12/13/00

Hard Won Car Wisdom

I thought that today I would share some of the do's and don'ts for Miata owners.

• Don't try to put anything large and hard (like a computer case) in the trunk. As you drive, it will shift, and the rather thin metal comprising the trunk will get dented outwards where the object hits. I call these outward dings "gnids". I only have one - I learned my lesson after that.
• Do ride with the top down whenever the temperature hits 60 and it is not raining. Why else do you own a Miata?
• Don't hit your plastic window from the inside to knock snow off of it. As I've learned, the plastic becomes quite brittle when it is cold, and you will crack the window as if it were glass. Of course, on a new Miata, it would be glass. Sigh.
• Do keep your tires inflated properly, especially if you don't have power steering. Ignore this if you are trying to develop some upper body strength. I would suggest plenty of parallel parking in that case.
• Don't expect to pass inspection with bald tires, even if you know they are perfectly good for another ten or twenty thousand miles. Claiming that they are racing slicks doesn't work.
• Do at least wave to fellow Miata owners, especially if they've chosen the same color as you. It's not just a good idea - it's the law!
• Don't drive home from Maine in the fall with the top down - the heater is warm, but it's not that warm.

Now I must get back to not washing my car and not changing its oil. It's a full time job!

You can respond to my ranting here.

Keep your hands on the wheel and your eyes on the rant.