Being exposed

[Vat]

I've never had that (not for a moment suggesting it doesn't happen). Just one snide comment from one guy at work, but nothing out on the road.

[taminga16]

Tell you what though, I'm getting tired of my sexuality being questioned by cars and especially 4X4's full of blokes. the last 2 weeks its been ridiculous. I'm going to start blowing kisses!

This quote really puts it into perspective.
"But some enthusiasts don’t like the idea of driving a girl’s car. Some enthusiasts want their cars to be manly, and tough, so they buy a pickup and jack it up off the ground, way up, so high that women can’t even get inside of it, because nothing says “manly” like cruising around the Wal-Mart parking lot on a Friday night with four of your best bros". DOUG DEMURO.
Greg.

[mattyredlocks]

I'm going to start blowing kisses!

Do it. I've done it a couple times as a response to mock cat calls from guys in more 'manly' cars, and every time has resulted from laughter from both sides.

If you're worried about people giving you attention, you probably shouldn't be rolling with the roof down. Buy a hard top or just take the mickey and own it!

[JBT]

I had a dumb@$$ in a acked ute once glare at me and ask: "are you gay mate?"
Reply: "no, but good luck with your search". Luckily, the lights turned green at this point.

[Vat]

On the flip side, I've had some very positive experiences driving and parking with the roof down. Leaving aside the unfortunate innuendo, as mentioned earlier kids seem to love it, and a thumbs up in their direction will usually get a big grin and a wave. I've had a smile and a wave from a family with two young kids as I left the Toowong Woolworths car park, and had waves and smiles from elderly people as well. That and the fellow MX-5 wave thing make for a very social and upbeat experience.

It's tempting to explore the mentality or sexuality of those driving monster trucks or V8 sedans of various denominations, but it seems a classic case of outsourcing your thinking and attitudes to other media sources rather than going to the effort of thinking about it yourself.

[HappyPineapple]

I probably drive with the top down about 20% of the time. Mostly it's up because of the UV. Also at work I have to put the top up and park it in a stable bay in the barn as bits of wattle blow off the trees and get into every single nook and cranny and takes me nearly half an hour to vacuum out when I get home.
Also if i'm on the highway it's smelly and noisy and a bit TOO windy for my liking. If I'm just driving locally around the hills then I love having the top down!
I personally haven't had many stares or looks (that I've noticed at least). Only thing I have noticed is that people like to invite me to challenge them taking off at the lights. 95% of the time I just calmly roll forwards like a grandma driver once the lights go green and laugh at them hooning off in their rusty little sh*t box. In Midland some guy actually lost control and ended up on the wrong side of the road once after he overestimated his drag racing abilities in his rusty old green Xcel. That one wasn't so funny because their was actually a child in the back seat. A bit frustrating.
But compared with my previous car (a 2004 snail-pace barina), the only thing I've really noticed is that people don't seem to go to such dangerous extremes to try and overtake me. I'm still travelling at the same speeds but I guess people just think 'sports car,' and aren't offended to be behind me as much?

Anyways back on topic; I've had a few people say Hi and stuff out their window and one guy in his convertible had a short conversation with me at the lights.
Even driving back from the beach in a bikini and I only had one occasion where a young male pedestrian said something I couldn't make out as I drove past.
I have also had some kids ask me can I "take the roof off and do a burnout," on their driveway. I declined that request.
All in all I haven't had a negative experience in relation to having the top down except for getting lightly sunburnt on one or two occasions.

I do worry about parking it with the top down - there's the obvious risk of theft or vandalism but I also think that the full sun can't be good for the interior. Plus the steering wheel gets so hot it practically brands my fingers. Same for the leather seats.

[HappyPineapple]

I had a dumb@$$ in a acked ute once glare at me and ask: "are you gay mate?"
Reply: "no, but good luck with your search". Luckily, the lights turned green at this point.

This is the best thing I've read in some time.

[Blesif]

Yep, far too much sun exposure in my life plus I don't tolerate the heat as well in my dotage so roof up on high UV days. Otherwise roof down and especially so in winter even down to 0 degrees. I have always loved an open sports car and have had several over the years. Currently running two - one modern, one historic.

[Rob]

When I owned my NA, if I was driving it to work on a summer's day, the last thing I wanted was to be slathering on sunscreen to drive to work (and then have on my face all day), or be faced with the possibility of a sweaty business shirt when I got there, or needing to take a shower and get dressed when I got there. For what? An hour in the car with the top down? Never seemed worth it. Top up and a/c on if the weather was being diabolically hot. On the flipside, come the weekend where I could wear a polo shirt, slather on some sunscreen and go for a cruise, the top would be down all the time. So, in this roundabout answer to your question, you might sometimes be seeing people on their way to work or in between meetings and they just don't want to get messed up.

[MXMatt]

I drive with the top down 95% of the time, and usually there is no issues - not even aware if there are any looks or stares??

HOWEVER.............

on the weekend, I was heading to our work Xmas party in my MX, this time as a passenger, a good mate of mine driving - I was dressed up as Santa at the time, to hand out gifts to the kids of the staff at the party - top down of course, pulled up at the lights when a bunch of very drunk youngsters in a Hi-Rise Hilux called out
"Hey Santa, how about a head job for Christmas?"
it took me about half a second to reply, "sure thing but only if you swallow!" - I survived only because the lights changed and we sped off laughing our heads off, party went well and the kids loved Santa arriving in his little red sleigh!

M@

[kalt]

"Hey Santa, how about a head job for Christmas?"
it took me about half a second to reply, "sure thing but only if you swallow!"

Awesome quick wit you have Matt! HAHAHAHAHA would have enjoyed the look on that kids' face as you drove away, "gobsmacked" comes to mind (pun intended).

I can see the concern the original poster has, I had the same concerns too. The enjoyment of having a convertible stops once you're eating bugs, blinded by everything that reflects light, sniffing some funky aroma or realising you did say something out loud and the cars next door heard you. No privacy, no protection. The novelty wears off and reality sets in after a while, but you learn to deal with it and come up with measures. It becomes less about being inconspicuous and more about avoiding debris/droppings/aromas/diesel fumes/vampire attacks etc

I'm like many, majority of the time the roof is up. The only times when it's down is dusk, starry nights and dawn drives. You'll soon learn to avoid going topless in traffic.

Top down whenever you want because you can!

[Nevyn72]

Even driving back from the beach in a bikini.......

Ummmmmm....... Errrrrrr....... Well, probably best you didn't go completely topless that day!

[speed]

Got stuck in the m5 tunnel with the roof down. Nearly died from the fumes and lack of air.
As I looked up I noticed that the fans were not even turning. Never again!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[MXMatt]

I probably should have mentioned I have riden bikes for most of my life, I see a convertible car as a convenient way of:
not having to wear a helmet
not having to remember to take all the wet / dry / summer/winter weather and safety gear
carry your backpack on your back all the time - with above loaded
have positively spacious luggage area to fill!
and also to have a passenger beside for conversation rather than yelling at the back of your helmet!
LOL
M@

[project.r.racing]

This thread and some responses have made me laugh. Love the wittiness of some posters.