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comment by steve
steve  ·  2319 days ago  ·  link  ·    ·  parent  ·  post: Fantastic Year for Geminid Meteor Shower

    My top has been down every single day.

He even opened the convertible roof on his car.

SUNS OUT GUNS OUT





kleinbl00  ·  2319 days ago  ·  link  ·  

There is something deeply spectacular about driving through 30 degree fog with the top down.

Heated seats are the best.

steve  ·  2319 days ago  ·  link  ·  

My Miata seats are a little tired (as they should be after 25 years). I'm considering some new ones, and the new ones WILL BE heated.

The coldest I've gone was 16 degrees, up over Loveland pass at about 11,000 feet... it was very, very cold.

Stoked that you're loving the convertible. I don't get to drive mine every day... but the days I do are better for it.

kleinbl00  ·  2319 days ago  ·  link  ·  

Dude the 2002-2004 Porsche 996 is the ultimate Miata. And they're cheap right now. If you told me cars would actually go up in value ten years ago I would have laughed in your face but if you told me Porsches would depreciate an annoyingly small amount I would have agreed because Porsche people are like the Apple people of old - they hang onto their shit until it's completely obsolete. And cars don't get obsolete.

Go drive one. I've hated Porsches my entire life but once I took one around the block I started to understand. by the time I'd done a few hundred miles of the PCH I was in awe. They're just great little cars. $90k great? Well, I don't think anything is $90k great. $20k great? hell to the yes.

steve  ·  2319 days ago  ·  link  ·  

I have loved Porsches my whole life. There may be some day when my magical internet money allows me to make the jump... but until then - I will keep paying off the mortgage and feeding little mongrel faces.

(but I thank you for the 996 tip... I'll take a look)

kleinbl00  ·  2319 days ago  ·  link  ·  

2001 Porsche 996: $23500

2014 Miata: $24600

Just sayin'. When the old Miata needs to make way for a new Miata, check out the German Miatas. They're pretty goddamn delightful.

steve  ·  2319 days ago  ·  link  ·  
kleinbl00  ·  2319 days ago  ·  link  ·  

I'm tellin' ya.

Few things:

1) the '02 revamp has fewer engine problems. The engine problems associated with the 996 are pretty overblown (real failure rate is less than 5%) but the engine problems associated with the 996 are no laughing matter (real failure mode is catastrophic and terminal). It also has prettier headlights.

2) the intermediate shaft bearing needs to be done when the clutch is done. Everyone freaks balls about IMS failure but realistically speaking, if the car needs a clutch, it needs an IMS bearing. If it had a new clutch without a new IMS, it still needs an IMS.

3) It's really fucking easy to put a stereo in them.

4) Insurance and registration is appallingly cheap. Apparently the insurance companies have figured out that the median Porsche driver is a 65-year-old dentist.

5) 911 drivers, just like motorcyclists, wave at each other.

OftenBen  ·  2319 days ago  ·  link  ·  

I would have never picked you for a Miata guy. Convertible sure, but a Miata?

PIcs?

steve  ·  2319 days ago  ·  link  ·  

I see how it is...

You're calling me fat.

I won't stand for it.

I won't be bullied.

I won't be pushed around.

I won't be fat shamed.

Kidding aside.... I do own a Miata.... short story long is:

My grandpa bought a little convertible when my dad was a teenager... might have been a Karman Ghia, might have been an MG - I can't remember. My pops was bit by the "fun little convertible" bug and spend his years pining for the day when he could get one. Being a college professor that was both BROKE and completely non-automotive (probably could change a tire, but I'm not sure), he was never confident buying a British car, or anything else he had to "monkey with". Along comes 1992 and through a perfect confluence of events, he finally had some discretionary money, and Japan had finally cranked out an affordable roadster... he bought one. And his son (me) was then bit by the same "fun convertible" bug....

Fast forward to 2014 - he finally decided he was tired of getting in and out of it at the ripe old age of 70+ and it was time for his son (me) to inherit the ol' beast.

You can call it a girl car... it probably is. You can call it a wimp car.... it probably is. You can call it underpowered and kinda tired... and it probably is...

But when I've got the top down in almost every month of the year and get to rip up and down canyons around corners at speeds that scoff at the suggested yellow speed signs... you can call it whatever you want... I love driving the thing. I mean love it. And yes... all 200+lbs and 6'2" of me fits in the car. But I do occasionally drop a Chris Farley impression "fat guy in a little car".

kleinbl00  ·  2319 days ago  ·  link  ·  

You know, a legit '92 Miata is probably going to be a classic in ten-fifteen years. If you can keep it happy, it'll be a happy little car for a long time to come.

OftenBen  ·  2319 days ago  ·  link  ·  

    You're calling me fat.

That never entered into my mind. Just the fact that a grown man, husband and father has been riding around in a GIRL CAR. And I wanted to see what a sports car looks like after it's actually been used like a car, and not a toy kept in a humidity and temperature controlled box, only taken out on specific days.

Love the Farley impression, keep kicking ass like you do.

veen  ·  2319 days ago  ·  link  ·  

    That never entered into my mind. Just the fact that a grown man, husband and father has been riding around in a GIRL CAR

Nono steve's totally a track day bro:

steve  ·  2319 days ago  ·  link  ·  

That is so good...

steve  ·  2319 days ago  ·  link  ·  

I do look a little funny unloading my entire family out of the trunk...

steve  ·  2319 days ago  ·  link  ·  
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