Convertibles are for night driving

"Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo" (akioohtori)
03/23/2020 at 23:12 • Filed to: None

I d on’t know how I hadn’t realized that before now.

I was moving some cars today and that turned into a shakedown of all of my cars save the Volvo. You see... the Saab was blocking the Alfa, but the Saab was blocked by the Jag. I wanted to put the Saab in the Alfa’s spot, the Alfa in the Jag’s spot, and the Jag in the Saab’s spot. While I actually could have done all of this in the space available, it seemed like more fun to take the Alfa and the Saab out for a spin.

The Saab was... still the Saab. Still was a weird problem and also doesn’t seem to want to rev about 4000 RPM. I’m warming up the parts cannon on that one.

The Alfa, is making two odd noises. One is either the water pump, or the alternator belt. The either is... a mystery. I checked it out with a stethoscope (OMG FIRST TIME USING ONE HOW COOL) and didn’t find anything of note.

So I took it for a drive.

And it was wonderful.

The night returns some of that anonymity that you lose with a convertible.

The sun isn’t there to hound you at every turn.

Most of the pan handlers have gone back to... wherever they go... so they don’t bother you either.

I see many, many more night drives in my future.

...assuming the alternator holds out...

I thought the whole “24 Hour ATM” thing would look cooler than it did. Also looks like I am being haunted by the ghost of rental car past...

DISCUSSION (26)

WilliamsSW > Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo
03/23/2020 at 23:14

Yep this is fact. Summer nights in a convertible >>> hot summer days in a convertible.

someassemblyrequired > Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo
03/23/2020 at 23:16

top up, back window unzipped by day, top down by night

it is the law

TheRealBicycleBuck > Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo
03/23/2020 at 23:20

Night driving in a convertible is the only acceptable form of driving in a convertible. Unless it’s a Jeep in the woods. That is the only exception to the rule.

glemon > Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo
03/23/2020 at 23:21

It will be a while until we can comfortably do top down at night around here, enjoy.

Distraxi's idea of perfection is a Jagroen > Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo
03/23/2020 at 23:21

For future reference: night driving a convertible * when it’s snowing* is a step up again - one of life’s great experiences (provided your heater’s up to it).

Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo > Distraxi's idea of perfection is a Jagroen
03/23/2020 at 23:24

Heater?

Haha actually the heater is pretty OK. The heater BLOWER however is seized.

Also it doesn’t snow here anymore.

Distraxi's idea of perfection is a Jagroen > Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo
03/23/2020 at 23:28

The heater BLOWER however is seized.

That only matters if you’re not going fast enough for ram air to do the job.

Admittedly, “fast” and “in snow” are not a great combo. As aren’t “fast” and “old Alfa”, now I think about it.

Just Jeepin' > someassemblyrequired
03/23/2020 at 23:34

One reason I loved my del Sol that I never think about when expounding its virtues: the ability to roll down the rear window, right behind you . Especially during the winter it was a great way to get a little fresh air without being uncomfortable.

Just Jeepin' > WilliamsSW
03/23/2020 at 23:37

Depends on just how convertible you can get.

Kinja'd!!!

ttyymmnn > Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo
03/23/2020 at 23:41

Same with a sun roof. My wife’s Civic has a sun roof, but the sun is usually too damned hot to open it during the day. At night, it’s wonderful.

Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) > Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo
03/24/2020 at 00:01

Fuck, you are crazy to go night driving without heat lol. Even here in Southern California I have to think twice about taking the Miata out at night. While sure the dry weather ensures it will get cold at night, I definitely always have the heat on then regardless. Even if its 70, the air will feel a bit chilly with no sun and the wind.

Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) > Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo
03/24/2020 at 00:06

Now you just have to add some proper night driving music to the mix.

Those and pretty much anything pink floyd would be my favorites for sure. The only reason I put better speakers in my Miata was for night driving.

someassemblyrequired > Just Jeepin'
03/24/2020 at 00:10

Just frikkin’ love the del Sols. Angry at myself for never owning one. They’re the perfect Yang to the the Miata’s Yin .

MiniGTI - now with XJ6 > Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo
03/24/2020 at 00:13

Funny, last time we had the TR6 out we were about Half an hour from home when I noticed the lights getting a bit dim as apparently the cheap eBay voltage regulator I put in some time ago has stopped working. Fortunately the last 15 min was well lit and we did make it home before the ignition got too weak.

