[Steelspine]

VaSteve's Hardcore post promted me to open an opinion poll on convertibles. In my opinion the driver of the red cab in the pic is a real man (not factoring in the fuzzy dice or the possibility that it is a woman). My criteria? The windows are down. That's all it takes for me. It makes me crazy when I see a guy driving top down with the windows up, especially when he fixes his hair every time he stops. If a man is driving a convertible with the top down he should always have the windows down unless he has a female companion who is worried about her hair in which case the top should be up anyway.

When I was in college in western MA and in grad school in western NY I had a 68 LeSabre convertible and we would drive that thing with the top down in any weather.

So what do others think about this important issue?

[Jim Richards]

Yes, I agree...fuzzy dice do make the man...or woman...uhhh, whatever.

[Chopper Dropper]

Have always run my rag tops topless all year when it is sunny. In my Targa putting the windows up seems to create more cold airblasts. Had a Chebby Blazer where the whole hardtop came off, weighed 200# or felt like it. Used to run that all year locally without the top, even in snow blizzards with a damn good RAF leather sheepskin jacket. Got a few funny looks and getting back in after you had snow on the seats was not entertaining.
Dirk

[Jim Richards]

Dirk, I thought the funny looks were for your choice of music.

[cmartin]

You call that stuff music??

[Steelspine]

You boys have lost focus!!!

If the top is down the windows MUST be down, that is my position.

Discussion.

[cmartin]

I see your point, it's doesnt exactly look manly to have the windows up. However, driving around in the MG with the town requires a hat for sure. Otherwise there there is no chance in meeting any ladies that day.

I wonder if those deflectors behind the seats really work?

[jpinkert]

Windows down depends, IMO.

On my only ragtop, I carried extra clothes, hats, and gloves in the trunk for unfortunate passengers. If it was sunny and the top was warm and dry (its not good to lower an ice cold or wet top), the top was down. In fact, snow isn't a big deal either...it mainly blows over the windshield. Also, the rain isn't too bad either as long as you're going to right speed. Too slow and you would get wet. Too fast and the inside of the windshield would start to get misty.

Anyhow, there were a few occasions when I had the windows up in a convertible...and that's when I wanted the top down and was lazy. It can easily happen on a long road trip. At 4 PM in the sun its plenty warm. But at 8 PM after the temp has started to drop, do you really want to pull over and dig around the trunk? Nah -- just roll up the windows and crank the heat.

[VaSteve]

Several scenarios:

Summer:
In the Targa I run with the windows down when I'm moving slow <55mph. On the highway ~80mph, I HAVE to roll up the windows because the wind noise is so freaking loud!

Winter
Generally, since I bought it 1 year ago, I drive as often as possible with the roof off (which is why my top is so beat to hell). I will roll up the windows if it's cold and turn the heat on full blast. Makes for that wonderful "feet sweat-hands freeze" scenario.

Exceptions:
If it's really hot out & sunny, I might put the top on to avoid "head burn." The follically challenged know what I mean. I found this out the hard way. Sunburn on that which does not see sun is a recipe for a stomach ache. (I'm not kidding). In those cases the windows are defintely down.

If I really want to be a p****, I will run the a/c. And I will only do so in places that Pari or the other Dorkis are guaranteed not to see me.

[thomschoon]

I would drive it with the windows down, of course I would be driving it to its new owner so I could buy a coupe