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I don't generally like to drive with a coat and gloves on, so I pretty much limit it to 37. I back out of my driveway with the top up. If, by the time I get to the end of my street I have not heard that cold warning ding from my car, the top goes down. Otherwise, I leave it up and wait for the afternoon drive home which is almost always over 40 here. Now, if we had a day which was colder with blue instead of grey skies, I would very likely don the jacket, hat, and gloves...30 seems doable like that...with the wind blocker engaged and the side windows up, that is.
My limit is about 45 degrees if the sun is out and about 50 degrees if not. That's providing it's not raining. Top down/windows up will get you a couple more degrees, but at 70mph that's still chilly. Thankfully winter in Maryland has been mild so far so I've gotten a few more top down days than I would have expected this season.
Depends if you have the windscreen or not. Just the other night after working out at the club we drove home topless on a bet between my daughter and myself. It was -5 deg F, I won (or did I lose? ).
Usually though it is sunny here throughout the Winter and even when it is in the 30's it is pleasant enough to go topless as long as you have the windscreen.
Oh and be sure to leave your windows all the way up too!
Haven't experienced below 50 in this car yet, but in my younger days, much younger, did a 16 degree evening in George Town. Yeah, we thought we were cool. Everybody else probably thought we were crazy. I think the wind deflecter will bake a big difference in how low you can go topless.
__________________ 2006 Astro Black Ragtop, pure stock, for now. #138 GWR
This topic comes up periodically, and I love hearing what others do. You obviously don't live around me, because I can count on one hand the number of times I've seen other convertibles (of any make) with tops down below 50F.
There are many variables that will dictate lowest temperature you can handle- type of road/speed, windscreen (I don't have one), windows up/down (I've seen a number of posts saying driving with top down/windows up is equivalent of dark socks and sneakers- ignore it; anything that gives me more top down motoring time is a good thing in my book), sunny or cloudy, attire, heated seats (the only reason I got them was because it bought me a little more top down time), etc.
My 20 mile commute is mostly state highway/interstate at 60-80mph (or more if I'm feeling lucky ), and in the nearly one year I've had mine, I've found that approaching 40F is starting to get brisk with wind in the face. could go colder if I'm just driving around town. That's usually with a light coat, no gloves. I'd love the windscreen but can't justify the money right now (or more accurately stated, my wife won't justify it. . .)
I love to leave my car in the parking lot at work with the top down on a sub-50F day (assuming no rain in the forecast of course). Out of 250 or so cars in the lot, it sort of stands out. Everyone else thinks I'm crazy, I think they're just jealous. . .
In the end, trial and error is your best way to go. See what is comfortable for yourself. We all spent about $5000 extra for a convertible, and I think most people on this forum get as much use out of it as humanly possible. I love a cool day with heat on and top down, it's a blast you have to try for yourself.
Crazy is as crazy does. The hardtop guys are just jealous. The ragtop is half the reason I bought this car, so of course I'll use it as often as I can.
Being a new owner of a cabrio and wind deflector and the temp being 34 degrees yesterday afternoon, I had to see just how well it all worked. Windows up, heat on 76, fan on 3rd arrow and at 55mph I was supprised how comfortable it was. Wouldn't want to drive 25 miles that way but 5 was enjoyable!
__________________ 2006 Astro Black Ragtop, pure stock, for now. #138 GWR
So far right around 40 has been my limit (wind deflector engaged of course!).
Chuck
My thoughts, exactly.
With the windows up and the wind deflector in place, heated seats and dash vents blowing on your hands, you'd hardly know the top was down; unless you look up.
__________________
"JIMI" '05 PH MCSc #1 #2 #3
Alta 17% pulley, Alta CAI, Alta 22mm Swaybar, Koni yellow shocks and other assorted goodies
I go with the top down unless I "can't" because of frozen snow or ice on it. I don't have a garage to put it in and in the winter I usually don't use the car cover because if might freeze to the top. I have an old fashioned leather helmet and a good coat and a down lap blanket and am just as comfortable at 5 degrees as I am at 45. I'll admit, it is more luxurious to cruise with the top down when it is 78, but I've yet to hit the hardship level because of cold.
My top up time is about the same in the summer when heavy thunderstorms will convince me to stop beneath an overpass and put the top up.
I've also put the top up in the desert after a day of driving in the sun and hitting traffic at 100 degrees.
I've also put the top up on the freeway in Las Vegas because of the tire noise from high speed, dense traffic.
