Fonz
Premium Member
Registered: 12th May 06
Location: Newbury, Berks
User status: Offline
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am i missing the point of a soft top car???
I have bought a MX5 and enjoyed it immensely, i take the top down as often as i can enjoying the full driving experince of a two seat soft top sports car. the speed is great (although not breath taking) and the handling superb 
in the past 3 days on my journey to and from work i have seen
MG B
MG T/TF x2
MX5 x4
Audi A3
Audi TT
and several others i cant recall with their tops up why might this be?
i am being to think that these drivers have the car as a "status symbol" rather than for its driving experience (and i dont get mean power/speed/handling i mean the topless bit)
are two seat soft top cars the sportier version of a Chelsea tractor?? these tractors aren't bought for their off road capabilities, or large boot space, high torque or ground clearance, just to "keep up with the Jones'" to show that they can rather than because their lifestyle suits it
i am beginning to think that the soft top car has gone the same way, not bought for its handling, or back to basics driving experience that was so well enjoyed in the 50s and 60s, and certainly not to get the top down and feel the wind in their hair, but simply as a status symbol
[/rant]
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micra_pete
Premium Member
Registered: 23rd Apr 03
Location: West Yorkshire
User status: Offline
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I think in general its a certain type of person buys a soft-top or a small coupe.
They have no interest in driving, more how they look.
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DaveyLC
Member
Registered: 8th Oct 08
Location: Berkshire
User status: Offline
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Having owned soft tops in the past I always felt like a bit of a cock when I put the roof down.. I think a lot of people feel the same.
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Rich7585
Member
Registered: 16th Nov 07
Location: Oxfordshire
User status: Offline
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its just cas your not getting any other topless action!
Surely if they were more interested in the look (as pete is, cas he cant drive) they want the top down all the time so you could see them.
sorry mate this is just toooooooo easy!!!!
[Edited on 21-05-2009 by Rich7585]
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Marc
Member
Registered: 11th Aug 02
Location: York
User status: Offline
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Well its pissed it down here all week, dunno what the weather is like near you!
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DaveyLC
Member
Registered: 8th Oct 08
Location: Berkshire
User status: Offline
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quote:
Originally posted by DaveyLC
Having owned soft tops in the past I always felt like a bit of a cock when I put the roof down.. I think a lot of people feel the same.
I've just realised that I may have implied that a lot of people think I'm a cock
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Fonz
Premium Member
Registered: 12th May 06
Location: Newbury, Berks
User status: Offline
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quote:
Originally posted by micra_pete
I think in general its a certain type of person buys a soft-top or a small coupe.
They have no interest in driving, more how they look.
i dont disagree with the first bit at all, but like Rich said why if they have an interest in how they look do they have their tops up?? in my opinion it looks rediculous having a top up on beautiful day with the sun shining!
and Rich your not sorry, you enjoy it too much 
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Brett
Premium Member
Registered: 16th Dec 02
Location: Manchester
User status: Offline
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It is a bit of a "look at me" thing tbh. I find it hilarious when I see chumps with the top down and it's not even sunny and they have their jackets on. Idiots.
I'd have a soft top myself, but I'd never put the top down, I just like the look of them on certain cars like 3-series BMWs with a hard top on.
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DaveyLC
Member
Registered: 8th Oct 08
Location: Berkshire
User status: Offline
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On tuesday morning I saw a guy in a TT with the roof down and a woolly hat on.. When you see someone like that it normally means they have just bought it and the novelty hasnt worn off yet.
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Ian W
Member
Registered: 8th Nov 03
Location: Wirral, Merseyside
User status: Offline
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When I was off work at xmas I seen two lads in a soft top BMW with the roof down, looked rediculous as it was proper cold
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Fonz
Premium Member
Registered: 12th May 06
Location: Newbury, Berks
User status: Offline
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if it is dry i have the top down, yes the heater is on sometimes, and yes i wear long sleeves in the evenings but that is me. i am not doing it to be cool in the warm day but driving it for the experience i bought it for.
this still doesnt excuse those who buy the car and not use it with the top down. which is the same with a Chelsea tractor
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DaveyLC
Member
Registered: 8th Oct 08
Location: Berkshire
User status: Offline
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Arent all soft-tops owners suffering from chelsea tractor syndrome in this country?? Surely you driving around with the top down all the time to justify your purchase is exactly the same as the brand new Range Rover owner deliberately driving offroad just for the hell of it?
