I have seen many, many Miataphiles either mom or dad, with their children(of young to mid teen age) in the pax seat. I have gotten to talk to them and am friends with a few of them. It's usually the children that wave to me on the road and the parents follow suit.

For those of you with children who are old enough to ride in the S, how many of you bond and hang out with your kids in this way? I remember a long time ago a father and his daughter on this board at the beach or something to that effect in a Spa S. it was really nice to see.

 

I have a 15 year old daughter that loves to "be seen" in my Spa Yellow. Sometimes I drop her off at school in the morning and she wants me to pull "right up front". Funny because when mom drops her off in the Legacy wagon she prefers to be dropped off in a more inconspicuous place. We also went to the beach a half dozen or so times last summer.

 

I have a 16 year old daughter and a 14 year old son. I take my son to school everyday in my S2000. (My daughter rides with her boyfriend.) Funny he calls my Odyssey van "the slug" now. When I first got it 2 years ago, he was the one that helped push for it after we both drooled over one in the showroom. He used to tell me to pass everyone on the freeway because I could. Now when asked he just says "it's cool". I will sometimes pick up his friends with it and they really love it since it's not an everyday occurance for them.

 

My 9 year old loves the S. It has brought us closer together. He helps me wash and wax it, we go to meets and auto shows together and spend a lot of time talking about it. He is my sidekick when we have to change the oil or do any work on it. We installed the CD changer and rear speakers together.

He recently gave a presentation to his class on "How an automobile engine works". The S and a video tape of him starting it, was the centerpiece of the presentation.

Adam loves when I take him for rides in the S even if its only to get gas.

Adam and I are the car enthusiasts in the family.

My other son is 14. He is not especially fond of cars except as transportation. He does want to get his license and hopes that I'll allow him to use "our" S when he has a date. He doesn't want to take it to high school (when the time comes) because he's afraid that it will get damaged in the parking lot.

 

My son is 16-1/2 and caught the S bug with me. He's been nearly as excited about having it as I have and loves zooming around town in it (and "being seen"). I brought him to a track event with me a couple of weeks ago and he had a blast riding with me and another (FAST!) S2000 driver.

So far, I haven't let him drive it, but may this summer, with the caveat that he's only allowed to drive it with either my hubby or me in the passenger seat. Everyone would be sick if something bad happened to either the son or the S, and you know boyz+carz=too much fun/danger. He can save up for his own FUNmobile if he wants one.