"MPGiata" modding thread: aiming for 50 MPG with a 1990 Miata. Update: success, 55 MPG!

[MetroMPG]

^ I've heard that comment more than a few times (windshield header in the way).


I'm average height, and even I notice it blocks sight lines to traffic lights & signs more than any other car I've owned.



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I'm debating whether to put the MPGiata on the road now that spring is finally here, or whether to drive the Firefly for a couple of months. The poor Flea hasn't been on the road since 2017.

[Gasoline Fumes]

I wish it was more affordable to have multiple cars on the road. Of course I'd need to have more than one that's roadworthy. By most people's standards, I have nothing roadworthy!

[Ecky]

Originally Posted by Gasoline Fumes

I wish it was more affordable to have multiple cars on the road. Of course I'd need to have more than one that's roadworthy. By most people's standards, I have nothing roadworthy!

It's not too bad in Vermont. In Florida they revoke your license if any of your cars' insurance lapses, but here I suppose it's expected that some vehicles will sit through winter. I pay $19 per month in insurance for my Insight and something like $75 per year in registration.

[Xist]

That seems extreme. If one my cars was waiting on a big repair and the registration lapsed, I doubt that I would be in a hurry to renew it.

[19bonestock88]

I agree, my Ion Redline is sitting at my moms place in the country, unregistered and uninsured waiting on a re(built) engine to go back in. Since I wanna build a fully forged engine it’ll be about $3000 so the car is sitting a while... I wanted a short block rated for quad digit power lol

[euromodder]

Originally Posted by MetroMPG

I'm average height, and even I notice it blocks sight lines to traffic lights & signs more than any other car I've owned

The new one isn't very good in that department either

[MetroMPG]

Originally Posted by Gasoline Fumes

I wish it was more affordable to have multiple cars on the road.

So do I!

I only ever have one insured and on the road at a time to save money. In Ontario, we can move the license plates from vehicle to vehicle (requires a visit to our DMV equivalent) for a small fee. So I only have one set of valid plates. I don't keep the un-plated cars insured either.

[wdb]

Originally Posted by MetroMPG

I'm average height, and even I notice it blocks sight lines to traffic lights & signs more than any other car I've owned.

Are you sure it blocks more stuff than a hardtop?

The windshield surround in any modern convertible is a beefy bit of work. It is designed to support the weight of the car all by its lonesome. You know, so your head doesn't get called upon for the job.

[Xist]

One might expect convertibles to be lighter than hardtops. Roofs have to weigh something!

However, crash standards do not make exceptions for convertibles, and it takes more metal to meet those standards without a roof.

[MetroMPG]

Originally Posted by wdb

Are you sure it blocks more stuff than a hardtop?

Yeah, more than any hardtop I've owned. It's also probably the shortest windshield of any car I've owned.