i started to buy a piece of lumber but couldn't see a way to secure the hatch. What do you guys use on the door side of this equation? I have the car side figured out. I was reluctant to use the locking mechanism because I didn't want to damage it. Thx!
Loop rope up and through the upper hatch opening, to the outside of the hinges, over the outside of the hatch, back under and into the car, then tie down to a secure point such as the D-rings.
If the lumber or conduit is 10' or less you can get it in and close the hatch. Fold the back and passenger seats down and guide the piece diagonally toward the passenger's foot wheel. A towel or similar around the front end of the piece will keep it from bouncing around and scratching the plastic up front. Works for a few pieces at a time.
Push some sort of carabiner clip (of comparable dimensions to the tang on the hatch) into the locking mechanism, to spoof the hatch being closed condition, and give you a tie-down point.
when i had a miata, there was an aftermarket product with a cord that worked like that. i could carry a ton of 2 x 4 x 2's.
How many miles did you end up putting on your Miata? My mother in law had the first year they came out and ended up putting 375 k miles on it before sellling it. Craziest thing. When it was listed on Craigslist about 6 years ago for $1500 they got over 40 calls in a 2 hour period and sold it the same day. Apparently there is a Mazda Miata lovers club out here in the Bay Area and the lucky purchaser drove from below San Jose in rush hour traffic to pick it up (a 2.5 hour endeavor). Didn't even drive it before buying. The sought after hard top and wonderful share of blue must have sealed the deal.
i had a '91. kept it for 10 years and only 25,000 miles. it was mint. always garaged, never drove it in the winter. i paid 12k and sold it for 6k. someone got a great deal imo.
That is a great deal and such low mileage. When the in laws miata was sold, we thought who wants a small car with over 370 k miles on it. In the end they regretted only asking $1500. Maybe the miatas are always a good deal on the used market. They are a tough squeeze for the average sized American though.
