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<is…@apvamericas.com> wrote:
> I’ve just purchased a ’91 silver Miata with 48,000 miles on it.  What a
> lovely little fun machine.  I have three questions I hope you can help me
> with:

> 1.  This car will garaged when not in use.  Having not had a convertible
> before (used to have an X1/9, but targas don’t count, right?), is it a
> no-no to leave the top down (assuming it is dry, properly stored with
> window protected, boot on, etc.) while the car is in the garage, say,
> overnight?  Or is the proper thing to always put the top back up when
> you’re done for the day?

> 2.  I live in the Chicago area, and (having recently moved here) it
> appears that almost all gas stations sell gas that (according to stickers
> on the pump) contains up to 10% ethanol.  I know from reading the
> miata.net material that this is not a good thing.  For my first fillup I
> used Amoco super since their pumps only indicate that their lower two
> grades contain ethanol.  My question is, I’d like to avoid spending money
> on premium if it isn’t necessary–is it true that if the pump doesn’t
> have a sticker on it, the gas will be ethanol free?  There is a Phillips
> 76 station near me that has no stickers, and I’d use that.  Any
> Midwesterners out there that can help?

> 3.  Is there a proper way to fasten the boot?  In other words, do you
> slip the plstic pieces on first, the snaps first, or what?  It seems
> difficult to do the snaps last.

Irwin: (1) you can leave the top down for days without problems. There
probably are Californians out there who have never put theirs up. I
typically leave mine down and use a cockpit cover until serious rain
impends.

(2) the ethanol problem may not be as serious as some suggest. You really
do not need to use premium fuels unless you are doing interesting things
to the timing, or if you are forcing air with a turbo or blower.

(3) I usually do the snaps and straps first. Whatever works…

Frank