)


Kinja'd!!! TheBloody, Oppositelock lives on in our shitposts. > RS Hole, I forgot my password for 8 months
01/22/2014 at 09:15

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Glad you're okay, sorry to hear about the Miata.


Kinja'd!!! Brian Silvestro > RS Hole, I forgot my password for 8 months
01/22/2014 at 09:15

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Holy shit you didn't die. Don't destroy it! Sell it as art.


Kinja'd!!! RS Hole, I forgot my password for 8 months > Brian Silvestro
01/22/2014 at 09:17

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We were thinking of:
a.) keep it as summer only car
b.) LeMons
c.) drift car?

But yeah we are glad we didn't perish


Kinja'd!!! RS Hole, I forgot my password for 8 months > TheBloody, Oppositelock lives on in our shitposts.
01/22/2014 at 09:18

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Thank you, it is never easy to lose a beloved auto


Kinja'd!!! Lazzris > RS Hole, I forgot my password for 8 months
01/22/2014 at 09:18

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Glad to hear that you guys are ok. I say chop the windshield off and put a wind deflector and roll bar on it and keep driving.


Kinja'd!!! RotaryLover > RS Hole, I forgot my password for 8 months
01/22/2014 at 09:20

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Good to know that you guys are okay!!


Kinja'd!!! Brian Silvestro > RS Hole, I forgot my password for 8 months
01/22/2014 at 09:20

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Is it still road legal? If so, you should do all of those things with the car until it breaks.


Kinja'd!!! RS Hole, I forgot my password for 8 months > Brian Silvestro
01/22/2014 at 09:21

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I don't see how it wouldn't be road legal, everything still works. That is a great idea!


Kinja'd!!! RS Hole, I forgot my password for 8 months > RotaryLover
01/22/2014 at 09:22

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Much appreciated :)


Kinja'd!!! themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles > RS Hole, I forgot my password for 8 months
01/22/2014 at 09:22

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speedster conversion should happen now.

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Kinja'd!!! Brian Silvestro > RS Hole, I forgot my password for 8 months
01/22/2014 at 09:22

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Now all you have to do is pop in a roll cage and you're good to go!


Kinja'd!!! RS Hole, I forgot my password for 8 months > Lazzris
01/22/2014 at 09:22

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I am unclear on the legality of vehicles sans-windscreen but I do love this idea


Kinja'd!!! RacecaR > RS Hole, I forgot my password for 8 months
01/22/2014 at 09:24

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Wow, that could have ended a lot worse! Good to hear everyone made it out okay. But I'm willing to bet you two are sore now.

And that is awesome the car still runs! And I agree, LeMons race car (or drift missile)!


Kinja'd!!! BarryDanger > themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles
01/22/2014 at 09:26

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This was my first thought.


Kinja'd!!! daender > RS Hole, I forgot my password for 8 months
01/22/2014 at 09:27

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Wow, you guys are really lucky, most no-rollbar Miata owners don't survive flips and roll-overs due to the a-pillars collapsing so easily. I think you two spend a good chunk of luck on that flip, it's best to get some metal protection for it now if it ever happens again.

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Kinja'd!!! area man > RS Hole, I forgot my password for 8 months
01/22/2014 at 09:28

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What a story, you're damn lucky! So was the top still down when you flipped? I'm ignant about the rollover dynamics of a convertible - I feel like it would just flatten to the beltline and kill the occupants.


Kinja'd!!! 505Turbeaux > RS Hole, I forgot my password for 8 months
01/22/2014 at 09:32

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damn, glad you guys made it out ok. I have seen much worse Miata accidents with a rollover as far as after effects, physical and to the car. How did that windshield not break?!?


Kinja'd!!! willkinton247 > themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles
01/22/2014 at 09:37

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I second this. Do it!


Kinja'd!!! Travis Okulski > RS Hole, I forgot my password for 8 months
01/22/2014 at 09:39

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Hate to see a Miata hurt, but glad to see you guys weren't.


Kinja'd!!! CO-OCD > RS Hole, I forgot my password for 8 months
01/22/2014 at 09:39

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"LeMons" What is this Lemons you speak of? Oh, you mean LeMans, that 24-hour thing, right? LOL


Kinja'd!!! Burt > CO-OCD
01/22/2014 at 09:42

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No, LeMons, the 24 hour crapcan thing here.


