Discussion
I have driven home from Pembrey in North Wales back to the midlands, with my roof off (did not have it with me) through hours of torrential rain.
We got wet (obviously!) and there was about an inch of water in the driver and passenger foot-wells which takes an age to dry out, and drain out of the small holes.
But not as wet as you might think, most of the rain seems to go over the car when you are traveling at speed, with the Windscreen on anyway!!
Never had a problem with fuses or anything else getting wet.
Don't know about carpet behind the seats, never had one in both of my superlight R models.
I do keep a large golf brolly tucked down the side of my tillets, just to cover the seats if it rains, and you want to pop out quickly but not put the roof up.
Have fun in your new toy!!
We got wet (obviously!) and there was about an inch of water in the driver and passenger foot-wells which takes an age to dry out, and drain out of the small holes.
But not as wet as you might think, most of the rain seems to go over the car when you are traveling at speed, with the Windscreen on anyway!!
Never had a problem with fuses or anything else getting wet.
Don't know about carpet behind the seats, never had one in both of my superlight R models.
I do keep a large golf brolly tucked down the side of my tillets, just to cover the seats if it rains, and you want to pop out quickly but not put the roof up.
Have fun in your new toy!!
One issue is the rather poor sealing of the speedo and rev counter. A quite modest amount of rain hitting the dash allows enough water into these to cause them to completely mist up every time you turn the lights on (the heat from the instrument bulbs evaporates the moisture out of the back of the 'clocks' and it condenses out on the glass). Getting the moisture back out is not so easy.
A large golf umbrella can fit nicely down the side of the passenger seat, depending on seat type.
Useful for emergencies. Although not sure it is that safe for other road users - they do tend to stare at "that man with an umbrella up in his car.
As an alternative, there is the Jill Judd half hood ?
Useful for emergencies. Although not sure it is that safe for other road users - they do tend to stare at "that man with an umbrella up in his car.
As an alternative, there is the Jill Judd half hood ?
I may be one of the very few people who actually quite like it with the hood up. I've always taken the time to make sure it fits well, and it's well tensioned. I'm also not very tall, so even with the hood up, I can see out perfectly well.
Helps if you unzip the rear window, just to keep the car from steaming up, but in doing so, you tend to encourage water ingress from around the bottom and leading edges of the doors. With the rear window zipped in place, this doesn't happen... but you steam up.
I thought it might be fairly trivial to fix a narrow lip in place to the outside of the car, which effectively follows the shape of the door around the scuttle and lower part of the "door-hole". This would act as a barrier and stop water from being drawn inside.
Feels like a little GT car sitting in there with the hood up.
Helps if you unzip the rear window, just to keep the car from steaming up, but in doing so, you tend to encourage water ingress from around the bottom and leading edges of the doors. With the rear window zipped in place, this doesn't happen... but you steam up.
I thought it might be fairly trivial to fix a narrow lip in place to the outside of the car, which effectively follows the shape of the door around the scuttle and lower part of the "door-hole". This would act as a barrier and stop water from being drawn inside.
Feels like a little GT car sitting in there with the hood up.
I also like driving the car with the hood up - and since we in the Peak District get a not insignificant amount of rain this is just as well. I just wish getting in with the hood up was a bit easier.
I too unzip the rear window to help with the misting problem and haven't noticed a problem with water coming in round the doors. However I tend to drive with the heater fan on full blast which may help prevent it.
I too unzip the rear window to help with the misting problem and haven't noticed a problem with water coming in round the doors. However I tend to drive with the heater fan on full blast which may help prevent it.
Unfortunately I haven't driven the car too much this year. Although I prefer driving without the hood, I have no problems driving with the hood on. Like Mars I get the feeling of driving a small GT. In summer times I must admit the half hood is better. Easy to put on and to take off.
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