Miata Mailing List: December 1993, Message #228
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   From: "Michael Simmons" 
Subject: Re: Top Down Driving in the Winter
   Date: Thu, 23 Dec 1993 20:28:35 -0500

Herb Samuels wrote (despite frozen fingers):

> I've driven with the top down in the winter since 1990 as long as the
> temperature doesn't go below 30 to 35 degrees.  I wear a long sleeve
> crew neck cotton shirt with a tight fitting sweatshirt over it.  If it
> seems to be colder than I like I also wear a zippered sweatshirt with
> a hood although I don't ususally wear the hood unless its really
> cold.  This clothing arrangement is not bulky but is warm.  I havn't
> yet worn gloves but raise the passenger window and lower the drivers
> window and set the heat on high directed at the dash level and direct
> the three dash vents towards my hands and face.  Its actually quite
> nice on a 35 degree day particularly when the sun is out.
>
> There are three other things that I've considered doing to make it
> more comfortable and perhaps you have some good ideas.
>
> The first is driving gloves.  Does anyone know a good set which would
> keep your hands warm without significantly taking away the steering
> wheel feel?

I've driven in convertible sports cars year-round since 1975 or so.
OK, I *do* live in Southern California, but I have driven in 30 degree
temperatures many times.  I frequently drive for an hour on the freeway
with temperatures in the 40s, and that can get to you.  I wouldn't
survive it in the clothes Herb describes, but then I don't use the
heater unless I absolutely have to, and I never put the windows up.
I keep a good wind-proof down jacket (as well as a thin windbreaker)
in the trunk, and a scarf and wool cap to keep the back of the neck
and ears warm.  The MG I used to drive had a heater that would be
adequate only in the tropics, and the interior was *far* windier, so
the Miata is pretty cushy by comparison (in the 60s I had a motorcycle
-- that's another story).  Having good wind-proof clothes is the key.
The sweatshirt isn't too good on that score.  Elastic cuffs and a
scarf or hood to keep the neck warm eliminate cold spots.  Hoods can
restrict your vision.  I don't like them so I don't use them even when
in the Sierra Nevada backcountry in the winter unless conditions are
really bad.

True driving gloves generally aren't too good for warmth.  Warm gloves
can be bulky and hard to work the radio, etc.  I found a pair of gloves
at Eddie Bauer that are deerskin with just enough Fiberfill to keep
my hands from getting too cold.  If I don't use them, I can't feel
anything with my hands after a while anyway because they freeze.  The
deerskin is the best feel I've found so far by a lot.

The above setup works fine for me on extended high speed cold drives,
but I guess I'm getting soft as I grow older because I now occasionally
use the heater to keep my face warm at the end of the drive.  It also
helps keep me from getting too chilled, though.  With the MG I used to
keep the down jacket on inside the house for about a half hour just to
get rid of the chill (I worked a lot of nights then, and the work was
also out in the cold at night).  BTW, I'd much rather stay warm
enough without the heater.  It just feels better to me to be warm
enough without it.  Relying on the heater always seems to leave a cold
area that's uncomfortable.

Happy holidays motoring,

Mike Simmons