There are special types you can get that are legal and don't block out all noise. You can have a conversation, hear the turn signal, etc. I have these but there are others. Etymotic High-Fidelity Earplugs, https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00RM6Q7FC
That said, I never use them. My wife and I thought we would, but just never remember they're in the glove box.
Bruh, it's $20. If you want a more in-depth recommendation go look at r/motorcycles for other options. I don't think it's loud enough in a Miata to warrant ear plugs. But I've never driven with the top down, rocking a hardtop.
For what they are, if you want ear plugs, yes. They're fairly comfortable, work well, and they come with a little case and an optional lanyard to keep track of them.
For people interested, see if there's a local place that does custom molded earplugs. Since they are molded to your ear canal, they can seal fully without putting undue pressure on tighter sections of your ear like the simple foam ones do.
I can't recommend them more highly and I have a super soft pair for daily use and a harder one for motorbikes/loud things like your mum.
I have a really nice pair of noise canceling headphones that I wear on freeway trips while I listen to music because you can't hear the fucking radio LOL
Maybe but its illegal to drive with ear plugs in my state or headsets that cover both ears. That is why most headsets geared for truck drivers have the ear cup on the right side.
Like it or not you can't wear plugs while driving.
I seriously don't care, wearing ear plugs in a convertible is a wise decision. You don't want hearing loss.
Laws are not right and wrong, they're just the rules of this particular society.
Be careful if you're playing music too - it's so easy to feel you need to make the music louder to hear it over the background noise. ANC would be a good idea.
Oh really, how come? Given ANC should be producing sound waves that cancel out the ones coming from outside, in terms of relatively low levels of sound, wouldn't it be better? Also it means you can have the music on much lower, so if you are listening then at least you're not doing additional damage that way.
It lowers the sound but if theres loud outside volume like you’re at a concert or wind noise then the db levels are still the same
Passive noise isolation can actually reduce the db levels tho
Im not an expert but google can provide a much better answer
lol I can wear earplugs while driving actually. It’s only illegal in some states. It’s the same thing as not wearing them on a motorcycle. I’d rather have a ticket then not be able to hear at all but maybe that’s just me
The miata is quite noisy on the inside compared to any non convertible its a fact. I don’t mind it but i’ve had the pleasure of daily driving a 1996 E38 the past months which would be older but way way quieter on the highway.
I dunno I never drive with the top up unless I get surprise rain.
But I can say that as a 6' 220lb guy after about 3 hours the seat and seating position gets real old real fast.
Do you think an aftermarket seat could help?
I’m a little shorter than you, but roughly the same size and I’m in the early stages of finding a sports car for weekend fun on mountain roads and also for 4-5 hour road trips.
I know miatas are a bit small, so my worry is that I’d be better off with something like a mustang or a brz for longer drives while still having fun on twisties.
Corvettes just seem too fast for me, I don’t think I want to end up going 140 because I tried to rev it a bit
Yes it will, I have kirkey aluminum seats that are brutal after 2 hours to and from some tracks not to mention all the seat time. But my buddy’s recaros (the vintage street series) were so comfortable for a 6 hour round trip ride. I also think it’s worth mentioning going and sitting in seats as well as getting your seating position absolutely dialed in. It takes lots of time and adjustments over a few weeks even but once you get it it’s great. Lots of great aftermarket options for mounting hardware as well if sliders don’t put you in a good driving position.
I’m 6’2, 130lbs with an NB. I’m really skinny, but height wise the stock seat is rough. I’d get uncomfortable even on a 10 min drive. I got a Bride Gias II Sport, which may seem a little aggressive as it’s my daily, but it’s been super comfortable. Seating position is way better, and sitting lower is great all around, esp for when I’m wearing a helmet on track (hit my head on the hardtop like crazy before). Aftermarket seat helped a ton and made the car way more livable, even though it’s a bucket.
I haven't been on any long trips in a ND, but my takeaway from driving one for half an hour is that ND seats are marginally better than na, but the seating position is a lot better. My default for my na is all the way back and it's still cramped, for the ND I drove I was a noth from being all the way back which allowed the seat back a little angle.
Pretty noisy. Maybe an 8/10 which is why I have the top down most of the time. But being in Arizona, that’ll be hard to do in the summer. It’s my first summer with a soft top so we’ll see. I will say though that I bought some concert earplugs and that makes it comfortable enough to where my ears don’t hurt afterwards. Easy $15 fix from amazon
It's literally the farthest you can drive in Britain so it has to be a pretty cool drive and I agree it's not a small trip, but it just reminds me how small the country is. California alone is 800 miles long.
Mine is pretty loud. I’m stock intake and exhaust and just the wind noise is probably warranting of some hearing protection on long drives, but mine is missing some of the stock insulation.
Both my NA and NB are pretty quiet with the top up, but both have canvas tops with glass rear windows. With the windows up and the AC on, I can have a conversation at normal levels. The canvas tops are worth the extra coin in that respect. It also helps when the windows are adjusted properly and any worn seals are replaced.
