Convertible drivers - why keep the roof up?
Discussion
jmorgan said:
Nail a tin bath to the top.
You can guess I am deadly serious about this.
Out of curiosity, apart from the niche market stuff, what only comes in a soft top?
I'd of probably bought a hard top version of my morgan if they did one.You can guess I am deadly serious about this.
Out of curiosity, apart from the niche market stuff, what only comes in a soft top?
From reading this thread some people must really hate the evoque soft tops haha
jmorgan said:
RobM77 said:
What if it's one of the other eight reasons I listed on page 1? And whatever happened to personal choice? Why would you get frustrated with someone's choice when it doesn't affect you in any way at all? Genuine question!
Then don't buy a convertible.
I didn't mean that one of those reasons always applies, that would make it pointless having a convertible 
Most convertible drivers have the top down loads, but occasionally they won't, even if it's dry. The reasons for that are in that list. Think of it as like having your windows up or down - you have the choice, but I bet you don't have them down every single second that it's sunny 
RobM77 said:
jmorgan said:
RobM77 said:
What if it's one of the other eight reasons I listed on page 1? And whatever happened to personal choice? Why would you get frustrated with someone's choice when it doesn't affect you in any way at all? Genuine question!
Then don't buy a convertible. I didn't mean that one of those reasons always applies, that would make it pointless having a convertible Most convertible drivers have the top down loads, but occasionally they won't, even if it's dry. The reasons for that are in that list. Think of it as like having your windows up or down - you have the choice, but I bet you don't have them down every single second that it's sunny Now am I arguing for or against.... meh.... do what you want but watch out for the lid police,
jmorgan said:
RobM77 said:
jmorgan said:
RobM77 said:
What if it's one of the other eight reasons I listed on page 1? And whatever happened to personal choice? Why would you get frustrated with someone's choice when it doesn't affect you in any way at all? Genuine question!
Then don't buy a convertible. I didn't mean that one of those reasons always applies, that would make it pointless having a convertible Most convertible drivers have the top down loads, but occasionally they won't, even if it's dry. The reasons for that are in that list. Think of it as like having your windows up or down - you have the choice, but I bet you don't have them down every single second that it's sunny Now am I arguing for or against.... meh.... do what you want but watch out for the lid police,
A few years ago I wanted to film a lap of the ring in my Elise, so put the hood up to hide the camera. It wasn't raining... The amount of stick that I got driving from the overflow parking through to the main toll entrance! Jees... I made it in the end though!
Mind you it only did 113 miles in the last 12 months, so it didn't get much use with the top up or down anyway !alistair267 said:
On a slightly different note I saw a convertible with its roof down yesterday, front driver and passenger windows down but rear 3/4 windows up. Does that irrationally irritate anyone else or just me?
Yes that drives me mad too. Afraid i was an offender yesterday but only after an hour or so roof down, just got too bloody hot which is rare, so rather than end up looking like a lobster when i got home the roof went up and aircon on.
I think what this thread has shown is that there are convertible drivers (like me) who drive top down because they own a convertible and that's what they bought it for; convertible drivers with some valid reasons for keeping the top up some of the time and who have taken this thread in good humour, as it was intended, and some who get really defensive for owning a convertible and not having the top off.
MX5s can be had with hard tops by the way - either fixed or retractable. Surely retractables are coupes with the option of being an open top? I wasn't really counting retractables as convertibles in my opening post(although of course, they are). I really was referring only to the soft top convertibles - which were traditionally designed for the joys of open top motoring, with a plastic roof for when it rained (or was too sunny and you were avoiding sunburn, I suppose).
MX5s can be had with hard tops by the way - either fixed or retractable. Surely retractables are coupes with the option of being an open top? I wasn't really counting retractables as convertibles in my opening post(although of course, they are). I really was referring only to the soft top convertibles - which were traditionally designed for the joys of open top motoring, with a plastic roof for when it rained (or was too sunny and you were avoiding sunburn, I suppose).
The other day I drove across a small Greek island in a Suzuki Jimny (don't laugh, it was literally the last "car" they had).
That morning I had a few minutes spare and started fiddling about with the various bits of canvas up top. I worked out how to completely open up both sections just before the OH arrived and said "Let's go". As it was 11.30 AM and already 30 odd degrees I tried to explain that this wasn't a good idea but she was having none of it.
Cue a 90 minute drive in the blistering heat, buffeted by wind the whole way. When we got to the end of the journey I was burning up, had a ferocious headache and the kids in the back were hot, buffeted and grumpy.
I re-assembled the whole tent thing, closed the windows, whacked up the air con and headed back in (relative) comfort.
Sometimes it's just too hot to drive without shade.
Having said that it was OK having it all opened up early or late in the day when pootling to and from the beach at low speed.
That morning I had a few minutes spare and started fiddling about with the various bits of canvas up top. I worked out how to completely open up both sections just before the OH arrived and said "Let's go". As it was 11.30 AM and already 30 odd degrees I tried to explain that this wasn't a good idea but she was having none of it.
Cue a 90 minute drive in the blistering heat, buffeted by wind the whole way. When we got to the end of the journey I was burning up, had a ferocious headache and the kids in the back were hot, buffeted and grumpy.
I re-assembled the whole tent thing, closed the windows, whacked up the air con and headed back in (relative) comfort.
Sometimes it's just too hot to drive without shade.
Having said that it was OK having it all opened up early or late in the day when pootling to and from the beach at low speed.
Ours is dictated by a small child in the back, motorway speeds are not fun for him being battered by the wind, I will generally take a country route if possible so that this isn't an issue, also if he's needing a nap it stays up because it's better that he sleeps in the car than sits there constantly asking for biscuits!
At any other time if it's not raining the roof's down, I don't care that I'm seen in the open driving a pale blue Beetle convertible, I also have a pink bike.
At any other time if it's not raining the roof's down, I don't care that I'm seen in the open driving a pale blue Beetle convertible, I also have a pink bike.
swisstoni said:
I look forward to the sister annual convertible thread in a few months. The 'Why do people drive around in sub-zero temps with the roof down?' thread.
That is really nice, when it's sub-zero, the sky is deep blue and all the trees overhead are stark crystal white. Love driving roof down in that, not so keen when the weathers stinking hot and you get burnt.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.
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