Convertible drivers - why keep the roof up?

[Over over under steer]

Daston said:

The roof was only ever on the Tuscan if it was A) raining or B) below zero temps.

Wimp

[Conscript]

I do kind of see where the OP is coming from...absolutely, do what you want with your convertible, but it seems a bit of a shame not to open the roof on a sunny day
That said, when I had a convertible, it had a manual soft top so putting it down was simply a matter of un-clipping it and throwing it backwards, and it could be put up with one hand, so it was never really much faff to open it even on short journeys.

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.

Strangely, I used to find that with the roof up, the MX5 was more noisy, because all the tyre, engine and road noise was kept in the cabin, whereas with the roof down, it was much more pleasant.

Ozzie Osmond said:

Over the weekend I saw lots of saloons with their windows closed. Why?

This is a bit disingenuous though, as unlike a convertible roof, the main selling point of a saloon is probably not that the windows can open.

Edited by Conscript on Monday 15th August 13:55

[PenelopaPitstop]

-too much sun (stuck in traffic)
-too much noise (M25)
-exhaust sounds better with top up, can't hear it with roof down due to wind noise
-possibility of rain (don't want to stop on hard shoulder on M25, to close the roof)
-etc.

I know it's lovely weather today but I have awful headache and will be driving with roof up.

[Davel]

Normally drive with the top down except when raining.

The screen deflects much of it but, in heavy rain, it rounds the side and runs in as I normally keep the windows down too.

[Flip Martian]

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?

Easy, aircon. But why buy a car with a soft top and then not use it for what its designed for?

[otolith]

Conscript said:

This is a bit disingenuous though, as unlike a convertible roof, the main selling point of a saloon is probably not that the windows can open.

You don't necessarily buy an Elise or an MX-5 because the roof comes off.

[Flip Martian]

It was a genuine question. I've driven in the middle of winter (hat works wonders!) - I just assumed convertibles would be bought by people who love open top motoring. Otherwise why not buy a hard top?

Or... was the IDEA of a convertible attractive but actually you prefer the roof up as its just more comfortable that way?

[spookly]

Mine is always down except when:

1. Kids moaning about cold/speed/wind
2. Long journey on motorway
3. Rain/snow/sleet/hail
4. Extreme cold

Other than that the top is usually down.

[Flip Martian]

Helical said:

Possible reasons could include, but not limited to:

- its cold
- driving a short distance and cant be bothered to put the roof down and up
- driving a long distance and looks like it might rain later. Maybe.
- roof broken
- no suncream for bald head
- don't want people to hear Celine Dion CD
- Cant hear Celine Dion CD
- no hat or sunglasses and last time I got a fly in my eye

I can see why the Celine Dion thing would be valid, to be fair...

[Conscript]

otolith said:

Conscript said:

This is a bit disingenuous though, as unlike a convertible roof, the main selling point of a saloon is probably not that the windows can open.

You don't necessarily buy an Elise or an MX-5 because the roof comes off.

Not necessarily, no, but most of the people I see driving MX5s don't look like the kind of people who've bought it for it's dynamic credentials :P (yes, I realise I'm being a bit judgemental here).

The Elise doesn't have a folding soft top does it? I thought it was a proper remove and stow job, not something you can do on the fly (correct me if I'm wrong), so I can see why you might see more of those with the roof up.

Edited by Conscript on Monday 15th August 14:09

[Flip Martian]

Johnnytheboy said:

My OH has an MX5 and she will only drive back from places with the top down, as it messes her hair up.

Not a problem I suffer from.

My wife hates me driving with the top down for the very same reason - she swears the wind "also gives me a headache"...

[SirSquidalot]

Sometimes i just dont fancy it!

[Flip Martian]

Conscript said:

Not necessarily, no, but most of the people I see driving MX5s don't look like the kind of people who've bought it for it's dynamic credentials :P (yes, I realise I'm being a bit judgemental here).

The Elise doesn't have a folding soft top does it? I thought it was a proper remove and stow job, not something you can do on the fly (correct me if I'm wrong), so I can see why you might see more of those with the roof up.

