When Michael goes to Cuba to see Hyman Roth, to discuss the Rosato brothers etc, he is driving himself, and his bodyguard is in the back seat, why?

My thought on why Michael was driving himself and had the bodyguard in the back seat was that the bodyguard would have full, 100% attention in protecting Michael. Remember, an attempt on Michael's life had already been made, there was always the chance that an attempt to assasinate him might be made in Cuba, as he was on Hyman Roth's turf now, and also they were driving through a country that was going through an uprising by rebels, where killing went on everyday, and there was a danger in driving through those poverty stricken neighborhoods, so that was another danger in being there. With the body guard 100% focused on what was going on around them and not having to worry about driving, there was less of a chance of something happening to Michael. These reasons are the only logical reasons that I could think of.

Don Cardi

yeah i agree with you don cardi, they wanted to make sure that nothing is going to happen to michael.

Another reason why Michael did the driving: if there was an assassination attempt by, let's say, a sniper, the assassin would EXPECT his target to be the important man in the back seat, NOT the driver/bodyguard.
The role reversal gave Michael a little more added protection.

Wow...All this time I thought Michael was in Miami when he was driving to see Roth. I thought it was later they went to Cuba. I just assumed he was in Miami because it was said that Roth lived there.

You weren't wrong. The first time he sees Roth in the movie is in Miami.

You are quite right, I stand corrected.

Yes, you are both right, I realize now that Michael was driving himself in Miami. So my Cuban Refugee Rebel theory goes out the window, but the other explaination regarding a possible attempt on Michaels life, by Roth's people, still stands.

Don Cardi