As a matter of interest does anyone drive with the hood up but without the side screens? Strangely I really like the styling of my car in this configuration.
Oddly, yes. I have the newer style of easy up roof & I've tried it once. It does tend to get some serious draught over the 30mph stage so wimped out & stopped to put it down.
I was concerned about the stresses on the whole thing, and given it's only stitched together I'd rather save the stitching holes for staying waterproof..!
Wind deflectors are a waste of money. I first had a 14inch wood rimmed steering wheel, swapped it for a thicker leather one, now have the 13inch woodrim I won at the Mog in Wales in 2015. It is the best wheel I have used....
As a matter of interest does anyone drive with the hood up but without the side screens? Strangely I really like the styling of my car in this configuration.
I used to drive with mine like this, either if it was raining lightly, or sometimes in the summer if it was very hot & some shade was required. It worked fine for me, but I never drove particularly fast with that set up.
I used to drive with mine like this, either if it was raining lightly, or sometimes in the summer if it was very hot & some shade was required. It worked fine for me, but I never drove particularly fast with that set up.
Yes, I have also driven like this on occasion, but I am concerned about the stress on the windscreen and pillars, at anything over about 40 mph there's an awful lot of fluttering/thrumming of the roof, which is bound to be transmitted down through the windscreen.
Tim H. 1986 4/4 VVTi Sport, 2002 LR Defender, 2022 Mini Cooper SE
I managed to find a wide, original (slim-rimmed) Brooklands steering wheel and had it fitted in my 1989 4/4. Ingress is not as easy as with a "standard" motolita wheel as a result, but it looks fantastic in the car & it does improve handling tenfold! I find deflectors useful, as they do hold the door open if fitted with side-screens and as they prevent the wind coming straight into your face. They rather deflect it towards your neck, which is not as annoying if you wear an neck-scarf or a jacket with your collar turned up. I often drive on the autoroute to France with my hood up and my side-screens down if the sun is too strong. The strain is not that bad on the windscreen (it does wobble though) when I go at 130 - 140 kph, but the noise is so strong that I have to wear earplugs.
Well after all the great info and reviews of wind deflectors on this thread, I was going to forget about them but then I went out in the Mog again this aft and called in to see Andy at Lifes Motors
Andy has a very splendid, heavily customised 2006 Roadster 4 seater called 'Elizabeth' ( some may have seen it on Lifes stand at a few previous MOG's)
Anyway he was in his Mog today with hood up, rear side screens on only and wind deflectors
He told me he doesn't put the front side screens on and rides around like this in the Winter
It made a lot of sense - no sidescreens to hem you in; easy to get in and out; let's the heater warm the cabin; reasonably weather proof
So inspired by this, when I got home I put the hood up for the first time in a year, put the rear side screens and am now going to order some wind deflectors to complete this Winter driving ensemble
2008 XXVII Platform, Bugatti Blue Roadster 4 Seater