Fitting your hard top to your cabrio for winter?
Discussion
Prompted by replying to another thread about Merc hardtops got me thinking.
I had a Mercedes R129 SL, with the original hardtop supplied with the car when I bought it one summer back in 2005.
I promptly stored it in a hardtop bag in the garage. 2 years later when I sold the car, the hardtop was removed from the bag and fitted.
I now have a 911 cabrio, and the hardtop is still in it's hardtop bag in the garage where I put it 3 years ago!
I never use the hardtop, I just don't see the point. The car is warm / dry / quiet enough for me without it fitted. Occasionally in winter you get one of those cold but gloriously clear sunny days, and the soft top goes straight down. If I had the hardtop fitted I would miss those days.
Tho only thing I will say is that my 911 LOOKS better with the hardtop fitted. The soft top definitely spoils the line of the car. The SL I think didn't look as bad with the soft top though. As the styling was more angular it kinda looked ok.
Who on here does use their hardtop and why?
I had a Mercedes R129 SL, with the original hardtop supplied with the car when I bought it one summer back in 2005.
I promptly stored it in a hardtop bag in the garage. 2 years later when I sold the car, the hardtop was removed from the bag and fitted.
I now have a 911 cabrio, and the hardtop is still in it's hardtop bag in the garage where I put it 3 years ago!
I never use the hardtop, I just don't see the point. The car is warm / dry / quiet enough for me without it fitted. Occasionally in winter you get one of those cold but gloriously clear sunny days, and the soft top goes straight down. If I had the hardtop fitted I would miss those days.
Tho only thing I will say is that my 911 LOOKS better with the hardtop fitted. The soft top definitely spoils the line of the car. The SL I think didn't look as bad with the soft top though. As the styling was more angular it kinda looked ok.
Who on here does use their hardtop and why?
Fitting a hard top to a cabriolet must be a lot more difficult than fitting one to a convertible?
That's a fair point, however I find my plastic rear window ok providing I polish it regularly with Renovo or similar - stays pretty clear. It also clear itself of moisture once I get over about 50 mph from the airflow over the car, and any mist inside disappears in seconds with a blast of the aircon.
So for me, still not a compelling enough argument!
So for me, still not a compelling enough argument!
I used to have a Honda S2000 with the optional hardtop, it was a complete PITA to fit or remove and, with hindsight, I wish I hadn't bothered with the extra expense.
And, as the OP has also mentioned, there were often times when, after fitting the hardtop for the winter there were sunny, warm(ish) days when I would have liked to drop the roof and similarly during the early spring before I'd got around to removing it again.
And, as the OP has also mentioned, there were often times when, after fitting the hardtop for the winter there were sunny, warm(ish) days when I would have liked to drop the roof and similarly during the early spring before I'd got around to removing it again.
I use my hardtop during the winter and find it excellent. The canvas roof on my MR2 is not particularly well insulated so can be cold at 5:30am when I go to work. The hardtop does a great job of keeping the heat in and the rear screen is so large it improves rear visibility in the dark. It also protects the canvas from exposure to ice/snow/salt during the harsher months.
On the handling front the MR2 is already pretty well sorted but having a fixed roof stiffens the car up even more. For me putting it on changes the driving experience sufficiently for the better to make it a welcome addition.
I guess you either like them or you don't but I'm pro hard tops and will definitely be looking for another one to accompany an S2000 or Elise.
On the handling front the MR2 is already pretty well sorted but having a fixed roof stiffens the car up even more. For me putting it on changes the driving experience sufficiently for the better to make it a welcome addition.
I guess you either like them or you don't but I'm pro hard tops and will definitely be looking for another one to accompany an S2000 or Elise.
Ah, so it may be car dependant, depending on how well the chassis is stiffened up in the first place and if it actually adds to torsional rigidity?
I've read that my 996 911 qas designed from the ground up as a cabrio, and I have to say the hardtop doesn't especially add anything to the handling. Although when I go onto my drive, it's on an angle with a ridge, and the car does creak a bit going over taking the forces of gravity at opposite corners, and I concede that the creaking is a bit less with the hardtop in place.
But on the open road at moderate to fast road speeds
It's fine roofless.
I've read that my 996 911 qas designed from the ground up as a cabrio, and I have to say the hardtop doesn't especially add anything to the handling. Although when I go onto my drive, it's on an angle with a ridge, and the car does creak a bit going over taking the forces of gravity at opposite corners, and I concede that the creaking is a bit less with the hardtop in place.
