Preferring open top motoring in the winter. Madness?
Discussion
I bloody love winter roof down drives!
I've been doing it for many years
CIMG3885 by Mikey K 650S, on Flickr
Eurohoon 2011 28 289 by Mikey K 650S, on Flickr
GDC EVO 024 by Mikey K 650S, on Flickr
DSC01132 by Mikey K 650S, on Flickr
DSC02320 (2) by Mikey K 650S, on Flickr
I've been doing it for many years
CIMG3885 by Mikey K 650S, on FlickrEurohoon 2011 28 289 by Mikey K 650S, on FlickrGDC EVO 024 by Mikey K 650S, on FlickrDSC01132 by Mikey K 650S, on FlickrDSC02320 (2) by Mikey K 650S, on Flickrhondafanatic said:
Actually another word of warning... It's not unknown for soft tops to tear when being lowered if they are genuinely frozen... Read about it a couple of time on the forums so I used to just chuck lukewarm water over the canvas to soften it up.
Not the actual top but many years ago I lowered the roof of my Alfa Spider at -8 degrees on a lovely clear day to go for a drive and the plastic rear screen shattered into a thousand pieces.... the cold had made it brittle I guess!Would never stop me though, roof down in the cold is one of life's pleasures as far as I'm concerned.
InductionRoar said:
I have slowly come to the realization that I prefer autumn and winter driving despite only ever driving with the roof down.
The summer has too many drawbacks for me with overcrowded roads, idiotic driving (seems to worsen as the temperature increases), sun burn without knowing and the f
king tree outside the house which deposits sap on my car the very next second after I have washed and dried the paintwork. All this conspires to spoil the odd moment when everything comes together and I have consequently hardly used it at all this summer.
Winter driving on the other hand is one of the great pleasures in life. Starting the engine up on a crisp winter morning and filling the air with decibels and the lingering smell of V power, exhausts burbling through sleepy villages, the smell of open fires emanating from the many country pubs and houses, dappled sunlight and then opening the taps down the many B roads linking the next one and starting all over again.
Am I mad or do any other PHers share my sentiments?
Anyway a picture is worth a thousand words so here is a pic of my coldest journey (5.5 degrees) so far this year.
Lovely picture. I love this post. The summer has too many drawbacks for me with overcrowded roads, idiotic driving (seems to worsen as the temperature increases), sun burn without knowing and the f
king tree outside the house which deposits sap on my car the very next second after I have washed and dried the paintwork. All this conspires to spoil the odd moment when everything comes together and I have consequently hardly used it at all this summer.Winter driving on the other hand is one of the great pleasures in life. Starting the engine up on a crisp winter morning and filling the air with decibels and the lingering smell of V power, exhausts burbling through sleepy villages, the smell of open fires emanating from the many country pubs and houses, dappled sunlight and then opening the taps down the many B roads linking the next one and starting all over again.
Am I mad or do any other PHers share my sentiments?
Anyway a picture is worth a thousand words so here is a pic of my coldest journey (5.5 degrees) so far this year.
I've just bought back my old BMW Z4 M Roadster as I missed it so much. I'm really enjoying winter top down driving
hondafanatic said:
CambsBill said:
What's all this nonsense about roof down? 
Check out Mr Softy with his fancy ass windscreen. Southern woolly woofer 
Ps... You car is on my lottery list. Very happy for you and obviously jealous
Southern??? That pic was taken on the way to trollstigen in Norway, so about as far South as the Faroe IslandsOK it was in August, but we were a bit surprised at how low down we found snow . . .
Another one in the MX-5 roof down all the time brigade here! It was only up when it was raining and then only if I was in stop start traffic. Driving on the way to the Nürburgring, it started to REALLY rain on the M20, it was okay as long as I kept going over 60, but eventually the water started to creep along the raised windows and whipped in the sides, so I had to admit defeat and throw the roof up quickly on the hard shoulder.
Like the OP, I used to love it in the winter, woolly hat and gloves, heated seats on and heater full blast it was great. I might have to go and have a look at this new 124 spider . . .
Like the OP, I used to love it in the winter, woolly hat and gloves, heated seats on and heater full blast it was great. I might have to go and have a look at this new 124 spider . . .
zed4 said:
Lovely picture. I love this post.
I've just bought back my old BMW Z4 M Roadster as I missed it so much. I'm really enjoying winter top down driving
I've just bought back my old BMW Z4 M Roadster as I missed it so much. I'm really enjoying winter top down driving
I have been waiting for another crisp day but unfortunately wet salty roads round here at the minute.
Loving the pics of the Caterham and three wheeler in freezing conditions.
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