hardtop off for summer--finally

[bgl]

Finally, warmer weather--though very windy. My friend and I got the hardtop off last night. It is really nice to take it for a top-down ride again.

[Southern]

Re: hardtop off for summer--finally

What a great world we live in.

Finally, hot and wet weather.
Put my hardtop ON.
Really enjoyed all the top down weather this past winter/spring.

[Ediron]

Re: hardtop off for summer--finally

Always have to chuckle with Florida weather.When most T-Bird owners are taking H/T off or dropping there S/T we start to put them up.I don't have a H/T so most of my top down is at night.

[2K2BIRD]

Re: hardtop off for summer--finally

Why do folks think it gets too hot to use the soft top? I've driven in 100+ degree weather with the soft top up and not felt hot in the car with the AC on. I've never been able to compare it to the hard top being on, because I don't use it at all in the summer. (Also haven't used it in the winter for several years either but that is a different issue.)

I sure like being able to put the top down in the early am or late pm on hot days when the weather is comfortable enough to do so. Sure is hard to do with the hardtop on.

[jerrym3]

Re: hardtop off for summer--finally

I got a late start this year taking the top off due to the Galaxie motor swap project eating up my storage space.

I think that I'll wait two more weeks till after the north Jersey TBird club show. Car has a real classy look with the hardtop on and the new ww tires, IMHO.

Then, off she comes, and, hopefully, I can schedule a road trip to northern New Hampshire, and, possibly, one last trip up the Mount Washington Auto Road.........

If I get a case of the "gotta drive a convertible now-itis", I'll just use the Galaxie.

[Sandman]

Re: hardtop off for summer--finally

Finally, warmer weather--though very windy. My friend and I got the hardtop off last night. It is really nice to take it for a top-down ride again.

Bruce, you should be able to get at least a couple of weeks of top down weather in your part of the world,LOL.

[steelblue5505]

Re: hardtop off for summer--finally

I too wonder like Paul why the need to put the HT on when the weather in FL or AZ gets hot. What do people do if they have a convertible with no hard top like the convertibles in the past.

Here in eastern WA in July & August we often have days of temps of 108 or more, and yes that's hot to be sitting in the sun at a long traffic light or even out on the open road(you can sun burn real easily & not realize it). I find that the AC keeps the car cool just fine with the Soft Top up.

Just don't understand the reasoning.

[JAB02LHS]

Re: hardtop off for summer--finally

Why do folks think it gets too hot to use the soft top? I've driven in 100+ degree weather with the soft top up and not felt hot in the car with the AC on.).

I too wonder like Paul why the need to put the HT on when the weather in FL or AZ gets hot.
Just don't understand the reasoning.

A lot of us really like "THE LOOK" with the hardtop on, so up North we leave the top on in early Spring & late Fall even though there are a lot of top-down days, just to experience "THE LOOK".
In "HOT" climates they do it Mid Summer for the same reason. JMHO

[V8 Cat]

Re: hardtop off for summer--finally

A lot of us really like "THE LOOK" with the hardtop on, so up North we leave the top on in early Spring & late Fall even though there are a lot of top-down days, just to experience "THE LOOK".
In "HOT" climates they do it Mid Summer for the same reason. JMHO

John,
I agree. I think the car looks 100% better with the hardtop on. In Atlanta sitting in traffic with the convertible top down is torture in 95 degree heat even with the AC on full blast.

[Gobird]

Re: hardtop off for summer--finally

I'm in south central Fla. and my hard top stays on the stand 365 days a year unless we drive up north in the fall or early spring.

[Ediron]

Re: hardtop off for summer--finally

As I stated I don't have a H/T I live in a condo so no place to store it.When my friend showed up with his T-Bird before I bought mine I asked if he had the H/T his answer "what for we live in S.Fl." When the Fl. rains come down they make a nice sound on the S/T and yes I do drive it in the rain.

[aztomic]

Re: hardtop off for summer--finally

Since I don't have a Bird I can't answer for why folks do what they do, but I can tell you here in Phoenix, it's not unusual for it to be 100+ degrees at midnight during the summer. I've ridden in convertibles with the top down during the summer and IT'S HOT, even at night! If I owned one, I'd put the hardtop on and turn on the A/C, cuz the top wouldn't come off until late fall!

I too wonder like Paul why the need to put the HT on when the weather in FL or AZ gets hot. What do people do if they have a convertible with no hard top like the convertibles in the past.

Here in eastern WA in July & August we often have days of temps of 108 or more, and yes that's hot to be sitting in the sun at a long traffic light or even out on the open road(you can sun burn real easily & not realize it). I find that the AC keeps the car cool just fine with the Soft Top up.

Just don't understand the reasoning.

[Red Bird Dave]

Re: hardtop off for summer--finally

Took mine off 2 weeks ago, and the weather turned cool and rainy, even had a tornado but nothing like Joplin Mo. Weatherman just predicted rain all this weekend in "sunny California".

Red Bird Dave

[Southern]

Re: hardtop off for summer--finally

The main reasons why I put the HT on..

It rains. A lot. All summer long. Every day.
Now you guys can run around with your conv top up....that works...but don't put away horses or canvas tops while they are hot and wet.
So if it rains and the top gets wet....you should wait until the top dries before you put the top down...
We do "95 squared" here. All summer long. That's 95 degrees with 95% humidity.
Do you know how long it takes to dry canvas at that humidity?

We get rain from low pressure systems just like everybody else.
Comes in from the Gulf and, heading east, runs right over us.... Thunder and lightning. BTW Lee County is known as the lightning capital of the world.

And. We also get sugar cane rain in the late summer. July/August...
This is rain that is evaporation from the many square miles of sugar cane fields in the middle of the state (way down south of Okeechobee) and it generally is carried west to the coast. That's us.
This is the one that happens every afternoon down here.
In the winter...no sugar cane.....jet stream up north...so no rain!

Every now and then, in the summertime, we DO get a group of 3 or 4 days where it is mid 80s with maybe 50% humidity......
That's whyI bought a top lift. Wouldn't be without one. Can change everything in 10 minutes. No help needed.

And.....frankly a lot of people think the car looks better with the HT on.
I am one of them.
It's just that I'ld rather be driving a conv with the top down on a perfect day of 75 degrees, low humidity, deep blue skies with big white puffy clouds and bikini babes from up north, all over the place.......OH! In other words, winter in Ft Myers!

[Ediron]

Re: hardtop off for summer--finally

The one thing Southern didn't mention us owners with sand S/T have to keep after it due to mildew.Top looks OK and the next day it's all spotted.For this I use a car cover but even with this the top still gets spots