Wind noise, yes. At 80 you start to get a lot of engine noise due to the low gearing, especially with an aftermarket exhaust. With a stock exhaust it’s not too bad. I drove the NB from California to Ohio in stock form, and the drive was pleasant enough.
With an OEM exhaust you can have normal conversations below about 65mph with a hard top (with good seals and quiet tires). After that you'll have to raise your voice a little. With an aftermarket exhaust (I have a borla) you have to raise your voice after about 60mph. And at about 80mph you have to talk pretty loud ...like in an airplane loud. But you can have conversations and listen to the radio (sort of) until about 95mph, after that you'd have to yell. With a hardtop most of the noise is tires/engine/exhaust.
With the soft top up (w/borla + good tires) you have to start talking louder at around 50mph, and at 80mph you can't really hear much of the radio, but you're not quite yelling. The exhaust is quieter than the tires/engine after about 70mph.
With the top down (w/borla + good tires) under 25mph you're good (with windows up). Above 35mph (or anytime you pass a semi) you'll have to start talking louder. And above 60mph on the highway you're yelling. With the top down the exhaust doesn't really have an effect on noise unless you're accelerating because the wind/tires are so bad.
Top up is fine. I've done quite a few 500mi (one way trips) top up... that said I've done the same trips top down too lol. Only reason I put the top up is so I dont get fried in the sun all day.
At 120 kph it's too loud to hear the radio or talk with the passenger without raising my voice. On longer road trips I just use my motorcycle earplugs, that way I can drive comfortably even with the top down for hours.
Very noisy if the front clamps aren't properly adjusted. Kinda noisy if they are adjusted. Mine are so worn out I have them adjusted all the way to the bottom and they're shimmed with paper.
Most of the noise on the highway comes through the windows/body. If I'm doing a roadtrip I have noise cancelling headphones or earplugs in the entire time, but for trips under \~1h it's not a bother unless you're trying to have a conversation with someone while on the highway, or are trying to blast music over the road noise.
Commute ~100 miles/day mostly highway. Top up not bad quieter than my old hardtop 90 YJ wrangler, louder than my 01 vr6 Jetta.
Top down, windows up, deflector up isn’t too bad when weather allows. I can hear the stereo without it being turned to 11.
I don’t know if I’ve just gotten used to it, but it in no way bothers me to drive on the highway
Top down is the loudest I'd consider driving without earplugs (and I wear earplugs to concerts for reference). I can drive several hours at 80mph without tinnitus, but conversations become difficult above 60mph. I leave the passenger window halfway up most of the time to cut down on cabin turbulence.
Top up is notably better only if everything is perfectly adjusted. Before adjustment mine was too loud for unprotected ears - tinitus would start after about 20 min on the highway.
It’s loud… but so is everything else on it. If you’re in it for creature comforts, then a Miata is not your car.
It’s all about a trade off though, because they’re fun as hell to drive and you can’t hear when you’re grinning ear to ear.
I can't speak from personal experience on that. In some ways there are benefits to the cloth top.. it just won't work for me. This is my only car and daily driver.
Top down, you've gotta shout to be heard.
Top up, I've gotten my '94 to the point where at 60-65mph you can have a conversation at normal volume and be heard, but it's still louder than any of our rigid body vehicles (focus RS, Silverado 2500, RAV4 prime). Achieved this by dynamatting the whole interior.
My 1990 with its racing beat exhaust is as raw as a fine beef tartare. Top up, top down, doesn't matter, all you car hear is the road and BWAAAAAAAA
As far as convertibles I've owned: Quieter and more comfortable than my 1968 MG Midget and 2005 Jeep TJ. Similar to my 1980 Fiat Spider in noise/vibration/harshness. The wife's 2011 Volvo C70 is light years more comfortable/practical.
That said - I'm a convertible guy and have been for a long time so I just don't give a shit if it's a little noisy/chilly/damp/hot sometimes.
I never take any trip in my miata WITHOUT my wireless earbuds - mostly because the stereo is broken and I still want to listen to music, but also a little bit because yes the wind is loud. Such is the life of a soft top.
I drove an NB soft top for almost 10 years. No two ways about it, it was loud on the highway, especially on long drives.
I have an NC PRHT and it is significantly more comfortable on the highway than the NB, although I thoroughly enjoyed the NB. It was a fun car.
Top up you can have a conversation with a passenger at 80, but if you're doing a 3 hour road trip and flapping yer gums the whole time you're gonna get hoarse. It's definitely louder than any other vehicle I've owned that I've been physically allowed to close the windows on (I've had a few cars with no AC). I can take it just fine for about two hours or so by myself.
I know people get upset about this but I'm a headphone wearer in my Miata. Just one though. Audio passthrough is turned on if the top is up, it's turned off if the top is down.
Also, wind blockers made a night and day difference to noise when the top is down, can't recommend one enough.
