Convertible drivers - why keep the roof up?
Discussion
Two reasons from me, both I don't think we've had yet:
1) Stuff in the boot. That's where the roof goes on our CLK and previous SLK.
2) My commute to work takes me under the Tyne Bridge. Those local will know it's prime location for the Kittiwakes to empty their bowels! My passenger seat and centre console has been targeted already - too close for comfort!
I love having the roof off though. As long as there's no rain, I'd rather drop it.
1) Stuff in the boot. That's where the roof goes on our CLK and previous SLK.
2) My commute to work takes me under the Tyne Bridge. Those local will know it's prime location for the Kittiwakes to empty their bowels! My passenger seat and centre console has been targeted already - too close for comfort!
I love having the roof off though. As long as there's no rain, I'd rather drop it.
Edited by sanguinary on Thursday 25th August 11:03
heebeegeetee said:
Strange thread though - the clue is in the name, surely? Convertible. It converts. If I wanted to keep a roof over my head I'd buy a fixed top, if wanted no roof I'd buy something else. But I bought a convertible, that converts from closed car to open when I want.
Whats hard to understand? You'd think car enthusiasts would be in the know.
If you read my post just a few up from yours, you'd not find it so hard to understand why I asked the question. It was aimed at soft tops. Whats hard to understand? You'd think car enthusiasts would be in the know.
Not read all the pages in the thread but the only reason I don't put my roof down for every dry journey is because there is a small hydraulic leak so unless it is very nice or the journey is more than 15 minutes I may not put the roof down as it means more time later topping up the fluid - I've got some replacement rams but need a very dry day when I am free to get them fitted and the two don't seem to have coincided recently.
Roof down on crisp winter days and nights is great - I drove from Yorkshire to Berkshire in February this year roof down all the way, setting off at 6pm and arriving around 9.30 - great drive. Mind you, I've got wet a few times on motorways when the weather has changed - it's only water though so not really an issue!
Roof down on crisp winter days and nights is great - I drove from Yorkshire to Berkshire in February this year roof down all the way, setting off at 6pm and arriving around 9.30 - great drive. Mind you, I've got wet a few times on motorways when the weather has changed - it's only water though so not really an issue!
I only drive with the roof down (unless the weather changes drastically whilst out) though the fact it is a weekend only car does help considerably on that front.
I also find it odd when owners have the roof down but the windows and air scarf up but I'm sure they find it odd when I'm sitting at traffic lights in the rain with everything down. Though that is generally equal part stubbornness and not having sufficient time to remove the soft top covers, put them in the boot, raise the hood and pull away without inconveniencing other drivers rather than actual preference.
On the topic of sub zero top-off motoring whilst sub zero would be a little extreme I do prefer winter over summer motoring and actually use the car more in the winter. I find 7 degrees is sufficiently cold at 60mph with no roof or windows.
I also find it odd when owners have the roof down but the windows and air scarf up but I'm sure they find it odd when I'm sitting at traffic lights in the rain with everything down. Though that is generally equal part stubbornness and not having sufficient time to remove the soft top covers, put them in the boot, raise the hood and pull away without inconveniencing other drivers rather than actual preference.
On the topic of sub zero top-off motoring whilst sub zero would be a little extreme I do prefer winter over summer motoring and actually use the car more in the winter. I find 7 degrees is sufficiently cold at 60mph with no roof or windows.
andyps said:
Roof down on crisp winter days and nights is great - I drove from Yorkshire to Berkshire in February this year roof down all the way, setting off at 6pm and arriving around 9.30 - great drive. Mind you, I've got wet a few times on motorways when the weather has changed - it's only water though so not really an issue!
There's something special about roof down at night Especially in the country with stars above you and the engine sound reflecting off the hedges each side. 
Flip Martian said:
Ozzie Osmond said:
Flip Martian said:
I saw more convertibles with roofs up than down. Why?
Over the weekend I saw lots of saloons with their windows closed. Why?GT3RS seen driving on public road
People-carrier seen with only driver on board
Swimming pool seen empty on sunny day...
Just because one buys something for a specific purpose does not mean one has to slavishly use it that way on every possible occasion.
Buying a convertible gives one the option, not the obligation, to drive with wind in hair.
Shall I start another 13 pages then?:RobM77 said:
That one succinct post was all this thread needed. Flip Martian said:
RobM77 said:
That one succinct post was all this thread needed. I'm afraid I don't understand your point about hard tops vs soft tops - they're both just variations of the same thing aren't they? Hard tops are more expensive, heavier and take up more space when folded, with the benefits of better NVH and security; soft tops vice versa. They both do the same thing, it's just a pro/con decision, usually based on the design intentions of the car (e.g. is it a cruiser or a sports car).
