Before I go on, I know its freedom of choice and all that, BUT in this beautifully warm weather we are having at the moment, what is the point in driving around in a convertible car and having the roof up? It amazes me how many do, I counted 9 on my way to work this morning, the worst offender being a Saab 93 with the roof up but windows down. If I ruled the world, (which I don't) Drivers in convertibles in dry weather with the roof up in temperatures over 18 degrees, should have the cars confiscated crushed in front of them!
I've had a few convertibles; "Rollin' in my 5. 0 ,With my ragtop down so my hair can blow" Roof up in hot weather is usually; Too hot and need air con on No hat and burnt head phobia Girls/pooftas not wishing to mess hair up For info, I had mine down all the time unless No2.
Air-con works fine blasting at you with the roof down though? You don't need to "cold-box" the car - see what I did there?
My other half has a convertible and I hate riding round in it with the roof down because I feel a dick, not sure why I just do. Roof up and air con on full for me.
IMO, cars look better with a hard roof. Not a fan of drop heads, but the OP makes a good point. What is the point?
Men + Meeting other men + Leather + soft drinks = Gay. Men + Convertibles = Gayer, Men who do both = raving queens. For example Bradders by is own admission loves it (ooor errr) Freak has s a Boxster and we all know he take it up the botswanna
What man doesnt love to call his missus across the car park and shout 'get yer top down love' works for me
I've had 2 MX5's (one Turboed, one a stripped out trackday car) and a Tiger (caterham copy), if it wasn't heaving down with rain the top would be down...
20 or 30 years ago calling someone (or a whole category of people) 'gay' was a bit of an insult, bordering on the libellous. Hello! It's 2013 now, and 'gay' is pretty ordinary, commonplace and rather dull. So using it as if it was an insult just looks old-fashioned and dim-witted.
I have had several convertibles over the years - two that I built myself. I agree with the OP. What is the point if you never put the roof down? (Apart from being able to say "okaaay yarrhhhh - I drive a Porsche" down the whine-bar). Personally I never have the roof up unless it is actually snowing. Rain is just nature's way of telling you to drive faster...
Last year on returning from holiday in France I was waiting for the Channel Tunnel crossing in a queue that also included a two very sprightly gents & their wives, all in their seventies. One couple was in a beautifully maintained MG TD & the other couple was in a very nice old Morgan Plus 8. They had owned their cars for decades & had been touring the Dordogne. They had a wonderful spirit & their attitude was, "The roof only goes up when the weather is really bad". Smashing people with proper body-on-frame convertible sports cars. Good luck to them.
Have a look at some of the ( in some cases very old ) convertibles competing in MCC trials... A friend of mine still campaigns a 1930's MG J2 that he has owned since the early 1970's - I don't think he even bothers taking the roof with him most of the time. And the first big trial of the year is the Exeter, the first weekend after new year... You don't need a roof - there's nothing wrong with a wooly hat and a wax cotton jacket !
