Newbie questions for Wellington folks

[Catto]

Hey folks, just hoping I can appeal to the collected experience here, while considering a Miata for the first time. (Sorry, MX-5 - old habit!). I've currently got a Golf GTI, but to be honest the famous electrical gremlins that come with VW ownership are starting to get to me. I'd be looking at about a 2005 vintage NC model, likely ex-Japanese, so any tips on what to watch out for there are welcome.

But setting aside for the moment the question of whether I actually need more trunk space in our one & only car, here are my worries;

- we don't have off-street parking, and live on one of those lovely streets where your windows get 'done', from time to time. That said, since we got an alarm (or more accurately, a flashing light and some stickers) we've been left alone. But I wonder how often people slash the roof in this town, in that sort of situation - or for that matter when parking in the centre of the city. Any experience there?

- that leads to the next question; what level of alarm do people (especially in Wellington) put in? At the moment we've got one that basically monitors doors being opened, but I hear of alarms that react to changes in cabin pressure (or something) so would perhaps go off when someone did the roof. Or, being Wellington, when a gust of wind came along! So what do other people do with theirs?

- UV: if I park an MX-5 in the New Zealand sun, is the roof (of an NC, if that matters) simply going to crumble?

That's all I can think of so far in terms of things I need to consider, but if anyone else has thoughts on the situation, feel free to chip in...
R!

[91 V-Spec]

I think as long as you're not asking for it, i.e. valuables left in sight, that's the main thing. I can't afford an alarm yet, but I minimise my risk by never leaving anything in the car. Glovebox and console are left empty and open - that's all the storage space you get in an NA!

[Timmo]

I'm not in wellington but have a hardtop and alarm with ultrasonic sensor- This means it will go off at the usual times (i.e. door opened) as well as if the roof is down and someone puts their hand etc into the car.

[Paul Murray]

My NA has been parked out in the street for the last 8 years, don't leave anything in view, have an old mongoose immobiliser alarm. Have had no problems to date with vandals. The original soft top lasted 17 years of which 5 of those were outside here in Titahi Bay. I also have a hard top but in all honesty I have only used this a couple of times over this period. Prefer to have the option of top down motoring all year round. If I park at night in the city I use car parking facilities and don't leave it parked on the street.

[Catto]

Cheers for that, everyone - still working out whether it's possible for us, but that's all good to know. Had a chat with our alarm guy (Ian at Ashley Audio in Wellington, he's great to deal with) and got some good advice there too.

Of course, someone else just posted about their roof being slashed...but that's Auckland! Hopefully not too big an issue in this neighbourhood...
R!

[SLYDIT]

just dont leave anything in th car...maybe leave the glovebox and center box open so that anyone can see there isnt anything to steal.