i was thinking about this the other day as i drove behind a diesel dump truck that was spewing the most God-awful black smoke in my face for a mile.

i guess this isn't just S2000-specific, but rather, it relates to all convertibles...but i've read that breathing in automobile exhaust on a regular basis for an extended period of time is just as bad or worse than smoking cigarettes. i ask because my aunt, who has never smoked cigarettes, got diagnosed with lung cancer a little while ago. she did, however, ride on a school bus for many years, so they're thinking that might have been the main contributing factor.

i have noticed that i cough a lot more after driving with the top down in truck-heavy areas, like Alexandria, VA and other places. with the top up, you're breathing air that goes through a filter, so many of the pollutants and particles are caught and never make it into the cabin, right?

i'm wondering if this is a reason to sell the S2000 or at the very least, leave the top up on days where ozone is at dangerous levels. also, i'm thinking of putting a small tube of sunscreen in the glovebox to protect the skin.

does anyone else worry about this?

**EDIT** i guess i should have phrased it "does an S2000 contribute to higher skin and/or lung cancer rates?"

i only brought it up because driving my previous cars didn't seem to cause me to cough at all, but lately i have been noticing more awful air and coughing as a result. perhaps it's just more older cars on the road iwth no emissions equipment whatsoever?

anyway, glad you all had some fun with this.

 

I have a tube of sunscreen in my car for when it's really sunny outside and I'm sure I'm not the only one. As for air pollutants, in a non-convertible car, do you drive with the windows down? If you do, it's pretty much the same thing, maybe not as directly into your face as a convertible, but it's still letting in the polluted air into your car without the filtration. I say don't worry about it too much and just enjoy your car as if there's no tomorrow...

 

really? you are worried about dying from lung cancer because you drive a convertible? you seriously need some R & R...

the skin cancer i can understand but honestly, worrying about this kind of stuff isn't going to do you any good unless you plan on selling your car...

 

The answer is yes, if you are stopped next to a truck spewing smoke, or next to a car whose driver is dangling a cigarette in your face. On the open road, with plenty of fresh air blowing around, it shouldn't be a problem.

Hell, I've been behind trucks that billowed huge clouds of black poisonous smoke with each exhaust. If you breathe that you might as well voluntarily check yourself in to the cancer ward of the hospital right away.

 

Life is to short to be worrying about this; all of our time here is limited so make the most of it and enjoy your S while you have it.

 

this is just as rediculous as the thread that said convertables cause bells palsy.

 

no

 

I'd be more worried about breathing air that passes through someone's 10-yr old cabin filter. Most of us are religious when it comes to maintenance, but the average person doesn't even know they have a cabin filter! That being said its about as effective as duct taping your windows to prevent chemical weapons exposure. Slap yourself for worrying about such a trivial thing...

+1 for sunscreen and bottled water. 6-hr trips to the beach are no fun if you're dehydrated and sunburned before you get there.

 

and besides, its a paper filter for the cabin air, its not going to take as much out of the air as you think it does. if you are going to worry about it regardless then yes, you probably should sell your car, simply because you are taking all of the fun out of owning such a wonderful automobile.

 

The cabin filters in most cars are only to keep out leaves and heavy dust. You'll notice that smells go right through them, including exhaust fumes. They aren't HEPA filters or anything.

In short, yes, you're getting a lot of sun exposure but air should be the least of your worries.