R52 What's your Open Motoring number?
6th Gear
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 1,178
Likes: 0
From: Outside of Phila, PA
I've never tried driving with the top-down in the rain... but I have seen it done.
50F is my starting point... especially if its sunny. now that we're entering summer, if there's no rain, the top stays down. I'll wear a hat and put on some sunscreen and I'm good to go
too hot?? what do you mean it's too hot?!?!?
50F is my starting point... especially if its sunny. now that we're entering summer, if there's no rain, the top stays down. I'll wear a hat and put on some sunscreen and I'm good to go
too hot?? what do you mean it's too hot?!?!?
5th Gear
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 961
Likes: 0
From: San Francisco
I have had many convertibles over time, so I am able to list my practices, procedures and habits.
-- When alone, if it's below 60, I drive with a jacket on, windows up, heater blowing.
-- If I am going somewhere that my hair has to look neat [e.g., usually if I am wearing a suit], I drive with the top up. I do note, however, that the MINI with the top down and windows up does not blow my hair all over the place. In my SL that I used to have,it was like a blow dryer pointing at my head.
-- I hate the sun and hot weather [born in San Francisco and will never leave the area, cool weather is one reason.] So if the sun is out and it's over about 80 degrees, the top stays up and the AC on.
-- Lower than 80 degrees when the car is moving the air cools down to where it's comfortable.
-- I keep in the car at all times:
Two jackets that are light, but super warm [fleece lined];
Two ball caps;
Two pairs of wool gloves.
Two of those electric blankets that plug into the cigarette lighter [I guess they call them 12V outlets, not cigarette lighter]. My passenger really likes that blanket. She bundles up and snuggles under the blanket, and she stops complaining or calling me nuts.
Two pairs of sunglasses [I have about 100 pairs, so I keep a couple of cheap $20 glasses from Walgreen's in the MINI [Foster Grant, work fine, and not a concern leaving them in the car.]
Two little bottles of water that fit nicely in the bottle holders on the console. What I mean by "little" is they are "mini" bottles, about 5" in height, so they don't block the dash controls. I wash and refill those bottles. Handy when the sun is out, or not. They really look cool too. My car looks like a hotel room with those two bottles in the holders.
That's the extent of my MINI "Top Down" driving kit.
As to driving with the windows up on cold days, I have always done that. Don't care what others think. Here in the Bay Area I have seen most drivers with the top down and windows up.
Sidenote: Over the years I have yet to find a female passenger who likes to ride in the cold weather as much as I do, even when I bundle them up like a cannoli.
So when it's cold [in the fifties or so] babes are always telling me to keep the top up. Such a drag.
-- When alone, if it's below 60, I drive with a jacket on, windows up, heater blowing.
-- If I am going somewhere that my hair has to look neat [e.g., usually if I am wearing a suit], I drive with the top up. I do note, however, that the MINI with the top down and windows up does not blow my hair all over the place. In my SL that I used to have,it was like a blow dryer pointing at my head.
-- I hate the sun and hot weather [born in San Francisco and will never leave the area, cool weather is one reason.] So if the sun is out and it's over about 80 degrees, the top stays up and the AC on.
-- Lower than 80 degrees when the car is moving the air cools down to where it's comfortable.
-- I keep in the car at all times:
Two jackets that are light, but super warm [fleece lined];
Two ball caps;
Two pairs of wool gloves.
Two of those electric blankets that plug into the cigarette lighter [I guess they call them 12V outlets, not cigarette lighter]. My passenger really likes that blanket. She bundles up and snuggles under the blanket, and she stops complaining or calling me nuts.
Two pairs of sunglasses [I have about 100 pairs, so I keep a couple of cheap $20 glasses from Walgreen's in the MINI [Foster Grant, work fine, and not a concern leaving them in the car.]
Two little bottles of water that fit nicely in the bottle holders on the console. What I mean by "little" is they are "mini" bottles, about 5" in height, so they don't block the dash controls. I wash and refill those bottles. Handy when the sun is out, or not. They really look cool too. My car looks like a hotel room with those two bottles in the holders.
That's the extent of my MINI "Top Down" driving kit.
As to driving with the windows up on cold days, I have always done that. Don't care what others think. Here in the Bay Area I have seen most drivers with the top down and windows up.
Sidenote: Over the years I have yet to find a female passenger who likes to ride in the cold weather as much as I do, even when I bundle them up like a cannoli.
So when it's cold [in the fifties or so] babes are always telling me to keep the top up. Such a drag.
Last edited by MichaelSF; Jun 27, 2008 at 07:11 PM.
6th Gear
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 1,533
Likes: 0
From: Fernandina Beach, FL
I've found that it depends on how acclimated you are to the current temperature.
If it's been in the 40s and 50s recently and it suddenly jumps to 60, you'll likely feel fine with the top down.
If it was recently in the 80s and it drops to 60, you'll likely be cold.
Personally, I've found that 60 is about the cutoff for me (in Washington DC), but in the early spring I'll
occasionally have the top down when it's in the 50s since it seems warm at the time.
HTH,
Ivan
If it's been in the 40s and 50s recently and it suddenly jumps to 60, you'll likely feel fine with the top down.
If it was recently in the 80s and it drops to 60, you'll likely be cold.
Personally, I've found that 60 is about the cutoff for me (in Washington DC), but in the early spring I'll
occasionally have the top down when it's in the 50s since it seems warm at the time.
HTH,
Ivan
But I'm going to throw in trip length as a major factor in top down operating temperatures.
For example in my recent trip to Florida for MTTS I found myself with the top up after
the first day of driving for many hours with the top down left me dehydrated and sunburnt
My personal comfort zone that I would consider optimum would be between 55 to 85 degrees with the 70's being the greatest.
So here in South Carolina that means you should have your top down over 85% of the year.
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1st Gear
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 34
Likes: 0
Thanks everyone for your input... I finally get to pick my baby up in a few hours, and I can't wait to start experimenting to see who is right
I don't know what my "open motoring number" will be, but I do know I won't be able to pull off the look with Joshamman's hat!
Thanks for making my wait bearable by providing good information
I don't know what my "open motoring number" will be, but I do know I won't be able to pull off the look with Joshamman's hat!
Thanks for making my wait bearable by providing good information
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