It's very quiet here in the Roadster forum for the winter, so I thought I would start a contest. Who will drive top-down at the coldest temperature this winter? By "drive" I mean actually move on real roads for a few miles and more than a few minutes, not just sit in the driveway. Obviously we'll have to depend on people's honesty here, but I trust you all

I'll start. Yesterday we drove (yes, we, I got my wife to go with me somehow) about 20 miles on a few local errands, ending up driving in a beautiful sunset just as the 37 degree warning chime went off.

I know I'll beat this. Let's see what you guys can manage.. Post here as it happens!

 

It's been absolutely frigid lately here in SoCal, but it has still been above my 50°f minimum for the top down.

Sorry, with the amount we pay for the "sunshine tax" I figure I get to gloat from time to time :-)

(At least I have stayed out of the top down ratio thread...)

 

I have had my part in the army with our *****'s: no roof, no windshield and no doors.And it was not in the dessert .

 

Around the town in 38F temps but in sunshine, only a few miles, and nothing above 40 mph. I suspect that only qualifies marginally.

 

R52's allowed to play too? You name the thread 'top-down' naturally gets my attention.
22° running errands around town with no co-pilot.
The top goes up when the co-pilot starts whining loud enough I can't hear the supercharger whine. That noise starts in the mid 60°s so her presence takes us clear out of contention.

 

Sure, happy to have all of the convertibles! 22 degrees is a good entry!

 

Sure, happy to have all of the convertibles! 22 degrees is a good entry!

 

New best for me this winter. 23 degrees and sunny, nice trip to the gym, the grocery store and the hardware store. It's worth doing it just to see the looks on some people's faces!

 

Building reputation. Don't stop there.

 

How about this one:


14 miles to work, gorgeous sunny day after a couple of nasty ones, couldn't miss it!

 

The co-pilot whined so the top went up - slush and smutz all over the canvas so can't fold the canvas 'till I can clean it. Guess I'm out of the running until it warms up enough for a bath.

 

I wasn't going to be running top-down at 17 degrees with the usual co-pilot! I only get to do this on my way to work on my own, or at the weekend with my son.

 

Most impressive...and I noticed you managed to capture the new rally light switch too.

 

Hadn't noticed that until you pointed it out. I'm glad really, it took me the best part of an hour to take enough dash panels off to get the thing in there, it deserves to be seen. I can't see it at all when driving, I have to find it by feel.

 

On the Roadster the semi-automatic top will not allow the top to go down below 14 degrees F. If it is not actively snowing, my top's coming down. BTW, if the temperature does drop below 13 while the top is down, the semi-automatic will close. Been there, done that.

 

I'm one of the few with the manual top, so no limits for me!

 

Don't rub it in. I missed the chance on a 2012 with a manual top. By the time I was in, only 2013's were available. Otherwise I would be Open Top Motoring at lower temp.

 

New "low" yesterday. It dipped to 14F while I was driving but I couldn't get a photo at 65 on I95!

 

Spiney, you're close enough to Mt. Washington that you should head up there this weekend for another top-down photo. I noticed that their Sunday forecast was calling for -15F, -56F wind chill, and winds 90-95 mph with gusts to 115. You'd have a record that no one could touch.

 

I don't think I would be able to touch anything again after that... It was -2F here this morning when I took the dog out. Don't need it any colder than that, thanks!

 

Last week it was 14 when I got in the car, so the top went down. By the time I reached my neighborhood it was 7. Have about 16,000 on the odometer and 433 hours on the openometer. Not bad for snowy WNY.

 

Wow. New leader!

 

Was about 25 degrees and sunny and I took a MINI S Roadster with base leatherette seats for a test drive...including some 65 mph highway time.
Between seat heaters (not needed on MAX 3 for very long ) and HVAC blowing nice warm air in the footwells... I was more comfortable than in my '08 Miata which does not have seat heaters but fabric seats.

Am thinking though I would prefer the JCW package's fabric seats for less toasty summer driving...

We'll see if the CEO approves a new vehicle acquisition....

 

Here's hoping she gives you a . If you're planning on ordering from the factory, better not wait too long...

 

To keep the heinie comfy in all weathers, cloth or leather seats notwithstanding, sheepskin seat covers make all the difference. Hot summer sun has no effect either.
http://www.sheepskinstuff.com/Search...s.asp?Cat=1817