I brake for Miatas?

In reply to nderwater:

Noone needs to ask

My top down range is from about 45 F (if it is sunny) to about 80, maybe 85 F. That means that the summer is almost an entirely top up season for me. With a black non-insulated top, a black interior, and all the heat that radiates out of the center console at all times, my car is fairly warm inside when it is in the upper 90's out. If I had another car to drive during the summer I would pretty much park the Miata for the season. As it is my other two cars do not have AC and one is not all that happy sitting in traffic in the extreme heat.

I get a kick out of folks in convertibles with their tops down when it is blasted hot out. I assume they are either newbs to convertibles and the novelty hasn't worn off or they are cold-blooded reptillians trying to get a bit more heat from the sun.

T.J. wrote: I get a kick out of folks in convertibles with their tops down when it is blasted hot out. I assume they are either newbs to convertibles and the novelty hasn't worn off or they are cold-blooded reptillians trying to get a bit more heat from the sun.

Or they don't have AC and it would be much hotter with the top up. Did people in the 60s drive their MGs and Triumphs with the top up because it was too hot out?

I hate A/C, it makes the inside of my face hurt :(

In reply to EvanB:

Sometimes shade is better than sun if you want to stay cool, but I'm talking about people in new cars like BMW 1-series convertibles or Sebrings, or Infinitis, not people driving 30-50 year old classics.

EvanB wrote: Or they don't have AC and it would be much hotter with the top up. Did people in the 60s drive their MGs and Triumphs with the top up because it was too hot out?

If it's hot enough and the AC isn't working, then it's better to have top up/windows down than top down.

August 2003, my wife (of 2 months!) and I were headed to the Flyin' Miata open house in Grand Junction. Heading up the 15 into Nevada it was 116 degrees, and if I turned the AC on the car would overheat (thanks to the intercooler, no doubt). Much better to have the top up than the Mojave sun beating down on you.

--Ian

T.J. wrote: My top down range is from about 45 F (if it is sunny) to about 80, maybe 85 F. That means that the summer is almost an entirely top up season for me. With a black non-insulated top, a black interior, and all the heat that radiates out of the center console at all times, my car is fairly warm inside when it is in the upper 90's out. If I had another car to drive during the summer I would pretty much park the Miata for the season. As it is my other two cars do not have AC and one is not all that happy sitting in traffic in the extreme heat. I get a kick out of folks in convertibles with their tops down when it is blasted hot out. I assume they are either newbs to convertibles and the novelty hasn't worn off or they are cold-blooded reptillians trying to get a bit more heat from the sun.

Yeah, what's up with all that heat coming out of the center console? I didn't notice it on the NAs i test drove, but this MSM is RIDICULOUS.

I learned the hard way that summer does not necessarily = top down.

I tried to drive across the desert to Las Vegas with the top down. After burning to a crisp in literally 15 minutes, i put it up, and made DAMN sure to recharge the A/C when i got to Grand Junction.

codrus wrote:

EvanB wrote: Or they don't have AC and it would be much hotter with the top up. Did people in the 60s drive their MGs and Triumphs with the top up because it was too hot out?

If it's hot enough and the AC isn't working, then it's better to have top up/windows down than top down. August 2003, my wife (of 2 months!) and I were headed to the Flyin' Miata open house in Grand Junction. Heading up the 15 into Nevada it was 116 degrees, and if I turned the AC on the car would overheat (thanks to the intercooler, no doubt). Much better to have the top up than the Mojave sun beating down on you. --Ian

Heh, this is EXACTLY where i tried to run with the top down. Horrible HORRIBLE idea. Even once i put the top back up, i had to wrap my left arm in a spare shirt, i swear it was melting in front of my eyes.

Open top driving and Skin cancer are for real men.

never had a miata.. but when I had my fiat spiders, the top was down unless it was raining or snowing... and I even tried it once when it was snowing.

Now with my saab and bmw.. I practice the same concept with the sunroof. it is always open unless raining or snowing.. that includes the occasional day near zero degrees

from having a convertible. the top was down as long as i wasnt headed somewhere i needed to look good. 30 minute drive with the top down. equals 30 minutes detangling hair.

mad_machine wrote: never had a miata.. but when I had my fiat spiders, the top was down unless it was raining or snowing... and I even tried it once when it was snowing. Now with my saab and bmw.. I practice the same concept with the sunroof. it is always open unless raining or snowing.. that includes the occasional day near zero degrees

Ugh i hate sunroofs, too...

And i remember when i was excited to get my first car with a sunroof. Now i can't stand them.

sunroofs seem to be a love em or hate em thing. I love mine.. but would rather have a roadster

In reply to 92CelicaHalfTrac:

Center console heat = torn shift boots?

I drop my top just about every time I go anywhere. My car is actually quieter with the top down and I can see who I am about to reverse into

ppddppdd wrote: In reply to 92CelicaHalfTrac: Center console heat = torn shift boots?

Maybe? Very possible i suppose... i haven't really gotten deep into this car yet.

I know with the fiat.. a LOT of exhaust and engine heat comes up through the shifter area. On those cars there are two boots.. a vinyl outer and a rubber inner. If you are missing the inner, it gets quite toasty

mad_machine wrote: sunroofs seem to be a love em or hate em thing. I love mine.. but would rather have a roadster

I forget the lingo... but I love flip up sunroofs, and hardly ever use pull back sunroofs.

92CelicaHalfTrac wrote:

ppddppdd wrote: In reply to 92CelicaHalfTrac: Center console heat = torn shift boots?

Maybe? Very possible i suppose... i haven't really gotten deep into this car yet.

That's the problem with a Miata. You never really need to get too deep into them. :)

ppddppdd wrote:

92CelicaHalfTrac wrote:

ppddppdd wrote: In reply to 92CelicaHalfTrac: Center console heat = torn shift boots?

Maybe? Very possible i suppose... i haven't really gotten deep into this car yet.

That's the problem with a Miata. You never really *need* to get too deep into them. :)

I think it is just a MSM trait. Mine has been roasting me from the day I bought it in 2005. The cupholders are great for heating up a beverage or two, but don't expect to put anything cold in them and expect it to stay cold for long. I think the solution is pull out the carpet and center console and put down some sort of insulation/heat reflective material. It's an ok feature in the winter time, but the rest of the year it can get toasty. There is a deal where some miatas actually need the cable adjusted so the heat is not on. I checked mine and that is not the problem, it is just heat coming from the engine/turbo into the car.