Hardtop softy!

MacK · Post by **MacK** » Thu Oct 12, 2006 10:50 am

skellyjohn wrote:OK so those that are giving it 'what's a hardtop', is it because you keep the car in a garage.

Garage? Earlier this year my car was parked in a snow drift.

Scotty C · Post by **Scotty C** » Thu Oct 12, 2006 12:25 pm

poofs the lot of ye

Scotty C

Post by ed » Thu Oct 12, 2006 12:38 pm

Sanjoy wrote:Wait a minute, what are Ed & Jamies excuses for hardtops ?!

i dont need an excuse, its meant to have a hard top!

Post by **simon** » Thu Oct 12, 2006 12:55 pm

The hardtop is worse in the rain cos all the water sits on top until you open the door. At which point, all the water runs off the roof and lands on the sill so you'll get a wet arse. Don't bother with it, use the soft top and adjust the windows for it instead. Mine is garaged now but sat outside for about a year and a half and the hard top was never on.

GregR · Post by **GregR** » Thu Oct 12, 2006 1:04 pm

simon wrote:The hardtop is worse in the rain cos all the water sits on top until you open the door. At which point, all the water runs off the roof and lands on the sill so you'll get a wet arse. Don't bother with it, use the soft top and adjust the windows for it instead. Mine is garaged now but sat outside for about a year and a half and the hard top was never on.

Or worse - cold morning, heaters on to clear condensation, windows open to clear condensation..... turn first corner.... roof empties through the window

Stewart · Post by **Stewart** » Thu Oct 12, 2006 7:46 pm

I can't believe how many double hard b@stards are on SE who never have the need for a hard top and in some cases soft tops

I think both S1's and S2's look great with the HTs on.
As an S1 HT owner, I find it much quicker and less of a PITA to stick the hard top on. However, mine is a second car and lives in the garage when not being used so, if it is pissing of rain when I go to use it, and I know it will be stitting at work for the rest of the day, I do not hesitate to stick it on.

All that said, I do not like driving the car with any kind of roof on as it is so much noisier. It can also get very warm particularly in the summer.

I know much of the stick about putting the roof on is generally in good part, but telling brand new owners and visitors to the forum to stick their roof on eBay is a bit much. Yeah you may get a few quid for it now, however I think that a HT is a great bonus if you ever go to sell the car, as most new to elise owners always think they need a HT. You may also be making them feel a little foolish, so lets go easy guys & girls.

My 2p

Stewart

P.S.
I believe I was the only elise owner at the recent trip to the Dukes Pass (after Doune) not to put my roof on. This wasn't because I am hard as nails, it just because I am a lazy fecker who couldn't be @rsed with hassle of the soft top.

Dominic · Post by **Dominic** » Thu Oct 12, 2006 8:15 pm

I had a hard top for my liz. Generally it was used for added security when required. It was usefull for when I was leaving the car in more dodgy areas of Glasgow, especially where I work. I never had any problems with security, but arguably because I did use the hard top wisely.

Dominic

P.S. I also think they look good with roof on (better off thou

)

Post by **simon** » Thu Oct 12, 2006 9:25 pm

I've got a hard top Stewart, it was one of the reasons I ended up with a 111S over a standard car as it was free with the 111S. When I first got the car, it sat outside my flat in Dundee during the week and was only used at weekends. I would put the hard top on after using it at the weekend as I was paranoid about security with it just sitting there all week. I intended on fitting it for the winter and I did but within a week it was off again as it was sunny (albeit cold) and I wanted to go for a roof off drive. The only time it has been on since was when I moved house.

So I have done the hardtop thing and realised how pointless it actually is. I don't know about the S1 ones but the S2 one is crap when it rains. IT does exactly as I said in my previous post and what Greg said too. I find mine much better in the rain with the soft top on. If I was to buy another Elise, I wouldn't bother with a hard top and would rather have the car for less.

I do agree with you though, the roof looks good when it's on.

Post by **campbell** » Thu Oct 12, 2006 10:42 pm

I really like my hardtop. Feels kinda cosy, and well, like a "proper" car when it's on!

Water running off the roof never really bothered me tbh.

But as ever, all about taste and personal experience.

cla5h · Post by **cla5h** » Fri Oct 13, 2006 12:31 pm

Mine went on last weekend.

Looks great with it on - it's like having a new car, and get loads more looks.

Seems slightly better than soft-top for keeping out the rain, although as someone pointed out - open the window just as you're pulling away, and all the rain lying on the roof will pour inside.

Scott.

skellyjohn · Post by **skellyjohn** » Fri Oct 13, 2006 2:34 pm

We should have this debate at the same time next year again.

Either that or a run out on January 1st to Dukes Pass car park. A square go between the roof ons and the roof offs. A fight to the death.

I'll hold the jackets!

GregR · Post by **GregR** » Fri Oct 13, 2006 2:36 pm

skellyjohn wrote:We should have this debate at the same time next year again.

Either that or a run out on January 1st to Dukes Pass car park. A square go between the roof ons and the roof offs. A fight to the death.

I'll hold the jackets!

like we'd wear jackets!

bertieduff · Post by **bertieduff** » Fri Oct 13, 2006 2:38 pm

Stewart · Post by **Stewart** » Fri Oct 13, 2006 7:17 pm

GregR wrote:
skellyjohn wrote:We should have this debate at the same time next year again.

Either that or a run out on January 1st to Dukes Pass car park. A square go between the roof ons and the roof offs. A fight to the death.

I'll hold the jackets!
like we'd wear jackets!

pure quality
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