Would you buy a car with no windscreen?

[Ozzie Osmond]

For use on the road would you ever buy an Ariel Atom, Renault Sport Spider, KTM X-Bow or other similar car which didn't have a windscreen?

I'm thinking wind in the hair enjoyment!

Or is that rain in the seat, flies in the eyes, stones in the teeth etc etc?

[t84]

Drove an Atom last month, if I had the money id have one as a daily in a heartbeat!

There's an old gent in Liverpool who I believe has one as a daily...

[Poledriver]

Treat it like a motorcycle, protective clothing and crash helmet!

[MX7]

No, not without a helmet, and then there doesn't seem much point. Can you imagine what would have happened if that stone that cracked your windscreen hit you instead?

[CraigyMc]

MX7 said:

No, not without a helmet, and then there doesn't seem much point. Can you imagine what would have happened if that stone that cracked your windscreen hit you instead?

Instant blindness and possible crash?

[slipstream 1985]

you cant see where you are going at anything above 40 mph. iv been passenger and driven one but i wouldnt buy one.

[Papa Hotel]

Admittedly, the pics below are the aftermath of an incident that happened somewhere north of 150 mph, but the guy was wearing a helmet... I think only a nutter would take to the open road with nothing in front of their face. I'd have an Atom in a heartbeat if I could but I'd never take it out without a lid on. Unless it was on a big empty airfield and I wanted to test how flobbery I can make my face go.

[Swarley]

Yep no windscreen, no front brakes, no doors, no speedometer, no crash protection. I love it!
But to make up for a lack of things it does have 4 peddles and 3 leavers.

You are right goggles are a must as you cant see a thing after 40.

[Dogwatch]

Swarley said:

Yep no windscreen, no front brakes, no doors, no speedometer, no crash protection. I love it!
But to make up for a lack of things it does have 4 peddles and 3 leavers.

You are right goggles are a must as you cant see a thing after 40.

Yes, just sit there while a Woodbine smoking mechanic sploshes petrol into the tank.

Where the the 3 leavers go?

[EDLT]

Papa Hotel said:

Admittedly, the pics below are the aftermath of an incident that happened somewhere north of 150 mph, but the guy was wearing a helmet... I think only a nutter would take to the open road with nothing in front of their face. I'd have an Atom in a heartbeat if I could but I'd never take it out without a lid on. Unless it was on a big empty airfield and I wanted to test how flobbery I can make my face go.

[MASSA PICS]

Wasn't he hit by a 1-2kg spring? at 150mph that would probably punch a hole straight through a windscreen.

[Papa Hotel]

EDLT said:

Papa Hotel said:

Admittedly, the pics below are the aftermath of an incident that happened somewhere north of 150 mph, but the guy was wearing a helmet... I think only a nutter would take to the open road with nothing in front of their face. I'd have an Atom in a heartbeat if I could but I'd never take it out without a lid on. Unless it was on a big empty airfield and I wanted to test how flobbery I can make my face go.

[MASSA PICS]

Wasn't he hit by a 1-2kg spring? at 150mph that would probably punch a hole straight through a windscreen.

Yeah, and like I said it was north of 150 mph, you'd need to be very special to hit 150 on a public road in an open car. The point is that you can get your face well mangled up even with protection, you'd need to be very dumb to take to the road with no protection.

[KB_S1]

Papa Hotel said:

EDLT said:

Papa Hotel said:

Admittedly, the pics below are the aftermath of an incident that happened somewhere north of 150 mph, but the guy was wearing a helmet... I think only a nutter would take to the open road with nothing in front of their face. I'd have an Atom in a heartbeat if I could but I'd never take it out without a lid on. Unless it was on a big empty airfield and I wanted to test how flobbery I can make my face go.

[MASSA PICS]

Wasn't he hit by a 1-2kg spring? at 150mph that would probably punch a hole straight through a windscreen.

Yeah, and like I said it was north of 150 mph, you'd need to be very special to hit 150 on a public road in an open car. The point is that you can get your face well mangled up even with protection, you'd need to be very dumb to take to the road with no protection.

The point is though a windscreen would offer no protection in that case.
A proper full face helmet would be better.

[Papa Hotel]

KB_S1 said:

The point is though a windscreen would offer no protection in that case.
A proper full face helmet would be better.

Oh, whatever, you're right, I'm wrong. Even thout I did advocate the use of a full-face helmet and you appear to be in agreement. God, I love the internet.

[rudecherub]

Isn't the Atom now available with a windscreen - a detachable unit even?

I haven't tried a windscreen-less car, but while I can see the sense of a helmet on a track, for me the point of the open top is the not shut in experience, so a helmet feels counter intuitive for the road - but protection is necessary if you don't have a screen. So probably not.

[The Lukas]

I'd love to try it! I imagine it would be like riding a motorbike but in a car. Who needs a helmet

[KB_S1]

Papa Hotel said:

KB_S1 said:

The point is though a windscreen would offer no protection in that case.
A proper full face helmet would be better.

Oh, whatever, you're right, I'm wrong. Even thout I did advocate the use of a full-face helmet and you appear to be in agreement. God, I love the internet.

Where is the problem?

I am simply pointing out that when something as solid and dense as a spring is involved a windscreen would make no difference.
To be put off an open car because of something like that is a false reasoning.

[Mr Dave]

A 2or 3 KG seagull would smart a bit if it ttted you in the face at 60 or 70 mph. My brother got a wood pigeon in the windscreen the other day and even that would hurt, a lot, at least a screen or helmet gives some protection.

[busta]

Having driven a normal car with the windscreen removed, it's quite surprising just how much wind there is and how much crap you get in your face. Sunglasses are fine if there's nothing kicking stuff up in front of you, but on the road a helmet with visor would definitely be necessary.

[twazzock]

Mr Dave said:

A 2or 3 KG seagull would smart a bit if it ttted you in the face at 60 or 70 mph. My brother got a wood pigeon in the windscreen the other day and even that would hurt, a lot, at least a screen or helmet gives some protection.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3kduwIo7S40
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3kduwIo7S40

Goose to the face @ 70mph didn't do Fabio any harm!

[deadalfa]

I was thinking of getting rid of the screen on my Seven. Wearing a helmet is one thing, but the thought of coming off and going through a barbed wire fence (and associated consequential horror stories) put me off a bit.