How hot is too hot driving a convertible

[Johnnyb60]

Hi,
This year we've been blessed with a decent dry summer here in the UK.
As a newbie to owning a convertible car, the roof has been safety tucked away in the boot at every opportunity this year.
Before this I always envied the driver's of convertible cars when I drove my ordinary tin top car, feeling hot and disconnected from the outside whilst looking on at the occupants enjoying the open air experience.
I never thought for the minute that you could get too hot in one.
Blimey how wrong I was.
Traveling along in fast moving traffic is very nice and comfortable but it's very deceptive.
You may feel nice and cool but that sun beating down soon turns you red (especially if you're a baldy like me)
I now fully understand why you need the mandatory hat when driving such a car.
In slow moving traffic, that's when things get really interesting.
The relentless sun really starts to cook you and the interior making it not a nice place to be in.
Surprisingly and never expected it, but having the aircon on with the roof down and the windows up, works really well.
Totally wasteful agreed but it does work.
So for me anything north of 30 degrees and the roof stays up.
Around 25 degrees and its perfect for enjoying with the roof down.
They say that convertible cars are not all that popular in southern Europe,I can see why given the higher temps and stronger uv levels they get there compared to the UK.

All the very best,
Johnny

[IanL]

My experience is exactly the same.