Convertables with side windows up?

[exitwound]

Why do so many convert (..all types) drivers always keep the side windows up when the roof is down?

C'mon guys/ladies, ...from the outside it looks like your sitting in an aquarium, or a Tupperware box with no lid!

Get 'em down!!

[jmorgan]

Because I can.

[sawman]

it reduces wind buffeting at speed

[rjsalpha]

Motorways I always have the windows up.....noise, fuel economy and a prevention to having an ear ache at the end of the day.

A B C roads nearly always down for me.....

[dugt]

Have you ever tried it both ways? Its a million times better roof down, windows up. Not much wind, open top feel.

Having the top down isnt about pushing the limits of your body in a wind tunnel, its about the inside of the car connecting with the rest of the world.

And you can listen to the radio, control temperature better, not have totally ruined hair.

[rfn]

I always have the windows up if I am "pressing on" on the Motorway, but at anything below 80 the windows are usually down (unless it's cold - in which case they'll be up). At high speed you do tend to get quite a lot of buffeting with the windows down (especially convertibles without guarterlights).

Roof is *always down* though .

[Willy Nilly]

If you want open air motoring, buy a motorbike. Or a Caterham.

[ironictwist]

I always have windows down at below 40...Anything above I tend to normally have the windows up.

The buffeting I can live with, but as I dont have a Rover V8 to listen to when I drive, I prefer to hear music which disappears the quicker you go, so windows up tends to keep the sound in FAR more than it would otherwise...& even then, above 90/100 leptons it's still tough to listen :P

Having said, roof down whatever the weather, which is the key thing.

[exitwound]

My vette is a targa top, but with the lid off there's no way I'd ever keep the windows up. Never going to happen, even during our occasional 1000mile trips to Goodwood.

[missdiane]

Window down = face numb, hair very tangled, ears cold

[exitwound]

missdiane said:

Window down = face numb, hair very tangled, ears cold

Odd that, we don't get any of that stuff. Don't even really get wet when it rains...

[RV8]

missdiane said:

Window down = face numb, hair very tangled, ears cold

Alright for some

[GKP]

I've been using the OH's Elise for the past week as she's away having taken my car with her. I haven't even removed the roof once, let alone wound the windows down too.
Some on here would be apoplectic at such a statement, but I'm not sure I care what some internet nerds think.

[DennisTheMenace]

You can drop the drivers side in the mx5 and the buffeting happens on the passengers side , also a wind blocker makes a huge difference in the 5 , along with waeco heated seat pads

You can do this then in comfort

Edited by DennisTheMenace on Sunday 8th August 20:53

[LukeBird]

sawman said:

it reduces wind buffeting at speed

+1

I only bother if I have passengers or I am cruising on the motorway.
Had them down all day today though!

[Jasandjules]

rjsalpha said:

and a prevention to having an ear ache at the end of the day.

^ This.

My first convertible, a little MK1 MR2, I took the roof off, I put the windows down and I drove about 160 miles the day I picked her up. Sadly, I then spent about three days with severe ear ache....

[missdiane]

exitwound said:

missdiane said:

Window down = face numb, hair very tangled, ears cold

Odd that, we don't get any of that stuff. Don't even really get wet when it rains...

The elise is not like that, everything stays normal, and we are probably more likely to have those windows down, but the MX5 is a bit of a nightmare as you are so open with no protection

[FourWheelDrift]

exitwound said:

My vette is a targa top, but with the lid off there's no way I'd ever keep the windows up. Never going to happen, even during our occasional 1000mile trips to Goodwood.

That because you have a targa, the rear window section that stays up counter-acts the buffeting, it's why some convertibles (like Mercedes) have wind deflector panels behind the seats.

Of course you could get a proper convertible instead of a targa and see for yourself

[perdu]

I often drive my Midget with the driver's window down and the passenger one closed

Not for me but I hate to see Rory, my usual passenger's ear hairs getting tangled up.

Rory doesnt mind to be honest, but it only seems right you know

[jmorgan]

Oh, he has a half a pretend soft top...