Just wondering a few things about those of us here that drive convertible XKs.

How often do you drive roofless? Do you leave your cars parked somewhere without the roof for a short amount of time? Would you dare do so an extended amount of time?

I love driving my car roofless but there is one caveat, I have to do so after 4 or 5 pm or before 8 am. Otherwise, the sun is going to be punishing me and I'll arrive very sweaty at my destination. Is there a way of avoiding this? I mean, I'm a slim guy with a hairless back, so that's not it. I think it must be the combination of living in a tropical island and driving a triple black convertible.

Any tips and tricks for better comfort when driving topless?

 

I leave the top down regualrly when I park for a short time or longer if I'm in a "good location". I don't leave anything in the car of value and hit the valet button and lock the car. If someone opens the door from the inside handle the alarm goes off. As to keeping cool, my only suggestion is to run the air conditioning full blast and drive real fast. When I lived in Arizona and had a Triumph we used to put the top up but unzip the back window. Kind of like a bimini top for a car.

 

Mine's down most of the time. Exceptions include moisture (rain, snow, hail) temperatures below 45 F, temps above 98 F or if SWMBO is in the car and we are going somewhere fancy and they know us.

I often leave it down with the valet setting on for short to medium stays or as DaveC says, if it's in a "good location".

Arriving a little windblown and somewhat sweaty is part of the convertible charm. That's what Guayaberas and sunglasses are for.

 

I don't look good in guayaberas.

I tend to close the roof on my car if I'm leaving it parked for more than 30 minutes.

I drive roofless as often as the weather allows, but I tend to prefer doing so a little later in the day, unless I want to arrive soaked and smelly. If I could keep a portable shower in the trunk, I wouldn't mind one bit. Being as it is, temperatures here are usually somewhere between 26 and 37 ºC and it gets very hot. The charcoal leather doesn't help at all.

Is driving without the roof with the aircon at full blast recommendable?

 

here i pretty much drive year round with the top down unless it's raining or below 40 and leave the top down when I go places - usually never long enough to worry about it

 

Other than the other problems of leaving it "roofless", I can tell you that the Sun shining on our leather seats is one of the most damaging things that you can do to them. I tend not to leave it "roofless" for very long at all if the Sun will be beating down on the seats. In fact, when it is really Sunny, I will cover the seats with towels, even when I am driving.

OK, my Father had horses when I was growing up, and taking care of the saddles and tack was a big part of having horses. I had to regularly wash everything down with Saddle Soap (which I still use on occasion on the seats of my Jag) as the sweat and so forth from the horses would damage the leather if not washed off.

I am just drawing caution to what the Sun can do to the interior, from the seats to the dash and so forth, beyond the security issues. Yes, I have heard of people coming back to their cars to find that some fools had thrown their drinks into them.

 

A major reason why I WILL NOT own a convertible with a dark interior.

I leave the top down often, but not at suburban malls, or Walmart mainly nice restaurants and other places with valet parking (casino's, etc.). I actually like to park, were I can see the car from inside the restaurant not so much for security, but because I like looking at it . The casino's I frequent, leave it right out front with other high-end or exotic cars as eyewash !

 

I drive with the top down virtually every day of the year (minus the 5 or so days of rain we get in So. Cal). I leave it open with the windows rolled up when parking it every one of those days, figuring that if the alarm doesn't scare off potential thieves, they would have sliced through the roof or smashed a window anyway. Outside of the rear seat belts having faded, the black (or charcoal) leather throughout the car and the dash are pretty much pristine. Why buy a 'vert, if you're not going to use it?

 

Having a triple black xk8 as well, I usually put top up during the day but mornings and evenings down!
My bigger issue is pollen. We've had two months of heavy pollen and probably another to go.
I also flip the seats up so at least the seats not hot when I get in if I've left the top down during the day. Also run ac from floor vents on high sometimes as well.

 

I might have to try that. Unfortunately, today is a cool and rainy day.

 

It's my wife's car. Top-down weather in our neck of the woods is mostly spring and autumn. Just too damn hot and humid during our blazing summers except for late-night cruising. If I'm driving the car with the top down and the outside temps are more than 70 degrees, I stay soaked in sweat (and she frowns on me sweating in her seats). Cashmere leather, so that's a plus from an interior oven perspective. When she parks, she always puts the top up and locks the car. At least that's what she tells me....

 

I drive with the top down as much as possible. It is actually perfect convert weather here.........now. Leave it with the top down as others had stated for short periods of time in parking lots. Have not used the valet button though? I do lock the car, what does the valet button do, if the car is locked?

 

The valet button locks the trunk (boot) and gas tank cover. The dash buttons for trunk/gas are disabled as well. On some models, I think it locks the glovebox as well.

 

Protect your auto leather from auto leather enemy #1; The Sun.

Protect your auto leather from auto leather enemy #1; The Sun.

| l Written by Chris Repp Thursday, 29 October 2009 17:18

• Use a sunshade in your windshield. This is a great way to cut down the heat and direct uv damage of the sun.
• Tint your windows. Only to the legal limit of course.
• Keep the car in the shade in the middle of the day or on especially hot days. Having a car that's been "garage kept" doesn't just apply to the exterior but allows the upolstery to hold up as well.
• Use leather conditioner more frequently during the hot summer months. Be sure it's a good one or it will just add to the sticky or slippery feel of the leather. Click here to see the products we use and recommend, SG-25 and SG-50. SG-50 is a bit pricey but worth it if you have leather that is starting to stiffen.
• If your leather is starting to feel stiff treat it with weekly intensive applications of a good conditioner. This stiffness will lead to cracks, tears and the death of your leather upholstery.
• If you drive a convertible, put the top up when you park in direct sunlight. The direct rays of the sun on leather is really damaging over time.

So keep showing off that awesome leather in your car. Just protect it from the sun so it stays that way.

P.S. A lot of this info applies to your leather jacket or bag too.

 

I leave mine down in the parking lot often. Understand that's not the best thing for the leather, but I do rub in leather conditioner once a month during the summer and every other month the rest of the year. I also keep it clean (dirt is an abrasive, duh) by vacuuming weekly and using leather cleaner along with the conditioner.

This is not my first convertible or interior with leather seats. So far this routine has yielded supple leather and no serious fading. My only problem with my leather at the moment are the less-than-quality repairs the previous owner had done to the driver's seat.

 

Yes, there are several ways to mitigate the damage, and I use them myself, but it is good to be aware that they are necessary, and that was my only point. Thanks.

 

There's a thread out there regarding a full cockpit tonneau cover much like the roadsters of old. Interesting reading. Might actually come about. I leave my top down almost every day. Of course, I do live in Sun Diego

 

Yeah, I read about that padrino. It certainly has my curiosity piqued.

 

I believe ordinary person type sun screen works fine on leather to block the UV.
I knew a guy used it on a BMW bike saddle and it certainly kept the leather (black) in good form.

 

I live in the Pacific Northwest, just south of Portland, so the opportunities to go topless is all too rare. That said, here's my criteria:

Assuming it is not raining . . .
++ 60 degress, plus - top's down
++ If my destination is less than 30 min's away and it's 50+ deg - top's down
++ If it's stopped raining and the streets are fairly dry - top goes down at a stoplight (assuming I'm driving in town)

Basically, I put it down as often as possible. It rains so much here that you have to grab all of the opportunities . . .
Have a great day !