Hey new here and I think I already know answer .. is it even feasible to drive replica with top up? Assuming passenger side mirror installed or is that possibility a joke ?
thanks
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I took a forty mile round trip drive with the top up and the side curtains off just last Friday here in the Florida Panhandle. My car is a 2002 VS and it was just fine, except for the noise from my stroked 2110 with a sidewinder exhaust. Sort of keeps a lot of the sound inside the cabin even though the engine is behind me.
I had the top up because it was threatening rain and I had an all day meeting to attend. Slapped the side curtains on it while in the meeting. It never rained.
I have rarely driven in the rain but this was a day when it was the last of my four cars available so off I went.
I've never regretted taking that car out, ever.
I made the trip from Charleston, SC to Carlisle, PA in my Speedster 10 times, 1500 miles round trip, all with the top up regardless of weather to avoid sun and wind burn. Interstate travel with the top down is only good for short distances to me.
I drive my VS regularly with the top up... to keep from baking in the sun, or keeping from getting wet. Us Seattle folk are mild weather people. Works just fine at interstate or side road speeds,
Mirrors are pretty much a joke with the top up or down. I just crane my stubby neck a good deal to stay out of the way of gawkers etc.......
If you have a top like mine, it is important to use the locks on either side where the bows come together to tighten and stretch the top when it is up. It makes a difference in keeping the roof taut.
I have put the top up a couple of times as Lane said, but we have really scorching August heat down here and the sun can really fry you.
Thanks .. your feedback much appreciated! Glad I joined.
Dan
Dan
9971: Glad you are here!
A Convertible D/Cabriolet model gives much better visibility with top up --- since windup windows, taller windshield and larger rear window. The side curtains (especially VS ones with fabric around plastic) makes vision "tank" slot window like. Without side windows in, vision improves.
Even Porsche called it an "emergency" top!
I really hated those side curtains. I couldn't see worth crap out of them. Heres a few photos of the improvement I made. The first one is the old curtain and the others are the new lean one's I made.
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Thanks guys.. I’m expecting delivery in May .. can’t wait. And thank you!
Thanks Bruce .. I await my speedy.
I only drive with the top up when I absolutely have to; in and out of storage, if I get caught out in an unexpected rain, or I really want to go on a long trip. Mostly, I drive it top down. The full tonneau has saved me many times when a storm passed by while I was parked. It actually seals better than the top. I keep a micro-fiber towel in easy reach behind the seat and a little bit of wiping and ringing and I’m back on the road again. The full tonneau is one of the best options I had installed. It keeps the dust out in the garage, keeps the seats cool in the sun, keeps off the rain, blocks the occasional bird poop, and discourages people from looking in. Also, I drive mostly with only the driver’s side open. When it is a little cooler, I turn on the heat and it’s kind of like sitting in an outdoor hot tub :-)
@9971 Dan, as one always looking for the most inexpensive and simplest solution, here is what I've McGuyvered for my VS.
When I have my board in the car, it creates a blind spot to the rear of the passenger side. Click on pics to enlarge.
I had an old suction-cup phone holder, got a small convex mirror at Pep Boys ($2.99), attached it to the holder with double-sided adhesive tape and applied it to my windshield where it gave me the best view around the blind spot. VOILA!
This contraption also helps when I have the top up and side-curtains in place.
Hope you find this info useful! 
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Another oddity when driving with the top up is visibility, both outward AND inward. Given your head is most likely taller than the side windows, it offers a bit of privacy. Cars next to cannot see who’s driving. Inversely, I need to duck down to look out the window, especially with the side window curtains in place.
Although privacy is not what you look for in a speedster.. I love idea of keeping looky loos out when I feel like It. Good to know.
Forget the mirror, Jim.
Give me some of that water, sunshine, and green grass. 
"Given your head is most likely taller than the side windows, it offers a bit of privacy."
Both myself, and my Goobah, MUSBJIM, have never had that problem. 
Bruce, that center holder for the bottom middle of the side curtain is just what I need. Also I need to make a new set of windows in 1/4" material like you did. Mine are 1/8" thick and at anything over 70, or if a Semi goes by, the bottom will pull out slightly from the outside vacuum.
Another thing I can do this spring. The list is growing.
I actually enjoy driving Pearl with the top up. It seems a little claustrophobic for the first ten minutes, then it feels downright comfortable. Turn on the heater and it quickly comes up to tee-shirt weather. With side windows like Bruce's (and mine) the visibility is fine, but I may add a blind-spot eliminator like MUSB's, just for safety's sake. I already have a stop light prism attached to the top's windshield header and that works really well (once I figured the darn thing out!) but I may get a dash-mount version as they seem to work better.
Gordon.......What is a stop light prism ?
Until you have thoroughly water sealed from underneath and addressed the windshield top seal and side curtain seals against rain leakage buy some 2 inch blue tap and a package of Costco towels. Oh, and a box fan for when she is back in the garage.
Speaking from experience: If there's a dark cloud in the sky....don't go out without a dozen Shamwow towels! 
drill some holes in floor for drainage,,makes car lighter too
barncobob posted:drill some holes in floor for drainage,,makes car lighter too
I can’t advocate this (I know it’s a joke), but I can advocate drilling some holes in the spare tire well.
I added a zipper to the rear window so that I don't get air buffeting with the top up and no side curtains.
Ha.. I’m in SoCal so I won’t be driving it in the rain.. just think it looks cool with the top up. I’m probably in the minority here wanting to drive with the top up.
