Yep, my wife and I are hankering after an MX5 at some point. 

 

When we do, the roof will be off at every opportunity.

 

A guy at work has an A4 cabrio. Even in the nice weather we've had recently I've not seen the roof down once.

"What do you call a convertible Skoda ? - A Skip"

 

Convertibles do nothing for me personally my wife had a Golf when she lived in San Francisco and it was worthwhile there and some friends have a Jag XKR that I drive from time to time but never with the roof down , too much of a case of LOOK AT ME for my liking

"What do you call a convertible Skoda ? 

 

A Felicia actually

 

My wife has the roof down on hers at every opportunity and what's more shouts at everyone who hasn't!  When I had the Saab convertible the roof used to be down if the temperature was in double figures.  Only problem with the Saab roof was it went into a bag in the boot and if you put it down when it was still wet the bag would stay wet and then mouldy.

 

As Colin I would not have the roof down on motorways.  Tried it once but I found the thought of something flying up at me a bit scary.  If it is too hot you can easily get burnt but I see lots who never have the roof down no matter what.  Daft really but hey there choice I suppose.

Mrs had an MX-5 until last Jan and if on the Motorway or the Sun was too strong the roof would stay up and the aircon would be on. On a clear Sunny day the Sun can sometimes be too strong and you can burn if you aren't careful.

 

IMHO a convertible with aircon is ideal, her first MX-5 didn't have aircon and on a hot day as the hood and interior was all black it could get mighty hot in there.

Done a few motorway trips in my other half's aunt's Merc E350 CGI Cabriolet.

 

It's got a fancy diffuser that pops up above the windscreen and a motorised wind guard thing at the back (can only think of the German "Windschutz").

 

Was actually very comfortable and wind noise wasn't obtrusive at all.

 

Also combined with the heated seats and warm air scarf on the seats you'd be ok in cooler weather too.

 

She once did several hundred miles on the Autobahn with her sister in the back with her arms sprawled out sunbathing! lol

 

Phil

A Felicia actually

 

That is Booootiful!

I've been having very naughty thoughts of buying an Audi S4 convertible for days like these, will probably never happen though but one can dream!

 

 

 

I once saw an old work colleague of mine do just this on a cold December morning in his Lotus Elan (90's one), top down with woolly hat on. Once we got to work I asked him why, and apparently with the roof up he had 'space' issues (he was a sizeable chap)!

Have that problem with my Westfield, in fact I can't get in or out of it with the roof up.

This thread is forcing me to look at MX5s.

Found a nice low mileage S-VT a few miles away....

Taking my Spitfire out tonight. Can't remember the last time I had the hood up.

 

Andy

I have the roof off at every available opportunity.  It's quite nice in the rain, so long as you keep moving, but junctions and traffic lights can put the damper on it a bit.  My TransTop takes about 30 seconds and it's surprising how wet you can get if you time it wrong  :

 

 

Gaz

This thread is forcing me to look at MX5s.

Found a nice low mileage S-VT a few miles away....

 

Insurance is surprisingly reasonable at £159, but £290 tax is a bit of a trauma, and it would mean selling the Vespa to make room in the garage.

Tax is expensive for the MX5.  We are in the position of only needing one car now (I have the bike as well) but have decided to keep the wife's MX5 at least until later in the year and then MOT it and maybe sell her on (the car).  We may as well have the use of it during the summer and it is insured until next February anyway.

 

As to the price of the tax I know of people who have mobile phone contracts that cost more a year than the tax for the MX5 so I guess it is use your money for what you want in life if you can. Oh and I wouldn't get rid of the Vespa because you will miss it.

Yeah, it's a strange one - affording it isn't an issue, and I've bought a new Octavia that is costing me far more in depreciation each year, but it's just a psychological thing that nearly three hundred quid to own a car is a lot of money, when it might not be used much some months.

It would definitely be a shame to be without two wheeled transport as it is a very different prospect to a car, but I've had the Vespa for 5 years now and fancy a change anyway. Had they brought out a new model to replace the GTS300 I'd have bought that, but as they haven't I'm considering motorbikes as well as a fun car.

 

There would also be a bit of a faff having to make room in the garage - removing shelving and putting bikes on the wall etc....

 

I suspect if I drive one I'll make my mind up very quickly.
 

I had a Mk3.5 Golf Cabrio before the Octavia.  I was far more likely to have the roof down in Winter, Spring or Autumn.  Summer is just asking for melanoma & sunstroke.

 

If I was just doing errands around the suburbs the roof was usually left up as there are too many tea-leafs & people want to throw their McDonalds wrappers in your car.

Sun screen and a hat

Recent trip to Northumberland

Top down all the time, summer or winter although the MX does pretty much stay wrapped up all winter. With aircon and heated seats there is no reason to keep the lid up. Unless of course it is raining. Even took it to Le Mans this year.

And by paying the VED by direct debit I am hoping this year putting it on SORN will be relatively straight forward, especially as it will probably sit in the garage from November until March.

Edited 30 June, 201510 yr by JerryT

Lets be honest though

Hot women should be driving convertibles.

99% of convertible drivers are male. Over 40 and bald

You look like giant turds. It is not cool in the slightest

This thread is forcing me to look at MX5s.

Found a nice low mileage S-VT a few miles away....

We have one.  Have had it for just over 7 years.  They're a great car BUT watch out for rust.  Rear arches, sills, under the boot lid lip are all obvious places to look, but you also need to watch out for the front chassis rails and you can't get a proper look at those without dropping the under engine shield.  Many a mk2.5 (facelfit mk2) have been condemned as being beyond economic repair due to rotten chassis rails, and some of those had fresh MOTs 'cos the rot can't be seen with the under tray in place. Put the front wheels on full lock and have a good look and prod - if it's bubbling up and crusty here you can bet it'll be worse underneath.

 

Oh, and ours has the roof down if it's dry :sun:

top down pretty much every opportunity. all the way from Warwick to Oxford today

More convertibles are sold in the UK than on the med. the reason is that when it gets really hot, the Southern Europeans want respite from the heat and air con.

In the UK with our mild climate, then it's O K , but days like today when it hits 30deg C you don't want the roof down, it's just too hot and everything in the car gets too hot to touch

More convertibles are sold in the UK than on the med. the reason is that when it gets really hot, the Southern Europeans want respite from the heat and air con.

In the UK with our mild climate, then it's O K , but days like today when it hits 30deg C you don't want the roof down, it's just too hot and everything in the car gets too hot to touch

 

That's exactly it.

 

Although depending on the car you may just want the roof down anyway even if it's 30+c.

 

The example I can think of is the aforementioned other half's aunt. She previously had a Porsche Carrera 4S Auto convertible. The noise from that was just amazing and with the roof down and the accelerator buried into the carpet on the Autobahn... heaven!

 

Phil

Lets be honest though

Hot women should be driving convertibles.

99% of convertible drivers are male. Over 40 and bald

You look like giant turds. It is not cool in the slightest

You're just jealous.

The only thing I don't get about convertibles is diesel convertibles. They just seem like a ridiculous idea to me. Lets get the roof down so we can hear the pure dagdag of the engine... If I was to have a convertible I'd either want it to be quiet or produce a pleasant sound.