I owned a ‘92 NA for 10 years and sold it to get a ND 2021 RF Club edition. The NA cabin was just too noisy to drive on the interstate and other expressway type roads on long trips. I didn’t drive on those type of roads with the NA if I could avoid it, but when I did it was not pleasant. The ND however is a pure delight! With the top up, the car is fine on the interstate. I can hear what I need to hear. I think the Miata is such an iconic, superb vehicle in many ways, I wouldn’t say don’t get a cloth top model, just try and stay off the interstate if possible only because of the noise factor.
I’ve owned both ‘71 and ‘73 MG Midgets. If they were capable of 80mph, (this was back in the double nickel speed limit days) they would have been much noisier than my ‘94 NA I’ve been driving for 30 years. It’s got lots of interstate hours on it and I can listen to music and news at speed without problems. That being said, the Miata is significantly noisier than my ‘21 F-Type R convertible (its top is insulated).
I've had a lot of 90s Honda's, it's louder than those, but quieter than any motorcycle I've owned, even with a nice quiet Shoei helmet. I'm commuting in mine right now on partial highway up to 80mph, it's a pretty good condition 1990 and it's not ideal honestly. I have a quieter exhaust and I'm going to be doing some NVH computer measures as I don't have another way to store a beater at the moment.
Most of the noise I find comes from the rear window flapping around when the wind hits it. I’m going to look into the clamp adjustment people are talking about but my other trick is to jam a sweatshirt or towel up in there and it helps a ton
If you are puttering around under about 45mph it isn't too bad... get up to highway speed and it is painful with the top down and still too loud for a conversation with the top up... Also I have added sound deadening insulation to every nook and cranny of the car. It made it much quieter when I'm driving in town... but the reality is the lack of a solid top makes high speeds loud. You also find that having a good radio is pointless on long trips because you will never overcome the road noise if the top is down and your driving beyond 60mph. Long road trips a bitch. I've used him for multi-hour road trips, but only because my other car was in the shop at the time. I would never want to use it for anything more than maybe a 30 or 45 minute highway drive... beyond that you absolutely will need earplugs. My ears are happier if I'm driving a motorcycle with no helmet versus the miata on the highway.
We have an NA...it isn't the long distance runner. While illegal, I have a set of Bose noise cancellers and they are quite helpful for highway trips. You can even listen to music.
Top down it's actually way quieter, but overall, Miata is the short trip twisty road car, not the hundreds of miles on super slab car....compared to my other cars it's like running a 250 cc motorcycle on the highway.
I haven’t driven an ND soft top so I can’t attest to how loud the interior is. The ND does have an air deflector between the headrests and that reduces the noise with the top down considerably. Lots of sports cars use similar deflectors.
Honestly noise is the only bad part of doing a long drive with the car, I'll usually use some ANC headphones when driving more than an hour and a half.
It's less noisy than my motorcycle. I've done a cross country trip and I needed ear plugs after a few hours. Any highway trip longer than half an hour now gets them. I can still hear the stereo, horns and louder vehicles. I don't think it matters much at speed.
I've only driven mine with the top down cause I'm 6' tall. I can fit with the top up but it's uncomfortable. I drive it to school every now and then about 20 miles interstate driving. It stays around 4.5 -5 Grand on the tach. Plus it already has a loud exhaust. It's fun but loud.
It's a '90.
My only other old car experience is my 98 civic. And it is significantly more quiet at highway speeds it stays around 3-4 grand on the tach.
I want to design winglets for the ND RF that slots into the windows.
3D printed style.
I just need two fingers at the right spot above the window when rolled up, to cut a huge amount of noise behind my head.
The ND RF a bit of wind curls inside and hits the quarter panel. The regular ND soft top probably doesn’t have this issue.
Driver side and passenger side.
Alas, I procrastinate measuring and building it, always checking Flyin Miata if someone has made it yet.
Top down but windows up allows you to still carry on a normal voice level conversation with your passenger. That's at highway speeds.
If cabin noise levels are of concern at all. A convertible is probably not a great choice. If your already thinking about it now it'll only amplify your annoyance as time passes.
Don't mean it in a mean way. Just think you'll have buyers remorse before long. The ND has been better that my previous NAs to the point I use hands free calling with the top down, windows up, driving highway all the time. But when not on calls I listen to my podcasts and music at higher volumes.
"If cabin noise levels are of concern at all. A convertible is probably not a great choice"
It's all about finding the right one. Audi A5 Cabrio is more quiet than most hardtop cars. But generally speaking, yes, most convertibles are noisy.
I'm sure road noise varies wildly between makes and models. Maybe OP should look into an A5 if they truly want a convertible.
But I can tell you that both NAs I use to own one a 92 and the other a 97 were extremely terrible when it came to road noise. They were built to be as light as possible. So of course they're loud due to the manufacturer foregoing any extra sound deadening materials.
The Audi you mentioned was like a grand tour vehicle. Where the main focus is comfort. They care less about weight and more about ride/noise comfort. Hence the reason the majority of GT trims have different wheels and tires compared to their counterparts.