Kinja'd!!! RS Hole, I forgot my password for 8 months > willkinton247
01/22/2014 at 09:43

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Eff it, why not? I love this idea


Kinja'd!!! zmf2112 > Brian Silvestro
01/22/2014 at 09:45

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This.

And congrats on the good fortune.


Kinja'd!!! RS Hole, I forgot my password for 8 months > daender
01/22/2014 at 09:45

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I hear you, the snow is what saved our lives. If not for that, we'd have died for sure, as we both got partially buried upon landing


Kinja'd!!! RS Hole, I forgot my password for 8 months > 505Turbeaux
01/22/2014 at 09:46

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Japanese kabuki magik i guess


Kinja'd!!! RS Hole, I forgot my password for 8 months > area man
01/22/2014 at 09:47

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Yes, we rolled with the top down, but during air time, the top decided to fly up and we partially landed on it!


Kinja'd!!! RS Hole, I forgot my password for 8 months > Travis Okulski
01/22/2014 at 09:48

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This whole incident confirms my suspicion that Miata is truly the answer. We just don't know the question.


Kinja'd!!! willkinton247 > RS Hole, I forgot my password for 8 months
01/22/2014 at 09:50

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That way you don't have to deal with insurance, and you'll have a one of a kind miata. Your version already has one of the lowest weights to power, and you can make that weight even less.

I'd just suggest putting a small piece of perspex in front of you to deflect the wind some.


Kinja'd!!! RS Hole, I forgot my password for 8 months > RacecaR
01/22/2014 at 09:50

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Not too much soreness, i think due to the snowy landing. Oppo has me leaning towards speedster LeMon!


Kinja'd!!! deekster_caddy > RS Hole, I forgot my password for 8 months
01/22/2014 at 09:50

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Glad to hear you found good people! I was driving from Boston to Florida once, and in Florida about 6 hours from my destination, I see an S-10 Blazer that must have siezed a rear outer wheel bearing... the axle is glowing while I am behind it, I see the rear end start to sag, I know it's going badly for them. I watch as the wheel suddenly gets camber, the truck drops and the wheel rolls away, all at 75 mph. The driver somehow manages to not flip the thing, pulls over to the breakdown lane. I already had my flashers on and had blocked the right lanes for her. I stop behind them, wait with them for a tow truck (3 younger girls who had absolutely no idea what to do), lend them my phone, then give them a ride to some place in Tampa (about 1-1/2 hours from the scene). It sets my trip back about 3 hours, but I was already near the end of a 24 hour straight drive anyway, so it was good to get a change of pace and some excitement.

Their parents were thrilled that the girls lucked out the way they did, tried to get me to stay for dinner etc. I wouldn't have any of it, told them I was glad they were all safe and went on my way.

That bus driver was a-ok in my book. Glad you were both okay! I've done the 'convertible in the snow' thing, it's really fun!

(get snow tires on your next car!)


Kinja'd!!! RS Hole, I forgot my password for 8 months > willkinton247
01/22/2014 at 09:52

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Im excited for this! I just hope we don't roll it again. I think there's a saying about roll me once, shame on you....


Kinja'd!!! ttyymmnn > RS Hole, I forgot my password for 8 months
01/22/2014 at 09:52

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That's quite a story. Proof that seat belts save lives. However, what does "Violating the basic speed law" mean? Is that the same thing as driving too fast for conditions? Because there's no way the trooper could have known your speed unless you told him.


Kinja'd!!! BoxerFanatic, troublesome iconoclast. > themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles
01/22/2014 at 09:54

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This is exactly what I thought at the end of reading that account.

Roofless, polycarbonate windscreen open cockpit roadster race car.


Kinja'd!!! AeroEagle333 > RS Hole, I forgot my password for 8 months
01/22/2014 at 09:55

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This would make for one hell of a LeMons car!


Kinja'd!!! RS Hole, I forgot my password for 8 months > deekster_caddy
01/22/2014 at 09:55

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That is incredibly generous of you, good Samaritan! This whole incident really makes me want to pay all that kindness forward. Snow tires are a great idea


Kinja'd!!! Lazzris > RS Hole, I forgot my password for 8 months
01/22/2014 at 09:55

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You could always build it drive it and if you get a ticket its not legal.


Kinja'd!!! DatASSun > RS Hole, I forgot my password for 8 months
01/22/2014 at 09:59

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reason 142342779382-2 to move to Texas ..


