Topless with windows up
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2008
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From: The Sunshine State
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Although I drive my vert top down 90% of the time, I put the top back up everytime I park it in the garage. Since it's not my DD, it may sit for a few days at a time. It keeps the fabric stretched out and prevents the dust that settles on the outside from settling in the interior.
I spoke with a guy at a local show who owned a 2003 anniversary edition convertible. His shale top was in mint condition and he showed me a thin soft foam mattress cover that he uses to place in between the sections of the top when he folds it down. It prevents the top from rubbing up against itself when driving and apparently helps to prevent the crease and shiny wear marks. He might be onto something because his top looked basically brand new and the car had over 40K miles.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2010
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From: Richmond VA Everyone should have a VetteGuard
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 17,762
Likes: 3,692
From: The Sunshine State
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The wind has never bothered me. I like the open air feeling of driving a convertible. I just wear a nice cap or hat.
What does bother me at times is the noise from other vehicles. I "enjoyed" a nice 10 mile, stop light crawl drive the other day and had a semi and motorcyle sharing the road the entire way. The noise level was pretty high every time we accelerated from a dead stop.
It comes with the territory. Sort of like complaining about bugs when you ride a motorcycle.
What does bother me at times is the noise from other vehicles. I "enjoyed" a nice 10 mile, stop light crawl drive the other day and had a semi and motorcyle sharing the road the entire way. The noise level was pretty high every time we accelerated from a dead stop.
It comes with the territory. Sort of like complaining about bugs when you ride a motorcycle.
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Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2013
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From: FW/d Texas
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From: Phoenix area, AZ
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 2,507
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Does anybody else besides me think that it looks kinda dumb to have a convertible (any make) with the top down and the windows up ? 
IMHO it seems kinda silly to have a vert for the wind in your hair (what's left) and sun in your face to ride along with the windows up. My wife and I laugh everytime we see someone doing that ... mostly in Bimmers, Benz, etc. 
IMHO it seems kinda silly to have a vert for the wind in your hair (what's left) and sun in your face to ride along with the windows up. My wife and I laugh everytime we see someone doing that ... mostly in Bimmers, Benz, etc.
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Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 4,309
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From: FW/d Texas
It seems you can't take someones 'opinion' on something you don't agree with ... I could care less what they do with their windows, top OR car - just looks dumb to me (and to others also according to some of the posts). 
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 1,858
Likes: 30
Sure, Living in Chig with girls in the car I've even had top down, windows up, heat on and their pointers were still at full attention. Now that's a nice problem to have hahaha
Thanks for the reminder MSG, almost forgot; GO BLACKHAWKS!
Thanks for the reminder MSG, almost forgot; GO BLACKHAWKS!
Last edited by PeterB; Jun 14, 2013 at 02:31 PM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 2,507
Likes: 9
Well, there are a lot of reasons someone might want their windows up, and I'm fairly sure ALL of them could give a rats behind what you think about it.
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2008
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From: The Sunshine State
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Do I think other people should care what I think about how they drive their car? No.
Do I think convertibles look stupid with the top down and the two side windows (and sometimes 4 side windows) up regardess of the reason? Yes. So I guess if I ever drive with my top down and my side windows up, I will look stupid, based on my own standards. Not the first time...
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2013
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From: FW/d Texas
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 2,789
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From: Jacksonville FL
Great post! I thought I was the only one who ever laughed every time I see someone in any kind of convertible with the top down and windows up. It just makes no sense. Plus is looks dumb.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 2,789
Likes: 3
From: Jacksonville FL
Actually, there is more wear and tear on the top if you leave it down all the time. The fabric top forms creases or shiny marks where the top rubs against itself when it is in the stowed position.
Although I drive my vert top down 90% of the time, I put the top back up everytime I park it in the garage. Since it's not my DD, it may sit for a few days at a time. It keeps the fabric stretched out and prevents the dust that settles on the outside from settling in the interior.
