Preferring open top motoring in the winter. Madness?

[Redwest]

Picked my daughter up from school in my aero screened Westfield yesterday - b****y freezing but entertaining on the slippy cold roads! Would have taken a pic but i forgot my gloves and fingers stopped working.....

[RichardHMorris]

If it's dry, the roof's down.

Drove from London to Dorset last weekend and with a beanie and a warm jacket on, I was OK, although my hands were getting a bit cold: the auto cc seems to fire warm air onto my right hand from the side vent but the centre ones didn't really want to play, so my left hand got cold.

Must. Buy. Gloves.

[WJNB]

One of the remaining joys of driving that has yet to be taxed, but I'm sure that day will come.

[britaliancarfan]

I'm a fan of winter top-down driving, and being the wrong side of 45 I now accept that I need to wrap up properly to avoid getting a chill: woolly hat, scarf, quilted jacket, lined leather gloves.
I went out for a great drive today in my 1969 Fiat 124 Spider in freezing conditions, under crystal clear blue skies, around my local Kent countryside. The earthy smells, the bracing quality of the air, even the way that sounds seem amplified in that colder air, all made it a wonderful experience, distinct from the pleasures of driving in other seasons.
I saw many other convertibles on my drive today, but I was the only one with the roof down - I was definitely in the minority today.

[swisstoni]

I'm at home tonight with all the doors and windows open. It's so bracing !!!
It's fine because I've got the heating cranked up and 3 coats on.

[Pan Pan Pan]

Only weiner wimps have a problem with driving an open car in the winter or at any time, and it is only even bigger weiner wimps who give a sh*t about what other people think about them, driving an open car in the winter! If it is what someone wants to do, they should just do it, and not give a monkies f*ck about what other people think of them whilst they are at it

[bigmowley]

Ed Straker said:

Genuine question:
Does nobody else feel, well... a bit of a cock with the roof down?
Anyone under 30 years old need not answer - you guys are "allowed"

Not half as much a cock as the plonkers driving round on a gorgeous summer day with the top up, hiding in their very hot and sweaty tent. It's usually highly made up, very high maintenance trophy wives who couldn't open the top if they wanted too as they haven't a clue where the button is Grrrrr.

[Miglia 888]

sticks090460 said:

Unless it's pissing down, or just raining and we're in stop-start traffic and hence you're going to get soaked, we always drive with the roof down in the wife's Mini. It's just a question of wearing the right gear. Even at this time of year, I can't stand the heated seats on their highest setting for more than a minute or so, and if you direct hot air form the vents onto your hands on the steering wheel, you don't even need gloves. At my age I'm well past caring what anyone else thinks about it - couldn't give a toss.

This.
200+ miles top down in our MINI yesterday & today, with powerful heated seats, decent heater & vents, effective wind deflector, and frosty clear blue winter skies. Heaven.

[Iva Barchetta]

britaliancarfan said:

I'm a fan of winter top-down driving, and being the wrong side of 45 I now accept that I need to wrap up properly to avoid getting a chill: woolly hat, scarf, quilted jacket, lined leather gloves.
I went out for a great drive today in my 1969 Fiat 124 Spider in freezing conditions, under crystal clear blue skies, around my local Kent countryside. The earthy smells, the bracing quality of the air, even the way that sounds seem amplified in that colder air, all made it a wonderful experience, distinct from the pleasures of driving in other seasons.
I saw many other convertibles on my drive today, but I was the only one with the roof down - I was definitely in the minority today.

nice early car, without the later oversize and awkward US bumpers....

[wibble cb]

Its more fun in the wet anyway....



It has something labelled a heater, but in truth, it doesn't heat much of anything.

[suffolk009]

bigmowley said:

Ed Straker said:

Genuine question:
Does nobody else feel, well... a bit of a cock with the roof down?
Anyone under 30 years old need not answer - you guys are "allowed"

Not half as much a cock as the plonkers driving round on a gorgeous summer day with the top up, hiding in their very hot and sweaty tent. It's usually highly made up, very high maintenance trophy wives who couldn't open the top if they wanted too as they haven't a clue where the button is Grrrrr.

My wife tends to drive our convertibles with the roof up on hot sunny days with the air-con on full blast. She's not keen on the beetroot look.

I can't help but wonder if driving around with the roof down gives us a sense of adventure, a bit of the Peking to Paris driver feeling. (pic from the net, it's not me, sadly).

[britaliancarfan]

Iva Barchetta said:

nice early car, without the later oversize and awkward US bumpers....

Thank you - and, being a full restoration with only 1500 miles on the clock, it actually works on cold days!

[JordanTurbo]

I love a good winter drive with the roof off. If it's not raining then I'll get it down no problem.

Coat, hat, blowers and seats to full volcano mode. Job done



But yes OP, everyone will look at you like you are mad. Even the cows



The only thing that worrys me in the winter though is the plastic rear screen, so I always pour some warm water over it to ensure it's nice and supple before folding to reduce the risk of cracks.

Edited by JordanTurbo on Friday 2nd December 10:22

[Jex]

Just ordered some gloves

[gileshudson]

Had my 2009 MX5 2.0 Roadster Coupe for two years now and I think I've only driven it with the top up about six time.
More to insure, more to fuel, more to buy... why buy one if you don't drive it top down whenever you get the chance?!
Vents pointed at fingers, heated seats on, the right clothing... perfect.
You smell every wood fire and flower you come near, you hear every bird and other noise almost at Dolby levels of quality.
You either get convertibles or you don't. If you do, it's hard to be enclosed when you drive.
It's like being a motoring pioneer on top of your open motorised cart every time you drive... fabulous experience.
Love my current convertibles... MX5 is the work car, Caterham 7 HPC is the play car...

[Iva Barchetta]

I'm going to the council tip later,top down,tiny boot stuffed full.

[motoroller]

Even better - top down in the snow! This was a few years ago, "BMW Z4 convertible in the snow"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eMUZsmI-n1A

Good times.

[coppice]

I once did a predawn 150 mile run , top down , in a Seven. It was minus 8C but dry . I would not wish to repeat the experience . By the time I realised I had made a mistake I was too cold to stop and fiddle with the hood .....

[WJNB]

bigmowley said:

Ed Straker said:

Genuine question:
Does nobody else feel, well... a bit of a cock with the roof down?
Anyone under 30 years old need not answer - you guys are "allowed"

Not half as much a cock as the plonkers driving round on a gorgeous summer day with the top up, hiding in their very hot and sweaty tent. It's usually highly made up, very high maintenance trophy wives who couldn't open the top if they wanted too as they haven't a clue where the button is Grrrrr.

And being badge snobs they are usually driving a Mercedes SLK

[kowalski655]

Loved driving the MX5 with the top down in all weathers...the stars on a clear winter night in the country look amazing(if you can get to see much while driving fast along winding roads ) Mrs K wasnt so happy,I just told her to wear a wooly hat!
Really miss that car