Convertible drivers - why keep the roof up?

Convertible drivers - why keep the roof up?

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Discussion

Cupramax

10,469 posts

251 months

Friday 19th August 2016
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k-ink said:
You'll have to forgive my rambling nonsense. I've been grinning like an idiot for weeks. I'm one step away of going door to door and expelling the virtues of drop top sports cars biggrin
Extolling you 'tard. rofl

k-ink

9,070 posts

178 months

Friday 19th August 2016
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laugh Ooopsie

tejr

3,101 posts

163 months

Friday 19th August 2016
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lostkiwi said:
Did 3000 miles round France last month and I would say about 2/3rds of that was roof down. The reasons the roof was put up were:
1. Noise/buffeting - After 5 hours at (ahem) '130km/h' you do want to rest your ears a bit.
2. Heat - At 36 degrees its not particularly comfortable and the wine chiller on the rear jump seat wasn't coping well. Roof up and aircon resulted in a quieter cooler environment.
3. Dust - We spent a week near the Canal du Midi near Beziers and there was a lot of dust. Especially near where we were staying on the boat.
4. Sunburn - Yep its easy to get burnt. Even with suncream.

Normally around the towns we left the roof down - the heat was less of a factor and the noise of the V8 wasn't at all intrusive. It was really only the longer motorway slogs the roof went up after an hour or two.
Pretty much what he said ^^ Especially points 2 and 4.

Although, when driving around home or in an unfamiliar area I would keep the roof up as I felt more secure, not to mention you never know when someone will try to be funny and throw something in your car... my sister in law had milkshake thrown in her car, and one time I had kids lobbing water balloons at me, luckily they only made it as far as the bonnet!!

irocfan

40,153 posts

189 months

Friday 19th August 2016
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Flip Martian said:
irocfan said:
that's one of the other things I love about the SLK - came with 'magic sky', well it's all dark and miserable flip a switch and the roof goes clear, if you've got sun-burn from having the roof down too often it is opaque
Smart...Sadly the SLKs I could afford were quite old the roof motor going was a common issue (Might be on modern ones too, I dunno!).
that is my nightmare as I understand that this is not cheap, extended warranty should cover it <fingers crossed it's not needed>

Iva Barchetta

44,044 posts

162 months

Friday 19th August 2016
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I was the only car top down on my commute home tonight.

It was raining.

I didn't care about getting damp whilst sitting at traffic lights....wobble

Flip Martian

Original Poster:

19,505 posts

189 months

Friday 19th August 2016
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Iva Barchetta said:
I was the only car top down on my commute home tonight.

It was raining.

I didn't care about getting damp whilst sitting at traffic lights....wobble
See, that's the ONE time where I think people really ARE thinking "look at that tt in his car getting wet". smile But hey, so what.

Iva Barchetta

44,044 posts

162 months

Friday 19th August 2016
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It wasn't raining hard anyway.

My wipe clean leather isn't drenched.....biggrin

Ari

19,328 posts

214 months

Wednesday 24th August 2016
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BigLion said:
Flip Martian said:
Ari said:
I was only thinking the other day that we've got almost through summer without one of these ridiculous annual posts! laugh

On a more serious note though, I saw a Range Rover the other day driving on a road. What's the point of an offroader if you don't drive it offroad? confused
I think someone said both of those things already on page 1 or 2. smile
His analogy doesn't work anyhow....

A Range Rover could be a status symbol or a desire to own a big safe car for some - there is hence a benefit from ownership. However what benefit does a soft top give the car should you not choose to use it at all?


Compromised handling? Reduced security? Extra noise? Less safe? Smaller market to sell back to?
So just because you see a soft top with the roof up, that proves the owner doesn't put the roof down ever in your world? biggrin

swisstoni

16,851 posts

278 months

Wednesday 24th August 2016
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[redacted]

strada84

620 posts

111 months

Wednesday 24th August 2016
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I love driving with the roof down and always amazes me to see people with a convertible driving them with the roof up on a nice day.

I get the roof down in all weathers, as long as it isn't heavy rain. You can put the heater on just like any other car! Even if it's just lightly raining, I won't bother to put the roof up as long as I'm moving at a decent speed.