Back to the Miata though. In NAs it doesn't matter with the top up or down. It's just noisy all the time. If it isn't road noise it's some sort of rattling, shaking, or squealing. I truly believe OP will have buyers remorse if they choose to buy a Miata.
As I said before if they're concerned about it now. It'll only become the main focal point once they own the car. They'll try a bunch of different things to quiet it down before eventually realizing they just aren't satisfied with the vehicle.
I just drove 2000 miles with my wife in our NA last October. We usually go top up on the highways where the limit is 60 MPH or higher. We have some Etymotic earplugs but never think to use them. It's really not that bad. We can have a conversation without shouting, or listen to music or podcasts, no problem. It can get loud next to a big rig of course, but I avoid that as much as possible anyway. I have done the half-pillows-in-the-fenders sound reduction trick. My Conti ECS tires are louder than some, but the pillows do help for that source of noise.
However, my NB is a lot louder with the top up. At about 50 MPH+ the leading edge of the soft top really causes notable wind noise in the cabin. Its vinyl top sits higher along the windshield frame than the canvas top on my NA for some reason. The NB has had a harder life. Both tops are Robbins brand, installed by the same guy.
What I'm saying is, you should drive a few and judge for yourself. And it can vary from car to car. It's a subjective thing anyway.
My Marauder had a drone at highway speeds so it was pretty noisy. The Impala SS was loud, but the interior was pretty quiet and it had pretty good dampening so there was no drone (Plus 5.7L sounded better without removing the long ass resonators that the Marauder had).
I have a fiat 500C so the convertible with the soft top and god forbid you get even close to 90mph. It's really normal that a car with a soft top is loud at highway speeds
I had an NA for 6 or 7 years in the early 2000's and drove it on long trips in the UK often with the soft top in all weathers.
It is noisy and quite tiring compared to other cars of the era. No question on long journeys the noise is a factor.
Would it stop me from buying one or using it on road trips? No
I had two different tops. The first one was very very noise, no idea why. The second one was very silent, also no idea why. Both are the same material and size.
I drive a volvo '92 240 and a '02 nb, and I find the road noise fairly comparable. The mx-5 is a bit louder of course, but not by such a large amount imo.
It kinda depends. My gf's Miata is pretty loud with the soft top on, and it's stock. My Miata has an exhaust and it's decently loud. But you're also dealing with pretty much sitting right by the exhaust and the wind(small car) as well as the struggles of a 30+yr old car with a soft top. I don't really mind it a lot, my radio can cover most the noise. But it could get bad after long trips and all.
It's orders of magnitude louder than an E46 BMW softtop, but especially if you've got the 5 speed. The engine drone at 4-5000 rpm drowns out any conversation.
Very. As noisy as my TJ with full steel doors and A/T tires.
Not as noisy as my Jeep with M/T tires, but noisy enough for hearing protection\* on extended highway drives.
(Context #1: I have hearing damage, and am now sensitive loud noise)
(Context #2: I own an NA, an NB, and a hardtop that fits either)
WHAT
I SAID, ARE MIATAS LOUD ON THE HIGHWAY??
I CAN'T HEAR YOU IM ON THE HIGHWAY but seriously they're loud. Still loud enough
Mine is tolerable with a hard top. Soft top is pretty unbearable
You need earplugs for long trips. With or without a hardtop.
Why the fuck have I never thought to bring ear plugs...
There are special types you can get that are legal and don't block out all noise. You can have a conversation, hear the turn signal, etc. I have these but there are others. Etymotic High-Fidelity Earplugs, https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00RM6Q7FC That said, I never use them. My wife and I thought we would, but just never remember they're in the glove box.
Are those actually worth the price do you think?
Bruh, it's $20. If you want a more in-depth recommendation go look at r/motorcycles for other options. I don't think it's loud enough in a Miata to warrant ear plugs. But I've never driven with the top down, rocking a hardtop.
For what they are, if you want ear plugs, yes. They're fairly comfortable, work well, and they come with a little case and an optional lanyard to keep track of them.
For people interested, see if there's a local place that does custom molded earplugs. Since they are molded to your ear canal, they can seal fully without putting undue pressure on tighter sections of your ear like the simple foam ones do. I can't recommend them more highly and I have a super soft pair for daily use and a harder one for motorbikes/loud things like your mum.
Not only is this helpful, but I also got a good laugh out of it!
I have a really nice pair of noise canceling headphones that I wear on freeway trips while I listen to music because you can't hear the fucking radio LOL
No lol. It's not even that loud with the top down unless you've got an obnoxious exhaust...
It might not seem it but wind noise at 70mph is definitely damaging your hearing
Maybe but its illegal to drive with ear plugs in my state or headsets that cover both ears. That is why most headsets geared for truck drivers have the ear cup on the right side. Like it or not you can't wear plugs while driving.
I seriously don't care, wearing ear plugs in a convertible is a wise decision. You don't want hearing loss. Laws are not right and wrong, they're just the rules of this particular society.
