mx5cartalk.com

I drive my car roof down....always....weather permitting
I notice on club runs nearly everyone is roofless
I notice weekdays nearly every other mx5 I see has a roof...hardtop or soft top
On many boards there are many that would Love a PHRT or fixed roof

I'm interested to see what the spread is of roof preferences

No Fastback option?

I am soft top down most of the time. As it is getting warmer I generally keep it up from like 11:30-2:30pm because the heat can just be crazy (And I get sun burn very easily). Other than that, I often drive around with the soft top down even when I know it will probably rain. Just need to make sure I will be doing over 80 or will be able to stop to pop it up if it gets too heavy.

Top down when driving 95% winter summer why buy a convertible and have a top up or worse still a hard top

I didn't buy the MX5 due to it being a convertible. I would buy a fixed roof if they sold one. It is cool driving with no roof, but I mainly use the cars for track use, so no roof = slow. For me, it's a small sports car. Especially with a solid roof. There are not many options when buying a car like this convertible or not.

Must admit, on the very rare occasions my hardtop goes on, I do like it and can understand some people leaving it on.

For us, if we didn't have the top down most times, we'd get an 86 or a "hot hatch" of some sort ...

My old NA6 was ST only, but when replaced by the NA8 a removable HT went on the NA8.
Got a laugh from Craig's recent HT observation:

Craig wrote:...you were almost shunned if you showed up on a club run with it on.

I bought my mx5 for its handling prowess. The fact is came as a convertible was in fact a negative in my book. I hate convertibles. Noisier, flimsier, usually heavier than a coupe equivalent. I couldn't wait to get rid of the softtop and fit a hardtop.

If the Japanese coupe versions were sold here in Australia, I would have bought one of those instead.

I have NA and NB both with a hard tops. Both wear their tops except when the weather is between about 10 and 30 and not raining or when they cannot be securely parked. The MX5 look great top up, down, on or off. Its about the flexibility of the car to appeal to a wide range of people. Cheers NAS

Roadster driver here and thats the great attraction of the MX5- i.e. the special feeling of open air, sounds and connection with the environment. The radio does not get used much either. The chief reason for the existence of an MX5 is the soft top or in the case of NC a retractable one. If it did not have that attraction it might as well be just another more practical coupe,or sensible sporting sedan . The great handling does not stand up all that well as reason for existence either- sure it does handle really well and steer and feel light but other sporting cars have that as well e.g. 86, Porsche WRX etc. When the novelty wears off or when it just become too tiring to do trips with lid down- i.e. greater fatigue, noise, etc then time to go sensible. Reason for top up is too hot and or too wet.

My roof has been down for the past 3 weeks but the car is garaged when not in use.

I also prefer coupes/2 door cars in general, which might explain why 85.71% of my cars have 2 doors.

Will definitely be refitting the hard top for winter, mainly to get it out of my way.

If the 5 came in a coupe, I'd be all over it

My roof has been down for the past 3 weeks but the car is garaged when not in use.

I also prefer coupes/2 door cars in general, which might explain why 85.71% of my cars have 2 doors.

Will definitely be refitting the hard top for winter, mainly to get it out of my way.

If the 5 came in a coupe, I'd be all over it :

Unless it is pouring rain,top down for me!

Peter.

Roof down was a significant part of the buying decision. Roof is up only if it's raining heavily enough to get into the cabin, it's hot and sunny AND my wife's in the car with me (she generally prefers the roof down, but hates the hot sun directly on her), or on the track...purely because it's faster with the roof up. If I have had a bad set of laps I have been known to run the next set with the roof down to make it fun again and refocus.

My HT has been on permanently since I bought the vehicle in 2004.
There are occasions when it would be nice to have the open air but it is too much trouble to take it off and on.
Also too much wear and tear on all the frail mounting points which were less than robust when I got it.
The ideal for me would be a retractable HT but I like the NB so guess I'm stuck with the lid on.