Hi runnerXCskier;
"I am moving from NYC to San Fran this summer, and taking my girlfriend's '97 Miata convertible with me, leaving my Subaru behind for her to drive in the snow."
It is very hard to register an out of state car in California. Mazda might provide the certification stickers for the car, but I doubt it. The guy I bought mine from moved to California, so I got a good, low mileage car.
"The plan is to tow a class 1 trailer behind (just ordered a hitch) and to drive across the US, stopping here and there for sightseeing."
Keep the revs up for cooling. Bus companies will ship small loads for a reasonable fee.
"I am not a fan of sports cars (i.e. stiff suspensions, thin tires, and all that), so I am trying to think of a way of making our 3000 mile ride (and future my commutes across Silicon Valley) enjoyable."
I haven't had a car I loved as much as my '62 AH Sprite until recently. Against the wifes better judgement, I bought the car I've wanted since 1989 (with a heated rear window and fixed headlights). Sell the Miata to someone who wants it. And sell it in the east; no one out here wants a back east car.
"So far I can't stand being in the Miata for more than 30 min - please forgive me Miata fans :) It just feels like I am riding in a shopping cart."
I don't drive much, but went to Toronto, New Jersey and back to Vancouver, BC last Sept. With 32 psi in the tires, it is a touch 'firmer', but responsive. The CD player is o.k. with the top up and at < 70 mph. I did cruise at 100 mph in certain areas for a few hours; no one noticed except that the tach read 5000. That's noisy
"What would you recommend me to do? Is there a way of converting the Mi into something more similar to the traditional commuter car?"
You don't deserve a Miata or your girlfriend. ______________________________________________________________________