There's something to be said

[solo1]

for my choice to take the place of riding.

I took the Miata out for a 45 mile spin today,(with the top up) high temps and humidity.  I straightened out the few curves that we have here and about froze.  I had to dial back the AC, it really works great in the small cab. In the process, I listened to some of my favorite Dixieland by Pete Fountain, what a wicked sax.!

It sure doesn't take the place of riding but the handling of the Miata makes it a close second, even with the top up. No need to whip out the violin and play a dirge for me.

Your results may vary     

[Chrisj CMA]

I always said and I still say, if two wheels is ever out of the picture for me, three wheels is not an option.  A sports car will replace the motorcycle if the day comes.  Good on ya

[msb]

The Miata has been and still is an automotive marvel. Often frowned upon by the British, German, and Italian sportscar crowd, it has continued to deliver through the years. My wife's '92 is as close to motorcycle riding as one can get..basically just 4 wheels, a stick shift, and seats so low to the ground you feel every nuance of the road, and its suspension and rear wheel drive just hug the road no matter how fast you go through the twisties. Only issue I have when driving it (other than getting in or out) is deciding whether to look over, or through the windshield 

[cookiedough]

so, how does a miata handle in the snowbelt states?  

I suppose it will be pretty fine with snow tires on it,  maybe?/

not trying to downgrade the miata,  but if I have 4 wheels,  I want to drive it year round.

I think the miata, although rather small and low to the ground,  offer one of the best bang for your buck small top down convertibles out there. 

[msb]

so, how does a miata handle in the snowbelt states?  

I suppose it will be pretty fine with snow tires on it,  maybe?/

not trying to downgrade the miata,  but if I have 4 wheels,  I want to drive it year round.

I think the miata, although rather small and low to the ground,  offer one of the best bang for your buck small top down convertibles out there. 

Ya, not gonna handle winter driving that great, for sure. My wife drives hers April to October, then it hides out in the garage with the Valkyrie for a few months. M.I.A.T.A.  =  Make . It .  A . Topless . Afternoon.  You are right....for a RWD sportscar ride....best bang for the buck

[solo1]

so, how does a miata handle in the snowbelt states? QUOTE by Cookie Dough

It handles about as well as a motorcycle except it won't fall over on slick stuff

Seriously, My philosophy is exactly the same as it would be for a motorcycle.  When it snows it goes............into storage, with all the necessary storage things done to it..  It is an attitude adjuster for me, not an all year transportation.

It is 50/500 weight distribution and rear wheel limited slip drive, good!  It has only about 3 inches road clearance, bad.

I know some on the Miata forum drive in winter with snow tires.  However, for me, I wouldn't subject this fine machinery to the salt, snow, and ice of winter. The double wishbone on all four wheels with the complicated bushings would age quickly in bad conditions ,IMO.   Let's face it. just like a motorcycle, it's for enjoyment, not year round transportation.

BTW, even today, you can buy a new Miata for about the same price as it cost to go to three wheels or a Harley XYZ Road Sllde.



Mine has summer UHP tires on it to get the maximum performance,  These tires aren't worth a crap in cold and snowy weather.

[cookiedough]

most new cars don't have very good ground clearance either, maybe not 3" but not over 6" for sure.
Car mfgs. do this for aerodynamics and gas savings am sure making it harder to get in/out of as well.

We bought a new sonata in 2014 end of model year clearance last one on the lot so to speak before the new designed 2015 models, and although GREAT mpg at near 40 (mostly hwy.),  the darn thing, for me anyways, is a tad bit hard to get in/out of.  Although, use to SUV or truck.   

Even with FWD,  the Kumho Solus tires on that are USELESS in winter as well, had to either buy better all season tires or do what I did and buy snow tires with steel rims for winter.  If you do reviews on those Kumho Solus tires directly from mfg.,  all say winter traction is horrible which it is.  I even contacted Hyundai corporate informing them they need to get rid of in the snowbelt states those Kumho Solus as OEM tires for safety reasons, but they did not listen as usual to their buyers.  1 cm of snow and it was like NO traction couldn't get moving which was shocking/very slippery.  I guess in the cold the rubber compound becomes very hard, along with tread design being very poor.

[solo1]

I have a 2012 Mazda 6 as my main car and, for me, it didn't do well in the snow, even with Conti DWS tires so I now have Bridgestone Blizzaks on 4  steel wheels. By the time that I got that package together it was quite salty, including the TP sensors.

It was worth it as I don't get along too well with using a shovel to dig out the car.

I always thought that a FWD car would do better in snow but I've never saw mine doing as good as an old 1957 Dodge that I had. I don't like Chrysler products but I did like that Dodge.

[Patrick]

A friend has a Miata [ actually a few friends have them] and she drives it year round. They do still make snow tires and she gets around well with it. Its always good to wait till the snow plow goes by first though.


I'm beginning to feel the same way. I find myself jumping in the roadster rather than the bike especially for just a short ride somewhere. I don't have to suit up and still have the wind in my face.  And, right now, I'm not sure I could hold the Honda up and certainly couldn't pick it up. But, I still have no intentions of ever selling that 2 wheeled monster.

[PAVALKER]

I picked up a 2007 Miata MX5 Sport with 18k miles earlier this year....and love it.  I am not a fan of trikes, that's just me and I wanted to try the Miata.  I still have my 99 Valkyrie Super Valk, my 1982 Honda CB900 and the 2014 Honda Ridgeline.  The bikes and Miata will hibernate when the time comes, and the truck gets little mileage in the Summer.

[Hoser]

A Miata is small enough to run on a golf cart path if my memory is correct.    Hoser