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[MikeR]

Classic & Sports Car Magazine, editor's blog.

http://www.classicandsportscar.com/blog ... r-tops-off

[TX82FIAT]

Great article, and the author is on point about modern convertible owners with the top up almost all the time. I grew up in the Philly area and my one buddy who was lucky enough to own a convertible mustang would keep it down all the time unless the temp dropped below 20. We would wear funny long stocking caps to draw even more attention on a crisp December morning. Good times... I would only say that hair blowing in the wind is over rated as i now have no hair!

[rlux4]

I feel vindicated. I have commented to anyone who happened to be with me over the last couple of years how I can't understand buying a convertible and always driving with the top up. Especially out here in SoCal.
I do see the occasional Mustang with the top down (as likely as not to be driven by a female) but not the beemers, Benzes, or even the Vettes.
Go figure.
Ron

[boogiedude]

You guys would probably call me crazy for having my top up 90% of the time, especially since I'm living in Hawaii. But its just too hot to have the top down with the sun out. Especially with a black interior. After about 2 stop lights, my seats are practically pooling up with sweat

but if its cloudy out, or its night time, the top is down for sure.

[azygoustoyou]

Awesome article. I love that picture at the top.
Thanks for sharing.

[Adam]

On really hot days I drive my subbie and pump the AC. If I'm in the Fiat and it's not raining, the top is down. I have been known on occasion to drive top down with a scarf and toque to keep the chill at bay. The convertible season is too damn short in Ottawa not to take advantage every chance you can.

[divace73]

You guys would probably call me crazy for having my top up 90% of the time, especially since I'm living in Hawaii. But its just too hot to have the top down with the sun out. Especially with a black interior. After about 2 stop lights, my seats are practically pooling up with sweat

but if its cloudy out, or its night time, the top is down for sure.

Same here, well sometimes, we can get some really hot days in Oz and you'll crsip up in no time with the top down, however in saying that there have many times when I think I have suffered from sun stroke??
But the best is cruising at night when it's warm
Just recenlty I took the spider down south and were are now heading into the cooler months, so I have the top closed. Travelling at 110-130kph is very noisy inside the cabin, a handy hint... I used gaffa tape to tape up all the seals, the top to windscreen, the front and rear quater windows..what a difference, I could then have a converstion in the car, should it have been a little warmer I would have had that dilemma??

[Colonialgirl]

I use to even drive with the top down on my Fiat when it was raining. On the Interstate you didn't get wet unless you dropped under about 60 MPH. If traffic started to get heavy, I'd make a stop under an over pass and have the top UP in a heart beat and continue on my way, nice and dry.

[DUCeditor]

Great article indeed! It just got posted to my FB wall with this addendum:

Yes!!! (And if you're bloody cold wear a bloody sweater. If it is not raining the top on the Spider STAYS DOWN!) ~

One of my favorite related stories deals with a lady co-worker of a friend of mine. She bought an Alfa Spyder and decided that the top was NEVER going to go up. She parked in an indoor garage near her lab (she was a geneticist -- maybe this was in here genes) and if it rained she'd call her husband to pick her up and simply left the car in the garage.

To my knowledge that top never did go up!

BTW -- she lived in frigid Boston.

-Don

[TronDD]

Does it count that my top was put on so poorly it's about 3 inches away from the windshield when up so I can't latch it? I have little choice right now, the top stays down.

Tim.

[DUCeditor]

Does it count that my top was put on so poorly it's about 3 inches away from the windshield when up so I can't latch it? I have little choice right now, the top stays down.

Tim.

That is not uncommon with newly installed tops and not necessarily evidence that it was improperly installed. If the top is installed so that it easily clips into place it'll be too loose once it has broken in. This is true for many soft top cars, not just Spiders. Among Miata owners there is a "rule" that a newly installed top should not be lowered for at least two weeks.

The answer is to have a friend work with you to force the top into place, latch it, and leave it (preferably in direct sunlight) for some time. It'll stretch and be just right.

My own new top is down and has only had a little stretch time. Getting it up is thus a bear. I need to follow my own advice but -- bah! -- I never drive with it up and am not about to start now!

-don

[Klayfish]

I kind of agree with the article, kind of disagree. There are far too many "well to do" people driving around with their convertible Benz, Bimmer, Audi or whatever convertible with the top up, even on sunny 70 degree days. Not to be sexist, but most of those I see are women, hair too perfectly primped to risk getting it messed up... Or they're business men in suits who would be bothered by the "noise" with the top down while they're trying to act important by talking on their cell phones the whole time. I'm convinced these people just buy these cars for the look and the ability to say "I can put the top down"...not that they actually do.

That said, my Spiders don't run, they're project cars. My summer toy that I can actually drive is a 2006 Mazda Miata. I only drive it on sunny days, so I have the top down. But I pick and chose what days to use it. If it's bright sunshine and 90 degrees+, I won't take it out. It's just too hot. I'm a fair skinned guy, and I'll roast the first time I have to stop at a traffic light. I put a hat on to cover my head, which helps protect from the sun, but also helps me roast.

[mdrburchette]

My top has been on the car for 13 years and it's a bear to latch. I rarely have it up and it doesn't get direct sunlight while it is up, so it doesn't have a chance to stretch.
BTW, it kills me to see these primps driving around in a convertible with the top up. What joy they are missing just to keep their hair in perfect order.
If anyone's met me in person, they know my hair is NEVER in order.

[Adam]

I thought it was universally known that a scarf and big glasses keep a woman's hairdo in pristine order while riding top down; not to mention adding a touch of classic beauty



A friend got my wife a nice scarf to wear while riding in our Fiat.

[Adam]

Here a 1971 Car and Driver review of the Fiat 124 Spider.







Below are the direct link to download the images at full resolution:
http://i665.photobucket.com/albums/vv19 ... Driver.jpg
http://i665.photobucket.com/albums/vv19 ... Driver.jpg
http://i665.photobucket.com/albums/vv19 ... erjpeg.jpg
http://i665.photobucket.com/albums/vv19 ... erjpeg.jpg
http://i665.photobucket.com/albums/vv19 ... egjpeg.jpg