Not excatly top down (being I have a coupe) but I run windows down year round. It was 9 degrees on my way home from work the other morning and the windows were down with the heat on Level 1.
Something else I've figured out that can have a surprising affect on how much (cold) wind you get in your face: lower your seat. I don't have the wind deflector, and I've lowered the seat to the point where I can just see the bonnet. At sub 40, I'm still getting a bit more air than I'd like (at highway speeds) but it did make a little difference.
Something else I've figured out that can have a surprising affect on how much (cold) wind you get in your face: lower your seat. I don't have the wind deflector, and I've lowered the seat to the point where I can just see the bonnet. At sub 40, I'm still getting a bit more air than I'd like (at highway speeds) but it did make a little difference.
Although the wind deflector should cost $49.99 it is well worth the $400 dollars or so it costs. I had the cash so I bought one. But I gave solid thought to fitting a beach towel across the top of both front seatbacks to perform the same function. I've used my car cover, stuffed in its bag, as a wind block, wedging it between the two front seats. A real trailer trash solution is just the right box, perhaps from a tv, stuck in the rear with the seats folded down to perform the same function as the wind deflector.
I will admit, above 78 degrees, I've removed the wind deflector to have more excitement.
I don't have the wind deflector and I'll have the top down to about -3 celcius (26F) but not if it's windy. I do have the windows up at that temp though. I only got my car a couple weeks ago though so I haven't had a chance to drive it in the summer.
It's best when you have all four seats in the car filled with passengers. You get the strangest looks and I'm certain people think we're nuts, but isn't that all part of motoring?
I put down my frosty top today but it did take a bit of a jump. I've put it down in very cold dry temperatures without any problem at all. The moisture seems to be the problem, any time it is frozen.
I've got my kit pretty well set so I'm good to at least zero. The down lap blanket solves most of the really cold weather problems. My leather helmet works very well. The back of my right arm is the only remaining weak spot . . . my heavy jacket handles my 40 minute commute but for an all day trip in the single digits I'd drape my beach towel over that arm (oh, never motor with the top down without your towel).
The other night my husband and I went out with a couple of friends. On the way home one of them said "Can we put the top down?" She thought she was kidding. It was 9 degrees out. Of course I was willing to accomodate that request! It wasn't so bad for us in the front seat but I know she was feeling it in the back! Now she'll know never to joke with a cabrio owner about putting the top down.
One of my greatest topless experiences was when I was driving over 70 MPH on the freeway and it was raining...a driving pouring-down rain that event the wipers had trouble keeping up with. I didn't need to pull over to put the top up, just put up the windows. The rain really does "zing" right over the top! Some water gets on the rollbars, and some comes in where the top of the windows meets the A-pillar, but other than that, nada!
You think people look at you like you're crazy in the cold?!?
Hi, folks.
I'm not a Cabrio owner (2006 MCS hardtop), but I couldn't ignore this thread. I've got a '60 Triumph TR3 that I drive in the winter (New Jersey) without top or side curtains regardless of temp. Only limitation - can't be salt on the roads. Years ago I had a '65 Corvair convertible and I cracked the plastic rear window folding the top in sub-freezing weather. My first car was a '69 Alfa Romeo Spider -- I drove that top-down in the rain. At interstate speeds, the rain blows right over you. Toll booths were a drag though.
Anyway, "cheers" to all you diehard top-down drivers.
I've been lurking on these boards for two weeks or so and finally got my MINI last week. I've never had a convertible before, but this thread had some great trips on how to motor with the top down when it's only 30 outside.
65-ish mph on I-287, top down, windows up, heat blasting, seat heaters on, wool hat, scarf, coat, and mittens, and it was all good!
It's great fun, especially the stares people give when they pass me on the highway or when I'm stopped at a light. The entire driving experience, top up or top down, has NEVER been so much fun. This will be even MORE fun once the weather turns warmer.
Thanks everyone for sharing their cold weather top down tips!
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2006 Astro Black Ragtop, pure stock, for now. #138 GWR
), and in the nearly one year I've had mine, I've found that approaching 40F is starting to get brisk with wind in the face. could go colder if I'm just driving around town. That's usually with a light coat, no gloves. I'd love the windscreen but can't justify the money right now (or more accurately stated, my wife won't justify it. . .
) 
Everyone else thinks I'm crazy, I think they're just jealous. . .
The ragtop is half the reason I bought this car, so of course I'll use it as often as I can.