Yeah remove and stow jobbies are far more of a pain (my Camaro was like that). This was more aimed at the quick flip down roof brigade really

[jamieduff1981]

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?

Easy, aircon. But why buy a car with a soft top and then not use it for what its designed for?

I think it's you, mate.

Most people who purposefully buy convertibles do so because the roof goes up and down fairly easily, as opposed to topless cars with s sort of tent in the boot that you have to stand and build when it's raining.

Sometimes having the roof down was nice. Othertimes, it was a fking chore due to uncomfortable temperatures and noise.

[swisstoni]

Well we nearly made it through a summer without this post ....

[Slushbox]

Had an MG, then a Fiat X/19. The Fiat was less windy, and drivable in the snow with the lid off, but for short journeys, de-lidding and re-lidding was a faff.

Think convertibles are like motorbikes; terrific for the two days of 'summer' we get every year, but otherwise you're always, too hot, too cold, too wet, or driving in towns with the chav menace waiting to pounce/spit/toss coke cans into.

Be different on the French Riveria (?) or with an auto-roof. But air-con is more controllable.

[Flip Martian]

Davel said:

Normally drive with the top down except when raining.

The screen deflects much of it but, in heavy rain, it rounds the side and runs in as I normally keep the windows down too.

I do love the idea that I can drive in the rain too thanks to the screen taking it/the speed you drive. But then there's always stopping at the lights which is no fun at all with the roof down and the heavens open...

[Flip Martian]

Rude-boy said:

As a rule though if it isn't raining (and sometimes even when it is) the Mrs has the top down on the MX5 - even through the winter and done it a number of times in the snow. Good Lass.

You have a good one there.

[Flip Martian]

RobM77 said:

It depends, generally:

• Motorway journeys. Many people find it just too noisy on the motorway with the top down, especially if you're tired!

• Sunburn. Those of a lighter complexion (or who got burnt at the weekend!) may want to escape from the sun. It's not unheard of for fair haired people to own convertibles and only drive top down when it's cloudy.

• Short journey: if it's a powered hood and you're on a short journey, it can run the battery down to put the hood down and up again with no real time to charge.

• Delicate load inside. If you've got paperwork you don't want to be blown about, or a dog you don't want to jump out, it can me sense to keep the hood up.

• Passengers. Some passengers may ask you to not put the top down.

• Makes a change: Driving top up and top down is quite different, and often people may want a change.

• Listening to the radio. If your favourite Radio 4 programme's on, you may want to actually hear it, rather than a load of wind noise!

• Not your car. Mechanics on test drives or delivery drivers will normally drive hood up to avoid the sun damaging the seats and the risk of bird poo.

• Security and hassle in town centres. If you have a nice car then it's not unheard of to be spat at driving through town, and handbag thefts are also common. Some people, women on their own for example, may not feel safe driving top down through a town.

When I had my Elise I drove hood down virtually everywhere, but sometimes I had the hood up and I sometimes got hassle off other people for it - weird. One guy even gave me a hard time when I had the hard top fitted! (which needs tools to remove and doesn't stow in the car). At the end of the day it's personal choice - find something more important to worry about!

Edited by RobM77 on Monday 15th August 13:52

lol. Some valid points there about security/hassle, to be fair (although maybe hassle reserves itself for owners of more expensive cars than my MX-5!). Not worried about it at all, its just something that struck me as odd. I assumed convertible drivers would be driving them for 1 reason - the wind in the hair thing. Clearly not.

[battered]

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.

Strangely, I used to find that with the roof up, the MX5 was more noisy, because all the tyre, engine and road noise was kept in the cabin, whereas with the roof down, it was much more pleasant.

I've heard this said of other cars. Caterham 7s and the like are infamous for it, not that they are *ever* quiet. I think that my MX5 (mk2) is quieter top-up, or maybe it just seems that way because there is less wind rush. The wind rush over about 50 can be a bit wearing on a long trip. Entertainingly though, anything other than torrential rain is no problm in the Mazda as long as you keep the speed over 40mph, as it just blows over your head. Try that in a Caterham.