On a motorway, fair enough, that can get a little much.

RobM77

35,349 posts

233 months

Wednesday 24th August 2016
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strada84 said:
I love driving with the roof down and always amazes me to see people with a convertible driving them with the roof up on a nice day.

I get the roof down in all weathers, as long as it isn't heavy rain. You can put the heater on just like any other car! Even if it's just lightly raining, I won't bother to put the roof up as long as I'm moving at a decent speed.

On a motorway, fair enough, that can get a little much.
What if they're fair skinned and can't have the top down on too many consecutive sunny days? What if they need to make an important handsfree phone call? For the complete list, see my post on page one. wink

jmorgan

36,010 posts

283 months

Wednesday 24th August 2016
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RobM77 said:
What if they're fair skinned and can't have the top down on too many consecutive sunny days? What if they need to make an important handsfree phone call? For the complete list, see my post on page one. wink
Get a hat and some sun tan lotion. Ditch the phone.

Simples.

so called

9,074 posts

208 months

Wednesday 24th August 2016
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We like roof off but on the continent where your arms soon get burnt to a frazzle in no time we tend to put the roof up but drop the windows, regardless of AC
You cant hear each other at 80 in a Tuscan anyway so whats a bit more shouting. smile

lostkiwi

4,584 posts

123 months

Wednesday 24th August 2016
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PositronicRay said:
Motorrad said:
Flip Martian said:
ooh, an R129? I was thinking about 1 of those before I bought the MX5. Very nice too.
It's great, no sports car but the feel good factor is immense. Looks like I'm going to have to sell it and go back to a tin top as I've lost my garage space.

Either that or one of those folding metal roof jobbies but none of them within budget really appeal.
Mine lives outside, it's fine, no leaks with the hard or soft top. Winter's quite nice, hardtop turns the car into a quiet snug coupe. biggrin
Ditto mine. Lives outside all year, hard top gets stowed in summer and refitted winter. Great cars if you don't mind the fuel consumption (I'm not bothered - worth it for the feeling you get and the sound it makes). With the hard top its like having two different cars - a soft top for summer and a coupe for winter.


RobM77

35,349 posts

233 months

Wednesday 24th August 2016
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jmorgan said:
RobM77 said:
What if they're fair skinned and can't have the top down on too many consecutive sunny days? What if they need to make an important handsfree phone call? For the complete list, see my post on page one. wink
Get a hat and some sun tan lotion. Ditch the phone.

Simples.
What if it's one of the other eight reasons I listed on page 1? And whatever happened to personal choice? Why would you get frustrated with someone's choice when it doesn't affect you in any way at all? Genuine question!

jmorgan

36,010 posts

283 months

Wednesday 24th August 2016
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RobM77 said:
What if it's one of the other eight reasons I listed on page 1? And whatever happened to personal choice? Why would you get frustrated with someone's choice when it doesn't affect you in any way at all? Genuine question!
Then don't buy a convertible.

Rickyy

6,618 posts

218 months

Wednesday 24th August 2016
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jmorgan said:
Then don't buy a convertible.
But what if the car you want is only available as a convertible?

jmorgan

36,010 posts

283 months

Wednesday 24th August 2016
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Rickyy said:
jmorgan said:
Then don't buy a convertible.
But what if the car you want is only available as a convertible?
Nail a tin bath to the top.


You can guess I am deadly serious about this.

Out of curiosity, apart from the niche market stuff, what only comes in a soft top?

irocfan

40,153 posts

189 months

Wednesday 24th August 2016
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jmorgan said:
Nail a tin bath to the top.


You can guess I am deadly serious about this.

Out of curiosity, apart from the niche market stuff, what only comes in a soft top?
Mx5?

Rickyy

6,618 posts

218 months

Wednesday 24th August 2016
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As above.

The MX5. The reason I have one is because it's a relatively light, rear wheel drive, two seater sports car, that I paid less than £1000 for.

The fact it's a drop top is an unwanted inconvenience for me, hence why I don't always have the roof down.