Perfect commuting car

[280Z Turbo]

Kind of defeats the purpose of buying a roadster doesn't it?

No. What else on the market can offer the same mix of lightweight, RWD, excellent handling, and low price?

I would buy a Miata despite the fact that it's a convertible.

[Raza]

I hate it when the sun keeps shining on me. And I'd rather have a roof over my head. It makes me feel more secure.

You're that worried about vulnerability?  Damn, I thought I was paranoid.

[Cookie Monster]

You're that worried about vulnerability?  Damn, I thought I was paranoid.

?
I don't see what's so great about top down driving... If you roll over, you're dead (unless you have a rollbar) and you are much more susceptible of getting shot.

[280Z Turbo]

You're that worried about vulnerability?  Damn, I thought I was paranoid.

Well, I don't normally wear arm restraints and a 5 point harness on the street, so that is a valid concern.

[Raza]

?
I don't see what's so great about top down driving... If you roll over, you're dead (unless you have a rollbar) and you are much more susceptible of getting shot.

You're more likely to get shot!?  You do know that glass and doors won't stop a bullet, right?  You need to buy a Guard S500. 

And how many rollovers do you see in low slung sports cars anyway?

[Cookie Monster]

You're more likely to get shot!?  You do know that glass and doors won't stop a bullet, right?  You need to buy a Guard S500. 

And how many rollovers do you see in low slung sports cars anyway?

I was just kidding about getting shot.
Still, something about not having a roof over your head doesn't feel right... And rollovers can happen to any car, which is why a rollbar would be one of the first things I'd put in a Miata.

[280Z Turbo]

I was just kidding about getting shot.
Still, something about not having a roof over your head doesn't feel right... And rollovers can happen to any car, which is why a rollbar would be one of the first things I'd put in a Miata.

Nobody will let you on a racetrack without one. Too bad you have to hack up the interior to install one.

[Cookie Monster]

Nobody will let you on a racetrack without one. Too bad you have to hack up the interior to install one.

You have to drill some holes in the floor, right? What a PITA. Plus you have to remove the seats.

[ChrisV]

The sound, feel, and total experience of a good top down cruise on a twisty road near a beach or through the trees, on a summer day or a crisp fall evening, these things are ethereal and must be experienced to be understood. A brief drive in a convertible on a commute in traffic on a boring day really won't do it.

Rollovers? Puleeze. Getting shot? Move to a better neighborhood, dude. IN 30 years I've never been shot at or come close to rolling a convertible.

[Raza]

The sound, feel, and total experience of a good top down cruise on a twisty road near a beach or through the trees, on a summer day or a crisp fall evening, these things are ethereal and must be experienced to be understood. A brief drive in a convertible on a commute in traffic on a boring day really won't do it.

Rollovers? Puleeze. Getting shot? Move to a better neighborhood, dude. IN 30 years I've never been shot at or come close to rolling a convertible.

A friend of mine hated the idea of convertibles when we were in high school.  He complained that they were heavier than fixed roof cars, less stiff, and not as good on a racetrack.  Then last week he bought this:



And he keeps talking about how he has unlimited headroom and cargo room because it's a convertible.   

[280Z Turbo]

The sound, feel, and total experience of a good top down cruise on a twisty road near a beach or through the trees, on a summer day or a crisp fall evening, these things are ethereal and must be experienced to be understood. A brief drive in a convertible on a commute in traffic on a boring day really won't do it.

Rollovers? Puleeze. Getting shot? Move to a better neighborhood, dude. IN 30 years I've never been shot at or come close to rolling a convertible.

I told you that I've driven and ridden in a convertible before. It's not that great, especially for a DD.

The few things I did like is the infinte visibility and headroom as well as the sound of the exhaust.

[Cookie Monster]

Rollovers? Puleeze. Getting shot? Move to a better neighborhood, dude. IN 30 years I've never been shot at or come close to rolling a convertible.

I already said I was joking about being shot.
As for rollovers, it can happen:

[280Z Turbo]

A friend of mine hated the idea of convertibles when we were in high school.  He complained that they were heavier than fixed roof cars, less stiff, and not as good on a racetrack.  Then last week he bought this:



And he keeps talking about how he has unlimited headroom and cargo room because it's a convertible.  

