Convertible owners: Answer me this
Discussion
Out and about today, glorious weather, sun out, no hint of rain and mainly cloud free.
However, I still saw several convertibles with the roof up, including BMW's, SLK and a Porsche 991.
It still perplexes why people own a car where you can lower the roof and not make the most of the few days you can appreciate the car fully. Can anyone care to enlighten me.
Mind you there was a nice MY68 Triumph Herald Vitesse soft top doing it's best to impress
However, I still saw several convertibles with the roof up, including BMW's, SLK and a Porsche 991.
It still perplexes why people own a car where you can lower the roof and not make the most of the few days you can appreciate the car fully. Can anyone care to enlighten me.
Mind you there was a nice MY68 Triumph Herald Vitesse soft top doing it's best to impress
I think youve got to be in the right mood- maybe they were having a bad day!
A few years back, i bought a 1995 Merc SL 500, not because it was a convertable but bacause i loved the engine and the sheer qulity of the car, as well as its design.
As such, i hardly ever had the roof down, as i found it too blowy, noisy and if iam honest, i felt a bit of a pratt with the roof down, probably because iam not a really a " look at me" type of person.
Perhaps they felt the same!
A few years back, i bought a 1995 Merc SL 500, not because it was a convertable but bacause i loved the engine and the sheer qulity of the car, as well as its design.
As such, i hardly ever had the roof down, as i found it too blowy, noisy and if iam honest, i felt a bit of a pratt with the roof down, probably because iam not a really a " look at me" type of person.
Perhaps they felt the same!
Ahh. This one again. Usually pops up a few dozen times in May/June.
SLK owner here. Usually have the roof off at most opportunities except:
1. Sometimes on a bright sunny morning, the roof/rear window is soaking with condensation. I don't have time to dry it off and don't want to fold it away in the boot wet.
2. If my journey consists largely of motorway/dual-carriage way work, I tend to keep the roof up. I accept this may make me look silly on the first or last couple of miles of country road.
3. I'm making a short journey and it isn't worth the putting the roof down.
4. If the boot is full, which means the roof cannot fold away.
5. It is +30 degrees (or +25 degrees with lots of traffic), it is more comfortable with the roof up and a/c on.
6. I'm transporting a female passenger who requests that the roof stay up to keep her hair in place.
7. I'm transporting a male passenger. Looks gay. (Only kidding - maybe).
8. I want to listen to some music or talk on the (hands-free) phone.
9. My journey will take me through somewhere very rough.
10. If I simply don't feel like having the roof down.
The joy of a convertible is that the owner/driver has the choice to put the roof down whenever s/he wants.
SLK owner here. Usually have the roof off at most opportunities except:
1. Sometimes on a bright sunny morning, the roof/rear window is soaking with condensation. I don't have time to dry it off and don't want to fold it away in the boot wet.
2. If my journey consists largely of motorway/dual-carriage way work, I tend to keep the roof up. I accept this may make me look silly on the first or last couple of miles of country road.
3. I'm making a short journey and it isn't worth the putting the roof down.
4. If the boot is full, which means the roof cannot fold away.
5. It is +30 degrees (or +25 degrees with lots of traffic), it is more comfortable with the roof up and a/c on.
6. I'm transporting a female passenger who requests that the roof stay up to keep her hair in place.
7. I'm transporting a male passenger. Looks gay. (Only kidding - maybe).
8. I want to listen to some music or talk on the (hands-free) phone.
9. My journey will take me through somewhere very rough.
10. If I simply don't feel like having the roof down.
The joy of a convertible is that the owner/driver has the choice to put the roof down whenever s/he wants.
Any number of reasons - too hot and want ac, doing motorway as part of journey, boot full, not enough time, security, poor air quality, stuff I'm car that might blow away, forgot sunglasses/hat, baby/toddler in car, etc.
But basically, because it's my car and I'll do what I want with it!
But basically, because it's my car and I'll do what I want with it!
Roman Moroni said:
PHmember said:
It's called 'choice'.
I understand it's 'choice'But given the relatively few days that you can use the car in the manner it was built to I would have thought you'd 'choose' to use it
You can use a convertible top-down any time of day, any day, as long as it's not raining. So "relatively few days" just isn't correct.
Personally I don't like basking in the sun, it actually tends to give me a splitting migraine, so in sun is generally the time when I am least likely to have the top down.
I actually like it best on a summer's eve and into the night!
Not really relevant to the UK, but the only excuse I've personally had is after driving to Greece in glorious sunshine, there was the possibility of damage to health after your skin has turned lobster red (despite maximum sunblock). So after a few days of unbroken all-day exposure, I did once put the roof up (I know, throw your insults at my lameness!)
'Course there are those posting here who will say "f
k skin cancer!"
Can't think of any other reason really.
'Course there are those posting here who will say "f
k skin cancer!" Can't think of any other reason really.
996TT02 said:
Nope.
You can use a convertible top-down any time of day, any day, as long as it's not raining. So "relatively few days" just isn't correct.
Personally I don't like basking in the sun, it actually tends to give me a splitting migraine, so in sun is generally the time when I am least likely to have the top down.
I actually like it best on a summer's eve and into the night!
Nail/head.You can use a convertible top-down any time of day, any day, as long as it's not raining. So "relatively few days" just isn't correct.
Personally I don't like basking in the sun, it actually tends to give me a splitting migraine, so in sun is generally the time when I am least likely to have the top down.
I actually like it best on a summer's eve and into the night!
Roman Moroni said:
I understand it's 'choice'
But given the relatively few days that you can use the car in the manner it was built to I would have thought you'd 'choose' to use it
You'd be surprised at how often the weather is good enough in the UK to have the roof down. I used to have the roof down a lot more often when it was cold & dry than when it was blazing sunshine. Can't beat a crisp winter drive with the roof down. But given the relatively few days that you can use the car in the manner it was built to I would have thought you'd 'choose' to use it
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