RobM77 said:
I guess it touches a nerve for many of us. I used to get teased every single day at one job I had by the security guards, who used to take the piss out of me for putting the top up on my Elise when I arrived at work in the morning. They were insistent that I should leave the top down all day. Not only that, but I've had several comments, not in jest, about driving it with the top up on a sunny day. I got fed up with it.
I'm afraid I don't understand your point about hard tops vs soft tops - they're both just variations of the same thing aren't they? Hard tops are more expensive, heavier and take up more space when folded, with the benefits of better NVH and security; soft tops vice versa. They both do the same thing, it's just a pro/con decision, usually based on the design intentions of the car (e.g. is it a cruiser or a sports car).
Actually when I started this thread I didn't honestly realise some really did get grief for having their tops up! I was actually genuinely interested as to why they would have their soft tops really - soft tops are traditionally noisy, draughty, less secure, and a PITA to put up or put down (not the case with my MX5 but on some cars it certainly is); only really there almost as an after thought to provide "some kind of cover" when needed. I don't really see retractable hard tops as convertibles - but of course they are. Just not what I was referring to. Retractables give the best of both worlds - a true "convertible" designed to be driven with the roof up as well as down. Soft tops are designed primarily to be driven roof down, that's the difference (as I see it, anyway). I'm afraid I don't understand your point about hard tops vs soft tops - they're both just variations of the same thing aren't they? Hard tops are more expensive, heavier and take up more space when folded, with the benefits of better NVH and security; soft tops vice versa. They both do the same thing, it's just a pro/con decision, usually based on the design intentions of the car (e.g. is it a cruiser or a sports car).
Flip Martian said:
RobM77 said:
I guess it touches a nerve for many of us. I used to get teased every single day at one job I had by the security guards, who used to take the piss out of me for putting the top up on my Elise when I arrived at work in the morning. They were insistent that I should leave the top down all day. Not only that, but I've had several comments, not in jest, about driving it with the top up on a sunny day. I got fed up with it.
I'm afraid I don't understand your point about hard tops vs soft tops - they're both just variations of the same thing aren't they? Hard tops are more expensive, heavier and take up more space when folded, with the benefits of better NVH and security; soft tops vice versa. They both do the same thing, it's just a pro/con decision, usually based on the design intentions of the car (e.g. is it a cruiser or a sports car).
Actually when I started this thread I didn't honestly realise some really did get grief for having their tops up! I was actually genuinely interested as to why they would have their soft tops really - soft tops are traditionally noisy, draughty, less secure, and a PITA to put up or put down (not the case with my MX5 but on some cars it certainly is); only really there almost as an after thought to provide "some kind of cover" when needed. I don't really see retractable hard tops as convertibles - but of course they are. Just not what I was referring to. Retractables give the best of both worlds - a true "convertible" designed to be driven with the roof up as well as down. Soft tops are designed primarily to be driven roof down, that's the difference (as I see it, anyway). I'm afraid I don't understand your point about hard tops vs soft tops - they're both just variations of the same thing aren't they? Hard tops are more expensive, heavier and take up more space when folded, with the benefits of better NVH and security; soft tops vice versa. They both do the same thing, it's just a pro/con decision, usually based on the design intentions of the car (e.g. is it a cruiser or a sports car).
Flip Martian said:
soft tops are traditionally noisy, draughty, less secure, and a PITA to put up or put down (not the case with my MX5 but on some cars it certainly is); only really there almost as an after thought to provide "some kind of cover" when needed. I don't really see retractable hard tops as convertibles - but of course they are. Just not what I was referring to. Retractables give the best of both worlds - a true "convertible" designed to be driven with the roof up as well as down. Soft tops are designed primarily to be driven roof down, that's the difference (as I see it, anyway).
FWIW, my E46 soft top is nowhere near the compromise you suggest. Its not at all draughty, or a PITA to put up or down (~20s with a finger on a button each way).Its a bit more noisy than an equivalent E46 coupe, especially at high motorway speeds - but as it happens not as noisy as the modern A6 estate I drove on Tuesday which had had a huge level of tyre noise at speed.
The boot is a bit smaller than the coupe, but not prohibitively so - I've managed to take two kids on a weekend camping trip in it, including body boards, wetsuits etc...
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