Top Down all the Time

[Vlad92]

Although it's not an issue now (it was -7 degrees just last week), as summer approaches I was wondering if anyone knows if it is OK to leave the top down for extended periods of time (like weeks). I ask because for my last convertible it clearly stated in the manual that the top should be raised while the car is not in use (like overnight). I assume it could damage the top in some way by keeping it down all the time. With my Smart I could easily see in the summer I'd remove the cross bars and just keep the top down all the time. Can anyone see any potential damage to the top by doing this?

[SmartPassion]

Originally Posted by Vlad92

Although it's not an issue now (it was -7 degrees just last week), as summer approaches I was wondering if anyone knows if it is OK to leave the top down for extended periods of time (like weeks). I ask because for my last convertible it clearly stated in the manual that the top should be raised while the car is not in use (like overnight). I assume it could damage the top in some way by keeping it down all the time. With my Smart I could easily see in the summer I'd remove the cross bars and just keep the top down all the time. Can anyone see any potential damage to the top by doing this?

From my experience with a number of convertibles, I say why would you want to do that??? Its so quick to secure the top especially on the smart cabrio since it is powered.

Keeping the top down may cause creases that becomes permanent (don't ask me how I know this - just trust me). OTOH, on cars with hardtops (Mercedes SLs, Miatas, S2000s, etc.), you are in effect keeping the top "down" as long as you have the hardtop installed.

[dmwery]

Originally Posted by SmartPassion

From my experience with a number of convertibles, I say why would you want to do that??? Its so quick to secure the top especially on the smart cabrio since it is powered.

Keeping the top down may cause creases that becomes permanent (don't ask me how I know this - just trust me). OTOH, on cars with hardtops (Mercedes SLs, Miatas, S2000s, etc.), you are in effect keeping the top "down" as long as you have the hardtop installed.

But it is not so quick to secure the top if you've removed the side rails. With my last convertible (BMW Z3) I often left the top down during the warm months for extended periods - at night it was garaged. The only long term effects were the creases that developed in the plastic rear window. I eventually replaced the window when it started to crack (after 8 years). but the cracking was not at the creases and was more likely due to weather exposure (e.g. sun) while the top was up (e.g. parked while at work). With the glass window on the smart cab, I'm not going to worry about it. I'll put the top up when needed to protect against the elements (rain, snow, hail, theft risk, extreme heat or cold, bird attack, meteor strike, etc.), otherwise the top will be down.

The smart manual doesn't seem to address this directly. It only mentions that the top shouldn't be lowered if there is ice or snow on the roof or if temperatures are <14 F. Not a problem for me.

[SmartCard]

Mechanically, I would see no problem....it would just be the crease problem as mentioned above that I would worry about (beyond bird droppings, rain, etc)

[Vlad92]

Thanks everyone! The only other downside I see is even in the garage it can get dusty in the summer. I'd hate to get the get all that dust inside the car. I still have the dust cover from my MINI so maybe I could just cover my Smart up with that when not in use. Guess I got 3 months plus to figure that out before it gets really nice outside.

[SmartPassion]

Maybe one of those cockpit covers too. If someone makes one.