Why do some convertible owners leave the roof down parked up
Discussion
Having just joined the convertible gang I don't understand why people leave roof down
Ok maybe if at home or popping in to shop
But I've just seen a lotus elise at a train car park which will be all day
Would insurance cover if stolen?
Also with the nice weather I see people at work leave it down, but chances of increasing fade, heating up leather can't be good?
Ok maybe if at home or popping in to shop
But I've just seen a lotus elise at a train car park which will be all day
Would insurance cover if stolen?
Also with the nice weather I see people at work leave it down, but chances of increasing fade, heating up leather can't be good?
Laziness, or because they like walking back to it and seeing the roof down, or because they want to climb back in to it without opening the doors, or because they like it slowly filling up with rubbish (which was why I learned to always close the roof on my 2CV), or because they are going out with a weather girl and want to prove they trust her when she says it won't rain, or their roof is broken, or their roof leaks so much it makes no difference, or because they forgot.
The question shouldn't be why do people leave the roof down, but why do people put the roof up.
We've had convertibles for years & as long as the weather was fine we've left the roof down most of the time in all sorts of situations and places and never had a problem.
Relax, contrary to what the Daily Mail tells you our streets aren't full of feral lunatics roaming round looking to vandalise open top cars.
I had this discussion over the weekend.
I have no issue in leaving the roof down when popping into a shop (but with windows up so you cant just lean over the doors) as there's nothing that can be stolen by reaching in anyway bar some gum and a few wrappers.
My partner thought I was crazy to do this.
I have no issue in leaving the roof down when popping into a shop (but with windows up so you cant just lean over the doors) as there's nothing that can be stolen by reaching in anyway bar some gum and a few wrappers.
My partner thought I was crazy to do this.
I did this once, many, many years ago, when I owned an Escort convertible. I was parked across the road from my parents house in leafy suburbia.
After a couple of hours, I returned to the car, only to discover that some friendly soul had smashed a carton's worth of eggs on the seats.
I never did find out who did that.
ETA: Dug out a photo of the car. The Stevedores' Union is no longer extant.
After a couple of hours, I returned to the car, only to discover that some friendly soul had smashed a carton's worth of eggs on the seats.
I never did find out who did that.
ETA: Dug out a photo of the car. The Stevedores' Union is no longer extant.
When I lived in Notting hill someone used to leave a 360 Modena with the roof down on the street all night. I forgot to put my 355 roof up a few times at home and it would be all dewey in the morning!
With an Elise or something putting the roof up evertime would just be annoying.
When I first moved to London from uni and had a Golf clipper we used to leave the roof down so we could just jump into it like Starsky and Hutch etc. Weirdly, I think it is a lot safer leaving the roof down in Zone 1 London than provincial towns due to vandalism.
I also once "casually" left my F355 roof down when I parked on the Kings Road in Chelsea. I did this because it wouldn't operate when I pressed the button and I didnt want to look like a t
t.
With an Elise or something putting the roof up evertime would just be annoying.
When I first moved to London from uni and had a Golf clipper we used to leave the roof down so we could just jump into it like Starsky and Hutch etc. Weirdly, I think it is a lot safer leaving the roof down in Zone 1 London than provincial towns due to vandalism.
I also once "casually" left my F355 roof down when I parked on the Kings Road in Chelsea. I did this because it wouldn't operate when I pressed the button and I didnt want to look like a t
t. Edited by jdw1234 on Thursday 22 May 09:13
laam999 said:
Always makes me think they're asking for a bird to Crap in it. I hate it on the top of my car, but in? If prob just cry.
I stopped at some traffic lights once and a seagull ruined the map book on the passenger seat. I was glad it wasn't my face. If I hadn't had the map out it would have ruined the seat.On the other hand if it had a roof like a normal car it wouldn't have been an issue at all.
jdw1234 said:
When I first moved to London from uni and had a Golf clipper we used to leave the roof down so we could just jump into it like Starsky and Hutch etc.
Everyone should jump in to an open topped car at least once. I think I enjoy that aspect of owning a convertible more than I enjoy developing skin cancer while breathing diesel fumes.Everyone should also slide over a bonnet at least once too.
Why would it affect insurance? It'll still be alarmed and immobilised. It's not as if a piece of fabric is going to stop a thief for very long.
The main reason I tend to leave it off is that it stops the interior from getting really hot in the sun. In something like an Elise, it's not uncommon to leave the roof at home to leave more luggage space, too.
The main reason I tend to leave it off is that it stops the interior from getting really hot in the sun. In something like an Elise, it's not uncommon to leave the roof at home to leave more luggage space, too.
Edited by kambites on Thursday 22 May 09:36
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