Kinja'd!!! RS Hole, I forgot my password for 8 months > DatASSun
01/22/2014 at 10:05

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But... but we're America's high five...


Kinja'd!!! RS Hole, I forgot my password for 8 months > ttyymmnn
01/22/2014 at 10:06

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Yes, too fast for the conditions. Basically he got a ticket for crashing, haha. We were going 10 under the speed limit at the time of the accident.


Kinja'd!!! GhostZ > RS Hole, I forgot my password for 8 months
01/22/2014 at 10:10

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The way to go is to buy another Miata with a good body but bad engine, and then pull this one's engine into it. That is now your new Miata.

Then, take the now engineless trashed miata and put in a Ford 5.0, a 13B rotary, or any number of cheap 4-cylinder swaps, and then make it a drift car, since you don't need to worry about the state of the body for drifting.


Kinja'd!!! Mechanix > RS Hole, I forgot my password for 8 months
01/22/2014 at 10:13

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Great to see that you're all okay. I also like Jake Bugg. About the Miata, I also own one (we call it a mx-5) and cried when I went straight on a T intersection. But more than a couple of bend rims it was all okay. Yours probably needs more work. It remembers me of this post http://jalopnik.com/5971361/is-the…

Your Miata will live on


Kinja'd!!! ncasolowork2 > RS Hole, I forgot my password for 8 months
01/22/2014 at 10:17

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If you LeMons it at Gingnerman can I sign on to drive?


Kinja'd!!! willkinton247 > RS Hole, I forgot my password for 8 months
01/22/2014 at 10:19

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Well, you'll lower your center of gravity even more, for one. You could also put a roll bar in it. And I'm really hoping you can pull this off. Make sure you post your build thread.

Also, I went ahead and took the liberty to share this on Twitter. Do you have a handle I can HT to?


Kinja'd!!! ncasolowork2 > RS Hole, I forgot my password for 8 months
01/22/2014 at 10:21

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I had a similar experience last winter. Driving to Sault Ste. Marie in probably similar or worse conditions we were on I-75 north of the bridge about 10 miles out of the Sault and it went from bad to apocolyptic. I'm in a Subaru with a 6 month old in the back so I slow way down. This Malibu that I just passed 5 minutes ago goes flying by me. Then said Malibu went flying. Lost control hit the snow bank on the left side of the road and rolled in to the median ditch. My wife and I stopped immediately and called 911. I think I got to the car not more than 30 seconds after it came to a stop. Driver was fine car appeared mostly fine. Worst part was that was our 3rd 911 call of the trip.

3 or 4 other people stopped and my wife and I headed on our way (due to 6 month old in the car who had been in the car for 6 hours) but I can pretty much picture exactly what happened to your car.


Kinja'd!!! CO-OCD > Burt
01/22/2014 at 10:25

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I know, guess I was trying to be too witty.


Kinja'd!!! fidelity > RS Hole, I forgot my password for 8 months
01/22/2014 at 10:26

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That deck has to be from about 2001-2003ish? I'm more amazed that thing is still working.


Kinja'd!!! Hauchipato > RS Hole, I forgot my password for 8 months
01/22/2014 at 10:27

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The snow is also what got you in trouble in the first place.


Kinja'd!!! Grizwold > RS Hole, I forgot my password for 8 months
01/22/2014 at 10:28

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As a long time na owner: they ain't good in the snow. Glad you guys are OK.


Kinja'd!!! Takuro Spirit > RS Hole, I forgot my password for 8 months
01/22/2014 at 10:29

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Found yer problem!

Joking (mostly). Glad everyone made it out okay, and the Miata will live to cruise top-down another snowy day. Just make sure next time it's on proper tires, and driven within the limits of adhesion.

Or LeMons. That's a damn good idea.


Kinja'd!!! UKGTR335 > RS Hole, I forgot my password for 8 months
01/22/2014 at 10:31

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Lucky it had that car bra on it to prevent any major damage to the front end. What a life saver!

In all seriousness, glad to hear that nobody was hurt, and the only consequence was a good story and some pictures to go with it.


Kinja'd!!! ridered777 > RS Hole, I forgot my password for 8 months
01/22/2014 at 10:32

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Another vote for lemons. If you're local we can help you prep, but doesn't quite look like the Northeast to me...


