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      06-24-2019, 07:57 AM   #1
wrickem
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Top down, windows up in a convertible

I grew up with convertibles, my parents always had one and I guess that stuck with me because there's been no time since I've had my license that I have not had one as a fun toy or as a daily driver.

If I can't put the top down, I seal it shut and let the climate control do its job. BUT when the top goes down I want every bit of air and turbulence swirling around, I've tried using the wind deflectors a few times but missed all the air.

Lately, it seems like 95% of the top-down drivers I see have all of their windows rolled up, like they are driving a car with a huge sunroof.

I get that if you're in a city where you want some barrier of protection between you and the crazy people (I usually leave my top up in cities though), or if you're some pearled-up-old-rich-lady who doesn't want to mess your hair, but am trying to figure out why people would want a convertible but not want to experience the the full effect of top down driving.

What gives, window-up/top down convertible people? I'd love to hear why people drive that way.
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      06-24-2019, 08:09 AM   #2
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Quote:
Originally Posted by wrickem View Post
I grew up with convertibles, my parents always had one and I guess that stuck with me because there's been no time since I've had my license that I have not had one as a fun toy or as a daily driver.

If I can't put the top down, I seal it shut and let the climate control do its job. BUT when the top goes down I want every bit of air and turbulence swirling around, I've tried using the wind deflectors a few times but missed all the air.

Lately, it seems like 95% of the top-down drivers I see have all of their windows rolled up, like they are driving a car with a huge sunroof.

I get that if you're in a city where you want some barrier of protection between you and the crazy people (I usually leave my top up in cities though), or if you're some pearled-up-old-rich-lady who doesn't want to mess your hair, but am trying to figure out why people would want a convertible but not want to experience the the full effect of top down driving.

What gives, window-up/top down convertible people? I'd love to hear why people drive that way.
80% of the time, I have all my windows down. Sometimes I do the windows up thing, though, and here are the reasons:

1) When it is super hot, like over 90*. I still want the top down, but having the windows up makes the A/C work far better and keep me cool.

2) If my wife forgot to put her hair up, having the windows down and the top down causes her hair to blow all into her face. Having the windows up is a compromise to still keep the top down.

3) If going highways speeds. Speeds over 70mph or so and it just gets too loud and windy, so if I am gonna be on the highway for a short period, I will roll them up and then drop them back down when I am off the highway.

Just some reasons...
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      06-24-2019, 08:24 AM   #3
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4) Top down winter driving. My E93 is remarkably snug with the top down and windows up, to the point that I can drive that way in 20F weather.

5) Reinforcing #3 above, longer drives at freeway speeds are completely tolerable as well when the windows are up. Only if there are too many trucks will the top go up.

6) I wear hearing aids and the rear deflector keeps them from being hit from behind by the wind, which keeps them from making really loud, annoying wind rush noises in my ears.

I pretty much put the top down every chance I get. The side windows and rear deflector are options I exercise when the top is down. I don't see a problem there.
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      06-24-2019, 09:03 AM   #4
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I have rented verts in Florida every time we go there over the past several years. My wife likes to leave her window up on the freeway for less noise, I usually leave mine down unless I want better A/C on very hot days like R S says above. One thing I will say is with the windows down on the freeway all of the noise and wind buffeting it is very tiring over long drives.
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      06-24-2019, 09:04 AM   #5
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In my opinion, if the windows need to be up, so does the top. I can see the point of the females hair being blown about. I bought the girlfriend a BMW baseball cap to keep in the car for her to wear when she was in the car and the weather was nice. I never felt comfortable driving on the interstate or at high rates of speed for extended periods with the top down. Fear of ejection during an accident type thing.
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      06-24-2019, 09:09 AM   #6
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my friend always likes to open the top on crispy fall nights....windows up heat blasting. it creates quite a nice vortex in the car. if you stick your beak a tad up you can get some crisp autumn air; and inside its nice and toasty...
I
Although I've been using the climate control more and more. I grew up in an environment where the ac/heat was never used. So it kind of molded me as a person today . Also I loved hearing my exhaust while drenching my back in a NE summer. But even in the winter now sometimes windows open. heat on blast.. feels good
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      06-24-2019, 09:50 AM   #7
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I have only rented verts but intend to buy one as it really is a nice experience driving top down and kids think it's just the greatest thing that ever happened, especially with a car that has an obnoxious engine/exhaust.

