How noisy?

Noisy, mainly wind noise, top up or down. Truck and SUV tires (on nearby vehicles) are very annoying, too. The only answer is earplugs. I use the green foam ones, and they're very effective.

If the shocks are OK, the highway ride isn't bad at all, except in Arkansas. The issues are lack of room to shift position, lack of luggage space, and noise. Also, a co-driver may not be able to sleep between stints (lack of room again). We typically stop every two hours to stretch our legs. Our longest straight-through trip was 25 hours.

Mine has an annoying exhaust resonance around 50-55 that is extremely boomy with the top up. Also road noise. Top down it's perfect, no complaints.

I didn't find the ride bad at all as long as I keep my tires to the recommended pressure. Oil change places seem to pump them up to mid-30's at least and that will give you a terrible highway ride with lots of bumping and whacking. Cruise control helps with the shifting-position issue since you can pull your legs up or over to the side then. Baggage space is workable for solo campers but a trunk rack would be nice.

miker

Noisier than most cars.

I wear earplugs for long highway drives (even with the top up). I do the same on my Motorcycle.

Quieter than with the top down -- as long as the windows are rolled up. Even quieter with a hard-top.

7.2 [It would be easier to just go drive one than to try to figure out how noisy it is based on descriptions written by strangers.]

It's great.

I don't think it's "punishing" except for the sun/heat.

Yup.

noise levels measured with a Type 1 SLM, 65 mph, deserted freeway: topless windows down windblock up 92 dBA topless windows up windblock up 90 dBA softtop up, windows down windblock up 95 dBA softtop up, windows up block up 82 dBA hardtop , windows down, block up 87 dBA hardtop, windows up, block up 72 dBA

Its actually noisiest with softtop on, windows down. The windblock down adds a few dB. Best is obviously hardtop, windows closed. If we lived by OSHA regs, we should all be wearing earplugs. The main damaging influence is the tire whine- from the vehicles around you. Using the radio/ipod to mask the car noise is a bad idea also- just increases exposure. So far in 4 years I've put 84K miles on my 2003, mostly on long twisty drives. Loren, audiologist, Utah Miata Club

Ouch, no wonder it's hard to have a conversation in the car at European freeway speeds.

Good list. Thank you.

Kind regards Bruno

I was right! I've always thought it seemed quieter with the top down than with the top up and windows down.

I do for anything more than a few miles on the freeway.

Definitely. If you've got the stereo cranked up so that you can hear it above 90dBA of background noise, you're doing serious damage. A pair of cheap foam earplugs works wonderfully. They affect the frequency response a little, but it's better than going deaf at an early age. I've also got a pair of Etymotic isolating earbuds that reduce outside noise by

35dB.

My opinion: The ride isn't punishing. The noise on the highway gets real old. As others have said, the noise of other vehicles' tires can be alarming at times, and the combo of wind and road noise generated by the Miata gets real old for highway cruising. Mine seems noisier with the top down but loud is loud...what's a couple DB (oh yeah, 3 db is a doubling of sound)?!!!

I have only a softop on a 96 Miata. So, I can't speak to what it would be like with the hardtop on a stretch of ribbon-like highway. I drive 75 miles each way once a week in non-peak traffic time on a 4 lane highway (Highway 101 from San Jose to Soledad in Northern California). I have taken the Miata once in 5 years. 1st time and last time. Too much drone with this old dude. Maybe I'm ready for a Lucerne?

Now, flip the top down and whip around town or the back roads and the little guy is right in his element! :)

M