Convertible drivers - why keep the roof up?
Discussion
DELETED: Comment made by a member who's account has been deleted.
I've listed them above from my own experience. Whether you agree or not doesn't really matter does it? As long as you're happy then what does my opinion count for, I don't have to drive your car every day.Out of interest, what do you drive?
SWoll said:
People don't sit outside in order to attract attention as a rule, are you saying the same can't be said for a lot of convertible drivers? If so I think you're kidding yourself.
Oh dear... yep, I'm often on a lonely mountain road, driving around forlornly among the beautiful scenery, feeling the changes of air temperature, listening to the sound of the car, smelling the fragrances as we pass pastures... just wishing, oh soooo wishing that someone would be looking at me... 
monamimate said:
SWoll said:
People don't sit outside in order to attract attention as a rule, are you saying the same can't be said for a lot of convertible drivers? If so I think you're kidding yourself.
Oh dear... yep, I'm often on a lonely mountain road, driving around forlornly among the beautiful scenery, feeling the changes of air temperature, listening to the sound of the car, smelling the fragrances as we pass pastures... just wishing, oh soooo wishing that someone would be looking at me... I said 'a lot' not all. I don't doubt that you don't feel that way but do you honestly think you're in the majority?
I know 4 or 5 people with convertibles and to one extent or another they all bought them for pose value rather than driving experience. I can only speak as I find.
SWoll said:
Nanook said:
I don't understand SWoll.
Convertibles are pointless, they're owned by people that don't use them, they're more expensive, less practical, heavier, harder to take care of, but he's owned one and wants another?
I owned one many years ago for a period so speak from my experience of having done so.Convertibles are pointless, they're owned by people that don't use them, they're more expensive, less practical, heavier, harder to take care of, but he's owned one and wants another?
I'd have another as a weekend toy but for a daily car no chance. I understand the compromises required and I'm happy to a accept them in moderation but don't understand people who deny there are any compromises or that don't take advantage of what is on offer to balance those compromises at every opportunity.
And I've never stated that they are pointless or that all owners don't use them, just the majority it would seem to me.
Make sense?
We originally bought the Smart Roadster as a weekend toy but it soon became my daily driver for the mix of open air driving, economy and fun it introduced into the daily humdrum run to work (at least my drive is all country roads so not as soul destroying as a city commute). We took the Roadster to France three times and thats why we bought the SL. Its a more grown up, wafty, polished version of the Roadster that can carry more than a couple of bottles of the Loire's finest back from a holiday.
On occasion it does the work run as well - but more as a means to keep it exercised than anything else. Our least used car (its done 10k miles in 2 years) is the tin top Cooper S. Whenever we go anywhere it just seems to rarely be the car of choice.
So this is my daily drive, which I adore.
Not the best built car, but a great drive, and the roof is ALWAYS down, unless it happens to be pissing down.
Light rain I can accept.
I realise it's the owners personal choice, but for me, topless driving is wonderful, and is done at every single opportunity!
_MG_1877 by Jim Pritchard, on Flickr
Not the best built car, but a great drive, and the roof is ALWAYS down, unless it happens to be pissing down.
Light rain I can accept.
I realise it's the owners personal choice, but for me, topless driving is wonderful, and is done at every single opportunity!
_MG_1877 by Jim Pritchard, on FlickrTrevatanus said:
So this is my daily drive, which I adore.
Not the best built car, but a great drive, and the roof is ALWAYS down, unless it happens to be pissing down.
Light rain I can accept.
I realise it's the owners personal choice, but for me, topless driving is wonderful, and is done at every single opportunity!
_MG_1877 by Jim Pritchard, on Flickr
6/10. Not the best built car, but a great drive, and the roof is ALWAYS down, unless it happens to be pissing down.
Light rain I can accept.
I realise it's the owners personal choice, but for me, topless driving is wonderful, and is done at every single opportunity!
_MG_1877 by Jim Pritchard, on FlickrWindows are up and air scarf appears to be in place.
