Topic

andyflaxman
By: andyflaxman
Posts: 29
Joined: 05/05/11

Roof down in the rain

Posted: Jun 24 2011 Tags:  rain, roof Views: 127

So, it started raining the other day while I was on the M25 with the roof down.  I discovered that, as long as I kept above about 40mph, I stayed dry.  

However, the rain got heavier, and for about 5 minutes, I was in a torrential downpour (it was difficult to see out of the windscreen).  At the stage, I found the rain blowing up and over the windows, and spraying into my shoulder, the seat, and the roof mechanism. 

My questions are:

a) any advice re driving with the roof down in the rain (e.g. windows fully up, speed etc)?

b) is it likely that rain splashing into the roof mechanism will damage it at all?

c) is it technically illegal to stop on a motorway to put the roof up?

Cheers,

Andy


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Replies

  1. /My-Page/?userId=10822

    Roof down in the rain

    24/06/2011 11:19:49, andyflaxman said:
    "

    So, it started raining the other day while I was on the M25 with the roof down.  I discovered that, as long as I kept above about 40mph, I stayed dry.  

    However, the rain got heavier, and for about 5 minutes, I was in a torrential downpour (it was difficult to see out of the windscreen).  At the stage, I found the rain blowing up and over the windows, and spraying into my shoulder, the seat, and the roof mechanism. 

    My questions are:

    a) any advice re driving with the roof down in the rain (e.g. windows fully up, speed etc)?

    b) is it likely that rain splashing into the roof mechanism will damage it at all?

    c) is it technically illegal to stop on a motorway to put the roof up?

    Cheers,

    Andy

    "

     

    Like you, I found that in lightish rain, 40mph seems to be the magic number. In really heavy rain though, I don't think there's much you can do. Windows up the rain seems to run over the top of the window into the car, windows down it comes over the top of windscreen where it would join the windows.

    Wouldn't like to give a definite answer on the roof mechanism, but I've never had any problems.

    Again, wouldn't like to say for certain but I have wondered this myself. On the one hand, in heavy rain you could argue (if police showed up) that it would have been dangerous to not put the roof up, as you couldn't see. But, if rain was that bad anyway, I don't think I'd like to be stopped on the hard shoulder where other traffic probably wouldn't see you.

    Posted: Jun 24 2011 By: Tom   Posts: 159
  2. /My-Page/?userId=11130

    RE: Roof down in the rain

    I've certainly stopped on the hard shoulder to put the roof up in the past in the middle of a downpour. If you drop the windows an inch just before you pull over then you should be stopped for less than 10 seconds. I'd agree with the view that in very heavy rain it's more dangerous not to stop.

    The main issue I have when driving in rain with roof down at speed is water running off the windows and coming back into the cabin. Don't rememer it being an issue with my mk2.5 although that may be down to bad memory rather than it not happening but it's a definite issue with my 3.5.


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    Posted: Jun 24 2011 By: MattSwain   Posts: 831
  3. /My-Page/?userId=8339

    Roof down in the rain

    24/06/2011 11:19:49, andyflaxman said:


     ... c) is it technically illegal to stop on a motorway to put the roof up?

    But I didn't stop in order to put my roof up, officer.  I thought I heard my engine make a funny noise / saw my oil pressure drop / water temperature shoot up, suddenly and briefly.  Odd, really - it seems OK now ... 

     

    Posted: Jun 24 2011 By: Titus   Posts: 5307
  4. /My-Page/?userId=7915

    Roof down in the rain

    24/06/2011 02:08:37, Titus said:
    "

    24/06/2011 11:19:49, andyflaxman said:


     ... c) is it technically illegal to stop on a motorway to put the roof up?

    But I didn't stop in order to put my roof up, officer.  I thought I heard my engine make a funny noise / saw my oil pressure drop / water temperature shoot up, suddenly and briefly.  Odd, really - it seems OK now ... 

     

    "

     Can o worms...................  saw my (virtual) oil pressure drop? Sorry Titus, couldn't resist.

