Lol, definitely NOT top down weather today. Drove in to work while the temp outside showed a balmy -7F with wind chill according to the weatherman at 20-30 below.

So, anyone else tired of cold weather yet? What's the coldest and warmest temps you've driven in (top up/down)?

I believe this is about the coldest temp I've driven in. The warmest in a drop top was 114F in Jackson, TN, many years ago. One of the few times I actually put the top up in warm weather, and the a/c was struggling even then.

 

Sunny and 72 in San Antonio. Unfortunately, our MINI is still in the middle of the Atlantic, not due to be delivered until early March. Hopefully spring will be as mild and top down friendly as our fall and winter have been.

 

Now THAT sounds like a place to be right now!

Best wishes on your baby's first trip too.

Daniel

 

When it's under 30, I tend not to pull the top down since frigid + athsma don't get along so well

Here's to spring!

 

Lol, under 30, I'm such a weenie. It was over 40 saturday and I still didn't dare. I hear ya though, I have sinus issues myself, but that still isn't stopping me from owning a drop top.

Definitely looking forward to spring!

 

I'm a bit of a weenie too! In the Spring, Summer and Fall the top is never up. But, when we get into Northeast Ohio winters "topless" is few and far between. During the holidays we had fun. A local outdoor music venue (Blossom Music Centers) decorates their miles of roads with holiday lighting and encourages you come out and drive through. Warm hats, hot chocolate and "top down" made for a fun evening!!! But, BRING ON SPRING!!!

 

Aye, there are some top down experiences in winter that can't be had any other time of year. I drove around the neighborhood with the top down earlier this winter when it was lightly snowing outside -- just for that magical sleigh ride feeling! I don't think I'll be doing that again though, because when I put the mini back in the warm garage, cleanup of the interior was a b**ch!

 

Is there a temperature below which MINI suggests that you not use your power roof?

 

The owner's manual says not to lower the top below 14F to prevent damage.

 

hmm doesnt global warming make it colder?? idk but anyways its in the 80's in central florida

 

Don't tempt me! I have Kauai on my list of weather sites, so any time I want to torture myself I check their weather... 69-79F sunny with occasional showers.

On the subject of top down lowest temps, 14 sounds reasonable. I notice my tires losing much of their flexibility around that temp, so it makes sense that the rubber underlining of the top would suffer as well... the less flexible, the more likely to crack. Of course, if you're crazy enough to drive with the top down at 14F, rubber flex is the least of your problems.

Took the top down for the first time this weekend motoring. Temps were in the mid-high 40's and the wife was a bit chilly on the short highway part of the ride, but amazingly, my stepdaughter in the back was fairly comfortable (aside from the wind). I had the heat on full and blasting through the four vents, it actually kept a good bit of the heat within the cabin area. Went to a wildlife refuge through some mud trails to chase eagles and other critters. Got some good pics actually, thanks to the drop top and the mini's ability to sneak up on the birds... I guess they're not afraid of something hardly bigger than they are. Here's an album with some of the pics my wife took, she's the talented one in the family.

http://picasaweb.google.com/ciobota/...2_22DeSotoBend

Incidentally, I am very impressed with the sealing ability of the cabrio top. Took the car through the automatic wash for the third time today, and still didn't leak but a few drops right by the passenger back window. I've owned all kinds of vertibles, including a vette, and none sealed as well as this top. Excellent engineering done here, kudos to whoever did the job!

Daniel

 

My general temperature rules are as follows:
55f and above the top goes down.
54f down to 45f top down windows up.
44f and below top up heat on.

I do also have a top up requirement for temperatures above 90f.
Anything above 90f and the air is also on for comfort.

Here in South Carolina that normally means that my top is down 8 months out of the year.

 

My top unfortunatly is up all the time. Could be cuz its a hard top.

 

good news for you...i've been warming the globe as fast as i can with my m3. better news....trading it in friday for my mcsc brg sidewalk. the top will be down on the way home. it's 37 degrees presently. you'll just have to find someone else to warm the globe....i'll be driving the same, just not guzzling/polluting as much!

 

I'd be more than happy to send you some 70 degree weather from So Cal....

Donna

 

The temp in Tucson today will be 82 degrees!
I still drive "Madeline", my 03 tin top MCS.
My dream is an 08 pepper white Sidewallk MCS $31,050

Someday.....

It will warm up there too.....

Ann Jones

 

You can send me all the warm air you can, I can sure use it.

Temps are slowly creeping above freezing during the day now, this weekend actually promises to hit 50F or better... top down weather in my book. Although if I take the missus for a ride it may go back up, she's still fighting the cruds. Brave woman to be out shooting pics of wildlife in the park last week with a cold.

Btw, congrats to all who've gone topless!

Daniel

 

We had a friend silly enough to rent a convertible in Arizona during the month of July, we didn't stop laughing for a month.

Like they say: It's a dry heat.

 

It's supposed to be 0 degrees tonight and we've already received 90 inches of snow this winter. It's not even March yet and we got twice the average snowfall .

SCREW YOU AL GORE!!!!! GO tell China to crank up their coal usage because I'm cold here.