Dear Tom and Ray:

I'm a 55-year-old with a new grandchild and a perfectly wonderful, but boring, '95 Honda Accord. I stopped by the local Mazda dealership and experienced some sort of out-of-body experience when I saw the '99 Miata -- in my colors, green and tan -- sitting there, as if it had been waiting for me all of its life. Now I really think I've gone into a midlife crisis because I'm passionately in love with this car. I tried it on. My portly husband tried it on. And it fit both of us perfectly. Am I nuts to get a Miata at my age? Should I just see a doctor and get some Prozac? Or should I just give in and do the deed? -- Judy

Tom: Judy, you should absolutely get this car. I can tell from the way you talk about it that you desperately need more excitement in your life. And if not now, when? It's going to make you happy, right? It'll make you smile when you drive around in it. And what could possibly be more important than that?

Ray: And there's no need to be practical at your age. In fact, this Miata could be a perfect excuse for you not to have to ride in the minivan with your kids and the puking little grandkids. Can't you see it now? "Oh, go ahead, dear, Grandpa and I will take the Miata and meet you there."

Tom: And when it comes to Prozac vs. the Miata, it's a simple economic issue. Prozac is expensive. I believe it costs about $2 a pill. Let's say you had to take two pills a day; that's $120 a month!

Tom: Right. For another hundred bucks a month, we could have you in traffic by Monday! Go for it, Judy. And send us a picture of you in the car. We'll put it on our Web site at cars.com as an inspiration for middle-aged people everywhere.

Stop the madness! You can stop driving like a knucklehead, and you'll help your car in the process. Learn how your driving habits can harm your car in Tom and Ray's pamphlet "Ten Ways You May Be Ruining Your Car Without Even Knowing It!" To order, send (check or money order) to Ruin, P.O. Box 536475, Orlando, FL 32853-6475. You can also order online.

© 1998 by Tom and Ray Magliozzi and Doug Berman Distributed by King Features Syndicate, Inc.

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