rear windows in winter

[dryden]

Being fairly new to S ownership, (purchased mine in September) I have a question regarding folding the rear window. It seems to be damaging to the vynil window as it has to fold in half to stow. fine in the summer when it is hot and flexible but I felt that I was inflicting damage when I folded it the other day in sunny but near zero temperatures. Is there anything I can do to make me feel better about this? I use the car most days and love to drive with the roof down at first sight of a dry day! So not very often..........

[phillpot]

Leave a small (thermostatically controlled) electric heater in the car overnight?

Play a hair dryer across it for a few minutes before folding?

Drive "tonneau" fashion, roof panels out but rear section up?

[BountyHunter]

phillpot said:

Drive "tonneau" fashion, roof panels out but rear section up?

aka targa style - this is how im using mine atm

[phillpot]

BountyHunter said:

aka targa style

Yeah,thanks that's what I meant

[dryden]

I used to have a TR4 with a fixed rear window and that was called a surrey, I never really liked it.
I thought perhaps a long soft cushion tucked into the inner fold might work.
The heater overnight might be good, it would stop the instruments from misting up!

[Scoobimax]

Large beach towel rolled up in the summer stuffed in as you fold to stop any creases or scratchng. I'd never ever fold in winter temperatures, I'd drive targa style (but SORN for winter)

[Longers]

I don't like driving with the roof targa style, I find the buffeting on top of my head uncomfortable. I always use a towel to stop the plastic creasing and as suggested above if it's really cold I've briefly zapped it with a (my wife's!) hairdrier

[techbotics]

I have a swimming noodle to wrap mine around.. Same idea as towel.

Cheers D S3

[greymrj]

Must admit I do like driving mine 'targa' style, provided I keep the speed down otherwise the stress on the 'pram' hood could be worrying. If it is raining, but not too heavily, I sometimes drive with the driver roof panel off only (her hair is more precious than mine!). Our roof system is vey versatile!
Likewise I use a BIG rolled towel to stop rear screen creases but in really cold weather I admit I dont want to risk creasing that screen.

[BountyHunter]

greymrj said:

Must admit I do like driving mine 'targa' style, provided I keep the speed down otherwise the stress on the 'pram' hood could be worrying.

i dont think its an issue tbh
with the windows are up not that much breeze comes in, even at speed. (even with them open its still not too bad a strain on the rear roof section)

[Loach1]

With the rear hood up, doesn't it just prevent the air coming in from the rear? It doesn't seem to get pressurized at all when driving fast, and is pretty much the same as driving with it down, less the air coming from behind the seats. It looks cool with it down though!

[Alan Whitaker]

Hi All
I was looking at a MG yesterday and they have 1 long zip, so when you drop the top down you just unzip it and it stays flat. even better would be a heated glass window like the one from a MX5. I need to re furbish mine so its something I can do now as I had to grind all the rear fixing bolts off and the plastic has a small tear in it.

Alan

[lewdon]

A length of pipe insulation (like a foam tube) from any DIY store or plumbers merchant works well to stop the window creasing. We always drive ours "targa" style with the rear hood up and the roof panels out, as the dog sits on the rear shelf and the hood stops her jumping out. Doesn't seem to cause any excess pressure or buffeting even at motorway speeds.

[greymrj]

That is interesting Don, been wondering about taking my dog out in 'her'.

[lewdon]

Hi Richard. dog seems to enjoy it, doesn't appear to mind the noise. Don't forget to use a strip of old carpet or blanket over the seat and tunnel for the dog to walk on when it gets in and out. or its claws will mark the leather horribly (bitter experience)

[greymrj]

My dog is a bit nervous but I did take him out in 'her', wearing a harness and sitting on a very heavily protected passenger seat. He seemed to enjoy it more than riding in my daily driver. I will now try him on the 'shelf'. Liked the idea with the foam. I will buy a length of the biggest diameter I can find, better shape than the towel and wont get as wet. The simplest solutions are often the best! Thanks.

[glenrobbo]

greymrj said:

My dog is a bit nervous but I did take him out in 'her', wearing a harness and sitting on a very heavily protected passenger seat. He seemed to enjoy it more than riding in my daily driver. I will now try him on the 'shelf'. Liked the idea with the foam. I will buy a length of the biggest diameter I can find, better shape than the towel and wont get as wet. The simplest solutions are often the best! Thanks.

Further to my "What's yours called" thread,you called your S 'her' .
What's her name then?
If you've already answered, please forgive me but i've been in the pub for a while now & my memory ain't wot it used to be .

[greymrj]

Just 'her' or 'she'. Dont want to give her a full name in case I talk in my sleep!

[dryden]

Thanks for all your suggestions, I think in the short term, I will see if I can find one of those long fluffy stuffed sausage dogs that are draught excluders, bit more interesting than a piece of foam;)
But the best long term idea must be to try to get a glass heated rear window from a Ma**a, or something similar, and have it stiched in with a zip. Good for security too, as it would prevent rear entry.