Leaving a convertible parked with the top down is something I’ve noticed many convertible owners do, and quite honestly it makes me cringe. Maybe it’s that I’m just that much of an obsessive-compulsive, hypochondriac, and germaphobe. Or maybe it’s because I’ve watched too many TV shows and films.
Such as the Seinfeld episode where George wants to express his disdain at a Mercedes SL’s owner for taking up two parking spaces by spitting in it.
Or in Back to the Future, where Biff crashes his convertible into a manure truck, filling the entire passenger compartment with it. This might not be the best example, as it did not happen to a parked car, but I think you get the picture that leaving the top down is an open invitation for any unwanted matter to easily drop in.
Of course, things like how long one is planning on leaving their car parked for, and what kind of car it is are also important considerations. For what it’s worth though, I’ve seen plenty of newer BMW convertibles left top down for at least an hour in the parking lot of the grocery store I used to work at in college. Still, if I ever owned a convertible, I don’t think I’d leave the top down when parked for any amount of time. But many of your feelings will likely differ. So my convertible owners, is leaving the top down after you park a frequent behavior? Non-convertible owners are of course welcome to join in on this as well.
We have left the top down on the wife’s 05 Mustang when running into a store or parking in friends or our driveway but you got to remember to tilt the seats forward if you are wearing shorts
I used to walk past convertibles and think “I would never do that. I couldn’t leave my car parked with the top down.” Now that I have a convertible I do it all the time.
Do not even need to be topless. Back in the almost mid 1980s my sister was working at a radio station here in Portland Or. She was driving my 1970 Ford Maverick at the time. Came out after work to find a bum sleeping in the back seat. Do not know, if she left a door unlocked (most likely) or if he broke in. There was no damage to the car.
If I’m driving my convertible, I always pay attention to the weather. If there’s a chance of rain, I pay attention to the local radar, but that’s limited to my commute between work and home.
If I’m going somewhere I’ve never been, I put up the top and lock the car down tight. It’s not like an MG B is difficult to break in to, but at least the top is relatively inexpensive to replace. I’ll keep praying for dumb thieves that can’t drive a stick.
I do this a lot. I didn’t at first, but almost 4 years into convertible ownership has made me lazy. I always lock up the glove box and center console, of course, and don’t leave the roof down if I’m going to be somewhere for more than, say, a half hour unless I can see the car. I’ve never had to deal with bird excrement or anything like that, but it is a regular occurrence to sweep out leaves or other little pieces from trees.
The way I figure it, the more often I raise and lower the (manual) top on my Miata, the more quickly it is going to wear out and need to be replaced…so I try to minimize this action.
Took my lovely bride to Culver’s in Cedar Falls for an ice cream on a beautiful Sunday afternoon this week. On such a brilliant, sunny day, of course, we took the convertible. I opted to leave the top down while we were inside, but I parked in a spot around back where I knew I could keep an eye on it. After the ice cream, we dropped by the Walmart across the road. I raised the top and locked the car. I guess it comes down to where you are in relation to the car and how long you’ll be away from it.
I hate having to raise the top when I leave the car, but I guess it’s just a concession to the cruddy world we live in today. I guess the rule of thumb is: If you’d lock a sedan, you’d lock a convertible, too.