Musings about a Miata

Trouble with my trusty Toyota forced me to look for another mode of transportation this summer.

Luckily, my brother was nice enough to loan me his 1990 Mazda Miata, which was bought as a fun car, but spends most of the year sitting on the street outside my parents' house.

I figured it would be a great arrangement - and not just for my parents' neighbors who were happy about the open parking space.

First of all, if you're going to drive a convertible, August is a great time to do it.

The Miata doesn't get a great rap - some call it a "girl's car." I personally like the design, and prefer "street-legal go-kart."

Plus, my car was supposed to be back in a week or two.

I was looking forward to having the wind in my hair - which I certainly got.

But when my repairs got delayed, and a month passed, I also determined it is the most inconvenient commuter car in existence.

Now that I am back in the Toyota, I wanted to reflect on the memories that will never be forgotten, especially by my spine.

The Miata sits just a few inches off the ground, thanks to a "sport" suspension that my brother recently installed. It really gives the car a go-kart feel when you're driving over the mountain on Route 902.

But it can make getting in and out of the car a pain.

Also, when returning to your parking spot to get the Miata, don't panic if you don't see your car. Chances are it's just sitting behind a truck, van or small Honda Civic - all of which can completely obscure the Miata.

Every little bump in the road is like an explosion in the Miata. I even had to change up my normal commute, because driving down Route 309 from the Hazleton area felt a lot like going over Niagara Falls in a barrel.

And you can forget about storage. The trunk is about the size of most rolling suitcases.

The best way to keep most items in the car is to wedge them into the passenger seat.

That's seat - singular. There's no back seat to speak of.

Traveling with the top down can be nice. I ride a motorcycle sometimes, and riding in an open-top convertible is really the closest you can come to re-creating that feeling on four wheels.

But I got a lot of comments about my hair, which assumed a new, unpredictable form each day.

Eventually I got a baseball cap and wraparound glasses. It got a little cold last week, but I held true to my pledge to drive to work with the top down every day.

The Miata is back at my parents' now. I still love the Miata for a nice drive around country roads.

Next time my daily driver has to go to the shop, I'll make sure it is coming back soon before taking the Miata.