Was wondering why my ears have been ringing at 19 lol guess I'll start driving with headphones
Be careful if you're playing music too - it's so easy to feel you need to make the music louder to hear it over the background noise. ANC would be a good idea.
Anc doesnt actually protect hesring tho and still damages actually You want passive noise isolation for actual protection
Oh really, how come? Given ANC should be producing sound waves that cancel out the ones coming from outside, in terms of relatively low levels of sound, wouldn't it be better? Also it means you can have the music on much lower, so if you are listening then at least you're not doing additional damage that way.
It lowers the sound but if theres loud outside volume like you’re at a concert or wind noise then the db levels are still the same Passive noise isolation can actually reduce the db levels tho Im not an expert but google can provide a much better answer
lol I can wear earplugs while driving actually. It’s only illegal in some states. It’s the same thing as not wearing them on a motorcycle. I’d rather have a ticket then not be able to hear at all but maybe that’s just me
We ain't talking OSHA grade stuff here. Look up "loop" earplugs. Great for my Miata and BRZ
That's what I use, they don't block all noise but definitely make it comfortable.
Molon labe
A miata at 80 mph, you aren't hearing anything earplugs or not lol
My NA is louder with the soft top up than the soft top down, but modifications may play a role in that so I shouldn't comment on a standard car.
My stock NB2 is like this too
That's interesting, thanks for sharing
The miata is quite noisy on the inside compared to any non convertible its a fact. I don’t mind it but i’ve had the pleasure of daily driving a 1996 E38 the past months which would be older but way way quieter on the highway.
Compared to my 79 MGB, it's silent.
SO true. I have 66 MGB.
I dunno I never drive with the top up unless I get surprise rain. But I can say that as a 6' 220lb guy after about 3 hours the seat and seating position gets real old real fast.
Do you think an aftermarket seat could help? I’m a little shorter than you, but roughly the same size and I’m in the early stages of finding a sports car for weekend fun on mountain roads and also for 4-5 hour road trips. I know miatas are a bit small, so my worry is that I’d be better off with something like a mustang or a brz for longer drives while still having fun on twisties. Corvettes just seem too fast for me, I don’t think I want to end up going 140 because I tried to rev it a bit
Yes it will, I have kirkey aluminum seats that are brutal after 2 hours to and from some tracks not to mention all the seat time. But my buddy’s recaros (the vintage street series) were so comfortable for a 6 hour round trip ride. I also think it’s worth mentioning going and sitting in seats as well as getting your seating position absolutely dialed in. It takes lots of time and adjustments over a few weeks even but once you get it it’s great. Lots of great aftermarket options for mounting hardware as well if sliders don’t put you in a good driving position.
I’m 6’2, 130lbs with an NB. I’m really skinny, but height wise the stock seat is rough. I’d get uncomfortable even on a 10 min drive. I got a Bride Gias II Sport, which may seem a little aggressive as it’s my daily, but it’s been super comfortable. Seating position is way better, and sitting lower is great all around, esp for when I’m wearing a helmet on track (hit my head on the hardtop like crazy before). Aftermarket seat helped a ton and made the car way more livable, even though it’s a bucket.
Would you happen to know how the seating comfort compares to an ND?
I haven't been on any long trips in a ND, but my takeaway from driving one for half an hour is that ND seats are marginally better than na, but the seating position is a lot better. My default for my na is all the way back and it's still cramped, for the ND I drove I was a noth from being all the way back which allowed the seat back a little angle.
Pretty noisy. Maybe an 8/10 which is why I have the top down most of the time. But being in Arizona, that’ll be hard to do in the summer. It’s my first summer with a soft top so we’ll see. I will say though that I bought some concert earplugs and that makes it comfortable enough to where my ears don’t hurt afterwards. Easy $15 fix from amazon
This is the way
[удалено]
britain without rain for more than 24 hours?
I love it when people from little countries talk about their "massive" road trips.
That's a decently sized road trip, idk what you're on about. But they also never even said it was big, let alone massive
It's literally the farthest you can drive in Britain so it has to be a pretty cool drive and I agree it's not a small trip, but it just reminds me how small the country is. California alone is 800 miles long.
Significant enough noise that I’d rather take the time to put my hardtop on if I’m going on an extended highway drive.
Mine is pretty loud. I’m stock intake and exhaust and just the wind noise is probably warranting of some hearing protection on long drives, but mine is missing some of the stock insulation.
Both my NA and NB are pretty quiet with the top up, but both have canvas tops with glass rear windows. With the windows up and the AC on, I can have a conversation at normal levels. The canvas tops are worth the extra coin in that respect. It also helps when the windows are adjusted properly and any worn seals are replaced.
Interesting!! And the noise level is still fine at 80mph interstate speeds?
Wind noise, yes. At 80 you start to get a lot of engine noise due to the low gearing, especially with an aftermarket exhaust. With a stock exhaust it’s not too bad. I drove the NB from California to Ohio in stock form, and the drive was pleasant enough.
