I've read somewhere that if it's too cold (don't remember how cold, and the car has been parked outside for awhile) and you put the top down you risk cracking as it gets into its folded position and putting up again later can do the same.
I was told the same thing when I owned my Miata. Not sure of the temp, but I use the low 40's as a guideline. The vinyl gets rigid and doesn't like to move. When the top was left down on the Pony overnight (in the garage) and the cold front came through and dropped the temp to below freezing, the top stayed down until the temp got back into the mid 40's. Luckily in Louisiana, that doesn't take too long!
It was fun to drive with the top down, jacket on and the heater on full (I forgot about the gloves--it is Louisiana after all).
Ha, I drove my old Miata with the top down when snow was on the ground and about 30, but never while it was snowing. The plastic rear window didn't like that too much!
Brings back college memories! Had a VW vert and I can remember sweeping out the snow that accumulated on the seats while I was in class.
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ORIGINAL: dangstang92With my old 89 Mustang GT I had the top down at 40. With my "new" 92 the coldest so far has been about 50. The key is to not drive on the interstate and keep the heat cranked!!
Well, it rarely gets below 40 here ... so I have to agree with Stkjock ... it goes up?
Posts: 276
Joined: 12/30/2006 From: Eureka, California 95501 Status: offline
I drove my new 89 lx with the top down through 140 miles of twisty of twisty mountain road, it was below 30 degrees. Because my top has a huge, huge hole...soon to be fixed. There was snow everywhere. Plus I drove my old mazda miata, a 99, with the top down almost all winter in Oklahoma 2 years ago. That was below 30 as well. :P
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I definitely recommend getting heated seats in your convertible if you can swing it. I got heated seats installed for about $350 and it was totally worth it! It definitely makes driving with the top down in chilly conditions much more bearable. I've never gone top down in temperatures below 40 though.
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RE: Coldest temp with the top down? - 
