Convertible drivers - why keep the roof up?

[JonChalk]

Thought of another one - wet roof.

It's not a good idea to fold down a wet (not a bit damp, but properly soaked) fabric roof, if there's any chance it will start drying folded down. Not good for the shape, or makes it stretch oddly, so I'm told.

So I always wait until it's dry - sometimes mean I drive with it up, until its mostly dry.

[SWoll]

This is the sort of thing I meant when I suggested there are compromises and additional maintenance steps required when running a cabriolet. Nothing wrong with that if you are happy to accept them but surprised certain posters have kept denying there are any is all.

[k-ink]

You don't have to do a thing with vinyl. With mohair you will have a bit more to do - quick spray over. A new hood in either material is £300 for my car. No electric motors to fail on mine either. I will be changing over to mohair soon.

One hail storm and a conventional metal roof will be dented and require expensive repair. You can find negatives in anything if you look hard enough.

[white_goodman]

My MX5 wasn't much fun to drive with the roof up when it was hot (claustrophobic and no AC) but the 3-Series was pretty pleasant, more so for rear passengers. You lose boot space in many convertibles with the roof down (but not the two that I had), which may be pretty important if you're going on holiday and need to take a lot of stuff. So, drive to your destination with the roof up and then you can drive around with the roof down when you get to your destination and have unloaded all your stuff. I once went down to Cornwall with a group of friends and myself and a female friend were behind the group because we had work commitments. I picked her up at Salisbury train station after work and told her in advance to pack light because we were taking the MX5. She didn't listen. So, the roof was up for the drive down to Cornwall and we used the area behind the seats where the hood folds up for excess baggage!

Oh, I forgot, when I sold VWs, I once had a Beetle Cabrio as my demo. Rarely had the top down on that due to the embarassment factor, unless there was no-one around. Plus it was diesel, so didn't like breathing in the fumes in traffic. My sales manager knew I had owned an MX5 and a 325i Cab, so thought I would like the Beetle. When we sold it I asked him if I could just have a Golf this time!

I do miss owning a convertible though, especially when driving home from work on a nice evening after a tough day. Funny, because I hate sitting out in the sun!

[Mave]

SWoll said:

This is the sort of thing I meant when I suggested there are compromises and additional maintenance steps required when running a cabriolet. Nothing wrong with that if you are happy to accept them but surprised certain posters have kept denying there are any is all.

If you've done all the waterproofing maintenance you suggested you were doing with all the expensive products then this is a non issue. If your roof is properly proofed then there's no difference between a bit wet and properly damp; the water doesn't soak in, it beads on the surface. And if it beads on the surface then I don't see why folding it should be a problem - it all just runs off.

[SWoll]

Apologies, I feel I may have inadvertently started the thread off again.

I will add though that in 20+ years of motoring I have never had a roof damaged due to a hail storm (and driven in plenty) or known anyone personally who has either. I have however known a number of convertible owners who have had to replace or repair hoods due to rips/tears caused by everyday use or vandalism.

I've also never had to wait for a tin top roof to dry out before using it, or needed to purchase and use specific products to ensure that the tin top stays in good useable condition. It just gets washed and dried using the same products and process as every other panel on the car.

I totally understand the appeal of open top motoring and after this thread also many of the reasons why people don't always take advantage of the opportunity to use do in seemingly perfect conditions. It's just that IME experience as a one time owner of a convertible and friend of those that still do there are definite compromises and additional maintenence tasks required.

I shall leave it at that, whether you agree or not is of course entirely up to you.

[Mave]

That's fair enough, but to provide a comment in balance - in 25+ years of motoring I've had numerous parking dings including 2 occasions of major panel damage. 2 cars keyed, 1 car with mirrors kicked off uncountable times. 1 car with footprints on the bonnet and dents in the roof. A convertible may leave you more exposed to vandalism, but let's not regard hard tops as being a vandal and damage free zone.

If I look in my cleaning box, I've got numerous bottles of shampoo, cleansers, clay bars, Polish, regular wax. Once a year wax. Wheel cleaner, tyre cleaner. Bodywork sponge, bumper / sill sponge, wheel sponge and wheel brush. Wheel cleaning acid. Microfleece, chamois, leather wipes, windowlene wipes. An extra sponge, shampoo, and bottle of fabisil is inconsequential.

