Marvin Answers Your Questions . . . 

Dear Marvin,

I have an undesirable sound from my soft top when it is up - wondered if anyone has experienced this or would have a suggestion.  The part of the top directly above the seats has an interior "liner" surface that is spaced away from the exterior vinyl by the roof tubing when the roof is up.  The interior sheet picks up a chatter like a drum when I drive on rough roads or over small bumps.  There was no material between the interior and exterior materials and it looks like a perfect candidate to act like a drum.  I tried putting a sheet of  low density foam in between the sections (it is accessible like a pocket when the roof is being retracted).  Was there supposed to be some sound deadening material in there between the interior fabric and the vinyl exterior roof material?  Can that interior section be tightened/loosened to stop it from resonating like a drum?  Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Thanks,

Keith

Dear Keith,

As you probably know, the Miata was the favorite car of Brad Beath, late drummer for Bottled Spit, the Ska/Rap/Funk/Folk/Blues/Polka/Country band.  Brad met his maker one night on a stretch of lonely mountain road (good drummer, bad driver), and as a tribute to him Mazda made the convertible top of the '99 Miata as a built-in drum head.  So anytime you hear the drumming, just remember old Brad and what he meant to the world of Ska/Rap/Funk/Folk/Blues/Polka/Country music.

Thanks for your question,

Marvin

(Editor's Note: I am afraid Marvin is way off base here - too much time spent with his head under a hood.   Although Mazda has been known to do some weird stuff, this is stretching it pretty far.  I also have a drumming on my '99, so are there any suggestions from our membership?)