topless
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Racer
Joined: Dec 2005
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From: edinburg VA.
topless
Just wondering if leaving the top down all the time will hurt or distort it? I usually cruise in the late evening on weekends and was wondering if it was best to put it back up or is it ok to just leave it down until winter without messing it up.
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I have heard that leaving the top down all the time can cause creasing in the fabric as mentioned above. Plus, there is the issue of increased dust, bugs, etc getting into the interior with the top open. I'd probably put it up on a regular basis just to be safe.
Melting Slicks
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From: Russell Ontario
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My top is never up, unless it's parked, I bought it with no creases and find that for the 30 seconds it take to put it up and keeps it looking new it's worth it .Ron
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My vert is mostly a weekend driver so I keep my top up while parked in the garage during the week. On the weekend, the top is usually down Friday evening until Sunday night when I raise the top again for the week.
My main reason is to keep the interior clean. Wash/clean your car and then check one week later how dusty the exterior is, even when parked in the garage, and that's what I'm trying to keep out of the interior.
I also believe that by raising the top it stays in better condition and prevents or reduces creases. Plus, while the top is down while driving, the crease points are rubbing next to each other which also causes the fabric to flatten out. Extending the top helps the fabric reform and reduces the "shiny spots" (At least that's what a local auto upholsterer told me).
It works for me as my black fabric top is now 8 years old and still looks great...
My main reason is to keep the interior clean. Wash/clean your car and then check one week later how dusty the exterior is, even when parked in the garage, and that's what I'm trying to keep out of the interior.
I also believe that by raising the top it stays in better condition and prevents or reduces creases. Plus, while the top is down while driving, the crease points are rubbing next to each other which also causes the fabric to flatten out. Extending the top helps the fabric reform and reduces the "shiny spots" (At least that's what a local auto upholsterer told me).
It works for me as my black fabric top is now 8 years old and still looks great...
Last edited by MSG C5; Aug 7, 2012 at 12:39 PM.
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2004
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From: Frederick Md
Out of habit I ALWAYS put the top up when the car is in the garage..
Learned the hard way with my 64 years ago that when I left the top down it looked like a wrinkled prune when I put it up..
So out of habit I keep the tops up on all 3 of my Convertibles when the car is in the garage ... my 3 coupes have have only had their tops off a few times over the years..a coupe just does not cut it with the top off when compared to a convertible..
Not an extreme amount of effort required to put the top up and down..
Bob G
Learned the hard way with my 64 years ago that when I left the top down it looked like a wrinkled prune when I put it up..
So out of habit I keep the tops up on all 3 of my Convertibles when the car is in the garage ... my 3 coupes have have only had their tops off a few times over the years..a coupe just does not cut it with the top off when compared to a convertible..
Not an extreme amount of effort required to put the top up and down..
Bob G
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 2,507
Likes: 9
Out of habit I ALWAYS put the top up when the car is in the garage..
Learned the hard way with my 64 years ago that when I left the top down it looked like a wrinkled prune when I put it up..
So out of habit I keep the tops up on all 3 of my Convertibles when the car is in the garage ... my 3 coupes have have only had their tops off a few times over the years..a coupe just does not cut it with the top off when compared to a convertible..
Not an extreme amount of effort required to put the top up and down..
Bob G
Learned the hard way with my 64 years ago that when I left the top down it looked like a wrinkled prune when I put it up..
So out of habit I keep the tops up on all 3 of my Convertibles when the car is in the garage ... my 3 coupes have have only had their tops off a few times over the years..a coupe just does not cut it with the top off when compared to a convertible..
Not an extreme amount of effort required to put the top up and down..
Bob G
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