Kinja'd!!! My X-type is too a real Jaguar > RS Hole, I forgot my password for 8 months
01/22/2014 at 10:34

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You are in Michigan, I've seen worse on the road up there.


Kinja'd!!! muwenk > RS Hole, I forgot my password for 8 months
01/22/2014 at 10:34

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Lucky you guys were OK. Reminded me of when Hammond flipped his turbine racer and dragged his head in the ground as a emergency brake. These soft tops clearly do nothing in the event of a flip and I've really been looking into buying a Miata for the past couple of months. Maybe install a roll bar next time?


Kinja'd!!! Mustang 'DontHitTheCrowd' GT > RS Hole, I forgot my password for 8 months
01/22/2014 at 10:35

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Crazy to see that the headlight is still up!


Kinja'd!!! Battery Tender Unnecessary > RS Hole, I forgot my password for 8 months
01/22/2014 at 10:37

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Glad you're ok.

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Kinja'd!!! You had fordboy357 at "meat tornado" > RS Hole, I forgot my password for 8 months
01/22/2014 at 10:37

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I lol'd at "How many people in the car?"

Although I shouldn't have.


Kinja'd!!! Mikey > RS Hole, I forgot my password for 8 months
01/22/2014 at 10:38

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Nice Fight Club reference :)

Sad to hear about the Miata though! Did it have snow tires? LSD? There's a very specific speed for any tire in water/snow of a certain depth where it simply loses almost all traction. I'm sorry you had to find that the hard way!


Kinja'd!!! CKeffer > RS Hole, I forgot my password for 8 months
01/22/2014 at 10:38

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A set up like this in it's future perhaps? :D


Kinja'd!!! One_Leaf_Short > RS Hole, I forgot my password for 8 months
01/22/2014 at 10:39

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Kinja'd!!! Mosca > RS Hole, I forgot my password for 8 months
01/22/2014 at 10:39

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Man, I'm glad this isn't an obituary. A good friend of mine rolled his and died. RIP Dave, "BRKL8R". I totaled one, but it was into a pole.

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There's lots of them, and they're cheap. Get another.


Kinja'd!!! jhota42 > RS Hole, I forgot my password for 8 months
01/22/2014 at 10:39

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I rolled a 1978 MGB 3 times; slid sideways into a ditch at about 50 mph. No roll bar, and the windscreen flew off. As far as we could tell, the only reasons we survived were that the car bounced every time it hit its sides and landed rubber-side down.

My car was not salvageable. Thankfully, I was out of hospital the same day and my passenger was out the next.

Fun times.


Kinja'd!!! gideonford > RS Hole, I forgot my password for 8 months
01/22/2014 at 10:40

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So ... In a snowstorm you took out a narrow tired rwd miata, dropped the top, and were speeding ... Yup ... Everything happened exactly as it should have.

If you plan on being equally as stupid later in life please try to avoid doing so in a cherished and slowly disappearing platform.


Kinja'd!!! themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles > RS Hole, I forgot my password for 8 months
01/22/2014 at 10:41

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Do that. Roll problems solved. Also, don't drive it in winter. That helps too. I live in Grand Rapids so I know your pain. 1000$ FWD jetta FTW.


Kinja'd!!! Drew > RS Hole, I forgot my password for 8 months
01/22/2014 at 10:41

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Dude

I thought for sure the cool car bra would have saved you


Kinja'd!!! Dr_Watson > Takuro Spirit
01/22/2014 at 10:43

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Yeah, those do not look like bizzaks. Winter tires save miatas.


Kinja'd!!! Bob Sacamano > RS Hole, I forgot my password for 8 months
01/22/2014 at 10:43

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I have the identical (1990 version) color and options (before modifications). As it looked like my car upside down this was especially painful to see. If you decide to part ways you could easily fund a new miata by parting out the motor trans and other components. I hope you make this thing awesome, but if that isn't in the plans I'll buy the motor!


Kinja'd!!! Dr_Watson > RS Hole, I forgot my password for 8 months
01/22/2014 at 10:44

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Doesn't everyone take a turn punching you in the nuts if you bring a miata to LeMons?


Kinja'd!!! Thunder > Lazzris
01/22/2014 at 10:45

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Aren't there some roadsters that have a "windshield" that consists of a 6"x2" piece of plexiglass somewhere ahead of the driver? For anyone who would cruise top-down as you did, that should be perfectly badass.

