ragtops - smelling the world, and windows up??? no way!

Discussion in 'The ragtop shop' started by ragtop4spd, May 10, 2010.

  1. ragtop4spd

    ragtop4spd Well-Known Member

    Ok, so I'm going to start a thread. So the next question for ragtop owners is why?

    For me, it goes back to my Dad's '71 Grand Ville. My sister fried it right before I was to get it around '80. But that car got me hooked, even with the glass back window breaking 2 or 3 times. Had to have a ragtop, sold a wonderful '64 Riviera to get my Wildcat in 1984. My cousins in Chicago who had several convertibles influenced me too.

    For me, I feel more alive smelling the world when driving - dinner cooking, wetlands along the road, honeysuckle, BBQ, engine smells on the first spring day; I catch that every year. Man, smell life! How about that temperature change when you drive down the dip in the road, or get to the tree lined section of road? You learn a lot about the world when you are not cooped in with the windows up and A/C blasting.

    Next question - anybody goofy enough to drive with the top down, but windows up? DON'T do it if you are a guy. It's not a good look (edited) in my humble opinion. Wearing a coat is ok, and heater at full blast is ok, but no windows up. One window up for the passenger seat is marginally ok, IF you have your wife or girlfriend sitting there (AND its the only possible way you can get agreement to put the top down). Otherwise, all windows DOWN. Coldest top down day for me was about 45 degrees, with coat, baseball cap, and heater.
     

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  2. V8Sky

    V8Sky "Scarlett"

    Nice Buick convertible you have :) Although I honestly was never in a convertible until I bought my own, I knew that I always wanted a convertible - I just think it is very cool to drive around in a classic car (Buick preferred!) with the top down. Feeling the wind and seeing the sky above as you drive along with the music playing just brings a smile to my face.
     
  3. regalmike85

    regalmike85 V6 Regal

    I dont have a rag top myself but next buick i get i want it to be a rag top they always had that cool style about them. they may have some problems but how good they look makes it worth it to me
     
  4. SpecialWagon65

    SpecialWagon65 Ted Nagel

    I'm TOTALLY with you, although even more offensive is the dreaded top down, front windows down...and rear ones still up!
    I've had to "educate " my girlfriend on keeping all windows down. She has a Mitsu Spyder, and has the top down a lot...so far good...
    My garage is right next to a huge cemetary, I always can feel a temp change riding by there as it is many acres of cool green area that is beautiful, especially driving by in the convertible 4-sp Wildcat (65) :beers2:
     
  5. 64SkyConvert

    64SkyConvert 1964 300 ci

    Top down and the windows up...? That makes me claustrophobic....

    Windows are for when it is raining...really hard.
     
  6. Duane

    Duane Member

    Whats really funny is I had this exact conversation with my wife as we drove the convertible back home from Yardley's picnic last saturday.:laugh:
    Duane
     
  7. 70ConvBeast

    70ConvBeast Well-Known Member

    Top down, windows down always. One day my wife and I had to get my mother-in-law lit in order to convince her that the window needed to go down.
     
  8. ragtop4spd

    ragtop4spd Well-Known Member

    I was thinking today about why that window question came up in my mind. I've been seeing a lot of late model convertibles this spring being driven (by either men or women) with the top down but one or more windows up. Giving some more thought, I hardly ever see it with vintage cars. In any case, a sunroof would be the better way to go for only partial air.
     
  9. 66electrafied

    66electrafied Just tossing in my nickel's worth

    Top down, windows down, it's the only way to go.

    It's usually the old "Boomers" driving their Bimmers who drive around top down all bundled up and with the windows up. In their attempts to look cool and recapture their youth they tend to look downright uncomfortable. College girls driving Golfs tend to leave rear windows up, and haven't realized the more windows you leave up the more of a wind-tunnel effect it creates. It's funny to see them driving at speed with their hair all blowing forward and the windows up.

    For those that haven't done it yet, there's nothing like driving through the Rockies with the top down; - the view is incredible and it's a great drive. Last time I did it I almost froze, it gets pretty cool up there, but it was worth it.
     
  10. Einfamus

    Einfamus Well-Known Member

    Nothing is cooler then cruising down the street and people commenting about how much they think your car is cool. I was driving through the community when a kid stuck out his hand and I slapped it going by. Probably was the highlight of his spring this year.
     
  11. Golden Oldie 65

    Golden Oldie 65 Well-Known Member

    I take it you don't live around a farming community :grin:
     
  12. Mister T

    Mister T Just truckin' around

    Making that trip on a motorcycle is quite righteous as well. :beer It is very invigorating to stand on the foot pegs and look down into the Kicking Horse Canyon just east of Golden.
     
  13. 64SkyConvert

    64SkyConvert 1964 300 ci

    Perhaps the entire issue centers around hair.

    I don't have any, so it's no bother at all. :laugh:
     
  14. dl7265

    dl7265 No car then Mopar

    [​IMG]


    DL
     
  15. 64SkyConvert

    64SkyConvert 1964 300 ci

    Sad...
     

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  16. DeeVeeEight

    DeeVeeEight Well-Known Member

    I agree that convertibles are totally cool and that the wind rules and that the cars look best with the glass down, but I have to differ from the majority when it comes to the windows question.

    I believe that it is my right as a convertible owner to be totally self indulgent and to exploit the comforts of my vehicle to the extreme. What could be better than cruising around with the top down on a sweltering day and then pulling up to a stop light and BLASTING the A/C in your face while you wait for the light to change? The same applies for cold weather cruising with the top down. I believe that if you got it FLAUNT IT. Putting the windows up with the top down allows you to experience the best of both worlds at the same time.

    [​IMG]
     
    Last edited: May 12, 2010
  17. Duane

    Duane Member

    I respectfully disagree,

    The only time it's "legal" to ride with the windows up and the top down is 2:00 AM in the morning when you're driving home from your girlfriends house and need the cool air in your face to stay awake. Especially when you have to get up for work at 6:00 AM and then do it again the next night!

    Ahhhh...................the days of youth when you're 18, at the Jersey shore, with a 67 Mustang conv.:laugh:
    Duane
     
  18. 65specialconver

    65specialconver kennedy-bell MIA

    And dont forget the visors have to be flipped all the way up too:bglasses: :TU:
     
  19. moleary

    moleary GOD Bless America

    Rowing through the gears in a big block BUICK rag top...


    <a href="http://s139.photobucket.com/albums/q299/moleary70/05-10-09%20update/?action=view&current=049.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i139.photobucket.com/albums/q299/moleary70/05-10-09%20update/049.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
     
  20. 64SkyConvert

    64SkyConvert 1964 300 ci

    x2 on the A/C....I love blasting the A/C with the top down on a sweltering day!:beers2: :beers2: :laugh:

    Doing my part to help reduce global warming by air-conditioning the world :moonu:
     

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