Don't mean to sound like a newbie but how come some of you have manual tops and others have semi-automatic tops?

And for those that have semi-auto tops, can they go up or down while moving? With my car now, I can open or close the top in 9 seconds up to 39 mph (don't ask... why not just make it 40??)


Thanks,

Mark

 

In 2012 the manual top was an option but starting in 13 you could only get the auto up. I liked the manual....I could put it up or down while sitting in the driver's seat and it only took a few seconds.

 

For the R59 semi-automatic top, the motor is disabled at speeds above 20 mph. If you try to operate it at a higher speed nothing happens and a warning appears on the tachometer display.

I could have lived with the manual top (if it had been available on the '13s) but the semi-automatic top certainly makes the top operation easy and convenient.

 

yes, you can put the semi-auto top down while driving though you'll be disappointed to know it needs to be below 20mph. It's hard to slow down that much

Me, I'm quite happy with the semi-auto. I counted 6 second total including the time to release the handle so not that slow.

 

Here's an early MINI promo clip showing the roof operation in motion. I have a particular affinity for this clip since it features a Cooper in factory JCW trim.



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Fantastic… and yes, slowing to 20 is difficult. When I first got my Porsche, I was on a trip to FL and decided I wanted to put the top down. I figured 9 seconds in pretty damn quick… that was until I had to drive for an entire 9 seconds on the shoulder at under 40mph.

I ended up getting a flat from doing that…LOL. I guess at 20mph, you had better pull off an exit ramp and enter again.


Mark

 

It's easier to make that decision to drop the top from the get-go, instead of stopping!

 

I agree...


Mark

 

When I get hit with a sudden storm on the highway. It's best to try to keep speeds around 80 MPH. Then when I hit my exit I'll come to a stop and hit the button for the top. Happens a lot.

 

But that is hardly ever the issue. The decision is always top down when ever possible. It's when condition chances it becomes one

 

I have the manual. I wanted to have the feel of an old English roadster like a Spitfire, plus have a bit less to go wrong if I kept the car (which I am doing). Also, it was I think $750 cheaper...

 

Here in Britain all cars are semi-auto and so I've never seen how a manual top works. Can you leave the wind blocker in place? - it looked to me like that would stop you reaching your hand to the hood rail to pull the hood up. My wind blocker lives in place 365 days a year and having to take it out to put the hood up would be a nuisance.

 

It folds in half so you can reach over it. No need to remove it.

 

You can't fold it in half while mounted, can you? s

Lol, I just tried it! Now that makes perfect sense. That's why it was designed to fold... For the original manual top.

 

I also wondered why it folded in half, we never use it anyway!

 

My theory for that was:
a) the R57 windbreak also folded in half; and
b) once folded lengthways, it is narrow enough to fit on the rear 'shelf' in front of the pass-through hatch.

 

Sometimes we fold it just to improve rear visibility, or get a little *more* wind when the day warms up. Quicker and easier than removing it...

 

This

I showed this to my wife recently and she use the folding all the time now.
It is especially useful at night or during partially rainy season, when you put it on for the sunny days but have a hard time seeing through the rain.