After putting in a grueling amount of work hours over the last few weeks I was hoping to make the best of a long weekend. A nice drive up the coast to relax for a couple of days in the wine country around Paso Robles sounded great. I had a vision my trip would be like Dustin Hoffman's in The Graduate, ripping up the coast highway in an import roadster with the top down and the engine roaring.
Mother nature had other ideas as one of the coldest weather fronts in recent memory rolled through the area...
Sunshine and songbirds were replaced with ice and gusty winds. With the help of the Miata's heater blasting, I was able to get in a few miles of twisty roads with the top down, but a lot of the Miata's charm and fun was sucked away in the wash of frigid Arctic air. Instead of spirited handling and the thrill of twisty roads with the top down, I was forced to notice the negative aspects of the Miata with the top up: tight quarters and loud road noise. Maybe this Spring I'll start a new love affair with the Miata, but this go around she left me cold.
Scott Jacobs, Senior Photographer
Scott Jacobs, Senior Photographer
carlisimo says:
07:16 PM, 01/17/07
Driving my Miata the last few days in San Jose has been pretty harsh. My commute is short right now, so it's almost not worth waiting for the heater to warm up the interior; I just go top down and put the windows up (all the German convertible owners drive that way, so it can't look too bad).
The wind blocker in the 2nd generation has some effect but it's not quite a "wind blocker". How is it on that one?
lcachola says:
07:56 AM, 01/18/07
The wind blocker in the 3rd gen works VERY well with the windows up as there is no wind tunnel between the seats with the blocker up. In fact, with the windows and windbreaker up, you can run at highway speeds with the heater on and stay warm with the top down. Mazda did a real good job with air flow management in this car.
As for the road noise, some Miata owners use earplugs to reduce the amount of noise fatigue you get with a convertible, top up or down. On long trips this can be a godsend, though the earplugs can get annoying if you don't take them out every once in a while for a break.
~leonard
jwfisher says:
05:44 AM, 01/20/07
What a waste of time! Even if it was quiet it still doesn't have any power. Why didn't you just take an S2000...!
-Jeff
S2000Enthusiast.com
lcachola says:
10:27 AM, 01/20/07
Why not an S2K? Because not all of us live life driving between 6k-9k RPMs all day long, like a more comfortable daily driver, and like paying cheaper insurance.
firstwagon says:
11:52 AM, 01/20/07
Why a Miata over an S2000? Because the Miata is $28,095 and the S2000 is $50,300 (Canadian prices).
Add to that the Miata is better looking (IMHO) and more fun to drive at street legal speeds.
desmolicious says:
07:59 PM, 01/20/07
S2000? What a waste of time! Even if it was quiet it still doesn't have any power. Why didn't you just take a Porsche Boxster S...!
Dieter
MycarisbetterthanyourcarbecauseIsaidso.com