Bruce: I have one like the middle of the top of the page that MUSB provided. It works OK but not great. The dash mounted version that Jim's page goes to is better quality, but designed to be dash mounted, assuming that the car has an outside windshield shade (think pre-1960's car or a Semi tractor) and the view needs to be lower to get beyond the forward edge of the sun shade. Ideal for us would be an antique glass version mounted near the top of the windshield, right above the steering column.
My suction cup became petrified so I just cram the wire form up under the windshield top frame and the rubber gasket - seems to work OK. If you get one, mount it with the crescent at the bottom (I see a lot of them mounted upside down and they become useless).
At the suggestion of Dennis O'Brien at O'Brien Truckers Hot Rod parts, I found this one that looks really intriguing for the money ($20 bucks):
https://www.amazon.com/Just-Bl...nSight/dp/B00K31M554
Our windshields are high enough to use one, but I've never seen one in a car. They're static cling, too!
Bear in mind, you only need one of these if you have a 356 Pre-A or A coupe or Speedster. The others have higher windshields so the light vision is better. With the top up (or hard top) they let you see the suspended stop light without craning your neck.
I have toyed with the idea of making a rugged, center-strut-mount for the prism (and another one for my GPS), but I don't know if it would be useful mounted in the center of the windshield. I suppose I could slip mine over there and report back.
As soon as I wake up Pearl.
And the salt is washed off of the roads (early next week).
Aiming for a "Dust-off Cruise" on April 28'th to a cafe in NE Connecticut.
The one in the Amazon link would probably work better but wouldn't look as cool.
I have never seen this I wasn't sure if you guys were doing a loof lirpa early.
I don't understand why they're needed at all as I've never had a problem seeing a stop light while in my car; top up or top down.
Gee that is funny I hear they doubled RLCameras in your area last year. 
The top is definitely not useless, but it's not a top in the usual sense of the word, either. It's more like a nice tarp.
I realize I bear a stong resemblance to a silverback gorilla, but that's exactly how I feel with the top up-- like a bear on a tricycle.
It's pretty close and loud inside with the top up, and visibility is greatly diminished-- even with good side curtains or windows (in the case of an IM). I just never feel like I know 100% of what's going on around me when the top is up, and in a car as small as these are-- that makes it way less fun.
I'm the opposite of Jack and Lane-- when I travel, I want the top down, even if I'm driving 1000 mi. Top down, these cars are a joy. Top up is significantly less special.
Michael McKelvey posted:I added a zipper to the rear window so that I don't get air buffeting with the top up and no side curtains.
Did you really? Pict?
@Stan Galat " I just never feel like I know 100% of what's going on around me when the top is up, and in a car as small as these are-- that makes it way less fun."
Even with the top down parking is often an issue as to how close the curb is....
And with the TOP UP I used to have a challenge to make sure I was not having someone in my blind spot but since I adopted the blind spot removal system with my three mirrors it has never been an issue.
I posted it before but you might like it if you really give it a try. The verdict comes in when you forget to do a shoulder check but you look to your side window and VOILA the car in the mirro but not in your window. It makes a believer out of you.
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IF you come to Carlisle you will see a lot of nice blue tarps
I don't know 100% of what's going on around me either, Stan. But in my case it comes with being an antique person. The top has little to do with it.
@IaM-Ray Ray: Does your roadster not have a zippered rear window? I can't remember if it was my suggestion or Henry's to put a zipper in mine, but I'm glad we did. I always unzip the window when putting the top down - saves it from getting too creased. Plus, I can run with the top up and rear window down, although I rarely have the top up.
aircooled posted:I really hated those side curtains. I couldn't see worth crap out of them. Heres a few photos of the improvement I made. The first one is the old curtain and the others are the new lean one's I made.
9971,
check out Troy's CruZin windows ...I bought them and you can see much better than the curtains. when you open the site click on CruZin link, left side
I have this too. It sounded like a good idea, but I’ve never used it or felt the need to.
Most of my top up driving is with the side curtains in.
I have driven without side curtains at highway speeds, though, and never encountered buffeting that would make me undo the rear window.
If I lived in a really hot climate, I would probably remove it to improve ventilation on really hot days when I wanted sun protection, or, more likely, I wouldn’t drive on those days....
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Most of my top up driving is with the side curtains in.
I have driven without side curtains at highway speeds, though, and never encountered buffeting that would make me undo the rear window.
If I lived in a really hot climate, I would probably remove it to improve ventilation on really hot days when I wanted sun protection, or, more likely, I wouldn’t drive on those days....
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Bob: IM S6 posted:@IaM-Ray Ray: Does your roadster not have a zippered rear window? I can't remember if it was my suggestion or Henry's to put a zipper in mine, but I'm glad we did. I always unzip the window when putting the top down - saves it from getting too creased. Plus, I can run with the top up and rear window down, although I rarely have the top up.
Yes mine does, I believe some IM speedsters do not but both my roadster had it and I find it very very handy.
With my AC if I want to enjoy the sun even if it is quite hot in traffic I can have nice cool air at the feet area and chest and enjoy the sun until I get heat stroke then I Use the top as a sunbrella, with rear window down and also in the fall when too cool as well while running heated seats and real heat.
The question was asked as I was just wondering how he added it to his top as I have never seen a zippered window in anything else but then I have only been at Carlisle twice once in my DD and then in a deluge when no one showed up with their cars only DD.
Bob, adding the zipper to your build was a great decision on your part, most times I put a microfibre towel to keep the plastic window from getting damaged, have you tried that. I'm just slightly OCD, and XYZ like Marty.