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micra_pete
Premium Member
Registered: 23rd Apr 03
Location: West Yorkshire
User status: Offline
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quote:
Originally posted by loafofbrett
It is a bit of a "look at me" thing tbh. I find it hilarious when I see chumps with the top down and it's not even sunny and they have their jackets on. Idiots.
I'd have a soft top myself, but I'd never put the top down, I just like the look of them on certain cars like 3-series BMWs with a hard top on.
Now, me personally, I would have the top down ALL the time not because of how it looks, buts that the point of why I would buy one.
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Brett
Premium Member
Registered: 16th Dec 02
Location: Manchester
User status: Offline
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quote:
Originally posted by Fonz
if it is dry i have the top down, yes the heater is on sometimes, and yes i wear long sleeves in the evenings but that is me. i am not doing it to be cool in the warm day but driving it for the experience i bought it for.
That's hilarious tbh It'd be like me wearing a full rally-drivers outfit and helmet when I was going to work in my imprezas...."for the experience".
I don't understand this mentality of "it's there so I have to use it". Fair enough, if you want your top down in the sun then go for it, but in the cold with a jacket on and heaters blasting? Come on.
[Edited on 21-05-2009 by loafofbrett]
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Fad
Member
Registered: 1st Feb 01
Location: Dartford Kent Drives: 330cd
User status: Offline
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Wind noise is really bad also with Convertibles and when I had an MX5 for a couple of weeks it was sometimes cooler with the roof up and when I knew I was going via a motorway I would have it up otherwise I would look l've just been mugged when turning up to meetings
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mattfiesta
Member
Registered: 14th Jul 05
Location: Nottinghamshire
User status: Offline
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quote:
Originally posted by Fonz
if it is dry i have the top down, yes the heater is on sometimes, and yes i wear long sleeves in the evenings but that is me. i am not doing it to be cool in the warm day but driving it for the experience i bought it for.
this still doesnt excuse those who buy the car and not use it with the top down. which is the same with a Chelsea tractor
if you need the heater on with long sleeves then the top shouldnt be down, sad act.
Soft tops are for attention seekers and thats all.
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VegasPhil
Premium Member
Registered: 16th Jan 05
Location: Fareham, Hants Drives: Octavia VRS
User status: Offline
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Is it not just a pain in the arse to drop the top to drive to work?
Corsa 2.0 16v Vegas - Sold
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ed
Member
Registered: 10th Sep 03
User status: Offline
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I really wouldn't be calling an MG TF a status symbol.
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ed
Member
Registered: 10th Sep 03
User status: Offline
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And I don't think you'd buy an A3 soft top for it's handling and back to basics driving experience.
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micra_pete
Premium Member
Registered: 23rd Apr 03
Location: West Yorkshire
User status: Offline
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I thought anyone who bought something like an mx5 to "drive" would always have the top down.
Why on earth would you have the top up?
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DaveyLC
Member
Registered: 8th Oct 08
Location: Berkshire
User status: Offline
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quote:
Originally posted by ed
I really wouldn't be calling an MG TF a status symbol.
Doesnt have to be a symbol of a high status its just a nice simple way of saying "I must be the last person left on earth who doesnt realise how shit a K-series engine is".
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Brett
Premium Member
Registered: 16th Dec 02
Location: Manchester
User status: Offline
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quote:
Originally posted by DaveyLC
"I must be the last person left on earth who doesnt realise how shit a K-series engine is".
Nah, that was me with my Freelander mate. Pop!
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DaveyLC
Member
Registered: 8th Oct 08
Location: Berkshire
User status: Offline
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Bad-times when the K-series with Range Rovers "new and improved" gasket goes pop.
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mwg
Member
Registered: 19th Feb 04
Location: South Lakes
User status: Offline
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I saw someone driving an MG TF when the sun was shining last week. He had all his windows down but the roof up. I did think whats the point in having it if you dont get the roof down when it was clearly the sort of weather for it.
I like the idea of them but I'd never put the roof down enough to justify it. Plus I'd feel like a pillock driving it with the roof down anywhere apart from in the countryside.
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Ben G
Member
Registered: 12th Jan 07
Location: Essex
User status: Offline
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only ever really see mid life crisis berks with big sunglasses and fake tan on with their roofs down round here or really old people.
it's ore of a poser thing than to do with the actual driving experience so i guess the ones you saw were normal people who just wanted to ''blend in with the crowd''.
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