Just Jeepin' > someassemblyrequired
03/24/2020 at 00:14

My dad bought an NA about a year after I bought my del Sol. Pretty sure I inspired him, although my aunt also bought a convertible a couple of years before that, so hard to say for sure.

He was so used to the Miata’s tiny trunk that he mocked mine without realizing just how cavernous it was.

Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo > ttyymmnn
03/24/2020 at 00:46

Huh. I’ll have to give it a go. All of my daily drivers and the majority of my roofed cars (7/9) have had sunroofs (only the Scout and the Wagovan lacked them) but I never really use them. Sometimes I’ll open the rear one on the Disco when it is cold out as sort of a fresh air thing, but that is about it.

AestheticsInMotion > Wrong Wheel Drive (41%)
03/24/2020 at 00:58

“even if it’s 70... Feel chilly ”

Youve grown soft! California has infected you!

Tristan > Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo
03/24/2020 at 01:17

I’ve said this for years...

Convertible at night: peaceful serenity, cool night air, crickets, stars... It’s heaven on Earth.

Convertible in the day: hot, uncomfortable, sunburn, noisy, traffic, panhandlers, hot, sunburn, stench... Blech. Put the top up and turn on the AC.

Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo > Tristan
03/24/2020 at 10:10

AC? Is that a band?

I kid... I always waffle on if I should fix it. On the one hand it is there so I feel like I should, on the other it is one of many cars, is an old Italian one at that, and is a soft top... so I don’t feel super inclined. Some of the Alfa club people have working AC and apparently it works pretty well.

Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) > AestheticsInMotion
03/24/2020 at 11:23

That doesnt mean im not drivin g with the top down still! My cold tolerance is definitely ruined though haha. But considering I now live in the mountains and we dont really have heat, ive definitely experienced some cold again. We have a wood burning fireplace and Ive got a space heater but my room is drafty and the fireplace takes effort to keep going.

Anyways, yeah my heat is always on in the Miata. That heater is like the fire of hell so its perfect to stay toasty when its ~60 like most nights down the hill. Plenty of 40s up here but I still drive the Miata so long as its not raining. I cant clear the rocks that end up on the road every time it rains.

Khalbali > Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo
03/24/2020 at 11:58

Correct, my absolute favorite moment with my NC was driving through Rocky mountain national Park and crossing the divide at 2am, heated seats and heater blasting, top down, absolutely nothing like it. (Just watch out for moose!)

Tristan > Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo
03/26/2020 at 02:16

I’m one of those people who simply cannot be at ease if anything is non-functional on one of my vehicles... It drives me bonkers. So, everything that has AC has working AC. It's a bit of a PITA to figure out how to fix it properly, but pretty simple once you've got it down.

Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo > Tristan
03/26/2020 at 10:29

Yeah I am... sometimes like that. With the Alfa is it a little complicated. The AC a very common delete on these for a good reason. The main three are:
T he compressor assembly weighs like 80 pounds thanks to a large steel bracket.
The radiator/fan isn’t sized to accommodate the airflow reduction from having the condenser in place.
It is a convertible...

My big thing is I can’t bring myself to take it off the road for the EXTENSIVE surgery that would be required to get the heat working, which is the more important system of the two IMO. The joke is the heater core/blower was suspended in mid-air and the car built around it. Allegedly you can get it out without removing the dash, but I have my doubts. It is nestled in the middle on the car up against the firewall...

Tristan > Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo
03/28/2020 at 20:57

Are you suggesting an Italian car may have some engineering shortfalls? I might be tempted to ditch that AC system, too.

Nauraushaun > Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo
03/30/2020 at 16:19

AC were a band but nobody should ever listen to them.

Unless you mean Animal Collective

MiniGTI - now with XJ6 > Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo
05/20/2020 at 23:59

So there’s a sketchy used car lot near here that had no less than 3 Saab convertibles. I think they were all late 90s early 2000s. We were only half jokingly thinking of grabbing one as they were only asking around $2500 (I’m sure I could talk them down). How terrible an idea would it be.

My wife really misses rides in the TR6 so we need a 4-seat convertible so we can take our son along. I’d probably get rid of it once babysitting is practical again.