Tell me true – how are cabriolet’s for long road trips?

[tdskip]

Hi folks, hope it’s been a good week so far for one. Looking for some real world feedback on if I take a cabriolet on a longer road trip (figure 600+ miles) if I will at some point wish I was in a target or good old coupe. Top down is obviously a special driving experience but I’m not sure how these cars do as far as wind management and noise levels, because if it gets fatiguing quickly then kind of misses the point for what I’m looking to do.

Thanks in advance for the thoughts and shared experiences.

[cabmandone]

I can tell ya from doing that kind of trip that it's nice as long as it's not REALLY hot out. I've driven out to VA to visit my brother several times in mine. The cool morning drives are AWESOME. But when its hot out and there's no cloud cover you'll be reaching for the sunscreen. Word of advice, wear a ballcap.

As far as noise, it's a cab so you get all the wind noise and road noise and the occasional whiff of a dead animal alongside the road. I have a nice loud stereo with a sub under the passenger seat so I can tune out most if I want, or enjoy the sound of a flat 6 when I choose to.

[tdskip]

Hi Nick, thanks for the fast response and thoughts. Is conversation easy on the highway with the top up? I imagine it’s near yelling at freeway speeds top down to try to communicate with your passenger...

Don’t throw me out of the building I have a little bit of an odd point of reference, my 1971 Cougar convertible is actually quieter with the top down and it’s easy to have a conversation because it does a really good job of window management because it’s got a tall windshield and side window glass but you sit relatively low. Now that car service a helipad and obviously our 911’s are a lot more compact, but just trying to get my head around if two up conversations with the top down are feasible.

Thanks again for the response.

[996AE]

My 1988 911 Cab is as quiet as my coupe, top up of course. If on a slow road, under 50mph top down isnt an issue. At fwy speeds gets a little nutty after a few miles.

But top up, its smooth and wind noise is barely there. With radio on, low its not noticeable at all.

I am sure some are more sensitive than others but I was pleasantly surprised just how nice she is.

Planning on driving LA to Monterey for Reunion week. 1000 mile RT and not a care in the world

Life is an adventure! Go get some.

[hitch911]

Drove my 85 cab from Missoula Mt to Olympia Wa. Top up all the way, very little wind noise, hard to tell I wasn't in a coupe. Best of both worlds in my opinion, go top down when conditions suit you and want that whoosh of fresh air and don't feel like chatting loudly. Top back up when you want to settle things down and get some control over the cabin.

[tdskip]

Thanks for the responses, appreciate the perspective.

[cabmandone]

Originally Posted by tdskip

Hi Nick, thanks for the fast response and thoughts. Is conversation easy on the highway with the top up? I imagine it’s near yelling at freeway speeds top down to try to communicate with your passenger...

I can't answer that one. I don't drive my car top up or with passengers very often and my exhaust in a bit on the louder side which causes some drone when the top is up. I would think top up and stock exhaust you wouldn't have any issue carrying on a conversation.

Top down at highway speed you'll definitely have to talk louder than normal but I don't think it's any worse than in a Targa.

[tdskip]

Thanks for the follow up Nick, appreciate it.

[WPOZZZ]

My 88 cab has a relatively quiet cabin with the top up and ac on. Top down is a blast, but my exhaust is a little loud. I just crank up the stereo! I need to sort more things out on my car, but don't have a lot of time to do so.

[icarp]

Back in 2001 - 2005 I used to drive my Lotus Elan from Philly to Watkins Glen , and to VIR, race tracks . The longer being 500 miles one way . Race my car and drive home . Next year I plan on driving my Elan to Cabo san Lucas Mexico , from Santa Fe New Mexico. It is all in your mind , be one of the people that just goes on the trip. Sometimes I have had a passenger , sometimes solo.
Oh did I mention the car has no top? On a last note I will be driving from Santa Fe , to Mt Shasta Ca, and back in mid June , 4,000 mile trip and no top, just a tonneau. I vote for the drive .
P.S. I am 62 yrs young
Ian

[megerian]

I bought one of those wind deflectors and you would be amazed at the difference it makes.

My wife and I can have a normal conversation at highway speeds with the top open.

[Cherry Bomb]

It's awesome if you're willing to accept the inevitable noise. I too, fall under the loud pipes category. I prefer the harmonic melody more than conversation, but not at all impossible with top down, as mentioned, below 70mph sustained.

My 83 has original weatherstripping so anything above 80 is noticeable. Now, 120-150+ sounds like windows down even though they're up with the top. It was quieter some years ago, so new gasket are on the list.

My favorite on hot "sunny" days is top up with back window unzipped and door glass down. Air from all angles and no threat of lobster red skin. No a/c as I built my car to enjoy on a more entertaining level.

I would NOT hesitate to hop in and drive to AZ today.

[Jack Stands]

Depends how much you like open air motoring. As I found the visibility rather constrained with the top up, I always drove my Cab with the top down.

[Otter74]

Originally Posted by icarp

Back in 2001 - 2005 I used to drive my Lotus Elan from Philly to Watkins Glen , and to VIR, race tracks . The longer being 500 miles one way . Race my car and drive home . Next year I plan on driving my Elan to Cabo san Lucas Mexico , from Santa Fe New Mexico. It is all in your mind , be one of the people that just goes on the trip. Sometimes I have had a passenger , sometimes solo.
Oh did I mention the car has no top? On a last note I will be driving from Santa Fe , to Mt Shasta Ca, and back in mid June , 4,000 mile trip and no top, just a tonneau. I vote for the drive .
P.S. I am 62 yrs young
Ian

I got to drive an Elan once years ago and it was intoxicating. I would take trips like that in an Elan in a minute! You're lucky to be able to do that.

I drove my Targa 16 hours from Chicago to CO in a day, spent a week in the mountains, 16 hours back in a day to go home, top off the entire time.

[tdskip]

Thanks for all the responses, I really appreciate and enjoy hearing peoples experiences.

As a side-note I just got my 1969 S4 Elan DHC back on the road, it had been neglected and improperly stored since 1992. It is a total hoot but it has its factory four-speed and differential still so it’s not entirely happy at modern freeway speeds.

It sounds like a Cabriolet with a wind deflector might be a good option because it allows me to control exactly how much wind buffering I get with the top down. Most of my convertibles are old and frankly have pretty marginal top up ceiling, it may well be the case at a later air cooled 911s have a good enoysealing top for what I am looking for.

[996AE]

I love top down driving. Add a nice well fitting hat, sun block and ear plugs and go for it!

[tdskip]

Just drove in 87 and then a C2 cabriolet back to back and admittedly they were only 15 minute test drives but wind management was quite good in both, and I can totally see using them top down an awful lot of the time.

[yelcab1]

I have had two true convertibles (Targa don't count) and I can tell something about myself: I am not a top down person. I truly prefer a coupe or a top-up experience on long trips.

[cabmandone]

If you time it right, a long top down trip is hard to beat. I normally turn the radio down and just enjoy the sound of the engine. Can't remember the name of the small town on Rte 50 but it's east of Parkersburg WV, the road becomes tree lined and it's absolute top down perfection.

[AlKidd]

My car has a sweet spot around 120KM / hr. (75Mph) where all the noises seem to blend into each other and disappear. Its like sliding into a quiet room and hard to describe. At different speeds raising and lowering windows changes a lot of the sounds top up or down. Good tunes and cool mornings make for an fantastic drive.
Al