I would like to get some feedback and any Cabrio owners in an area of the country that has brutal summers. How comfortable is having the top down in the summer when it's 100+ degrees outside w/ the sun beating down on you? Initially I was thinking of the Cabrio, but now I'm having second thoughts. I always love having the windows down and getting a fresh breeze, but even with my sunroof open in the summer with no reprieve from the sun it can be somewhat uncomfortable. Any thoughts or advice?

 

I ave 90 convert and live in northwest Louisiana, And simply love this car due to to 15 min top up or down, Yes during the hot weather top is often up w/ a/c running . But, in the am and pm top is always down and I'm a happy owner!!!!!!

 

My time in Dallas was similar...daytime was too scorching to have much top down time. Early morning, or after sundown: much better. Of course, Dallas can still be 90's at 10pm, so yes indeed: top down + AC running to stay cool at stoplights. Weird, but tolerable. Not in a MINI, but the experience applies.

 

The heat and humidity we just deal with it. Unfortunately, we've been getting more and more Air Quality Alert days over the past few years.

I love driving top down and will almost always brave the too hot or too humid or too cold nature of South Texas weather.

Hat, Sunblock, sunglasses, and yes, crazy as it sounds, AC blasting every now and then.

 

I live in Maine and there was a day when it was 107 and driving down the interstate at 75 mph it felt like I had a blower dryer blowing in me. But it was still worth it to be top down.

 

I'm in West Texas, no humidity but lots of heat. My only downside was if you parked in a noncovered parking lot in the heat of the day with the top down, the cloth top made it so much harder to cool the car back down.

 

When I lived in San Antonio I wouldn't even ride my motorcycle when the temperatures were over 100 with the sun blazing down on you. The only time of the year the top was down on my Jeep was in the Spring and Fall.

 

I live in Northern California and though it doesn't get that hot very frequently, it does happen. With any convertible, especially one with a darker interior (mine is dark gray leather), it's gonna get hot. Whether you can stand it or not, depends upon you and how well you tolerate heat. I tolerate it pretty well, so even when it was 105 in blazing sun and a friend opted to put his top up, I kept mine down and kept motoring. Of course, I had a big floppy hat to shade my face.

If it get's too hot, then you can put the top up and keep all the windows down as long as you're moving. Or simply close everything up tight and turn on the airconditioning.

 

I'm in Orlando and you seldom see folks with convertibles that have the top down on summer days. Even at highway speeds it is like standing in front of a blast furnace. Mornings or late afternoons/evenings are tolerable with the top down. But I am able to use the convertible pretty much year 'round which is a bonus. The A/C is adequate in the summer and the top really doesn't heat up much more than a hard top.

 

We're in S. CA. Color us crazy, but it's not uncommon for us to go to the desert ~ in summer.

Key strategies for comfort.
1) Light color interior makes a HUGE difference (why are most convertibles black? OUCH!)
2) When parked either top up or front seats flipped forward (too bad for back seat passengers LOL!)
3) If it's stop and go traffic, forget it...no airflow/more smog
4) Wind blocker makes a big deal, even in the heat. Keep it up and run A/C...comfy little cool bubble (again, back seat passengers...go from grapes to raisins. Sorry!
5) If it's a long drive, sheep skins or even sitting on a beach towel makes you much more comfortable (we pin ours around the back at the headrests.)
6) Plan on wicked hair... or wear a cap or scarf
6) Enjoy the sights ~ and smells...but remember to route around the dairy farms! (how long can YOU hold your breath ~ GO FASTER!)

Just some pointers from our neck of the woods. Humidity makes it harder, but lived in Florida for a year and still ran with the top down most of the time.

 

I have a silver cabrio with light grey cloth interior. it is the absolutely best combination for hot weather. Although southern Idaho is not humid it gets over 100 degrees everyday in July and August. I had a hardtop before the cabrio and honestly the cabrio IMO is better after having sat in the sun. The hardtops are awful sitting more than 10 minutes with the amount of glass they have. and its ten times worse if you have leather or a dark interior color. I think the convertible top helps keep it cooler when sitting in a parking lot since they have less glass.
after 9pm is grand with the top down, even better on the freeway. personally I think that you can't lose with a cabrio. Worst case scenario you end up driving with the top up.