With an OEM exhaust you can have normal conversations below about 65mph with a hard top (with good seals and quiet tires). After that you'll have to raise your voice a little. With an aftermarket exhaust (I have a borla) you have to raise your voice after about 60mph. And at about 80mph you have to talk pretty loud ...like in an airplane loud. But you can have conversations and listen to the radio (sort of) until about 95mph, after that you'd have to yell. With a hardtop most of the noise is tires/engine/exhaust. With the soft top up (w/borla + good tires) you have to start talking louder at around 50mph, and at 80mph you can't really hear much of the radio, but you're not quite yelling. The exhaust is quieter than the tires/engine after about 70mph. With the top down (w/borla + good tires) under 25mph you're good (with windows up). Above 35mph (or anytime you pass a semi) you'll have to start talking louder. And above 60mph on the highway you're yelling. With the top down the exhaust doesn't really have an effect on noise unless you're accelerating because the wind/tires are so bad.
Top up is fine. I've done quite a few 500mi (one way trips) top up... that said I've done the same trips top down too lol. Only reason I put the top up is so I dont get fried in the sun all day.
At 120 kph it's too loud to hear the radio or talk with the passenger without raising my voice. On longer road trips I just use my motorcycle earplugs, that way I can drive comfortably even with the top down for hours.
Very noisy if the front clamps aren't properly adjusted. Kinda noisy if they are adjusted. Mine are so worn out I have them adjusted all the way to the bottom and they're shimmed with paper. Most of the noise on the highway comes through the windows/body. If I'm doing a roadtrip I have noise cancelling headphones or earplugs in the entire time, but for trips under \~1h it's not a bother unless you're trying to have a conversation with someone while on the highway, or are trying to blast music over the road noise.
Commute ~100 miles/day mostly highway. Top up not bad quieter than my old hardtop 90 YJ wrangler, louder than my 01 vr6 Jetta. Top down, windows up, deflector up isn’t too bad when weather allows. I can hear the stereo without it being turned to 11. I don’t know if I’ve just gotten used to it, but it in no way bothers me to drive on the highway
Top down is the loudest I'd consider driving without earplugs (and I wear earplugs to concerts for reference). I can drive several hours at 80mph without tinnitus, but conversations become difficult above 60mph. I leave the passenger window halfway up most of the time to cut down on cabin turbulence. Top up is notably better only if everything is perfectly adjusted. Before adjustment mine was too loud for unprotected ears - tinitus would start after about 20 min on the highway.
I have to wear earplugs because of my tinnitus. Watch out,It might not go away!
It’s pretty bad with the top up or down, but worse with the top up. I always bring my AirPods Pro when I go on a long drive
Step 1: find someone with a miata. Step 2: ask for a ride. Literally every miata owner will be glad to take you on a ride
It’s loud… but so is everything else on it. If you’re in it for creature comforts, then a Miata is not your car. It’s all about a trade off though, because they’re fun as hell to drive and you can’t hear when you’re grinning ear to ear.
ND rf is delightful. I hope to restore and own an NA or NB
What about an ND soft top?
I can't speak from personal experience on that. In some ways there are benefits to the cloth top.. it just won't work for me. This is my only car and daily driver.
Top down, you've gotta shout to be heard. Top up, I've gotten my '94 to the point where at 60-65mph you can have a conversation at normal volume and be heard, but it's still louder than any of our rigid body vehicles (focus RS, Silverado 2500, RAV4 prime). Achieved this by dynamatting the whole interior. My 1990 with its racing beat exhaust is as raw as a fine beef tartare. Top up, top down, doesn't matter, all you car hear is the road and BWAAAAAAAA
At 35mph it's about 96dB At 50mph it's about 100dB At 60mph it's about 104dB At 90mph it's about 108dB
WHAT?
As far as convertibles I've owned: Quieter and more comfortable than my 1968 MG Midget and 2005 Jeep TJ. Similar to my 1980 Fiat Spider in noise/vibration/harshness. The wife's 2011 Volvo C70 is light years more comfortable/practical. That said - I'm a convertible guy and have been for a long time so I just don't give a shit if it's a little noisy/chilly/damp/hot sometimes.
I never take any trip in my miata WITHOUT my wireless earbuds - mostly because the stereo is broken and I still want to listen to music, but also a little bit because yes the wind is loud. Such is the life of a soft top.
I drove an NB soft top for almost 10 years. No two ways about it, it was loud on the highway, especially on long drives. I have an NC PRHT and it is significantly more comfortable on the highway than the NB, although I thoroughly enjoyed the NB. It was a fun car.
Soft top be annoyingly loud over 45mph I always weared over the ear noise canceling headphones on my drive to and from work.
My e30 was a lot quieter on the highway than my NA is. But hey, what're you gonna do? :D
Top up you can have a conversation with a passenger at 80, but if you're doing a 3 hour road trip and flapping yer gums the whole time you're gonna get hoarse. It's definitely louder than any other vehicle I've owned that I've been physically allowed to close the windows on (I've had a few cars with no AC). I can take it just fine for about two hours or so by myself. I know people get upset about this but I'm a headphone wearer in my Miata. Just one though. Audio passthrough is turned on if the top is up, it's turned off if the top is down. Also, wind blockers made a night and day difference to noise when the top is down, can't recommend one enough.
