Do You Store Your Roadster w/Top Up or Down?
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Re: Do You Store Your Roadster w/Top Up or Down?
I leave the top in the position it was in at the end of my drives. However, so in the summer it generally remains down and in the winter it generally remains up. I intentionally minimize the number of cycles on the top mechanism.I cannot find any recommendation in the owners manual.
Re: Do You Store Your Roadster w/Top Up or Down?
Top Up. Down leaves a crease in the middle of the top and may have wear issues.
As for exercising the top mechanisms, I routinely put the top down and backup every so often(660days) because the cables will should be slid thru the ways to keep lubrication. There is a lube to use but garage door lube works just fine.
I know of very few hydraulic mechanisms that do not deteriorate if left unused for long periods.
I recommend you flex the muscles with some frequency.
After all, if a cute gal comes along and asks for a ride, would you not want the confidence in knowing it will go up.
As for exercising the top mechanisms, I routinely put the top down and backup every so often(660days) because the cables will should be slid thru the ways to keep lubrication. There is a lube to use but garage door lube works just fine.
I know of very few hydraulic mechanisms that do not deteriorate if left unused for long periods.
I recommend you flex the muscles with some frequency.
After all, if a cute gal comes along and asks for a ride, would you not want the confidence in knowing it will go up.
Last edited by Franc Rauscher; 10-28-2015 at 06:07 PM.
Re: Do You Store Your Roadster w/Top Up or Down?
Here in East TENNESSEE, the weather and scenery are so nice that I run that thing up and down a few times a week. If it's down when I park it in the garage it stays down until I have a reason to put it up (washing, rain, too cold for topless, etc.). Sun out; temps up: Top Down. No problem so far.
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Re: Do You Store Your Roadster w/Top Up or Down?
In case anyone missed what Franc said (and don't live near any farmers)...
My last car died at 116,000 in an accident. The car was a daily driver and since I live in Georgia, I can assure you that the top went up and down once or twice a week in the winter and up to a dozen or more times a week the other nine months a year. I had the car four years and 7 months and did this the whole time. HUNDREDS of top cycles a year - never had a leak or any trouble from the top what so ever.
Now, just hang around this forum and our Facebook pages and read the troubles some people have had with their tops. Every one of them either:
1) Don't exercise the top, thinking they are 'preserving it'
2) Store the car five months a year and do not start or move the car, let alone the top.
Compare that to my experience.
My current car is a garage queen and goes up to two weeks at a time without being driven - it sits in a storage unit five miles from the house. The car is at least started and driven to the corner store every 14 days and the top is exercised EVERY TIME I am in the car. PERIOD.
My last car died at 116,000 in an accident. The car was a daily driver and since I live in Georgia, I can assure you that the top went up and down once or twice a week in the winter and up to a dozen or more times a week the other nine months a year. I had the car four years and 7 months and did this the whole time. HUNDREDS of top cycles a year - never had a leak or any trouble from the top what so ever.
Now, just hang around this forum and our Facebook pages and read the troubles some people have had with their tops. Every one of them either:
1) Don't exercise the top, thinking they are 'preserving it'
2) Store the car five months a year and do not start or move the car, let alone the top.
Compare that to my experience.
My current car is a garage queen and goes up to two weeks at a time without being driven - it sits in a storage unit five miles from the house. The car is at least started and driven to the corner store every 14 days and the top is exercised EVERY TIME I am in the car. PERIOD.
Last edited by pizzaguy; 11-26-2015 at 12:37 PM.
Re: Do You Store Your Roadster w/Top Up or Down?
In case anyone missed what Franc said (and don't live near any farmers)...
My last car died at 116,000 in an accident. The car was a daily driver and since I live in Georgia, I can assure you that the top went up and down once or twice a week in the winter and up to a dozen or more times a week the other nine months a year. I had the car four years and 7 months and did this the whole time. HUNDREDS of top cycles a year - never had a leak or any trouble from the top what so ever.
Now, just hang around this forum and our Facebook pages and read the troubles some people have had with their tops. Every one of them either:
1) Don't exercise the top, thinking they are 'preserving it'
2) Store the car five months a year and do not start or move the car, let alone the top.
Compare that to my experience.
My current car is a garage queen and goes up to two weeks at a time without being driven - it sits in a storage unit five miles from the house. The car is at least started and driven to the corner store every 14 days and the top is exercised EVERY TIME I am in the car. PERIOD.
My last car died at 116,000 in an accident. The car was a daily driver and since I live in Georgia, I can assure you that the top went up and down once or twice a week in the winter and up to a dozen or more times a week the other nine months a year. I had the car four years and 7 months and did this the whole time. HUNDREDS of top cycles a year - never had a leak or any trouble from the top what so ever.
Now, just hang around this forum and our Facebook pages and read the troubles some people have had with their tops. Every one of them either:
1) Don't exercise the top, thinking they are 'preserving it'
2) Store the car five months a year and do not start or move the car, let alone the top.
Compare that to my experience.
My current car is a garage queen and goes up to two weeks at a time without being driven - it sits in a storage unit five miles from the house. The car is at least started and driven to the corner store every 14 days and the top is exercised EVERY TIME I am in the car. PERIOD.
My car is also a garage queen. She sits in the garage at the house and goes
about two weeks (sometimes more) at a time without being moved. I try to
stretch her legs a little as often as practical and now I'll also exercise the top every time.
Re: Do You Store Your Roadster w/Top Up or Down?
I do not have a soft top, my head aside, I have always thought that the tensioning of the fabric top will put the glue between the fabric and the glass in a shear condition. Glues are not too good in this condition, they are good in tension. If I had a soft top I would think that the roof would be best store in the raised but not latched position.
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Re: Do You Store Your Roadster w/Top Up or Down?
I do not have a soft top, my head aside, I have always thought that the tensioning of the fabric top will put the glue between the fabric and the glass in a shear condition. Glues are not too good in this condition, they are good in tension. If I had a soft top I would think that the roof would be best store in the raised but not latched position.
Re: Do You Store Your Roadster w/Top Up or Down?
The cylinders would be in a variety of positions, let the hydraulic oil sort itself out.
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Re: Do You Store Your Roadster w/Top Up or Down?
I exercise the top frequently and always store the car with the top up. I have never operated the top at temperature below 30 degrees or so, so it is usually not exercised as much as I would like during the winter months of storage. Knock on wood, no problems so far after 5 1/2 years of ownership.
I still hate that God awful klunking noise when the locking latch releases upon lowering the top. At least it only sounds bad inside the car and not outside. LOL.
Cheers.
I still hate that God awful klunking noise when the locking latch releases upon lowering the top. At least it only sounds bad inside the car and not outside. LOL.
Cheers.
Last edited by TiredRetired; 03-14-2016 at 09:28 PM.
Re: Do You Store Your Roadster w/Top Up or Down?
Amen to that, brother. It sure would be cool if someone could come up with a way to soften that action even a little..
Re: Do You Store Your Roadster w/Top Up or Down?
Seems to help with the noise, at least I think so.
Last edited by ala_xfire; 03-15-2016 at 11:26 AM.
Re: Do You Store Your Roadster w/Top Up or Down?
I'll give it a try. Anything has to help.
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