For those of you with convertibles.....

[m3jappa]

Don't often drive with the roof off in mine (tuscan) i did this weekend as it was pretty hot, infact it only really comes off when its really hot thinking about it.

I quite often drive with no rear screen in though, i like how all the tuscans heat gets sucked straight out.

For some reason i also feel safer with the roof on, even though its about as usefull as having a tea towel oer my head.

Its also incredibly noisy at ?mph

[B'stard Child]

Interesting topic

1984-1986 was when I last had a soft top - MG Midget (rubber bumper version) Roof was up twice the whole time I owned it across 2 years - a full tonneau cover kept the car dry when it rained and as long as you were moving you stayed dry (See note)

Fast forward 25 years and now got another and it's pretty much same rule except it's up in 25 secs if it decides to rain and vandal resistant


Note - The midget roof when down had just one hole - when up had 20 plus - one in particular was right above my crotch and rain water used to pool there and piddle down into my lap......... Never a good look when you got out of a car at the end of a journey......

[ludicrous speed]

I've got a convertible and have only had the roof down once, mainly because it's got a hardtop that I can't be arsed to take off.

[Panayiotis]

I find the only time I get abuse (death stares mostly) is in the summer morning in peak hour traffic going to work. Everyone sits in their non descript company cars and here I am getting some morning sun. Kids in the back seat of their parents cars are always happy to see a convertible, especially if I am putting the top up or down, they are entranced by it.

[XKjimmy]

The car I have now is my first convertible. I enjoy driving with it with roof off when ever I can. Whilst I enjoy a drive on a hot day like we have been having, I have to say, the best drives I have had are clear starry night drives. Just me, the road and space!
With regards to abuse and negative comments, I've not had any yet in the XK, people seem to like it, my previous 635d coupe did get more unwanted comments.

[Webber3]

dazco said:

Useless fact for you, Britain buys more convertibles than Spain, Italy and France put together.

It makes sense. I came back from Spain a few weeks ago and if I'd have had a convertible there it would have been roof up, aircon set to max. So not worth having for the hottest part of the year, in Spain at least. This is something I've only had to do a few times during the British summer.

[Speedracer329]

I had to put the roof on my Chimaera yesterday for the first time in weeks, because of the rain, which is the only thing it goes on for.

I think I like cold crisp days & nightime drives over hot days for roof off driving.

[kilty2]

Over here (Midwest USA) it gets too hot to have the top down at points during the summer. In retrospect - the bonnie Scottish Summers that I thought were so crap, are actually perfect for a ragtop. Only time I have the top up, is if it too bloody hot, went out in -6C last December with the top down to blow the cobwebs away -wooly hat on though.

Windows up, heater on, seat heater on (wafty neck warmer on – if you got it use it) I am happy going out in any weather up to @60mph.

[LooneyTunes]

theironduke said:

Night time top down is lovely.

Sometimes when i've gone into town for drinks (i dont really so invariably drive) i knock the roof down for the drive home and get compliments if anythng from people.

Couldn't agree more. Even better than in the daytime. Especially on a clear night with some decent jazz in the background.

Crisp summer mornings and/or snow are great too.

Only ever had one negative comment, and that was in the OHs Merc. Think the level of negative reaction is directly correlated with cost of the car when new... some really quite appalling reactions described on the thread in the Ferrari/Lambo formum.

[koolchris99]

my z4 I put down if it's not raining and I've got nobody in the car with me.

it's a bit much to ask the misses to sit there for a 3 hour motorway journey

I also put my hardtop on from now ish to march ish

[blueg33]

My Tuscan is a sort of convertible (targe with removeable rear screen). As long as it is not raining or freezing cold then the roof will be off, rear screen comes out if I am doing a longer trip or if its warm.

Sometimes on busy motorways I will put the roof back on

[StottyZr]

One afternoon at work the team decided to go to the pub for some reason or another. I was offered a lift from a colleague. Four of us go to get in his car, he says wait. Clicks a button and the metal roof does some fancy tricks and folds into the boot. We drove the entire way with the roof down, it was fking March and a fresh morning (cold as fk) it was one of the most uncomfortable car rides I've ever experianced.

I'm sure all of you on this thread will completly disagree with me, but I sat in the back thinking what fking moron puts their roof down in this weather?

Saying that, it was a brand new VW Eos. If I saw somebody drive past in a TVR I'd probably applaud them for having big balls.

[bomb]

My roof is OFF unless its really raining heavily (or parked up and left unattended).

I invested in a 'Surrey Roof' too, so I can go touring and have the boot space free for luggage instead of the roof section. Its great, and is very quickly fitted when the thunder storms open up.

Thats why I bought a car that the roof comes of.....and I enjoy the drive more with it off.

[kambites]

Most of my journeys are only four miles to work and back so for me it depends on which direction I'm going in and the weather forecast. I wont take it off just for four miles of driving, so if I'm going into work the roof comes off if I'm sure it's not going to rain that day so I can leave the roof off; if I'm going home from work, the roof comes off if I think there's a chance of it not raining the next morning (since the car will be in a garage in the interim it doesn't matter what happens overnight).

ETA: Obviously if there's someone else in the car with me, it depends on their preferences.

Edited by kambites on Tuesday 6th September 09:03

[tombar]

StottyZr said:

One afternoon at work the team decided to go to the pub for some reason or another. I was offered a lift from a colleague. Four of us go to get in his car, he says wait. Clicks a button and the metal roof does some fancy tricks and folds into the boot. We drove the entire way with the roof down, it was fking March and a fresh morning (cold as fk) it was one of the most uncomfortable car rides I've ever experianced.

I'm sure all of you on this thread will completly disagree with me, but I sat in the back thinking what fking moron puts their roof down in this weather?

Saying that, it was a brand new VW Eos. If I saw somebody drive past in a TVR I'd probably applaud them for having big balls.

This ^ is all that stops me - I can be cosy in the Saab in the front with the roof down on a winter's day, heated seats and all, but the moaning from the kids in the back getting wind-blasted is no joke! 2 up, no problem.

[Tyson1980]

pops and bangs said:

Was just wondering how many of you have your top down literally every time you're in the car, or does the roof stay up unless it's scorchingly hot outside?

Also have any of you received abuse? I had my first the other night, granted it was late in the evening and not particularly hot but a few guys decided to call me a ....

No Abuse really. Couple of scrotes now and then. But a quick flick of the fingers puts that to bed....

My roof is down nearly most times. As long as there is some sun its fine. I do have heated seats which help loads.

[MattStorey]

Beemer one series has the roof down during the summer, and kit car does not come out in the rain.

Beemer three series saloon is my typical day to day car, and the missus gets the one series.

Never had any abuse. But then again i am slightly bigger than the average guy (thank you rugby training and weight lifting!).

M

[MKnight702]

In my current fun car there is no roof (or heater!) so the answer is simple. In my previous convertibles the only time the roof was up was when parked, unless it was absolutely throwing it down when I set off. In winter I always get the "Aren't you cold?", well yes, if I was driving in shirtsleeves like them I would be, but I am wearing a sheepskin flying jacket, gloves and a hat, and if really cold a jumper too, so no.

I really hate seeing people driving convertibles on bright sunny days with the roof up, what was the point in paying the extra for a roof that comes off if you never use it? I even had one person tell me that they didn't like taking the roof off their car as they didn't want to show off, WTF!

[thinfourth2]

You can tell its been a st summer

These threads have been very rare

[BoRED S2upid]

The MX5 only comes out when its not raining so roof is off.