[silvel2edge]

I was just curious how much maintenance is involved with having a convertible and whether it's worth it for a daily driver?

I always thought it would be cool to have a convertible but then I got to thinking about what if there's a sudden down poor on the freeway for a couple minutes. This just happened to me last night. About 5 miles of heavy rain on the freeway, and then nothing. I imagine you couldn't just put the top up while driving that fast. Would you pull over and put your top up as quick as you could? Would this ruin your leather bucket seats?

If rain would really hurt your interior, do you make sure you only have your top down during the day when you are sure it's not going to rain?

Also, can your convertible go through a normal car wash ok or do you have to wash it yourself?

I'm not sure if this is the correct place for these questions, but thanks in advance.

[AFtriathlete]

Hey man, I have an 04 GT vert. Totally worth it for a daily driver. If I got caught in rain with the top down, which I have, I just pull over, put on the parking brake, top up, and away I go. It only takes about 10 seconds to put the top up. ANd you have to have the parking brake engaged to operate the top. I wouldn't worry about ruining the leather inside too much -- as long as you keep your interior armor-all'd and leather protected, which is good for any car, not just verts. I leave my top up during the day -- the sun down here in FL is pretty intense, and yeah, I think the direct sun exposure isn't necessarily good for your interior. And you can go through normal car washes, but I don't recommend it. I wash my car once a week by hand, and I only rinse the convertible top with water -- you don't want to use the normal car wash detergent that you use on the rest of the car on the vert top. And I use a convertible top protectant/cleaner for the top -- RAGG TOPP products are pretty nice for that. The top doesn't REQUIRE that kind of special care, but I want mine to last, you know? And the RAGG TOPP stuff has UV protectants and the cleaner is mild enough to be safe on the canvas.

Make sure you put on some subframe connectors to help with the body flex -- vert's flex like a bitch! I just got my Steeda subframes in yesterday, can't wait to put them on, there will be a noticeable difference in how the car drives.

Have fun with the vert -- with a nice exhaust like my Magnaflow Magnapacks is sounds like a dream with the top down.

[DrHolliday]

I have an 02 vert that I use as a daily driver. I live in hawaii, and it rains here all the time! If I'm on the highway and get stuck in the rain I just keep driving. If your doing 50+ you won't get wet... the back seat does a little, but not bad. If I do have to stop to put the top up I do it at a traffic light or under an overpass. And like AF I leave my top up during the day and put it down at night... the sun in hawaii is just as bad as florida!

[ujslost]

Well I to have a vert. And like holliday if its not storming bad, just ride with the top down most the rain blows right over ya. And putting the top up is quick and easy. Car washes no problem, Ive done it once. But I usually hand wash mine. I like my convertable as my DD. But Im starting to mod it and its a little on the heavy side like me! I have left the top down during the day while Im at work but I usually park it in the shady areas. I dont like to leave it down but I have after coming back from lunch or something say hell with it and leave it down.

[banned]

once you get a vert youll feel stupid in anything else, there is simply no comparsion for a car you want to show off.

[topflitecop21]

I test drove a vert and didnt like the body flex. The added support a roof makes the ride feel more stable while cornering and racing. I got the coupe and I couldnt be happier.

Plus the extra money saved on not having the vert = supercharger...

[MustangMatt96GT]

Glad you got a stang! But

[ILUVSTANGS]

As for maint. on the vert. some depends on where you park ..at night and also as to where you go.... f*ck the tree shade that will mess up your top pretty fast...not to mention the birds in the trees.. I have a '97 off white top on a white gt and as long as i park it in the garage over night i'm fine...cause of cats and others critters;....i recommend hand wash...i used to own a gas station w/car wash and hhhhhhhhelll no i would never put it in the wash....at least not mine...all depends on the wash system...
as for an everyday driver I luved my "TOP LESS" stang which is under construction as we speak....now I dive a 40th ann. '04 gt hard top.
which i also luv...but in my single days the rag top went over very well with the females....esp.here in the S. Florida sun on the way to the beach or Orlando. even the Keys... u can catch a very nice tan as most females found you...and a couple went top less just like my gt...aaaaaaa. but those
days are over... now i'a "married w\children"....enjoy your rag top!!!!!
later

[ujslost]

being married isnt always bad either though. well idunno maybe it is!

well for some folks it is. but not me, i got a pretty cool wife for the most part.

[ILUVSTANGS]

i never said that marriage was bad....it's just not a good idea to have the kids in the back and mom is top less in the front pass. seat!!! I have the best wife, that even with 2 kids she never nagged me about my GTs not being big enough for the family...she drives the family suv...she has even asked me to get a newer model stang...what a wife!!!!! later

[ujslost]

thats pretty cool! My wife dont nag about the car being small, but my kids are only 9 and 6 right now. She has the explorer which helps but drinks more gas than my gt vert. she does however bitch about spending money on the gt and bitches a little if she thinks im gonna tear it up at the track. but let her behind the wheel and the top down then she thinks that shes the baddest bitch around!

[ILUVSTANGS]

that funny ujslost!!!! sound kinda like our wives are related....and your not kiding on the suv sucking more gas than the gts...it takes about $100 to fill the tank on our suv!! but anyways did you stiffen your ride with any sub frame connectors? and if so how is it at the track???? later

[Goldenpony]

Not just Yes, but Hell Yes! I've had convertibles all my driving life and I love 'em. There's NOTHING like cruising with the top down. Whatever you do, do not drive around with the top down and the windows up. If people that do that only knew how nerdy that looks, and it really doesn't make any wind difference. By the way, the S197 's do not have near the body flex the older cars had.

[ujslost]

well i actually bought some full length subframes 2 days ago just waiting on them to get here

[MeZ]

All I got by:

No automatic car washes .. its a sin
F21 ... the best thing I've found for my top .. apply whenever you're feeling frisky ..
The top goes up and down in seconds .. I don't like driving in the rain . thats why I have more than one car .. but if it does start .. doesn't take anytime to fix it ..

I'll never not own a vert .. they are just too f'n sweet !!!

[02steedagt]

Hey MeZ you got your car back yet???

Sorry to jack the thread.....

I too want a vert, but for me, it would be a second car because I love the feel of the coupe mustangs too much.