What temperature is the magic number for you to put the top down?

I usually don't take my XK to work, but both yesterday and today we were above 60 degrees in the afternoon. It's been a long cold snowy winter and I couldn't resist so I took it to work.

My commute sucks, it's the second worst freeway commute in the country and is full of stops and starts. Nevertheless, with the top down and the warm sun in my face, it was sublime, even if I was only going 5 to 10 Mph.

Today it was 62 or 63 and on the rare occasions that I got above 25 MPH, it was a bit cold.

Generally, at this time of year, if it hits 60....I taking the top down.

 

Top down is any time I want to do it.

 

We've had some rain to flush the salt from the roads so as the sun comes out I'll be back into open top driving. Still got a lot of snow on the ground but as long as the roads are clear it's OK. My rule of thumb is 40*F with the sun out which by the way is my golf min temp.. Nicer with this car as I turn on the heated steering wheel and seat and roll the windows up and off I go. Being retired it's usually an hour or two ride.

 

Depends on how fast I'll be driving but I'll go as low as upper 40's, prefer at least in the 50's

 

Upper 40s if it's strong sunshine. Also depends how long I'll be driving and how fast.

 

Agree. Also depends on how long its been since the last drive. After a long winter, I'm less picky about the temps than I probably will be after a summer of driving.

In either case, cranking up the heaters and being able to turn on a heated steering wheel certainly makes the drive more comfortable than in the days of old. Not more fun, but more comfortable.

Mark

 

For me it also depends how dirty the car is! Haha!

 

According to the owner's manual:

Do not attempt to operate the convertible top at temperatures below –15°C (5°F). This may cause damage to the fabric.

 

One year for Christmas the wife and I took the xk8 to the festival of lights at Bull Run Park. We put the top down and I had my coffee and she hot chocolate it was a great time. Never let a good time pass you by!

 

A good hat, blower on high, heated seats and steering wheel, and even mid-forties is good for me.

 

It's relative to what the temperature was. Going from 30 degrees to 50 feels like a heat wave, where 50 in AZ or NV may seem cold.

 

The engine light went on tonight in my XJ and I couldn't get it to the dealer, so it will sit in the garage tomorrow while I take the XK to work again. I hope it's not a big problem with the XJ, it's been a reliable old war horse (2006).

I wish they'd have put different "degrees" into the heated steering wheel. To have 3 "bars" on a cold day with the top down would be great where only 1 bar would be good for a "normal" drive with the top up.

 

I would also say 40 but in the F-Type you are also more protected from the wind and the top down feels more like a big sun roof with the windows up as the passenger comartment ends right behing the seats. With the wind schott there is absolutely no draft coming from behind or around the seats.

 

If you buy a wind deflector and mount it in the holes provided in the rear seat area you can drive with the top down in low temperatures using the seat heaters and heated steering wheel. The second thing you can do is buy and install or have installed depending on good with that sort of thing you are White Jaguar's remote top controller with the optional rear window control add-on. Then you should be good down to about 32 degrees Fahrenheit. I have the remote control with the rear window option and it nothing short of terrific and a great add-on accessory. Checkout his website: http://www.thejagwrangler.com

 

I agree with the wind deflector as it works great with the top down in the colder weather.