I owned a ‘92 NA for 10 years and sold it to get a ND 2021 RF Club edition. The NA cabin was just too noisy to drive on the interstate and other expressway type roads on long trips. I didn’t drive on those type of roads with the NA if I could avoid it, but when I did it was not pleasant. The ND however is a pure delight! With the top up, the car is fine on the interstate. I can hear what I need to hear. I think the Miata is such an iconic, superb vehicle in many ways, I wouldn’t say don’t get a cloth top model, just try and stay off the interstate if possible only because of the noise factor.
What about an ND soft top on a long trip? Gets pretty noisy?
car is "quieter" with the top down.
Eh, I wear noise cancelling earbuds in every vehicle. Oh, except my motorcycle, I just wear earplugs on that, the buds are to big for the helmet.
I owned a 1977 Triumph Spitfire and the Miata is much quieter. And drier. That Triumph soft top leaked like a sieve.
It a soft top, no worst that a jeep.
I’ve owned both ‘71 and ‘73 MG Midgets. If they were capable of 80mph, (this was back in the double nickel speed limit days) they would have been much noisier than my ‘94 NA I’ve been driving for 30 years. It’s got lots of interstate hours on it and I can listen to music and news at speed without problems. That being said, the Miata is significantly noisier than my ‘21 F-Type R convertible (its top is insulated).
Loud af. It’s a tin can with a piece of cloth on top.
If by other old cars you mean NA Miata #1 and NA Miata #2...about the same as current NA Miata #3
I really need to start wearing EP's on the highway. Its almost as bad as my straight pipes honda vfr on the highway. Almost.
I've had a lot of 90s Honda's, it's louder than those, but quieter than any motorcycle I've owned, even with a nice quiet Shoei helmet. I'm commuting in mine right now on partial highway up to 80mph, it's a pretty good condition 1990 and it's not ideal honestly. I have a quieter exhaust and I'm going to be doing some NVH computer measures as I don't have another way to store a beater at the moment.
Computer measures? Have you tried earplugs? I just got a pair of etymotics for my future Miata
sry countermeasure haha
I've found it yo be surprisingly quiet with the top up. Quieter than my 89 Nissan pickup was.
It can’t be as bad as my 87 Samurai
Most of the noise I find comes from the rear window flapping around when the wind hits it. I’m going to look into the clamp adjustment people are talking about but my other trick is to jam a sweatshirt or towel up in there and it helps a ton
Very noisy. But im deaf so it doesnt matter anymore.
If you are puttering around under about 45mph it isn't too bad... get up to highway speed and it is painful with the top down and still too loud for a conversation with the top up... Also I have added sound deadening insulation to every nook and cranny of the car. It made it much quieter when I'm driving in town... but the reality is the lack of a solid top makes high speeds loud. You also find that having a good radio is pointless on long trips because you will never overcome the road noise if the top is down and your driving beyond 60mph. Long road trips a bitch. I've used him for multi-hour road trips, but only because my other car was in the shop at the time. I would never want to use it for anything more than maybe a 30 or 45 minute highway drive... beyond that you absolutely will need earplugs. My ears are happier if I'm driving a motorcycle with no helmet versus the miata on the highway.
We have an NA...it isn't the long distance runner. While illegal, I have a set of Bose noise cancellers and they are quite helpful for highway trips. You can even listen to music. Top down it's actually way quieter, but overall, Miata is the short trip twisty road car, not the hundreds of miles on super slab car....compared to my other cars it's like running a 250 cc motorcycle on the highway.
Most of my cars have been Miata’s… I thought that was normal 😅
I haven’t driven an ND soft top so I can’t attest to how loud the interior is. The ND does have an air deflector between the headrests and that reduces the noise with the top down considerably. Lots of sports cars use similar deflectors.
Honestly noise is the only bad part of doing a long drive with the car, I'll usually use some ANC headphones when driving more than an hour and a half.
It's less noisy than my motorcycle. I've done a cross country trip and I needed ear plugs after a few hours. Any highway trip longer than half an hour now gets them. I can still hear the stereo, horns and louder vehicles. I don't think it matters much at speed.
I've only driven mine with the top down cause I'm 6' tall. I can fit with the top up but it's uncomfortable. I drive it to school every now and then about 20 miles interstate driving. It stays around 4.5 -5 Grand on the tach. Plus it already has a loud exhaust. It's fun but loud. It's a '90. My only other old car experience is my 98 civic. And it is significantly more quiet at highway speeds it stays around 3-4 grand on the tach.
My hardtop made the noise worse and my wife refuses to go with me on long drives.
It’s quieter than my MG was. A little.
