Hey everyone! Im torn btw. Convertable or not. I was wondering if you guys feel comfortable leaving the top down when its parked in a parking lot? And does the sun damage the leather? Thanks!

 

One word!
Yes it will damage leather. Sun will eat it up unless treated frequently.

Second word BIRD POOP!

 

...or worse; half used beer cans, lit cigarettes, worn out diapers or the leavings and or takings of just plain mean spirited people.

 

Jeez, where do you live?

 

Does not matter where you live. Those types of people are everywhere. Make no mistake.

 

I don't know about that. Around my house I see much nicer cars than mine parked with the top down and I've never seen a diaper in one. I have no concerns leaving the windows open and top down when I'm sitting down having a coffee somewhere nearby, but that said I'd never leave it like that overnight.

 

We almost always park with the top up. For protection and security

 

I leave mine down a lot. No problems yet.

 

I live in a pretty nice little town and was surprised to learn that the top actually goes up but I read NAM.

 

I've never left with top down.... maybe i am just too paranoid

 

Yeah, sometimes I think everyone is out to get me but other times I'm just paranoid.

 

Yeah, I had a guy throw a lit cigarette in my brand new Jeep once. It was either beat his @ss or call the police. After counting to ten, I realized that if I beat his @ss my seats would still be burnt and i would probably go to jail. So I let it burn for a minute, called the police and he got a ticket for something and after court, I got a brand new seat from Jeep on his dime.

 

Some one tossed an apple core on my front seat the other day. i was only gone 3-5 min.

 

See, it pays to keep reading NAM.
Do have to admit though that when we drive into the big city, the top does go up when parking anywhere. What was it from the Italian Job? "Trust everyone but not the devil inside them".

 

Sometimes I leave it down, others up. Kinda depends on where. As for ruining the leather, DO NOT get leather. It gets extremely hot when exposed to the sun. Get the cloth and then tilt the seats forward when parked in the sun.

As to deciding, once you drive a convertible on a beautiful day without a cloud in the sky...and then on a clear night out in the country where you can see the stars, you'll never again wonder why we love our open MINIs.

 

Awwwww shucks I do that in my hot tub! LOL

We get about 60 days of sunshine a year here in the Pacific Northwest, my hot tub with a clear cover overhead works as my convertible. Never could understand why people buy verts in Western Washington.

 

I live in Miami and unless I can see the car from where I am, the top goes up.

 

303 Protectant is the best stuff for leather or vinyl. Use it regardless if the top is left up or down. Research it and use it.

 

It all just depends on how long we are going to be inside, what the weather is looking like, and where we are.

If I have to run inside the Wal-Mart for 15 minutes........HELL NO!!

 

I always put the top up when parked. In AZ it gets very dusty and very hot. Though I do see a lot of people leaving their tops down (regardless of the type of car). When I first moved to AZ, I used to leave my windows down a crack until I had the inside of my car (not a MINI) get wet because of the Monsoons.

 

I found that the best way to keep the inside cool when parked in the sun is to close the top, but leave the sunroof portion open a bit. Top up provides shade, while the sunroof portion open lets hot air out.

 

the .45 in the secret compartment won't let me keep it down

 

Does anyone make a tonneau cover for MINI Cabrios? I have an old MG that I rarely put the top up on, but I always snap the tonneau in place when I leave it parked. No one messes with it.

Dave

 

I would love to leave my top down, but I am afraid that when I come back some gorgeous blonde will be sitting in the riders seat and THEN what do I do? I am not sure if my fear is completed founded or not.

 

No pain - no gain. It couldn't be any worse than a mother-in-law.