I spoke with a guy at a local show who owned a 2003 anniversary edition convertible. His shale top was in mint condition and he showed me a thin soft foam mattress cover that he uses to place in between the sections of the top when he folds it down. It prevents the top from rubbing up against itself when driving and apparently helps to prevent the crease and shiny wear marks. He might be onto something because his top looked basically brand new and the car had over 40K miles.
Although I drive my vert top down 90% of the time, I put the top back up everytime I park it in the garage. Since it's not my DD, it may sit for a few days at a time. It keeps the fabric stretched out and prevents the dust that settles on the outside from settling in the interior.
I spoke with a guy at a local show who owned a 2003 anniversary edition convertible. His shale top was in mint condition and he showed me a thin soft foam mattress cover that he uses to place in between the sections of the top when he folds it down. It prevents the top from rubbing up against itself when driving and apparently helps to prevent the crease and shiny wear marks. He might be onto something because his top looked basically brand new and the car had over 40K miles.
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 1,283
Likes: 1
From: Eureka California
I wouldn't go so far as to ridicule anyone for having their windows up but I don't do it myself. I have a Wind Restrictor, I can drive top down/windows down with a flat cap on at 70 MPH without the cap being blown into the passengers footwell like it did before I put it in. A few days ago i drove down from 6400 ft/50° to the valley at 64° with just a long sleeve shirt, no jacket. I see other makes with the windows up and wonder if they're that much more breezy than my C5
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 4,309
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From: FW/d Texas
My wife and I get a good laugh everytime we see someone with windows up and top down. I also keep my top up at home when not driving it to cut down wear and creases it.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 19,384
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From: Horncastle Lincolnshire, England
2023 C5 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
Who cares about looks.
I put the windows up if it suits me. On a cold day with the top down I'll put the windows up, the heated seats on and the heater on. On a hot day in Vegas I'd have the air on and the windows up. If I'm doing 70 and it's noisy - you got it - the windows go up.
When I want them down I'll do just that. On a warm day they go down.
I even use 3 and 2 on the A4
The power of a free society
I put the windows up if it suits me. On a cold day with the top down I'll put the windows up, the heated seats on and the heater on. On a hot day in Vegas I'd have the air on and the windows up. If I'm doing 70 and it's noisy - you got it - the windows go up.
When I want them down I'll do just that. On a warm day they go down.
I even use 3 and 2 on the A4
The power of a free society
Last edited by DeeGee; Jun 14, 2013 at 03:02 PM.
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 1,833
Likes: 4
From: Calgary, Alberta
Who cares about looks.
I put the windows up if it suits me. On a cold day with the top down I'll put the windows up, the heated seats on and the heater on. On a hot day in Vegas I'd have the air on and the windows up. If I'm doing 70 and it's noisy - you got it - the windows go up.
When I want them down I'll do just that. On a warm day they go down.
I even use 3 and 2 on the A4
The power of a free society
I put the windows up if it suits me. On a cold day with the top down I'll put the windows up, the heated seats on and the heater on. On a hot day in Vegas I'd have the air on and the windows up. If I'm doing 70 and it's noisy - you got it - the windows go up.
When I want them down I'll do just that. On a warm day they go down.
I even use 3 and 2 on the A4
The power of a free society
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 10,789
Likes: 894
From: Northern Illinois
Oldtimer
Who cares about looks.
I put the windows up if it suits me. On a cold day with the top down I'll put the windows up, the heated seats on and the heater on. On a hot day in Vegas I'd have the air on and the windows up. If I'm doing 70 and it's noisy - you got it - the windows go up.
When I want them down I'll do just that. On a warm day they go down.
I even use 3 and 2 on the A4
The power of a free society
I put the windows up if it suits me. On a cold day with the top down I'll put the windows up, the heated seats on and the heater on. On a hot day in Vegas I'd have the air on and the windows up. If I'm doing 70 and it's noisy - you got it - the windows go up.
When I want them down I'll do just that. On a warm day they go down.
I even use 3 and 2 on the A4
The power of a free society
