Miata Mailing List: September 1998, Message #70

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So,

After two strenuous years in the White Salty North of Minnesota, I couldn't
stand the though of driving the Miata in all of that salt and chemical snow-melt
crap and sludge for one more day.  However, since I have four excellent snow
tires and a hardtop, I don't know if I could stand to go 5 months without
driving it either.

SOLUTION:  I bought the linear opposite of a Miata!!  Ready?

1983 Jeep CJ-7 (license plate "MUD BUG"), Front locking hubs, real 4x4 wheel
drive, 4 inch lift kit, 32 inch tires, hardtop, softop, and a small block Chevy
V8 ripped out of a Camaro, rebuilt, and stuffed under the hood of my Jeep around
10K miles ago!  There's even Cow-print seat covers and a fire extinguisher
fastened to the roll bar!

Ahhhh, Four barrel carbs and a wholesome rumble that says "GET THE HELL OUT OF
THE WAY!"

This vehicle only cost me $4200.00 and it will be great for taking the mountain
bike out to the trails and for driving on those days that make the ordinary
winter Miata driver want to stay home.  Here's a comparison:

Miata - 25mpg
Jeep - 11mpg

Miata- Takes Freeway clover leaf ramps at 25mph over the posted "Recommendation"
Jeep - Is lucky to get on the freeway at the posted limit without tipping over!

Miata - Decelerates from 60 to 0 on a dime
Jeep - Decelerates from 60 to 0 "sometime today"

Miata - Top down driving is windy but pleasurable
Jeep - Topless and doorless driving will pull your shirt off if it ain't
       tucked under the seatbelt, and will rip the sunglasses right off
       your face.

Miata - Four wheel drifts into tight corners like a dream
Jeep - Four wheel drives THROUGH corners like a dream

Overall, I can't complain... For the first time ever, I tossed the mountain bike
into my vehicle and I didn't worry about chipping the paint, getting grease on
the leather, or bottoming out in a pothole somewhere in the gravel lot.

kjw &
ICE-CUBE &
MUD BUG