So with my move to Seattle is it crazy to still keep to my plan of hopefully Exoceting the miata in the next two years?
So with my move to Seattle is it crazy to still keep to my plan of hopefully Exoceting the miata in the next two years?
I don't know, I don't live in Seattle. In Portland, I could probably drive it pretty much all summer and well into the fall.
Quite of the time here in the NW it doesn't rain as often as people think, but it is simply gray and overcast. Winter and spring are typically the wet times of the year.
Either way, you could drive in a motorcycle suit and helmet or just have a spare "normal" car to drive during the monsoons :)
I live off of one of the premiere motorcycling roads in Seattle, and folks ride motorcycles year-round. We get nice days or portions of days even in the winter despite what people say.
When you buy tires just read the tests and look for the ones with the best "wet" performance.
Jaynen wrote: So with my move to Seattle is it crazy to still keep to my plan of hopefully Exoceting the miata in the next two years?
Depends. Do you melt if you get wet like the Wicked Witch of the West? If so, yes, that is crazy, you will get wet and die. If not, you're going to be alright.
Bryce
Make a windshield for it and a top with roll-down windows, use some of the window plastic material to cover the gaps in the frame in the cabin area.
I am not commenting about the car as I have learned my lesson. Seattle does have crap weather most of the time. I use today as an example. Yet one this to think about is Eastern Washington is very dry and the roads are great!
"There is no such thing as bad weather, only inappropriate clothing."
I guess I should clarify.
The miata is for autoX and HPDE the exocet would be as well. I don't mind dressing to drive the car just like I would to ride a motorcycle. From what I understand a lot of the "rain" in Seattle is more like misting. I am concerned in if it might damage the seats or any other interior bits I would need to be careful about.
Do you think I would need/want a windshield without wipers vs just using rainX on your helmet or something like motorcycle riders do?
My daily would still be my Jetta :) but I don't want a little water keeping me from autoX or track days (Not sure how to protect those nice racing seats)
In reply to Jaynen:
If it is anything like driving a Locost in the rain, a windshield is worthless. Low pressure behind the glass sprays water onto the back side - you spend most of your time wiping the glass in front of you clean instead of being able to give 100% of your attention to driving.
I would pick seats and interior stuff that can get wet since it will happen eventually.
My coworker Brandon has fiberglass shells as seats in his Locost. There's nothing absorbent in the whole car. Perfect for rain - although he does really need a drain hole in the bottom of the seat, as we proved this weekend...
I was going to say to basically build it like an off-road buggy or jeep. Lots of that stuff available on the net, etc.
Worst case, build some seat covers out of some wetsuits.
Jaynen wrote: "From what I understand a lot of the "rain" in Seattle is more like misting. "
The technical term is drizzle.
Ah well for now I have a set of real Bride Vios 3's that I got a stellar deal on. Guess by the time I am doing the exocet kit I can worry about getting a different set
I suppose a Kirkey or something with a cover made of Neoprene or something might work too
GameboyRMH wrote: Make a windshield for it and a top with roll-down windows, use some of the window plastic material to cover the gaps in the frame in the cabin area.
At that point it would just make sense to leave it a Miata.
z31maniac wrote:GameboyRMH wrote: Make a windshield for it and a top with roll-down windows, use some of the window plastic material to cover the gaps in the frame in the cabin area.At that point it would just make sense to leave it a Miata.
Maybe 30lbs and $200 of material? It's not that much to add.
BTW by "roll down" windows I meant soft fabric windows that you unzip and roll up. Probably should have just said "roll up windows."
July and August both have less than 1" of rainfall each on average. June and September both have less than 2" of rainfall each on average. Interpret that however you wish. The rain also does tend to be rather light, not that it would exactly be enjoyable in a completely open car (or motorcycle) either.
GameboyRMH wrote:z31maniac wrote:Maybe 30lbs and $200 of material? It's not that much to add. BTW by "roll down" windows I meant soft fabric windows that you unzip and roll up. Probably should have just said "roll up windows."GameboyRMH wrote: Make a windshield for it and a top with roll-down windows, use some of the window plastic material to cover the gaps in the frame in the cabin area.At that point it would just make sense to leave it a Miata.
Aside from cost and weight, it would look like E36 M3.
And making that sort of thing be actually weatherproof and rigid enough to hold up to road speeds is far easier said than done. 
Is weatherproof really a necessity for this type of car? I would think weather resistant could perfectly acceptable...At least it was sufficient for all of the British and Italian roadsters for many decades.
How good/bad any such additions look is largely dependent upon the skill, eye, and creativity of the builder. Maybe something like this home made hard top would look at least 'ok' on an Exocet:
The US version has drain slots in the floor . We've driven ours in the rain countless times (last Atlanta Caffeine and Octane was a good example), the stock Miata harness has had zero issues with the water.
Wait a minute?!?!?!
How come no one has done this before? Take whatever exo car de jour and make lightweight canvas snap on skins like a velorex
I bet the minimal extra weight would handily be offset by cleaning up the aero. Exposed tubes are terrible in the wind.
If it is a nice day out just undo the snaps and leave them in a pile in the garage, or stuff 'em in a small duffel bag behind the seat.
In reply to ditchdigger:
If you can make that work at highway speeds, sounds like a decent idea. As a side note, without the canvas body, that thing reminds me of the dune buggy from Half Life 2.
Now that you mention it I see half life 2 buggy as well.
BMW did that fabric car a couple years ago. Wouldn't the hard part be getting it tight enough to not flap in the wind
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