What's the craziest modification you're actually considering for your slate

[TPL]

Yes the center brake light is useful. Particularly for dense urban traffic. Drivers tend to be more focused on what is ahead of them. As the distance closes between drivers, the front car's side taillights move toward drivers peripheral. This reduces the rear driver's cognition of those signals. The center tail light helps rear driver's maintain a clear visual in their main sight line of what the lead car is doing.

That is why they reduce rear collisions and became mandated.

I don't agree that "this reduces the rear driver's cognition of those signals." No matter how close you drive to the car ahead of you, it's still ahead of you, and the driver's side rear light is always nearly directly ahead of the following driver's seating position.

The one situation where I think the third light would help is if you have a Super Duty tailgating a Miata so closely that it can't see the taillights. This is an inherently unsafe situation regardless, and already against the law, so isn't enough by itself to justify the third light.

Without looking it up, I feel safe predicting that when these laws were passed, they were lobbied for by companies that make automobile light fixtures, and passed by politicians who wanted to be seen doing something, or were in on the take.

 

[IanNubbit]

I don't agree that "this reduces the rear driver's cognition of those signals." No matter how close you drive to the car ahead of you, it's still ahead of you, and the driver's side rear light is always nearly directly ahead of the following driver's seating position.

The one situation where I think the third light would help is if you have a Super Duty tailgating a Miata so closely that it can't see the taillights. This is an inherently unsafe situation regardless, and already against the law, so isn't enough by itself to justify the third light.

Without looking it up, I feel safe predicting that when these laws were passed, they were lobbied for by companies that make automobile light fixtures, and passed by politicians who wanted to be seen doing something, or were in on the take.

Well Miata 3rd brake light is only like 2-3” above the tail lights depending on generation, so… mehh😂😂

 

[Driven5]

Then take it out to a track day...

While it should autox fine, I wouldn't get my hopes too high about track days just yet. It may or may not be able to handle the extra strain.

The rear suspension won’t be ideal...

Perhaps not, but it will still be closer-to than the front suspension.

 

[cadblu]

It was there, look in the updated maker, third brake light is in the tailgate now

In this new location, the spare tire carrier accessory will completely block the 3rd brake light in this latest mod. However, it appears that the carrier will include another brake lamp in the wheel cover, and will need to plug into the brake lamp harness.

 

[tgpii]

What ever doesn't effect the range and or warranty!

 

[Shrink36s]

I am not much of a car modder, but I would be interested in learning what type of noise dampening is possible to add after the fact. If/since the body panels will be removable, that could increase the possibilities.

This is something I've been thinking about as well. Whether in truck mode or SUV mode, what kind of sounds dampening can be done to make it a quiet cabin? I like a quiet cabin.

 

[phidauex]

This is something I've been thinking about as well. Whether in truck mode or SUV mode, what kind of sounds dampening can be done to make it a quiet cabin? I like a quiet cabin.

There is lots of advice in the car audio world. The most typical first method is a sound deadening mat which adheres to floor pans, doors, underside of roof, etc. Usually floors first, then doors if you can, then roof if you can, in that order.

There are other methods as well, but this can make a big difference at a reasonable cost. DIY is relatively slow just from all the panel removing, but is not technically difficult.

https://store.dynamat.com/collections/dynamat-xtreme

 

[Shrink36s]

There is lots of advice in the car audio world. The most typical first method is a sound deadening mat which adheres to floor pans, doors, underside of roof, etc. Usually floors first, then doors if you can, then roof if you can, in that order.

There are other methods as well, but this can make a big difference at a reasonable cost. DIY is relatively slow just from all the panel removing, but is not technically difficult.

https://store.dynamat.com/collections/dynamat-xtreme

Oh yeah, very familiar with dynamat. I remember the days of custom sound systems and heavy use of dynamat.

 

[collie_riding_shotgun]

Has anyone thought about adaptive cruise control?
That is the only option to have come out in the past 20 years that is worth anything.