Driving Top Down in the RAIN?

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doane2u

Member
Has anyone driven in the rain with their top down? I've done it lots of times in my MX-5s and not a drop comes into the cabin and I have no wind blocker except for the 3" OEM one. Even at speeds as low as 30mph.

I'm very curious how the Z does, particularly those with wind blockers. I ended up buying one from Windrestrictor.com and I like the look of it, but after several freeway drives, I'm not convinced how effective it is. It seems like a lot of wind is coming straight down into the cabin, mostly in the mid section. A rain drive test would be an excellent test to see how the wind flow is diverted past, or into the cabin.

We have rain right now, so I may do some tests on it.
 
Driving at speeds above 30 copes with most rain (except absolute downpours) - the problem is when the speed slows or you have to stop! A little can make it's way over the top of the leading edge of the side windows but that's easily coped with.

If you get the chance, drive in snow. If the snow doesn't settle on the road then there's no more amazing experience than having the snowflakes swirling around the cabin. :thumbsup:
 
paulgs1000 said:
If you get the chance, drive in snow. If the snow doesn't settle on the road then there's no more amazing experience than having the snowflakes swirling around the cabin. :thumbsup:
Click to expand...

That has to go on the to do list.

27. Drive topless in the snow, ooh arr missus. :D
 
As to Driving in the rain with the top down. it's compulsory in this house hold. Top stays down, when the Zeds moving. The rain does get in at slower speeds, especially, if it's heavy. But usually you can just drive on out the other side of the shower, with hardly a spot entering the cabin.
 
i drove back from Portsmout in very heavy rain, at 50 mph in roadworks i was getting wet, also i have found that the rain rolls over to top of the side windows, in the top corner near the front window, it then tracks down very close to the window switches, once i got out of the road works and got back up to 70mph i managed to drive through it, as i said though it was really coming down, i was getting lots of strange looks lol
 
I try to avoid getting water into the cabin as it soaks into the carpet and can be a bugbear to remove especially if there is jute used under the carpet (like the MX-5). That being said, I have driven as slow as 30km/h and not gotten water into the MX-5 cabin but once you come to a complete stop, prepared to get peppered by rain :) In any case, it is an one arm affair to raise the roof of the MX-5 even when on the move so I will raise it (5s max) if I do encounter rain.

For the E85, it is now dry season so have yet to encounter rain but I have had the Smarttop module installed, giving me the ability to raise the roof at speeds of up to 40km/h. Since the Z has more electronics than the MX-5, I would prefer keeping the cabin as dry as possible :)
 
I guess what I'm really more interested in discovering is whether the wind blockers work that well compared with no wind blockers and if there is any difference in their designs. A rain test would be ideal because if one or the other works or doesn't work, it will be obvious while driving in the rain. Like I said, I have driven in my two MX-5s in light to very heavy down pours with their tops down with no rain getting in the cabin, it just flies overheard.
The first time it happened about a year ago, I had been driving a twisty in light rain with my top down and none came in the cabin. But just when I entered the on ramp of the freeway it started raining like crazy, a down pour. There was no place to stop for another few miles, so I kept driving with the plan to take the next off ramp that would give me shelter in the freeway overpass to put the top up. I was getting some surprised/amazed looks from other drivers. :lol: Anyway, I was amazed that no rain was coming into the cabin at all from about 30mph up to 70 mph. I got off the ramp at the next exit after several miles and pulled under the freeway, got out and put the top up and there was hardly any wetness inside at all!
 
I found rain would hit the top of the roll bars and that's about it when I was driving...great experience in heavy rain
 
doane2u said:
scamel said:
There are special places for people like you
Click to expand...

Uhh... OK, where?
Click to expand...

Never mind him, bit of trolling going on I think going by his whole 2 posts on the forum :roll:

Top down in the rain is fine as long as it's not heavy. Paulgs1000 is the role model for me - his roof is NEVER up...

To the chap in Malaysia... I'd hate to get caught in one of your downpours top down :lol:
 
Bing said:
doane2u said:
scamel said:
There are special places for people like you
Click to expand...

Uhh... OK, where?
Click to expand...

Never mind him, bit of trolling going on I think going by his whole 2 posts on the forum :roll:

Top down in the rain is fine as long as it's not heavy. Paulgs1000 is the role model for me - his roof is NEVER up...

To the chap in Malaysia... I'd hate to get caught in one of your downpours top down :lol:
Click to expand...

At least the water is warm in Malaysia. :) Watch out for snakes in the middle of the road though. :wink: :D
 
Rain water is cold wherever you are :D Have been in drives when it is hot and sunny but in a split second you are in the rain front. Literally blink of an eye. That's where having a manual roof or a Smarttop or Gaptech module is a godsend. Really hate to get the cabin wet as it is a pain to completely dry out the carpet!
 
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