On another thread : Convertible Wind Blocker -- Meg asked if you're not supposed to use the wind blocker if the windows are down. Any thoughts?? I'm curious too

 

Hmmm I don't know the answer but it just seems kinda pointless to use it if you have the windows up

 

I run with the top down pretty much all the time, unless it's about 60 or something. Recently saw the temp up at 119. Swear on it - we've got pictures. However, i'll probably not go that extreme again.

As for AC, in a case such as that, I turn off all the vents except for the left middle one and run it at full blast. I was recently "reprimanded" from a fellow auto enthusiast, but he wasn't the one in 119. It's my life anyways.

I've also found that when it's really warm, I put my wind screen down. The increased airflow helps cool me a bit too. When the temp is cool, I'll put the windows up and the wind screen up. There's almost no air movement in the cabin then.

 

Would be quite the contraption but I think liquid cooled seats are in need.
Perhaps having an AC switch that blows cool air across a airfin radiatior that cools water sent to waterbed style cells in the seat and route the returing "hot" water under the car to aircool before hitting the AC again. In the winter the same tube system could be used to heat the seats. It all seems too easy.

 

I think some airflow would be good...something that draws air through the seat. I suffer from SBS (sweaty back syndrome) and just cool cells won't do it for me

Paul

 

My neighbor has a big ol new pick-up truck and she has a A/C option for the seats. Why all convertibles don't offer this is beyond me

 

On the way back from MINIs on Top (in NH) a few weeks ago, passing through CT the temp was 99 degrees. The boyfriend and I were both insanely sweating and going through water like crazy. We pulled over and put the top up. I felt horrible doing it, but I also felt like I might pass out if we didn't. Those leatherette seats are not condusive to not sweating.

 

I will usually go topless
if the temp is between 60 and 90.
Under 60 is a tad chilly and over 90 is just to hot

 

AZ "dry" heat has been ok for topless even in the summer. I blow AC full blast so that when I stop it is cooler. I drink lots of water and purchased moisturizer with a sunscreen in it. I wear a visor in daytime along with sunglasses. I still get to work in a great mood singing my way there every morning. Afternoon "monsoon" dust storm, rain, excessive winds, or need to be dressy cause the top to go up....that's about it. Oh.. and I found a hairstyle that works a bit "tossed". This was not as difficult as I thought it would be.

We'll see what August humidity brings. That's our rainy month. That may test my resolve.

 

Yesterday was the 1st day ever that it was too hot to have my top down. My Mini showed it was 101°. UGH It was also very humid.

 

I put the top up yesterday, I admit it... it was in the 90's which in and of itself wasn't so bad, but it's also been raining for a few days and the humidity was BRUTAL. Usually, though, the top stays down for days at a time.

 

It is going to be 97 today to hot for the top down but with the top up I have to drive by feel, seeing out the rear window is impossable.

 

It's easier if you look out the front window when you drive

Paul

 

I was wondering why in has 5 reverse speeds.

 

It has helped me a lot to use a Multivex mirror on the passenger side. You'll find discussion in the forums if you search on "Multivex".

 

On a our recent Mountain Tour run in Northern California we came down off Mount Lassen into Redding CA. The temp was reading 119 on our car temp readouts. My wife and I both had our tops down and survived the 25 minute run at these temps. Wouldn't want to do it again but it does give one perspective on the meaning of Hot. Apparently there were reports of 122 in the area that day so we feel lucky we didn't find those spots.

 

What model did you use? I'm not seeing Mini in the "European Passenger Cars" section, and since they fit over your exising mirror they must be precise.

 

It is about half way down look for MGF and you are close.

Michael

 

Oops- yep I see em now. Looks good...

But are they really worth $60 for the set?

 

I have the wind deflector up in mine most of the time and with the top up it is really hard to see out the rear window so I'm thinking it might be. Cheaper than my deductable.

Michael

 

The cost for only the passenger side is $33 and it has been very valuable to me. It completely eliminated the anxiety I had for making lane changes and merges to the right.

The drivers side is optional. The Multivex mirrors are very wide angle and affect depth perception. The standard passenger side mirror is already convex so it is easy to adapt to a Multivex on that side, but I had trouble adjusting to judging distance in the drivers side mirror. I started with both and returned the drivers side mirror. Everyone's experience will be different, and if it works out for you on the drivers side, you do see a lot more and it would increase safety.

 

I've had a Convertible Crossfire 2 weeks ago as a loaner.

I always drove it with the roof down. It was really hot but I put the A/C when doing city driving and it was all good! A convertible is the way to go on Summer!

 

A bit off-topic, but I was driving lasty night in the brutal heat and humidity (it got to 98 with like 70% humidity yesterday), and, while descending a hill, suddenly, the air dropped about 15 degrees and the scent of flowers and wet greenery filled the car...

... I was transported back to when I was 19, on my first motorcycle, driving across Virginia to see my roommate one summer... when I'd go down into the valleys, the air temp would drop near the water, and I remember thinking "how cool... this is something that car drivers can never experience properly..." it was always one of my favorite things about riding a bike- the increased interaction with the environment- the smells and the temperature variations...

Well, in a cabrio Mini, you certainly can experience them, too, but with the addition of air bags and a kicking stereo. What a great moment- it totally made the hot day driving worth it and I'm glad I had the top down from earlier in the day so I could experience it.

 

It's been pushing 100 for the last several days in the mid-Atlantic. My AC is getting a real workout!

 

That sounds like what I used to call "Vermont air conditioning" when I used to tour the state on my bicycle. You would be trudging up a hill on a hot sweltering day and suddenly get blasted from the side by sweet smelling COLD air coming from a stand of trees nearby. Somehow the damp cold forest floor under the canopy kept all the air cold and it would reach out and lash people on the road from time to time. Great stuff - and even more wonderful to know it can get at you in a Cabrio.

Sounds like it is time to take my Cabrio up north again to experiment on this a bit !!

Bill