I tend to run windows up on the freeway and windows down on back roads, just too much noise and wind at 120 clicks.
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      06-24-2019, 10:44 AM   #8
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The top down/window up combo gives a nice feeling of openness without the noise and wind in the cabin. At the end of my ownership of a TT, I ran it almost all the time like that. Good thing is that you can extend the vert-season given that it makes a nice 'conditionned' bathtube with the laminar stream of air capturing a bubble of air in the 'cabin'.
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      06-24-2019, 10:49 AM   #9
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My ex had longer hair and complained when the top and windows were both down. Raising the windows minimized the complaints. Of course divorce fixed the complaining all together.

Ear plugs and everything down is ideal. I've personally never found the benefit to raised windows.
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      06-24-2019, 11:11 AM   #10
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If I am in my Z4 the top is down 95% of the time, when the top is down the windows are down. I have no hair and the wife knows the rules

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      06-24-2019, 02:18 PM   #11
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When I had my drop top the top was down over 95% of the time, on the freeway windows were up to cut down on the buffeting and so I could listen to the stereo or talk to the passenger.

Off the highway windows went down.
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      06-24-2019, 02:33 PM   #12
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Downtown San Francisco: Top on wife's car is always down, but windows are up (the crazies are real, but more generally, people just start talking to you unless the windows are up), unless she just spent the last hour "ironing" her hair (so everything is closed). Otherwise, it's all down. That said, nothing wrong with a giant sunroof

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      06-24-2019, 06:32 PM   #13
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Red Bread View Post
My ex had longer hair and complained when the top and windows were both down. Raising the windows minimized the complaints. Of course divorce fixed the complaining all together.

Ear plugs and everything down is ideal. I've personally never found the benefit to raised windows.
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      06-24-2019, 06:51 PM   #14
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This thread has been a fun and enlightening read.

I'm currently in the market for my first Porsche. I prefer the look of the coupe but want the openness/airiness of the cab.

I've recently been focussing my attention on the 997 Targa which I feel may be a good compromise. I imagine with the Targa open it would be fairly similar to top-down windows-up of the cab.
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      06-24-2019, 07:11 PM   #15
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Matt 335is View Post
This thread has been a fun and enlightening read.

I'm currently in the market for my first Porsche. I prefer the look of the coupe but want the openness/airiness of the cab.

I've recently been focussing my attention on the 997 Targa which I feel may be a good compromise. I imagine with the Targa open it would be fairly similar to top-down windows-up of the cab.
My 'verts for the past 18 years have been Porsche's and although I prefer the look of the hard tops and targas, the 2 (1 of each) that I've had just don't compare to the open air of a Porsche convertible. If you like the looks, skip right to the convertible.
My '19 has a power air defector, so it's easy as hell to put up and down, I used it exactly for 3 minutes and I was missing real airstream in that short time
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      06-24-2019, 07:23 PM   #16
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if you want the full air experience, I think the windshield should retract as well.
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      06-24-2019, 10:14 PM   #17
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I see nothing wrong with it. I'll probably do the same when I get a convertible. It reduces NVH significantly at higher speeds.
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      06-24-2019, 10:15 PM   #18
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Quote:
Originally Posted by behindthen0thing View Post
if you want the full air experience, I think the windshield should retract as well.
Loll. "Bugs in your teeth" package.
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      06-25-2019, 02:50 AM   #19
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Originally Posted by behindthen0thing View Post
if you want the full air experience, I think the windshield should retract as well.
Yeah, I had a Suzuki Sierra that had a windscreen that folded down onto the bonnet.

You very quickly realise why motorbike riders have a visor on their helmet.

Frankly, it's not pleasant - even with sunglasses on.


In my 1er I have the top down unless it's raining or I have my kids in the back. I often have the windows up for one of the following reasons:
  • I'm doing more than 80kph and it's too noisy and blowey
  • it's less than 17 degrees Celcius and my ears are getting cold.
  • It's above 35 degrees Celcius and the aircon isn't keeping up
  • There are trucks nearby and they make a lot of noise.
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      06-25-2019, 02:51 AM   #20
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I'll roll up my windows sometimes,..
It prevents the corner street people from asking for change, a drive, etc.
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      06-25-2019, 06:28 AM   #21
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Another, why don't people like what I like, thread...
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      06-25-2019, 08:23 AM   #22
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Mason Hatcher View Post
Another, why don't people like what I like, thread...
Another "I don't know how to just skip over a thread that I can't understand the reason behind, but I've just gotta say something even though it adds nothing" post


FWIW, this thread was very eye-opening for me, there are some really great reasons I never thought about pointed out to me, and I can stop wondering now.
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