But on the open road at moderate to fast road speeds
It's fine roofless.I use mine every winter, it's also a R129, though I have the panoramic hardtop so it's kind of a nice change to have a 'regular' coupe feel but with loads of light. Panoramic hardtops have a nicer shape to them as well so I love the lines with it on. Living in Scotland I find the extra benefits of the hardtop more than worthwhile in the deep winter months.
Don't feel it's a hassle taking it off and putting it back on once a year, even though it's a two man job, rather it's a case of when I should. I try to leave it off as long as possible, to get the most of the late summer/autumn but when winter starts to bite it goes on. Hate it when there's a week or two of fine weather in November as it usually goes on early in the month. Comes off again in late March/early April, depending on when I think it's going to stop raining!
Don't feel it's a hassle taking it off and putting it back on once a year, even though it's a two man job, rather it's a case of when I should. I try to leave it off as long as possible, to get the most of the late summer/autumn but when winter starts to bite it goes on. Hate it when there's a week or two of fine weather in November as it usually goes on early in the month. Comes off again in late March/early April, depending on when I think it's going to stop raining!
Nuisance_Value said:
I use mine every winter, it's also a R129, though I have the panoramic hardtop so it's kind of a nice change to have a 'regular' coupe feel but with loads of light. Panoramic hardtops have a nicer shape to them as well so I love the lines with it on. Living in Scotland I find the extra benefits of the hardtop more than worthwhile in the deep winter months.
Don't feel it's a hassle taking it off and putting it back on once a year, even though it's a two man job, rather it's a case of when I should. I try to leave it off as long as possible, to get the most of the late summer/autumn but when winter starts to bite it goes on. Hate it when there's a week or two of fine weather in November as it usually goes on early in the month. Comes off again in late March/early April, depending on when I think it's going to stop raining!
The panoramic hardtop is a slightly different case, I will grant you, I've been in an Sl with one and I have to say it is a bit special.Don't feel it's a hassle taking it off and putting it back on once a year, even though it's a two man job, rather it's a case of when I should. I try to leave it off as long as possible, to get the most of the late summer/autumn but when winter starts to bite it goes on. Hate it when there's a week or two of fine weather in November as it usually goes on early in the month. Comes off again in late March/early April, depending on when I think it's going to stop raining!
But what are your REASONS for fitting it when winter starts to bite exactly? Is it just the extra arctic coldness of Scotland? Are we down South really pampered wimps with no idea of a REAL winter?!
Ray Luxury-Yacht said:
Nuisance_Value said:
I use mine every winter, it's also a R129, though I have the panoramic hardtop so it's kind of a nice change to have a 'regular' coupe feel but with loads of light. Panoramic hardtops have a nicer shape to them as well so I love the lines with it on. Living in Scotland I find the extra benefits of the hardtop more than worthwhile in the deep winter months.
Don't feel it's a hassle taking it off and putting it back on once a year, even though it's a two man job, rather it's a case of when I should. I try to leave it off as long as possible, to get the most of the late summer/autumn but when winter starts to bite it goes on. Hate it when there's a week or two of fine weather in November as it usually goes on early in the month. Comes off again in late March/early April, depending on when I think it's going to stop raining!
The panoramic hardtop is a slightly different case, I will grant you, I've been in an Sl with one and I have to say it is a bit special.Don't feel it's a hassle taking it off and putting it back on once a year, even though it's a two man job, rather it's a case of when I should. I try to leave it off as long as possible, to get the most of the late summer/autumn but when winter starts to bite it goes on. Hate it when there's a week or two of fine weather in November as it usually goes on early in the month. Comes off again in late March/early April, depending on when I think it's going to stop raining!
But what are your REASONS for fitting it when winter starts to bite exactly? Is it just the extra arctic coldness of Scotland? Are we down South really pampered wimps with no idea of a REAL winter?!
To be fair, the girlfriend starts to feel the cold quicker than I do, so she kind of prompts fitting it. I've also noticed a slight blunt in performance with the hardtop on, only slightly I grant you, but it's not quite so sharp due to the weight. The glass ones are quite heavy, over 50kg I believe.Ray Luxury-Yacht said:
Ah, so it may be car dependant, depending on how well the chassis is stiffened up in the first place and if it actually adds to torsional rigidity?
I've read that my 996 911 qas designed from the ground up as a cabrio, and I have to say the hardtop doesn't especially add anything to the handling. Although when I go onto my drive, it's on an angle with a ridge, and the car does creak a bit going over taking the forces of gravity at opposite corners, and I concede that the creaking is a bit less with the hardtop in place.
