It was 34 degrees Fahrenheit yesterday morning here in Charlotte, NC. I rode into work with the top down. I figured why not. As long as I wasn't operating the top when it was that cold I would be fine.
The ride was a bit cold, but I had a jacket on and a hat with the heat cranking. I kept the windows down because I hate the way the ride is when the top is down and the windows are up.
When I had a Miata (manual top) several years ago I put the top down and drove in a heavy snowstorm. It was really cool to have the large flakes of snow traveling over your head.
So how cold will you go with the top down? Am I doing any damage to the top or the mechanism?
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!
With 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!!
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1992 GT Convertible, red/white leather, 44,132 miles -- CAR WAS SOLD 11/17/07!!
Past 5 Liter Fox Bodies Convertibles -- 89 GT, 89 LX and 99 GT
I'm in Charlotte as well, and ride to work int he morning regularly with the top down. Wakes you up!!!
My goal is to get some heated seats installed int he next few weeks so I can continue this trend. Have you considered heated seats? Where in Charlotte do you live?
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Shelby GT500 Convertible Clone 4.10 gears, Steeda UDP's, MGW shifter Mac LT's to O/R Prochamber to Pypes Mid-Mufflers C&L Street CAI, SCT w/ Brenspeed 93 Tune
The cold temp sure does wake you up. It also seems to wake other drivers up since they keep looking at me. I haven't thought about getting heated seats. That makes alot of sense for me. I hate when the top is up. It's like a cave inside. I need to get some thin gloves to at least protect my hands from getting too cold.
I live in Harrisburg and my commute is only about 20 minutes. By the afternoon the high is in the 60's so it's perfect weather for having the top down.
I bought my very in March so it hasn't been cold yet. I've only put the top it when it rained. I can't wait for it to get colder! I think it would be great to drive with the top down when it's snowing. Gotta try that later this winter!
Team MF Member #999 Posts: 3260
Joined: 5/27/2006 From: no Status: offline
quote:
ORIGINAL: Larmo
I'm in Charlotte as well, and ride to work int he morning regularly with the top down. Wakes you up!!!
My goal is to get some heated seats installed int he next few weeks so I can continue this trend. Have you considered heated seats? Where in Charlotte do you live?
I have also considered getting seat warmers installed for this purpose.
The coldest I have done it is at about 34 degrees in January, when 34 doesn't seem as cold as it does as of tonight.
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ORIGINAL: MustangMan628
V-6 is for real drivers. Go buy a Jetta if you want gas mileage and a chicks car. Buy a V-8 Mustang if you have no driving ability and need the extra horsepower to compensate and feel like you''''''''re fast.
I live in Rochester NY and when its late fall when the leaves are turning its great to get together with a couple friends with hoodies and the heat on and drive around the finger lakes to look at the trees nd smoke bowls :). Also, its great in the winter when yits not snowing I take her out once in awhile and its probly around 30-35 degrees
for me its gotta be 55 degrees or better and only that low if the sun is out. The wife and me went for a scenic fall leaf ride up to Hannibal Mo, down the scenic river road, about a week ago and even the upper 50's was slightly cold. We even had the heat on full blast which helped as long as you werent goin 55 or better. Im just not into the cold that much, I prefer a day of extreme heat over extreme cold anyday. And believe me in the St Louis Mo. area you get both in big amounts...
Team MF Member #007 Posts: 9925
Joined: 1/5/2004 From: My moms uterus Status: offline
I had the top down in my '99 GT when it was 28 degrees, and snow flurries. We had a Christmas Tree box standing up in the back seat...It was cold as hell!
I don't have a convertable but my friend does and she got hers last winter and we rode around on a saturday night with it down probably 30-38 degrees. Not that bad in the front, but felt bad for teh people in the back.. HA!... yeah but we got stared down and laughted at.... i laughed to though.....
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Joined: 6/2/2007 From: UK - Now In Saskatoon, SK Status: offline
It gets a little too cold here to drive in the winter with the roof down (how does -40 sound? add the windchill & it's -50C).
In the UK I used to drive my MG Midget to work every day with the roof down, year round. I remember being sat in traffic in York with fresh snow coming down, roof down of course, & a bus load of Japanese tourists taking pictures of the "mad Englishman".
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I can only please one person per day. Today is not your day, tomorrow isn't looking good either.
I've had a couple convertibles that weren't, really: no top. Not too bad here near the coast, ocean keeps the temp pretty stable. Each of those no-top cars was my only driver, and I lived in Arkansas and San Bernardino, California. Neither had a heater. I dressed flight-crew style for longer runs, just warm and tolerated it down to four or five below freezing for twenty-minute or less commutes. Foolish youth, true, but I never lost a finger or nose to frostbite.
I haven't had occasion to drive this '06 top-down at anything under about 55 degrees F. That wasn't too bad, even at highway speeds.
Hell it's been 27 degs to low 40's here in the day and there is still bikes (with out windjammers) on the street, I haven't put my trike away for the winter yet.
Pat
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HemiTCoupe
'27 T Pro Street Coupe with 392 Hemi /Hilbon injection '87 Mustang GT convert '27 T Tudor Sedan ACVW Trike
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.
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Coldest temp with the top down? - 
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