You have your experience, and the experience of you friends to inform your opinions - you pays your money and takes your choice. My personal experience is that the additional costs / inconvenience of owning a convertible compared to a hard top are minor compared to the additional enjoyment of top down motoring that can be realised with surprising regularity in the UK*

• but I don't mind being a bit cold / bit hot / wearing a hat / wearing gloves / people thinking I'm a poser / people thinking I'm a knob / people hearing my music / getting wet if I haven't spotted a looming cumulonimbus on the horizon..

[SWoll]

Totally agree, it's an entirely personal decision and as long as you are happy with the trade off then fantastic. My point has always been that their are certain inconveniences and compromises inherent in the purchase and ownership of the drop top version of cars, and IME they outweighed the benefits on a vehicle that was used as a daily driver. A number of posters have argued that these downsides do not exist at all, which you don't seem to agree with.

[Katzenjammer]

I rarely put the roof down as most journeys I make nowadays are less than 25 mins duration and mostly stuck in traffic.

Thought most convertibles I see at weekends with the roof down are usually occupied by a middle aged male driver and a very grumpy and reluctant looking female passenger

[Timbergiant]

I spotted a VW beetle convertible last summer heading towards Redcar, the driver had the roof down and was wearing a pith helmet there are times where you need the roof down and some where you don't.

Why do people with fixed top cars drive with the windows up?

[jmorgan]

Katzenjammer said:

Thought most convertibles I see at weekends with the roof down are usually occupied by a middle aged male driver and a very grumpy and reluctant looking female passenger

Sometimes the peace and quiet of the wind from nature rather than from lungs is preferable and the only respite to keep from making the immortal utterance "yes dear" is to suggest a ride out sans lid........

[k-ink]

There are ups and downs to everything. Yes you can insulate yourself from life in a sealed box. But that is not appealing to some who wish to experience the journey.

I have a tin top and soft top outside. I suspect the battery is on the brink of going flat in the dull box car.

[daemon]

Trevatanus said:

Flip Martian said:

Europa1 said:

Trevatanus said:

Had a date in Aylesbury on Sunday night. Left the pub just after 11.

Then followed an hour and 10 minute topless drive home with the tunes under a starry sky.
Bliss.

Edited by Trevatanus on Tuesday 30th August 12:24

Blimey! The date went well then...

A gentleman never tells

Given she was topless on the way home I'd say all the signs were there

[Flip Martian]

Katzenjammer said:

I rarely put the roof down as most journeys I make nowadays are less than 25 mins duration and mostly stuck in traffic.

Thought most convertibles I see at weekends with the roof down are usually occupied by a middle aged male driver and a very grumpy and reluctant looking female passenger

Well next time you see me and my wife, do wave!

[SWoll]

k-ink said:

There are ups and downs to everything. Yes you can insulate yourself from life in a sealed box. But that is not appealing to some who wish to experience the journey.

I have a tin top and soft top outside. I suspect the battery is on the brink of going flat in the dull box car.

So, in your opinion the only way to experience a journey is in a convertible, and other vehicles are all dull box cars? Fair, or am I misreading?

Flip Martian said:

Katzenjammer said:

I rarely put the roof down as most journeys I make nowadays are less than 25 mins duration and mostly stuck in traffic.

Thought most convertibles I see at weekends with the roof down are usually occupied by a middle aged male driver and a very grumpy and reluctant looking female passenger

Well next time you see me and my wife, do wave!

[Trevatanus]

SWoll said:

k-ink said:

There are ups and downs to everything. Yes you can insulate yourself from life in a sealed box. But that is not appealing to some who wish to experience the journey.

I have a tin top and soft top outside. I suspect the battery is on the brink of going flat in the dull box car.

So, in your opinion the only way to experience a journey is in a convertible, and other vehicles are all dull box cars? Fair, or am I misreading?

I've owned an MG for about 8 years.
I would struggle to go back to a hard top.

[irocfan]

[4U2P]

They probably don't want the wind to mess up their hair.

[Flip Martian]