is the car quicker with hartop or softtop?
03-25-2005, 11:27 AM
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is the car quicker with hartop or softtop?
Ive had the hardtop off for 1 week now and to me the car seems quicker and more nippy then when I had the hardtop on. Do others notice this or is it just due to the fact that the car is more noisy with the softtop? Ive hard people claim that the hartop makes the car more aerodynamic at higher speed but would this counteract the extra 20kg of weight or so?
SO is the car quicker with hardtop or softtop,especially at speeds at 60mph or so?
SO is the car quicker with hardtop or softtop,especially at speeds at 60mph or so?
03-25-2005, 11:47 AM
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IMO there's not much difference at around 60mph. It feels quicker with the roof off, but I think it's just cos it's louder etc.
I think it's only really above 100mph where it seems to pull harder with the HT on.
I think it's only really above 100mph where it seems to pull harder with the HT on.
03-25-2005, 12:43 PM
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Originally Posted by tim_d,Mar 25 2005, 08:47 PM
IMO there's not much difference at around 60mph. It feels quicker with the roof off, but I think it's just cos it's louder etc.
I think it's only really above 100mph where it seems to pull harder with the HT on.
I think it's only really above 100mph where it seems to pull harder with the HT on.
It's a really hard one to call, but I definately notice the aerodynamic difference on the motorway.
03-27-2005, 01:02 AM
#6
QUICKER WITH THE HARD TOP AS THE DRAG COEFFICIENT OF THE POLISHED SURFACE WILL BE MUCH LESS THAN THE UNPOLISHED AND ROUGHER SOFT TOP.
Sorry I hit the Caps Lock and couldn't bother to retype it!
Sorry I hit the Caps Lock and couldn't bother to retype it!
03-27-2005, 09:13 AM
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You must be right, but there can't be much in it tho'...
The 20 kg must always marginally blunt the slight aerodynamic advantage of the hardtop
(can't help braking or handling either, but only a small difference).
In a straight line above 100 is where I would guess there is a (small) advantage.
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03-27-2005, 12:13 PM
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Originally Posted by AquilaEagle,Mar 27 2005, 08:30 PM
Not tried it yet, but just put my hard top on today, thanks to CTR's help fitting the kit and top 
At 100+ (120
03-28-2005, 06:58 AM
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Who cares whether it's quicker?
On a day like today, you just want the hood to be down and be out there enjoying the weather. Out of all the dozens of softtops I saw today round Lakeside about 5 or 6 had the roof off. Why buy a convertible and leave the hood up and open the window?
On a day like today, you just want the hood to be down and be out there enjoying the weather.
Out of all the dozens of softtops I saw today round Lakeside about 5 or 6 had the roof off. Why buy a convertible and leave the hood up and open the window?