Convertible drivers - why keep the roof up?

[Flip Martian]

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.

Edited by PositronicRay on Thursday 18th August 08:48

Have to say I was very tempted by the ones with the removable glass panoramic roof. Best of both worlds, perhaps. Perhaps keeping one outside very much depends on where you live though!

[k-ink]

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

[irocfan]

Flip Martian said:

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.

Edited by PositronicRay on Thursday 18th August 08:48

Have to say I was very tempted by the ones with the removable glass panoramic roof. Best of both worlds, perhaps. Perhaps keeping one outside very much depends on where you live though!

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

[Hudson]

Rick101 said:

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.

Same, got diverted off the M1 doen to country roads and mild annoyance quickly turned to a genuine joyous experience. Must have been about 16 degrees Tue night, clear sky, stars twinkling, clear road just the sound of a 3.0L 6 pot to keep keep me company.
Fantastic.

Came back from a friends house a few weeks ago about 9pm, warmish summers evening, no radio or traffic to spoil the drive.

Sadly i have very few pics of it with the roof down, i really must take it somewhere interesting and take some more...

[Ari]

I was only thinking the other day that we've got almost through summer without one of these ridiculous annual posts!

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?

[Rickyy]

Ari said:

I was only thinking the other day that we've got almost through summer without one of these ridiculous annual posts!

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?

I saw a Range Rover Evoque convertible with the roof down and parked on gravel! Someone was fulfilling the cars potential. I was in sheer disbelief that anyone had actually bought one!

[anonymous-user]

Alot of the time its down to the amount of time and effort it takes to put the roof down (especially if one of the ever so expensive sensors is broke and you have to do it manually!!)

Basically those people you see are probably on a short non pleasure drive.

[k-ink]

I just listed my tonneau cover for sale. My reasoning is they just take too much time to fit. I prefer to flip the hood back in 5 seconds flat, then scoot right off. Also it weighs less without one

[Flip Martian]

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!).

[Flip Martian]

Ari said:

I was only thinking the other day that we've got almost through summer without one of these ridiculous annual posts!

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?

I think someone said both of those things already on page 1 or 2.

[BigLion]

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!

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?

I think someone said both of those things already on page 1 or 2.

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?

[Jasandjules]

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

Spot the person who has just got his first convertible?

[k-ink]

I had an Elise 111R before, although that didn't feel like a complete convertible due to the rather enclosed shape.

[Iva Barchetta]

It was a bit grey on my commute home.

Just over 50% of convertibles were roof up.

Mine wasn't.

[Flip Martian]

BigLion said:

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?

Certainly for a soft top, the last 3 maybe. Electric hard tops maybe not so much.

[Flip Martian]

Iva Barchetta said:

It was a bit grey on my commute home.

Just over 50% of convertibles were roof up.

Mine wasn't.

I've just had to do a shopping trip with my wife to Tesco. It was very grey. Roof still off though - my window down, her's up.

Edited by Flip Martian on Thursday 18th August 19:38

[WJNB]

Ari said:

I was only thinking the other day that we've got almost through summer without one of these ridiculous annual posts!

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?

EVERY sports car I have ever owned from classics to modern has had an owners club website or letters section in a newsletter that has members endlessly judging others on this very same subject.
SO sad to see the subject aired here as well.
Just be glad you haven't got Morgan owners contributing, they're the most predictable & tedious of the lot on the subject.

[Russwhitehouse]

I like to drive the Healey with the hardtop and side screens removed because it's actually bloody quieter (as well as being completely ace!)

[Motorrad]

PositronicRay said:

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.

Edited by PositronicRay on Thursday 18th August 08:48

My soft top doesn't leak. Hard top does though in heavy rain I must get it fixed but I never seem to have the time. I just don't like the idea of leaving the old girl out in all weathers.

[Flip Martian]

WJNB said:

EVERY sports car I have ever owned from classics to modern has had an owners club website or letters section in a newsletter that has members endlessly judging others on this very same subject.
SO sad to see the subject aired here as well.
Just be glad you haven't got Morgan owners contributing, they're the most predictable & tedious of the lot on the subject.

I started the thread and I wasn't judging anybody. Unlike all the people criticising this thread...