Do you put your tops up over night when parking in a garage?

Prior to the pandemic, I have been going on longer drives with a few days in between. I have been putting the top up every night. Now that I am not driving much, I want to use the MINI for short drives but I am torn between running the top mechanism for only a 2 mile drive and leaving the top down over night. My thought is that the top should be stored stretched out but I don’t have anything to base it on.

What are your thoughts?

 

I leave the top down in the garage. Sometimes for weeks. Not sure if its counter to recommendations or not but I haven't had any problems so far.

 

Mine stays down most of the summer.

 

You mean it goes up? Only 4 reasons to run the top up:
1: It's raining.
2: It's snowing.
3. I can't hear the super charger 'cause my co-pilot is whining louder about being too hot or cold.
4. A bunch of drunks throwing empty beer cans in the back seat and invite me.

 

when we park, even in our garage the top goes up unless another trip out is expected SHORTLY ... overnight the top goes up.

having owned rag tops for MANY years I find the interior stays MUCH cleaner this way

 

You don't find that the top down for too long makes it strain to close over time?

I left it down overnight the other day and when I put it back up it made some groaning noises that I don't recall hearing any other time.

 

Once in a while I get some noise from the scissor joints. A shot of Liquid Wrench takes care of that.
Other than that, no disturbing atypical noises that have gotten my attention.
Two things I do take extra care about is NOT running the top down while it is dirty and giving it a periodic treatment of RaggTopp.

 

Up so it does not get wrinkles in the fabric and no spiders/dust. Down when driving.