Hi all! Glad to be with such an experienced group :-)

Now that I've had my S2000 for 27 hours (but who is counting) I've started to think of the practical side of winter and my daily commute - 66 miles each way from Cincinnati to Dayton, OH., mostly interstate. I know I will need winter tires, and I plan to get a second set of rims so I don't have to mount/dismount tires all the time.

I am wondering though, for those of you with hardtops if this rather pricey accessory makes a big difference in the cold weather/snow. Seems like the extra rear visibility would be of some help - but I'd like some experienced opinions, if you don't mind. :-) I've never even seen the hardtop, except in pics.

thanks,
Dave

 

I've seen a hardtop for a late model T-Bird.

 

Well I wouldn't have asked the question if I had a t-Bird to drive in the winter, but I don't, and I live further from the equator than you, Ed. :-)

Dave

 

parkerdt

We have hard tops for our '01 and '05 but we never put them on this past winter. We live in Southern California so we don't get much snow (only 2 1/2 inches this year) but we park our cars outside year round, and got them for the rainy winters. Just mostly to protect the soft tops from freezing at night and rain.

So I guess I can't help with your question about snow. The rear visibility is very nice and the car looks extra cool.

 

Thanks for the pics, Kyras, two very sharp cars there! Unfortunately, we do get a lot of freezing rain as well as snow, and I'd not even considered the soft top freezing...

Are the hardtops easy to install and remove?

Dave

 

With a helping hand I can put on/take off the hardtop in less than 30 seconds. Though it weighs only 44 lbs it's size makes it too clumsy to do safely alone, unless you have a hoist system. My top is usually on from Oct to April and definatly helps in keeping the car warmer and the larger rear window is a plus. When the weather is at it's worse my S stays in the garage, it usually only comes out on "clear" days. Levi

 

I thought about getting a hardtop. I like the look and the larger rear window is a plus. For what you want to do, the top and winter tires would work just fine according to what I've read here. I used to enjoy driving in the snow, but the highway dep't here has gotten overly aggressive lately and I just couldn't stand driving this wonderful car through the barrage of salt and sand.

 

I love my hardtop!!!

If I was even remotely thinking of driving this car in the winter I would say the HT is an absolute must. I bought mine when I bought the car, and I love how it really transforms the car into a totally different vehicle.

Parkerdt, I say yes, go for it.

This was taken within 2 hours of ownership.


And this is the main reason I got it

 

Hi Jim

I live in the NW suburbs of Chicago. I got a hardtop in Fall 2004 and it has been a wonderful addition to the S. It definitely reduces noise, and in the winter helps the car to warm up more rapidly. Plus the larger rear window makes a big difference in visibility.

My car is a 24/7/365 driver, and I wouldn't be without the hardtop.

If you can swing the $$$, I would definitely do it.

Another thing I'm glad I did was to buy a 2nd set of OEM rims and get a set of Bridgestone Blizzak LM-22 snow tires from Tire Rack. Talk to Jim there (he moderates the whell & tire forum); he is very knowledgable on the S and will make sure you get the right sizing for your car. The snow tires totally transform the car, making it one of the best winter cars I have ever owned.

PM xviper about all this. He lives in Alberta, Canada, has a hardtop and uses his car as a 24/7/365 daily driver.

HTH

 

[QUOTE=parkerdt,May 15 2006, 09:07 PM]Thanks for the pics, Kyras, two very sharp cars there!