How long do you keep your soft top down ?

[Old-Duckman]

I always put the Z’s top up when I’m done using the car for the day.

I have a 1972 Triumph Spitfire that has the original convertible top (believe it or not... I’ve owned the car since 77). It has a vinyl top and I left it down for, basically, an entire summer (garaged when not using) and I don’t think it did it any good, thus my opinion on not leaving the Z’s top down overnight.

Curious to know what others do.

 

[Tich]

As mine is parked outdoors all the time, its not safe or desirable to leave it down overnight.


Phil

 

[ErrErrminator]

Mine is garaged when not in use. I have considered leaving it down on a few occasions when I know I’ll be out in it again the following day, but then I think about the dust and muck which always seems to land on the car in the garage and how it would then be all over the interior too.

I also reckon the the roof will fare better over time if it is kept in the raised position, with the fabric stretched when not in use for any length of time. I have no info or evidence to support this, it’s more of a gut feeling.

 

[buzyg]

I've heard arguments both ways over the years. Anyone who uses a hard top has there roof down all the time it is fitted, so there will be school of thought on that. Mine is almost always down. Certainly always down when parked in the garage. No issues at all with it after 9+ years in my care.

 

[Keyper]

Mine was stored for 10 months garaged and I left the hood down, had no issues, but I can understand why not to

 

[nhartgolfer]

The soft top has to be down the entire time the hardtop is installed, which for most owners would be for several months.
This does not have any negative impact on the soft top as far as I am aware.

 

[alane29]

mine at one time was down for 10 years as I had the hardtop on -no issues

 

[ErrErrminator]

I don’t have a hardtop so hadn’t thought about that. So it’s proven unlikely to cause any major issues. Good. Think I’ll stick with my top-up in the garage for keeping the interior clean approach though.

 

[buzyg]

I don’t have a hardtop so hadn’t thought about that. So it’s proven unlikely to cause any major issues. Good. Think I’ll stick with my top-up in the garage for keeping the interior clean approach though.

I try not to leave mine in there long enough to get dusty. Pesky dust. :wink:

 

[ErrErrminator]

I don’t have a hardtop so hadn’t thought about that. So it’s proven unlikely to cause any major issues. Good. Think I’ll stick with my top-up in the garage for keeping the interior clean approach though.

I try not to leave mine in there long enough to get dusty. Pesky dust. :wink:

I use it as an excuse to the Mrs for a sneaky evening drive. “Just popping round the block to blow the dust off the car darling. Won’t be long.” Three hours later......

 

[buzyg]

I don’t have a hardtop so hadn’t thought about that. So it’s proven unlikely to cause any major issues. Good. Think I’ll stick with my top-up in the garage for keeping the interior clean approach though.

I try not to leave mine in there long enough to get dusty. Pesky dust. :wink:

I use it as an excuse to the Mrs for a sneaky evening drive. “Just popping round the block to blow the dust off the car darling. Won’t be long.” Three hours later......

Like your style

 

[Citation 650]

I leave in down only while driving on cold foggy days. 8)

 

[LeeZ4MR]

I've heard arguments both ways over the years. Anyone who uses a hard top has there roof down all the time it is fitted, so there will be school of thought on that. Mine is almost always down. Certainly always down when parked in the garage. No issues at all with it after 9+ years in my care.

I'm the same and I always leave the top down in my garage with my 370Z. I do it for a couple of reasons, one is because roof up you can't see anything behind you!(I reverse into the garage), and secondly I hate the way that a fabric roof looks when it is up!

 

[Roberltd2]

My eldest sister owned a Spitfire from about the same era - probably an older one as she was a student in the mid to late seventies. She and her boyfriend (later to become her husband) loved it to bits but sold it for fifty quid when it became uneconomically viable to keep it going.
I still remember how annoyed they were when they found out that the car had been subsequently sold on for a huge amount of money on account of it's number plate: RRO 55 as I seem to recall. I think think it was bought by a Rolls Royce owner.
Robert.