Convertible drivers - why keep the roof up?
Discussion
Ironically,the roof on mine is closed when parked in my garage due to
1...garage roof leak.
2.....I don't think it does the plastic window any good to be scrunched up in the open position for long periods.Although on the long journeys it stays scrunched for the whole time if necessary.
1...garage roof leak.
2.....I don't think it does the plastic window any good to be scrunched up in the open position for long periods.Although on the long journeys it stays scrunched for the whole time if necessary.
medieval said:
Slightly off tack but driving with the roof down on a summer night in the dark is a real joy
No idea why but just found it a real treat and must do it more
Any night really. Driving under a starry sky is quite something. I drove back from somewhere in the dark last winter - cold but I have heated seats and a hat! Magical.No idea why but just found it a real treat and must do it more
Flip Martian said:
Any night really. Driving under a starry sky is quite something. I drove back from somewhere in the dark last winter - cold but I have heated seats and a hat! Magical.
My most memorable drive was one summer night in my TVR with roof and windows down. All the associated TVR smells (leather, polish, a strong whiff of petrol) combined with the smell of the country in the summer and the full panoply of stars above. Ended up randomly in convoy with a Ferrari 348 so had a mixture of that and the RV8 as soundtrack to cap the experience off. Magic.
I had an amazing drive today. Roof down, windows down, cruising at a decent lick, burbling and often screaming Racing Beat intake and full exhaust system, wind rushing by, beautiful sun and countryside views with flowing roads. Just a stunning day out! I returned home so happy I just had to pop out again as the sun was setting.
MX 1 low by s_worksair, on Flickr
Choose life
MX 1 low by s_worksair, on FlickrChoose life
I am still smiling now. I honestly have not been this happy is ages. It is like some sort of grin inducing therapy! I cannot wait to sell my modern dull Alfa. I am never going back to a normal car again. I now have all sorts of trips planned. I just want to go off travelling with my car 
I don't know why you buy a convertible and not put the roof down whenever it's nice weather as it's not as if we get lots of great weather in Britain.
I think people buy convertibles thinking it's a great idea, once the novelty wears off they realise actually having the roof up is far better - so the roof goes up and they end up regretting the purchase decision.
I think people buy convertibles thinking it's a great idea, once the novelty wears off they realise actually having the roof up is far better - so the roof goes up and they end up regretting the purchase decision.
Rickyy said:
medieval said:
Slightly off tack but driving with the roof down on a summer night in the dark is a real joy
No idea why but just found it a real treat and must do it more
I must say, this thread inspired me to go out last night with the roof down. It really is an incredible experience. Was a stunning night last night too.No idea why but just found it a real treat and must do it more
Fantastic.
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.
Edited by PositronicRay on Thursday 18th August 08:48
k-ink said:
I am sure they don't work for everyone. If you want silence to travel from A to B you will never get on with them. But if you really want to experience life to the full and enjoy the journey they are wonderful. My only regret is wasting so many years without one.
It can turn an ordinary journey into an event. If I have to spend hours, on a pleasant sunny day in a tintop, I resent it. Some modern convertibles (Audi A5 for instance) hood up are no noisier, or less refined than there coupe counterparts.
Edited by PositronicRay on Thursday 18th August 08:46
I think for the open country road in summer it's a good idea but not so much for urban areas (in London at least), I've witnessed a milkshake be thrown into one when the driver beeped some kids crossing the road he was turning into and also someones phone being stolen by a moped driver whilst at the traffic lights at Loughborough junction.
Years back I had an FM transmitter connected to my portable minidisc player which was quite powerful (had about a 50 meter range). The default frequency was set to 100 so anyone listening to Kiss fm would have their listening experience interrupted, on my commute there was a guy with an A4 cabriolet which would without fail be blaring Kiss at full volume with the top down and I could hear when it got in range as he would quickly turn down the music, I wondered if he ever clocked that it was me who was listening to metal as it happened on a weekly basis.
Years back I had an FM transmitter connected to my portable minidisc player which was quite powerful (had about a 50 meter range). The default frequency was set to 100 so anyone listening to Kiss fm would have their listening experience interrupted, on my commute there was a guy with an A4 cabriolet which would without fail be blaring Kiss at full volume with the top down and I could hear when it got in range as he would quickly turn down the music, I wondered if he ever clocked that it was me who was listening to metal as it happened on a weekly basis.
I have a Z4 E89 and my wife and I spoke about this yesterday as we went to the local pub for lunch with the roof up on a glorious sunny day. I can imagine thinking why have they got the roof up? We had just got back from a 2 day road trip to North Wales with the roof down of course and were slightly burnt and buffeted for 2 days so didn't actually have the urge to drop the roof for a trip 'up the road'. This may help explain a little.
jamieduff1981 said:
It can depend what you want to listen to. Hard top drivers may not want silence. It's hard to hear even a loud engine & exhaust combination over the racket the wind makes in a convertible at speed.
I got round that by fitting a much larger stereo, the downside of that is everybody else within a 1 mile radius had to share my taste in music. I will admit to putting on my 80s new romantic playlist to play up to the stereo type of Audi TT roadster owners.k-ink said:
I am sure they don't work for everyone. If you want silence to travel from A to B you will never get on with them. But if you really want to experience life to the full and enjoy the journey they are wonderful. My only regret is wasting so many years without one.
You sound like a Pedigree Chum advert - would a convertible make my coat shiny too?!
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