Leaving your roof off....
Leaving your roof off....
Author
Discussion

theironduke

Original Poster:

6,995 posts

217 months

Saturday 2nd July 2011
quotequote all
I went to a BBQ at a mates last night who lives in a city centre apartment, 4th story (of 4) and i parked on the public car park below (he only has one space underground)

Anyway as it was a nice evening i went in the Chim and left the roof off because his balcony overlooks the carpark and we'd be out there all night.

Of all the people who passed through the car park, increasingly merry as time went on, only one small group tried to be funny and one of them (alas not a fittie) tried climbing into the car! I was inside but heard my mate shout and needless to say he sauntered off!

So what do you guys do when it comes to leaving your roofs off/down when youre parked? or dont you?


mx5tom

573 posts

202 months

Saturday 2nd July 2011
quotequote all
The roof on the '5 only takes a few seconds to put back up, so I usually put it up for peace of mind even if I'm only going to be out of the car for a couple of minutes. If it was more of a hassle then I'd probably leave it off.

theironduke

Original Poster:

6,995 posts

217 months

Saturday 2nd July 2011
quotequote all
mx5tom said:
The roof on the '5 only takes a few seconds to put back up, so I usually put it up for peace of mind even if I'm only going to be out of the car for a couple of minutes. If it was more of a hassle then I'd probably leave it off.
Good point, the Chim can be a faff, mainly getting the targa bit in and out of the boot (or a may just be clumsy)

Pints

18,451 posts

223 months

Saturday 2nd July 2011
quotequote all
I always put the roof up, even if it's in the work carpark.

As said above, the 5 takes a second or two to put up.

ambuletz

11,751 posts

210 months

Saturday 2nd July 2011
quotequote all
indeed, it really doesn't take long with the MX-5...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LXVqLbRirMA

poing

8,743 posts

229 months

Saturday 2nd July 2011
quotequote all
Leave it down in most public places except car parks where I have put a sticky parking ticket thingy in it because I know it will either blow away or more likely get stolen. In the 4 or 5 years I've been doing this I've only had one small issue where some funny rough builder type manly blokes chucked some sticky fizzy drink into the car, most of which missed because they weren't brave enough to get properly close to the car. 10 seconds with a wet wipe (why do all women have these with them all the time?) and it was all clean.

I'll ignore the time a seagull took a massive dump on the centre console!

Urban Sports

11,321 posts

232 months

Saturday 2nd July 2011
quotequote all
ambuletz said:
indeed, it really doesn't take long with the MX-5...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LXVqLbRirMA
Unless it's a bit cold so when you lob it over your head it only goes down half way!

cheadle hulme

2,502 posts

211 months

Saturday 2nd July 2011
quotequote all
I tend to put the Z4 roof up as its electric and takes 10 secs and I can do it with the remote as I walk away. Childish I know, but I think it looks cool.

The one time I have had trouble leaving the roof down, I came back to find all the cubby holes open. They'd taken a Savage Garden CD and some Haribos but left my mobile phone holder and a Ministry of Sound CD.

Did me a favour tbh.

NiceCupOfTea

25,586 posts

280 months

Saturday 2nd July 2011
quotequote all
Read the small print in your insurance policy. Your car is likely uninsured if you leave it parked without the hood down (=unsecured)

theironduke

Original Poster:

6,995 posts

217 months

Saturday 2nd July 2011
quotequote all
[quote=NiceCupOfTea]Read the small print in your insurance policy. Your car is likely uninsured if you leave it parked without the hood down (=unsecured)[/quot

I'd like to see somebody discretly nick the chim lol...and it has no stereo in it either...or anything of value!

NiceCupOfTea

25,586 posts

280 months

Saturday 2nd July 2011
quotequote all
OK, say somebody chucks in a lit fag, car goes up. I don't know. Having read that small print it's not a risk I'd take with my £1500 MX-5, much less a Chim...

falkster

4,258 posts

232 months

Saturday 2nd July 2011
quotequote all
Sarah never leaves the roof down and I never take the roof down.

theironduke

Original Poster:

6,995 posts

217 months

Saturday 2nd July 2011
quotequote all
NiceCupOfTea said:
OK, say somebody chucks in a lit fag, car goes up. I don't know. Having read that small print it's not a risk I'd take with my £1500 MX-5, much less a Chim...
I was being a smart arse, sorry. Yes i can see your point frown

sawman

5,168 posts

259 months

Saturday 2nd July 2011
quotequote all
I usually put the tonneau cover on, when parked for a while. Often overnight. Left it off once for 5 minutes in Telford and got some stuff nicked from the glovebox

VeeFour

3,339 posts

191 months

Saturday 2nd July 2011
quotequote all
Urban Sports said:
Unless it's a bit cold so when you lob it over your head it only goes down half way!
Also the quick way to knacker your rear window if it's plastic.

You really need to get out of the car and make sure it doesn't crease as you drop the roof.

Urban Sports

11,321 posts

232 months

Saturday 2nd July 2011
quotequote all
VeeFour said:
Also the quick way to knacker your rear window if it's plastic.

You really need to get out of the car and make sure it doesn't crease as you drop the roof.
Mine was a MK2 with glass

VeeFour

3,339 posts

191 months

Saturday 2nd July 2011
quotequote all
Urban Sports said:
Mine was a MK2 with glass
Can't fit glass to mine, due to the roll bar - and the one in the video was plastic, too.

Matt UK

18,084 posts

229 months

Saturday 2nd July 2011
quotequote all
I used to leave the roof of the MX5 down on most occasions when I knew it wouldn't rain.

With the Caterham, I tend to leave it open but park it where I can see it.

NiceCupOfTea

25,586 posts

280 months

Saturday 2nd July 2011
quotequote all
theironduke said:
NiceCupOfTea said:
OK, say somebody chucks in a lit fag, car goes up. I don't know. Having read that small print it's not a risk I'd take with my £1500 MX-5, much less a Chim...
I was being a smart arse, sorry. Yes i can see your point frown
Sorry, didn't mean to be an arse! I am tempted sometimes to leave it down, but it's so quick on the 5. On a TVR I would probably end up having the roof off less as a result frown

Garlick

40,601 posts

269 months

Saturday 2nd July 2011
quotequote all
When I park the Chim I'll usually raise the windows and pop the rear section up then lock it.

I'll leave it fully down when at the office or if leaving for a short while in a nice village or a busy High St. Otherwise it's up, doesn't seem to take me long to put it up, I must have the hang if it.

Never seen anyone get in though, thankfully! That would piss me right off