Weather? factors?

I was curious as to whether the Spyder equipped with a convertible top is rain proof?

Thanks


Is this a car that I can use everday?

Bob--I drive mine everyday in Nashville, which has a moderate amount of rain, and, no it isn't rainproof. In light rain, it's ok though. In fact, in light rain, depending upon the rain's attitude so to speak, you can just put the top on and not windows. In a downpour, the only thing to do is put the top plus windows in, then you get significant fogging inside in any kind of weather. In addition, in a good hard rain some water pools in the floor of the car from road water splashing up through the bottom. Not as much as my Speedster did, but some. v

Bob,

I once read an article that described the top and side curtains on a Beck Spyder as being 80% effective in a hard rain. To me, as important as the leaks is the significantly reduced field of vision with the top in place.

Even with outside mirrors, the plexiglas side curtains, tiny rear window and the fogging Vicki mentioned really make it difficult to see anything other than through the windshield. I know Vicki does it, but I'd be hard pressed to use one as a daily driver.

Just my opinion.

TMc

I treat my Spyder as I would a motorcycle. Dry days/evenings and early mornings are terriffic. I've twice driven the car in the wet and it took me quite a bit of clean up to recover, but that's may be just the way I feel. My 2cents worth.

Hi Vicki. Could you please tell me how you get into your car with the side curtains on? On my Spyder, there is no way to reach the pull cable inside that opens the door if the side curtains are on.

Tom -
Tie a strong cord on the cable, pull it up so that when you close the door it slides between the side curtain and the edge of the top (Be certain not to trap the cord in the door itself). Tuck the end of the cord under the lower edge of the curtain or top so that it is out of sight (Not for security purposes, just to keep the "curious" from pulling it). When you get ready to open the car, just fish the cord out and pull it upward and the door will open...Simple but complicated...Another reason these things don't make convenient daily drivers.

John -
I agree. If it's too unpleasant for a motorcycle, mine stays in the garage.

TMc

Tom--if only, say, the passenger curtain is in, you reach in from the driver's side and pull up on the passenger door cable to open that door (but you knew that). If both curtains need to be in, I just shut the doors, then when I need to get in, I release the two snaps to the soft top on the driver's side and reach in and pull up on the cable on the driver's side. However, my arm is too short to do this; Dave's is not. He can do that easily. When I'm alone, I leave the wing nuts loose on the driver's side curtain, and pull the window curtain out when I get back to the car from my shoe shopping--ha. I've even developed a way to fit each window curtain into its respective rain lip after I get in the car. It's a little tricky, but it can be done. Necessity is the MOTHER of invention. I have over 6K miles of daily driving in a little less than one year and it's been a blast. (oh, yeah, I don't have another car to resort to)v

Tom--I should add that I drive only 2 miles to work and back every day in minimal traffic. No freeways. It's relatively safe driving. I do take road trips sometimes, though. Me in Spydie; Dave in his Superformance. I am very careful. I'm also very short and that does help with the visability factor when the side curtains and top window are on and might be a hazard. I.E., I'm at eye level with all that visability. Dave doesn't drive it with the top on unless coersed. v

I tried Vicki's method of unsnapping two snaps on the top, but my top is so tight that you cannot unsnap any of the snaps until the clamps on the windsreen are released, taking the tension off the snaps...And since the clamps are inside the car...Well, you know that part.

TMc

Vicki/Terry: Thanks for satisfying my curiosity. As I drive in Arizona, I have never had the top or side cutrains on my car. There are enough good days here to drive so that on the occasional lousy one, I just wait until the next day or most times that afternoon to get back in the car.
Cheers!

TMc--I have a gadget that pulls the snaps right up, no matter how tight. I use it mostly to get the tonneau off because those snaps are very tight. It's a plastic gizmo that I think really is used to pull open the tab on a can of soda (or beer). Someone gave it to me when she saw me struggling with the tonneau one day. It works good. v

Vicki

With my feeble brain, I'd get one, put it in the car for "safe keeping," then forget to get it out before I put the top and side curtains on and shut the door.

To be truthful, I've had the top on twice and that was only for "practice." I have it for "get me home" purposes and have never had the need to use it.

TMc