Open Cars with Tops Down

[Mountain Dew]

Many people I talk to with open cars are reluctant to put the top down. Several of them say that running with it down will lead to ill fitting tops and cracks in the material. Is this something particular to the short grain type vinyl tops? What's the consensus open car drivers?

 

[pooch]

If ya got a rag top, use it, or you may as well have a hard top.

I have yet to drive my roadster with the roof up yet.

 

[sethkestenbaum]

I take the top down on my Phaeton all the time. Be aware that the top will shrink when down for a long time. A nice warm day and a little pursuasion and the top will again stretche out. I picked up the "open" car so I could have it open. If there is wear and tear (and there is already some worn and torn) it is OK. One night drive under the summer starts and you will feel it was well worth it.

 

[al's28/33]

Too breezy with the top down on my Phaeton. Also can get too hot if you're only driving 35-40. I like top up, still an open car, and I get to drive in the shade all day!

 

[Purdy Swoft]

Here is mine with the top down. My top is a used canvas repro top that I bought on eBay.Riding with the top down is fun, if its not too hot. In the hottest part of the day I would rather have the top up. It doesn't seem to hurt the canvas top by letting it down. I think that it looks better with the top up.

 

[Aerocraft]

I love my 40B but generally run with the top and window flap both "up". Very early in the morning and at dusk, the top will come down and I'll enjoy the cool air. The mid-day sun is just to brutal for me. Gar Williams

 

[Mike V. Florida]

Here in Florida I have witnessed the opposite, rarely have I seen the tops up.

 

[Jerry Parr WI]

I put the top up in the fall for the winter and if I'm out in the rain.

 

[HoarseWhisperer]

Top down!

How else can you be seen from low flying objects?

 

[BILL WILLIAMSON]

Keepin' the top up all the time is like never openin' that great bottle of wine or never grillin' on your new WEBER GRILLE, for fear of gettin' sooty black stuff on it!!
LIFE IS SHORT, GO FOR IT! Bill W.

 

[bogdonj]

I enjoy top down for sure. Easy for me to see traffic lights!!!!!

 

[ryan1929]

What No one uses a top boot?

 

[ken ct]

Whats the point of having a drop top if its always up,might have saved some money and bought a coupe. Some of you guys make me laugh. ken ct.

 

[dave in australia]

They're like a beer, you've got to open them to enjoy them.

 

[Patrick L.]

I hardly recognize mine if the top is up.. Its pretty much always down.. Its better that way anyway,, the wind noise covers up most of the rattles.. It goes up or down just fine,, there is a lot of ' flex ' in all them ole parts..

 

[Del in NE Ohio]

I find when driving my 29 roadster with the top down, there is actually less noise! On a good road, sometimes I only hear the tires on the pavement! ( Do I have some minimal hear loss?)

 

[Dana Barlow]

I don't know,I never got anything but the bows kind of fixed and there not on cus theres no canvas,always hopping for no rain

 

[Kevin in NJ]

I have a 65 Mustang Conv. Found much below 40 you need to cover your ears. Light rain lands just beyond the top. In a heavy rain you wish you had a manual top cause the power top is slow.

Talked to one guy who never put the top down on his Mustang. It was a 'perfect' show car. The top had no wrinkles (I think no wrinkles is a points deduction cause they all had wrinkles from the factory).

I have spent some time making sure the top will work properly on my cabriolet.

Oh, it is safer with the top down. You do not have any blind spots!

 

[John LaVoy]

Having a soft top Model A is the way to go. I have driven the phaeton since 1966 and when the opportunity to enjoy the beauty of this great country lends itself to a ride with the top down that is the way we go!

 

[Jason in TX]

Top down! That's where all the fun is at!