But on the open road at moderate to fast road speeds It's fine roofless.
I'm sure it is. You get what you pay for and all that so can imagine the 966 is aeons better than mine.I've read that my 996 911 qas designed from the ground up as a cabrio, and I have to say the hardtop doesn't especially add anything to the handling. Although when I go onto my drive, it's on an angle with a ridge, and the car does creak a bit going over taking the forces of gravity at opposite corners, and I concede that the creaking is a bit less with the hardtop in place.
But on the open road at moderate to fast road speeds
It's fine roofless.As far as I know the MR2 was designed as a 2 seater soft top from the outset. I'm sure if you'd never driven with the hard top fitted then you wouldn't really notice as it already handles superbly.
I can't comment on how other hard tops are secured but the fixing of the MR2's is pretty rigid. In this respect the addition of another piece of structure is always going to stiffen the car up some more. I think perhaps it's more noticeable to me because the MR2 is such a go-cart of a car you feel everything that's going on. I can even notice a 1psi change in tyre pressure it's that sensitive.
Nuisance_Value said:
Ray Luxury-Yacht said:
Nuisance_Value said:
I use mine every winter, it's also a R129, though I have the panoramic hardtop so it's kind of a nice change to have a 'regular' coupe feel but with loads of light. Panoramic hardtops have a nicer shape to them as well so I love the lines with it on. Living in Scotland I find the extra benefits of the hardtop more than worthwhile in the deep winter months.
Don't feel it's a hassle taking it off and putting it back on once a year, even though it's a two man job, rather it's a case of when I should. I try to leave it off as long as possible, to get the most of the late summer/autumn but when winter starts to bite it goes on. Hate it when there's a week or two of fine weather in November as it usually goes on early in the month. Comes off again in late March/early April, depending on when I think it's going to stop raining!
The panoramic hardtop is a slightly different case, I will grant you, I've been in an Sl with one and I have to say it is a bit special.Don't feel it's a hassle taking it off and putting it back on once a year, even though it's a two man job, rather it's a case of when I should. I try to leave it off as long as possible, to get the most of the late summer/autumn but when winter starts to bite it goes on. Hate it when there's a week or two of fine weather in November as it usually goes on early in the month. Comes off again in late March/early April, depending on when I think it's going to stop raining!
But what are your REASONS for fitting it when winter starts to bite exactly? Is it just the extra arctic coldness of Scotland? Are we down South really pampered wimps with no idea of a REAL winter?!
To be fair, the girlfriend starts to feel the cold quicker than I do, so she kind of prompts fitting it. I've also noticed a slight blunt in performance with the hardtop on, only slightly I grant you, but it's not quite so sharp due to the weight. The glass ones are quite heavy, over 50kg I believe.My MX5 hardtop is fantastic in the winter! It acts like a giant strut brace, insulates against noise better than the soft roof, and has far better visibility than the soft roof due to a much bigger window.
It also has a nicer internal lining, making the cabin feel more cosy.
I'm going to stop now before I sound too gay.
It also has a nicer internal lining, making the cabin feel more cosy.
I'm going to stop now before I sound too gay.
Doniger said:
My MX5 hardtop is fantastic in the winter! It acts like a giant strut brace, insulates against noise better than the soft roof, and has far better visibility than the soft roof due to a much bigger window.
It also has a nicer internal lining, making the cabin feel more cosy.
I'm going to stop now before I sound too gay.
Gay It also has a nicer internal lining, making the cabin feel more cosy.
I'm going to stop now before I sound too gay.
Thought very briefly about buying a hardtop for my BMW E46 convertible, but thought I'd save my money. Having had a number of soft tops before I have found that a bright, crisp winters day is just as good for top down hooning as a warm summers day. You just wear more clothes! A hard top in place all winter makes that spur of the moment top down drive a pain if not impossible.
I do use the hardtop for my Z1 in the winter. Partly because it's warmer and more usable, but also partly I like the look of the car with the roof on and the doors open. Plus because you can drive with the doors down, that kind of makes up for not putting the top down.
In fact the hardtop is on the car at the moment but that's solely because I've just got it back from a partial re-spray that included the hardtop and it'll be coming off tomorrow!
In fact the hardtop is on the car at the moment but that's solely because I've just got it back from a partial re-spray that included the hardtop and it'll be coming off tomorrow!
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