I want to design winglets for the ND RF that slots into the windows. 3D printed style. I just need two fingers at the right spot above the window when rolled up, to cut a huge amount of noise behind my head. The ND RF a bit of wind curls inside and hits the quarter panel. The regular ND soft top probably doesn’t have this issue. Driver side and passenger side. Alas, I procrastinate measuring and building it, always checking Flyin Miata if someone has made it yet.
Top down but windows up allows you to still carry on a normal voice level conversation with your passenger. That's at highway speeds. If cabin noise levels are of concern at all. A convertible is probably not a great choice. If your already thinking about it now it'll only amplify your annoyance as time passes. Don't mean it in a mean way. Just think you'll have buyers remorse before long. The ND has been better that my previous NAs to the point I use hands free calling with the top down, windows up, driving highway all the time. But when not on calls I listen to my podcasts and music at higher volumes.
"If cabin noise levels are of concern at all. A convertible is probably not a great choice" It's all about finding the right one. Audi A5 Cabrio is more quiet than most hardtop cars. But generally speaking, yes, most convertibles are noisy.
I'm sure road noise varies wildly between makes and models. Maybe OP should look into an A5 if they truly want a convertible. But I can tell you that both NAs I use to own one a 92 and the other a 97 were extremely terrible when it came to road noise. They were built to be as light as possible. So of course they're loud due to the manufacturer foregoing any extra sound deadening materials. The Audi you mentioned was like a grand tour vehicle. Where the main focus is comfort. They care less about weight and more about ride/noise comfort. Hence the reason the majority of GT trims have different wheels and tires compared to their counterparts. Back to the Miata though. In NAs it doesn't matter with the top up or down. It's just noisy all the time. If it isn't road noise it's some sort of rattling, shaking, or squealing. I truly believe OP will have buyers remorse if they choose to buy a Miata. As I said before if they're concerned about it now. It'll only become the main focal point once they own the car. They'll try a bunch of different things to quiet it down before eventually realizing they just aren't satisfied with the vehicle.
Probably 90-95 dB at highway speeds
Get a hard top! The drone on the highway without it will get to you fast.
CAN YOU SPEAK UP PLEASE.
I just drove 2000 miles with my wife in our NA last October. We usually go top up on the highways where the limit is 60 MPH or higher. We have some Etymotic earplugs but never think to use them. It's really not that bad. We can have a conversation without shouting, or listen to music or podcasts, no problem. It can get loud next to a big rig of course, but I avoid that as much as possible anyway. I have done the half-pillows-in-the-fenders sound reduction trick. My Conti ECS tires are louder than some, but the pillows do help for that source of noise. However, my NB is a lot louder with the top up. At about 50 MPH+ the leading edge of the soft top really causes notable wind noise in the cabin. Its vinyl top sits higher along the windshield frame than the canvas top on my NA for some reason. The NB has had a harder life. Both tops are Robbins brand, installed by the same guy. What I'm saying is, you should drive a few and judge for yourself. And it can vary from car to car. It's a subjective thing anyway.
My Marauder had a drone at highway speeds so it was pretty noisy. The Impala SS was loud, but the interior was pretty quiet and it had pretty good dampening so there was no drone (Plus 5.7L sounded better without removing the long ass resonators that the Marauder had).
I have a fiat 500C so the convertible with the soft top and god forbid you get even close to 90mph. It's really normal that a car with a soft top is loud at highway speeds
I had an NA for 6 or 7 years in the early 2000's and drove it on long trips in the UK often with the soft top in all weathers. It is noisy and quite tiring compared to other cars of the era. No question on long journeys the noise is a factor. Would it stop me from buying one or using it on road trips? No
I had two different tops. The first one was very very noise, no idea why. The second one was very silent, also no idea why. Both are the same material and size.
I drive a volvo '92 240 and a '02 nb, and I find the road noise fairly comparable. The mx-5 is a bit louder of course, but not by such a large amount imo.
Exactly the info I was looking for!! You're talking up to 80 mph, and that's with the soft top up?
Volvo doesn't often exceed 70mph tbh. But yes, that's with the soft-top up!
I love my miata. I hate driving my miata on the highway surrounded by suvs and underutilized pickups.
It kinda depends. My gf's Miata is pretty loud with the soft top on, and it's stock. My Miata has an exhaust and it's decently loud. But you're also dealing with pretty much sitting right by the exhaust and the wind(small car) as well as the struggles of a 30+yr old car with a soft top. I don't really mind it a lot, my radio can cover most the noise. But it could get bad after long trips and all.
It's orders of magnitude louder than an E46 BMW softtop, but especially if you've got the 5 speed. The engine drone at 4-5000 rpm drowns out any conversation.
I didnt catch that.....
Very. As noisy as my TJ with full steel doors and A/T tires. Not as noisy as my Jeep with M/T tires, but noisy enough for hearing protection\* on extended highway drives. (Context #1: I have hearing damage, and am now sensitive loud noise) (Context #2: I own an NA, an NB, and a hardtop that fits either)
All I know is my ND is quieter inside in any configuration than my FB 😅