The problem is keeping cargo (and heads, for that matter) in the car.

[280Z Turbo]

I already said I was joking about being shot.
As for rollovers, it can happen:

I actually know a guy who rolled a Miata. He was lucky.

[NomisR]

man, I feel sory for you girls that can't put the top down on a convertible.  

You miss out on some of the best warm weather drives, especially in the evening on a twisty back road. I've had soooo many convertibles, and can't wait to get my Comet done.

It's fun at times in a nice summer evening, but I don't like the wind in my hair, it numbs my scalp after an hour of driving.

[Cookie Monster]

A friend of mine hated the idea of convertibles when we were in high school.  He complained that they were heavier than fixed roof cars, less stiff, and not as good on a racetrack.  Then last week he bought this:



And he keeps talking about how he has unlimited headroom and cargo room because it's a convertible.   

Rollbars make your car stiffer.
I wonder if all those SCCA spec racers knew that Miatas weren't good on a track.

[ChrisV]

I already said I was joking about being shot.
As for rollovers, it can happen:

So can head-ons and t-bones. But if you don't drive like a moron, you probably won't have any of them happen to you.

[Raza]

The problem is keeping cargo (and heads, for that matter) in the car.

Bungee cords.

[Cookie Monster]

So can head-ons and t-bones. But if you don't drive like a moron, you probably won't have any of them happen to you.

Point is, better safe than sorry, which is why I'd get a rollbar.
I remember reading a thread of a guy who was driving on a windy road, lost control and flipped his S2000. It happens.

[Raza]

Point is, better safe than sorry, which is why I'd get a rollbar.
I remember reading a thread of a guy who was driving on a windy road, lost control and flipped his S2000. It happens.

And you could actually get shot.

You need one of these:


and:



if you ever want to leave your house again.

[Cookie Monster]

And you could actually get shot.

You need one of these:


and:



if you ever want to leave your house again.

And since nothing bad will ever happen to you while driving a car, you don't need to worry about wearing a seatbelt either.

[ChrisV]

I told you that I've driven and ridden in a convertible before. It's not that great, especially for a DD.

I dd'd this:



Comfy, fun, good mileage (though not THAT much better than the BMW), and with the top down , the commute was made considerably more fun.

The few things I did like is the infinte visibility and headroom as well as the sound of the exhaust.

Especially the sound of the exhaust on a traditional sports car like the Fiat as you ripped up and down through the gears on a twisty back road on a crisp fall evening, feling completely one with the world, not isolated from it.

[Cookie Monster]

I dd'd this:



Comfy, fun, good mileage (though not THAT much better than the BMW), and with the top down , the commute was made considerably more fun.

Especially the sound of the exhaust on a traditional sports car like the Fiat as you ripped up and down through the gears on a twisty back road on a crisp fall evening, feling completely one with the world, not isolated from it.

That's good for you, Chris, but unfortunately for you, the rest of the world isn't like you.
If you had fun DD'ing a convertible, cool, but not everyone will feel the same. It's called having an opinion.

[Raza]

And since nothing bad will ever happen to you while driving a car, you don't need to worry about wearing a seatbelt either.

There's being reasonable and being insane.  Besides, seatbelts keep you from sliding the seat and minimizes the physical aspects of you and the car being two different bodies. 

You must be deathly afraid of staircases.

[ifcar]

There's being reasonable and being insane.  Besides, seatbelts keep you from sliding the seat and minimizes the physical aspects of you and the car being two different bodies. 

You must be deathly afraid of staircases.

Why don't you fly out to California to help him conquer irrational fear?

[Cookie Monster]

There's being reasonable and being insane.  Besides, seatbelts keep you from sliding the seat and minimizes the physical aspects of you and the car being two different bodies. 

You must be deathly afraid of staircases.

I'm not afraid of convertibles, I just don't like them as much as fixed roof cars.

[Raza]

Why don't you fly out to California to help him conquer irrational fear?

Are you paying for the airfare?  I like to fly first class.

[SVT666]

Here we go again.  Let's not ruin this thread with this bullshit again.

[ifcar]

Are you paying for the airfare?  I like to fly first class.

I was referring to your frequent comments about how much you hate flying.

[2o6]

Short drive in the city....



Mazda 2.