Back in 2000 or so, my in-laws were returning from visiting us when a semi clipped them on I-90 in upstate NY. They were spun around, flipped, and tobagganed to a smooth, long stop on the roof of their Chrysler Cirrus. They were unscathed... but had that happened a week earlier, it could have been much worse. My grandfather-in-law would have been with them; he and my mother-in-law always sat in back, unbuckled. He had passed away not two weeks before, so when it mattered, she was belted in front.

Glad you're OK.


Kinja'd!!! Viperfan1 > RS Hole, I forgot my password for 8 months
01/22/2014 at 10:46

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So you rolled a Miata and didn't die. Maybe the "ROLLBARS OR DEATH BY STYLEBAR/NOBAR!!111!" guys can get bent now. So tired of that debate by now..


Kinja'd!!! DatBomb > RS Hole, I forgot my password for 8 months
01/22/2014 at 10:46

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isnt it the snow that made you lose control in the first place?


Kinja'd!!! hummer4douche > RS Hole, I forgot my password for 8 months
01/22/2014 at 10:46

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That's why I'll never buy a convertible. (Glad you're ok.)


Kinja'd!!! kgcphoto.com > themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles
01/22/2014 at 10:46

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You could be Kanye.


Kinja'd!!! Aerosomethingsomethingagain > RS Hole, I forgot my password for 8 months
01/22/2014 at 10:47

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You could Exocet it. www.exomotive.com


Kinja'd!!! iaintafraidofnoghost > RS Hole, I forgot my password for 8 months
01/22/2014 at 10:49

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"part one of a one-part series on how we rolled in a Miata." I got a good laugh out of this. Glad you and your bud are alive.


Kinja'd!!! Dolemite > RS Hole, I forgot my password for 8 months
01/22/2014 at 10:50

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How would the police officer know what speed you were going?


Kinja'd!!! Morgan ATX > RS Hole, I forgot my password for 8 months
01/22/2014 at 10:51

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Got Lucky!

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Kinja'd!!! CaptainKRM > RS Hole, I forgot my password for 8 months
01/22/2014 at 10:51

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Exomotive Exocet conversion is whispering sweet nothings to your subconcious


Kinja'd!!! gla2yyz > RS Hole, I forgot my password for 8 months
01/22/2014 at 11:01

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It looks like a kid who has just went through his first ass-kicking. Black eye and all!

Glad you're both safe and sound. Look forward to the LeMons article!


Kinja'd!!! Dream Theater of the Absurd > RS Hole, I forgot my password for 8 months
01/22/2014 at 11:02

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If the rest of the body is still sound, and you have sufficient cubic dollars, chop off the windshield and build that sucker into an E Production car.


Kinja'd!!! VS > RS Hole, I forgot my password for 8 months
01/22/2014 at 11:03

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Noobs if no winter tires, where is Darwin when you need him

/noflamesuit


Kinja'd!!! DMaculate > RS Hole, I forgot my password for 8 months
01/22/2014 at 11:04

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Kinja'd!!!

Kinja'd!!!


Kinja'd!!! Takuro Spirit > Dr_Watson
01/22/2014 at 11:05

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Know a guy that DD's a Miata all over all year round. Had a '97 (196k), a '06 (150k), and now a '11 (40k-ish currently). All on Hakkapeliittas.

He drives 100+ miles a day and never had a crash in the snow.


Kinja'd!!! Kevingalls > RS Hole, I forgot my password for 8 months
01/22/2014 at 11:05

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Dig the new winking look


Kinja'd!!! Zeniff > RS Hole, I forgot my password for 8 months
01/22/2014 at 11:06

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I had a similar experience 17 years ago — heading home from college in terrible road conditions. I was also going too fast. My faith in people was totally bolstered by all the good samaritans that stopped to help me. Glad you guys were ok and hopefully there's a lesson learned from all of this too.


Kinja'd!!! ironcladlou > RS Hole, I forgot my password for 8 months
01/22/2014 at 11:06

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Your story is remarkably similar to the time I rolled an 86 Mazda pickup. Kind people helped me, EMTs said "Ok, bye!", etc. Only difference was it wasn't snowing.


Kinja'd!!! Kursa > RS Hole, I forgot my password for 8 months
01/22/2014 at 11:08

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Kinja'd!!!

