A friend in DC has a Miata that lives outside. He's been wondering how much snow buildup a Miata top will put up with before it caves in or otherwise causes problems. He asked around on a local Miata board but didn't get a good answer. I'm thinking that (a) somebody here will know everything about it, and (b) from a look at the news, this is a good day to get the information out.
Thanks!
Just put snow tires on and drive it every day then he won't have to worry about snow buildup 
I have a hardtop on my Miata though so I don't have a real answer.
A bigger problem is dealing with clearing that rear window. I wouldn't be concerned about less than a couple of feet of snow.
Miata + snow+snowtires= FUN.
Drove mine year round for 13 years. I did put a new top on with glass rear window at about year 8. Never did see the need for a hardtop; more pain than they are worth to store and install.
No amount of snow is going to cave in the top.
Nohome has it right. Snow isn't going to cave it in. The longest span between supports isn't very long and that canvas is waaay stronger than you think. The only issue (other than clearing the plastic window) is that if the stitching is old it could possibly tear. But that would happen the next time he put the top up anyway.
Having owned convertable sports cars most of my life.. you would have to stand atop the roof and brush the snow off to collapse it. the foot or so of snow DC got is not going to cause any problems
just go outside and knock the snow off......
I'd be more concerned with tearing a cold brittle top with the snow brush.
the top itself would not tear it unless it gets WAY below freezing.. but if it has a plastic Rear window.. that would go first
Yeah, don't scrape the rear window and don't whack it. You'll crack it for sure.
The hardtops are really nice for the winter, as you can scrape the rear window (some even have defroster!), they have more visibility than the soft top and the car makes a decent coupe.
My old '94 Miata lived outdoors while I lived in DC. The top took 2 1/2 feet of snow no problem. But as everyone else has mentioned, the rear window is something to watch out for. The plastic gets hard and brittle when ice cold, and is very easy to scratch when scraping frost / ice / snow away. Older tops may begin to crack around the stitching as temps cycle above and below freezing every day.
If you look at the frame of the top, there is very little span between the metal parts compared to something like a Jeep Wrangler, and their top is flat and will hold more snow.
I had one outside in the "big snow" of 2005ish, and it was fine (although it took me 20 minutes to get the snow off the back window area without cracking the plastic)...
Which I then proceeded to crack by putting the top down on a slightly too chilly spring morning anyway... oops!
Likely better to just self edit. Correct. Family Channel
I am imagining the look on Tims face as he realizes his wife, son and possibly other members of the Suddard family are reading this thread... and then it disappears.
You may notice that this thread is lacking some pictures that were posted earlier.
We don't really have a policy that outlines what's acceptable and what isn't, but frontal nudity (albeit small) is over the line. Please don't make us waste our day policing your posts. This forum is way more fun when we all use a little judgement.
Kthanxbye, now back to our regular car-centric discussions...
I liked the Beaver jokes, the pics were over that imaginary line.
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