     


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    Posted: Jun 24 2011 By: steveti   Posts: 2461
  5. /My-Page/?userId=2240

    RE: Roof down in the rain

    I find about 60 on a motorway in torrential rain keeps nearly all of it out of the car. You get wet because the rain blows up the side of the windows and falls into the car.

    At 60 I fnd the wind blows the rain up the window at a shallower angle so it doesn't reach the top of the window until it is behind my shoulder - I don't get wet Hungry. It's worth experimenting a bit with different speeds.


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    Posted: Jun 24 2011 By: dragonsoup   Posts: 3840
  6. /My-Page/?userId=12186

    RE: Roof down in the rain

    At 85mph the rain starts to climb the side windows and flicks over the top…or so I’ve heard, officer!Abashed

     

     Just writing this as you posted, Dragonsoup, bit of a coincidence.


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    Posted: Jun 24 2011 By: Jono   Posts: 290
  7. /My-Page/?userId=8696

    RE: Roof down in the rain

    Shouldn't be any harm done - re the rain
    Optimum speed - 40 - 60mph (Mk3s are better than mk2s as rake of windscreen is better)
    Illegal? re the top? - i'd go with YES! - if you can come up with an excuse for a police officer fine but the reason behind it being illegal is because it's bl**dy dangerous especially in poor visibility.
    I'd rather get soaked than wrapped by an artic!

     


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    Posted: Jun 24 2011 By: VO5 Jo   Posts: 6280
  8. /My-Page/?userId=14068

    RE: Roof down in the rain

    We were balsting up the M5 a couple of years ago top down, when there was a sudden and heavy shower. All the traffic slowed down to about 30, so were getting very wet (if we could have maintianed 60+ we'd have stayed dry enough to drive through the shower and out the other side). Pulled onto the hard shoulder under a bridge a popped the roof up.

    Posted: Jun 24 2011 By: Locoman   Posts: 10
  9. /My-Page/?userId=8339

    Roof down in the rain

    24/06/2011 04:43:23, steveti said:
    "

    24/06/2011 02:08:37, Titus said:
    "

    24/06/2011 11:19:49, andyflaxman said:


     ... c) is it technically illegal to stop on a motorway to put the roof up?

    But I didn't stop in order to put my roof up, officer.  I thought I heard my engine make a funny noise / saw my oil pressure drop / water temperature shoot up, suddenly and briefly.  Odd, really - it seems OK now ... 

     

     Can o worms...................  saw my (virtual) oil pressure drop? Sorry Titus, couldn't resist.

     

     
    Yeah - just hope the Bill aren't savvy to Mazda's dummy oil pressure gauge.

    But if they can randomly stop and breathalize people (Oh no, sir, we haven't stopped you at random - your tail light appears to be faulty - we saw it flickering - you'd better check your rear lights ... hey, but ... while we're here ... would you mind just blowing into this little machine, please?) it seems pefectly fair to work the same ploy back on them.

    Posted: Jun 25 2011 By: Titus   Posts: 5307
  10. /My-Page/?userId=14551

    Roof down in the rain


    Yeah - just hope the Bill aren't savvy to Mazda's dummy oil pressure gauge.

    But if they can randomly stop and breathalize people (Oh no, sir, we haven't stopped you at random - your tail light appears to be faulty - we saw it flickering - you'd better check your rear lights ... hey, but ... while we're here ... would you mind just blowing into this little machine, please?) it seems pefectly fair to work the same ploy back on them.

    "

    So it's:

    "No, office, of course I didn't stop to put the roof up.  I thought my rear lights might have been flickering, so I've pulled over to check..."

    or

    "No, office, of course I didn't stop to put the roof up.  I suspected I might have been drinking, so I've pulled over to breathalize myself..."

    I suspect the first one might be the best...

    Thank you all for your answers!  

     


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    Posted: Jun 27 2011 By: andyflaxman   Posts: 29