Roadster as a DD?

In east tennessee a miata with all-season tires(think rain racing tires; skinny is best) and a heavy tool box in the trunk will go through average snow. Even my 3/4 ton 'Burb was stuck in the 13" on the infamous '93 blizzard.

If i didn't have my MX6, i'd think hard about getting an NA Miata SPECIFICALLY for winter duties, just from a fun perspective. I'd raise that sucker up, hack together a rally-style suspension, skid plates, mud flaps, knobby tires, hardtop, lots of lights, make sure it had a heater, and get to business.

I'm pretty sure the ultimate winter Miata could be done for $4000 or less. The laughter would be worth the price of admission.

The worst part is that just TYPING that damn near talked me into it.

Good snow tires, a little weight in the trunk, and a hardtop if possible. You're good to go.

My rallycross Miata is great fun in the snow. It would be even better if my snow tires weren't mostly worn out.

Just because you can doesn't mean, however, that you should. Assuming you've got $7500 to spend, you've got $2500 for a high mile Saturn SL and $5000 for a decent NA Miata/high mile NB Miata. (I've got both for slightly less than that). Put liability only insurance on the Saturn, full coverage on the Miata 6 to 8 months out of the year (depending on local weather). The "off season" savings on the roadster pays for the full year liability on the Saturn (or similar cheap, high MPG disposable car), at least here.

There's just so many benefits to not having a roadster sometimes. Grocery store trip, no problem. More than 1 passenger, no problem. Parking in a crappy neighborhood? Raining cats and dogs? etc., etc., etc. There's just a lot of situations where a roadster isn't ideal. Winter is the biggest, but not the only, drawback. 2nd crappy car pretty much solves all those problems, and will keep whatever roadster you end up with in much better shape. Not saying don't get a roadster, but if you have the space/budget for a roadster + disposable "weatherbeater" car, that would be my recommendation.

^I take my NA and my NC to the grocery store. THere's room in the trunk for a week's of groceries........then again we are only shopping for two.