It's like it's winking to you, alls well.

"It's okay human, we had a lot of fun times together, maybe more, but for now... sleep."


Kinja'd!!! Mark Jacob > Takuro Spirit
01/22/2014 at 11:11

Kinja'd!!!0

Hakkapeliittas are the absolute best snow tires I have ever had. Growing up in VT, my Neon could go anywhere .


Kinja'd!!! Group B-raaaaaaaaaap! > RS Hole, I forgot my password for 8 months
01/22/2014 at 11:12

Kinja'd!!!34

Kinja'd!!!


Kinja'd!!! Michael H > RS Hole, I forgot my password for 8 months
01/22/2014 at 11:13

Kinja'd!!!9

Time to build an Exocet! Crashed Miata + $6500 =

Exomotive Exocet

Kinja'd!!!


Kinja'd!!! Ricky Weston > RS Hole, I forgot my password for 8 months
01/22/2014 at 11:14

Kinja'd!!!0

Kill it with fire. It's already tried to do the right thing once, clearly it just needs a bit of help.


Kinja'd!!! Rust-y > RS Hole, I forgot my password for 8 months
01/22/2014 at 11:18

Kinja'd!!!0

That's not what they mean when they say "roll your own".

glad that no death involved.


Kinja'd!!! Driving-ms-paisley > RS Hole, I forgot my password for 8 months
01/22/2014 at 11:18

Kinja'd!!!0

Most of the time they don't actually give you that ticket in a one car accident, out of pity. I see this officer was a dick.

OTOH, miata in the snow was a dumb idea.


Kinja'd!!! dp455 > RS Hole, I forgot my password for 8 months
01/22/2014 at 11:18

Kinja'd!!!1

First of all, allow me to say, I'm glad no one got hurt. Second, I have done some very questionable things in contrast to my intelligence. I have the scars to prove it. Joy riding a Miata in the snow sound like a blast, if you are on side roads or deserted parking lots. However, driving a lightweight, peppy, rear wheel drive car without snow-tires at interstate speed has me beat in the random acts of stupidity department. What was the best possible outcome for this? Arriving safely at your destination wasn't one of them. You are very lucky to still be with us. Good read though.


Kinja'd!!! KamikazePigeon > RS Hole, I forgot my password for 8 months
01/22/2014 at 11:18

Kinja'd!!!0

Glad to hear you guys are okay and were lucky enough to have some good people help you out as well. I'm terribly sorry about the Miata. I look forward to owning one possibly in the near future (as my first personal car actually).

I have a question though. Is it normal for a police officer to issue a ticket for, what seems like, an extremely unfortunate occurrence? I've never been in a major accident due to unfavourable driving conditions so I don't know from personal experience. I just think issuing a ticket adds insult to injury.

I wish you guys and the Miata all the best.



Kinja'd!!! BlackPenquinn > RS Hole, I forgot my password for 8 months
01/22/2014 at 11:19

Kinja'd!!!0

Convertibles without proper roll bars scare the crap out of me. My Lotus 211 has a proper FIA cage in it for that reason. They look cleaner without it, but I look better with my head connected.

Glad to hear you had no injuries.

Kinja'd!!!

Kinja'd!!!


Kinja'd!!! Stapleface-Now Hyphenated! > RS Hole, I forgot my password for 8 months
01/22/2014 at 11:19

Kinja'd!!!0

So I have to ask, why is this totaled? A new door or two from the junkyard and it should be (almost) good as it was. Are top mechanisms that expensive on a Miata?


Kinja'd!!! RS Hole, I forgot my password for 8 months > Takuro Spirit
01/22/2014 at 11:20

Kinja'd!!!0

That bra saved our lives, I now wear a bra on my person


Kinja'd!!! RS Hole, I forgot my password for 8 months > Takuro Spirit
01/22/2014 at 11:20

Kinja'd!!!0

That bra saved our lives, I now wear a bra on my person


Kinja'd!!! RS Hole, I forgot my password for 8 months > Takuro Spirit
01/22/2014 at 11:20

Kinja'd!!!0

That bra saved our lives, I now wear a bra on my person


Kinja'd!!! RS Hole, I forgot my password for 8 months > Takuro Spirit
01/22/2014 at 11:20

Kinja'd!!!0

That bra saved our lives, I now wear a bra on my person