Buying an soft top mx5 but don't have garage. Am I mad?

Andrewf20

Hey folks, I'm half thinking of buying a mrk 3 mx5 soft top but I don't own a garage. How much heart ache is this likely to cause with the brunt of the Irish winters etc?

I've seen rain covers online that can be put in place on the car overnight but are they much use?

Any help much appreciated.

TomOnBoard

Just make sure the soft top is in good condition, and you'll be grand. A car cover may help protect further during the worst of rain or snow, but otherwise the hood should do its job.

Buy and enjoy!

Arthur Daley

Can be done, but ideally you want the hardtop. Mk3 may be a bit more civilised in the depths of winter than mk1 or mk2. The car can be used year round except for the worst conditions of snow and ice. But it is stuff like condensation that becomes a pain with soft tops. Dehumidifiers can help that a little.

Comfortable Top down motoring is really only St Patricks day to mid September. So 6 months on, 6 months off. You might get the odd day in October/November/early March too

ba_barabus

Hard tops are available to fit for the winter.

I'd be more worried about a scrout slashing the roof to be honest

bazz26

As said, buy a hard top.

omb0wyn5ehpij9

ba_barabus wrote: »

I'd be more worried about a scrout slashing the roof to be honest

My exact thoughts too

TomOnBoard

ba_barabus wrote: »

Hard tops are available to fit for the winter.

I'd be more worried about a scrout slashing the roof to be honest

The local jealous mean spirited gouger is probably a greater risk than the weather alright...

Maybe get the mk3 with the electrically retractable metal roof if you can find one and can afford it if the knife to the ragtop is a concern..

Alun

Arthur Daley wrote: »

Can be done, but ideally you want the hardtop. Mk3 may be a bit more civilised in the depths of winter than mk1 or mk2. The car can be used year round except for the worst conditions of snow and ice. But it is stuff like condensation that becomes a pain with soft tops. Dehumidifiers can help that a little.

Comfortable Top down motoring is really only St Patricks day to mid September. So 6 months on, 6 months off. You might get the odd day in October/November/early March too

My wife has a Mk 3 MX-5 that's used as a daily driver 365 days a year. Not one issue with condensation, damp or any other problem with the soft top in over 3 years.

As for when you can drive with the top down, basically as long as it's not raining it's fine, the MX-5 has a great heater that's more than capable of heating the cabin even on the coldest of days.

EDIT: If you're getting condensation inside the cabin it's more than likely due to water ingress under the carpets under the seats due to blocked drain holes, a common mX-5 ailment.

Andrewf20

Thanks guys for the feedback. I drove a hard top today and my hair is rubbing on the ceiling. Im 6ft 2. Maybe id get used to it.

But yes, im veering towards the hardtop at this stage. I drove an E92 325i also, feels much heavier than my dying E36 (NCT failed it on sill corrosion + more). Wasnt a big fan of it tbh but the MX5 reminds me of the E36 that I really like it. Now to find a 2L with a hardtop....

TomOnBoard

Andrewf20 wrote: »

Thanks guys for the feedback. I drove a hard top today and my hair is rubbing on the ceiling. Im 6ft 2. Maybe id get used to it.

But yes, im veering towards the hardtop at this stage. I drove an E92 325i also, feels much heavier than my dying E36 (NCT failed it on sill corrosion + more). Wasnt a big fan of it tbh but the MX5 reminds me of the E36 that I really like it. Now to find a 2L with a hardtop....

Jeez, at 6'2" surely the top of the windscreen would be blocking your view out?? ;-)

Notch000

Andrewf20 wrote: »

Thanks guys for the feedback. I drove a hard top today and my hair is rubbing on the ceiling. Im 6ft 2.  Maybe id get used to it.

But yes, im veering towards the hardtop at this stage. I drove an E92 325i also, feels much heavier than my dying E36 (NCT failed it on sill corrosion + more). Wasnt a big fan of it tbh but the MX5 reminds me of the E36 that I really like it. Now to find a 2L with a hardtop....

not too sure about the mk3 but the mk1 & mk2 you can do a foamsectomy where you cut out a bit of foam off the base seat to sit lower, has no ill affects on comfort too

Andrewf20

Notch000 wrote: »

not too sure about the mk3 but the mk1 & mk2 you can do a foamsectomy where you cut out a bit of foam off the base seat to sit lower, has no ill affects on comfort too

Or I might just shave my hair all off if the wife lets me.

Visibility out the front was grand actually.

TomOnBoard

Andrewf20 wrote: »

Or I might just shave my hair all off if the wife lets me.

Visibility out the front was grand actually.

No need to shave all hair off... Just the hair on your head.... That may keep wife happy...