SWoll said:
monamimate said:
SWoll said:
People don't sit outside in order to attract attention as a rule, are you saying the same can't be said for a lot of convertible drivers? If so I think you're kidding yourself.
Oh dear... yep, I'm often on a lonely mountain road, driving around forlornly among the beautiful scenery, feeling the changes of air temperature, listening to the sound of the car, smelling the fragrances as we pass pastures... just wishing, oh soooo wishing that someone would be looking at me... I said 'a lot' not all. I don't doubt that you don't feel that way but do you honestly think you're in the majority?
I know 4 or 5 people with convertibles and to one extent or another they all bought them for pose value rather than driving experience. I can only speak as I find.
InductionRoar said:
Trevatanus said:
So this is my daily drive, which I adore.
Not the best built car, but a great drive, and the roof is ALWAYS down, unless it happens to be pissing down.
Light rain I can accept.
I realise it's the owners personal choice, but for me, topless driving is wonderful, and is done at every single opportunity!
_MG_1877 by Jim Pritchard, on Flickr
6/10. Not the best built car, but a great drive, and the roof is ALWAYS down, unless it happens to be pissing down.
Light rain I can accept.
I realise it's the owners personal choice, but for me, topless driving is wonderful, and is done at every single opportunity!
_MG_1877 by Jim Pritchard, on FlickrWindows are up and air scarf appears to be in place.
otolith said:
That the roof came off an Elise was incidental, bought it for countless reasons but removeable roof wasn't one of them. Hardly ever removed the roof on either of my Elises.
monamimate said:
Says the chap who started the argument...
!?
See, that's just it - I never started an argument. People have just chosen to flounce and huff in response to a perfectly ordinary question. The one saving grace is that MOST on this thread have taken it in the spirit it was intended.!?
FIREBIRDC9 said:
For me it would be laziness
The Roof in an MR2 SW20 isn't an electric one button job :P
It involves removing both panels and stowing them behind the seats.
If i had a snazzy electric roof , then i probably would drive top down most of the time
I was the same with my Camaro - glass panels had to be unlocked and stowed in the boot. I wouldn't usually bother for shorter journeys. Which is why when it had to go, I opted for the MX5 - push a button to unlock, flip it back, done.The Roof in an MR2 SW20 isn't an electric one button job :P
It involves removing both panels and stowing them behind the seats.
If i had a snazzy electric roof , then i probably would drive top down most of the time
battered said:
Aircon, lower noise levels.
I love open top driving but sometimes on a long trip the earplugs and 70mph wind blowing about can become wearing.
Quite so! Plus, once on the M25 you're sitting still in traffic being baked at this time of the year so the aircon is highly appreciated.I love open top driving but sometimes on a long trip the earplugs and 70mph wind blowing about can become wearing.
Nanook said:
SWoll said:
I've listed them above from my own experience. Whether you agree or not doesn't really matter does it? As long as you're happy then what does my opinion count for, I don't have to drive your car every day.
Out of interest, what do you drive?
Well, your experience is different to mine, and you're not really saying "it's my opinion that they're more expensive, less practical, higher maintenance" you're stating these things as fact, as far as I can see. I'm just saying, my experience disagrees.Out of interest, what do you drive?
Previously, a Mk3 MR2, these days, a Nissan tree-fiddy.
Nanook said:
SWoll said:
Oh dear?
I said 'a lot' not all. I don't doubt that you don't feel that way but do you honestly think you're in the majority?
I know 4 or 5 people with convertibles and to one extent or another they all bought them for pose value rather than driving experience. I can only speak as I find.
I know a few people with convertibles. Met most of them through a car club, none of them are really particularly poser-ish.I said 'a lot' not all. I don't doubt that you don't feel that way but do you honestly think you're in the majority?
I know 4 or 5 people with convertibles and to one extent or another they all bought them for pose value rather than driving experience. I can only speak as I find.
Maybe your friends are shallow?
monamimate said:
No, you generalise based on a very limited (and rather odd) sample...
Not really. Mixture of male/female, single/married, 30-50 age range, a fairly broad demographic and normal enough bunch as far as I know.
Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff