We got our first serious downpour yesterday in norcal and a buddy of mine got into a heated debate.....

He was using the aerodynamic wind tunnels testing citing that as the reason we should never get wet while driving if we hit a certain speed. He said the water should "flow" right over our heads just as the air streams we see being testing on commercials?

I've never tested this theory but I told him this would only hold true if the rain came from the front direction.

What do you guys think?

Anyone tested this theory top down? In light rain vs. heavy rain? What highway speeds?


rk

 

I got caught in the rain without the top once.

The only water that got me was from the ones getting pushed off the driver side wiper. It would go over the windshield/window then into the cabin and hit my head / seat's headrest.

But as for rain itself, no i stayed dry at about 40+

 

your friend is absolutely correct.

back when i had my miata, i had to go pick up a rear bumper for it and didn't feel like driving my cherokee.

i just dropped the top and put the bumper in the passenger seat, and 2 minutes into my drive home i hit rain.

i drove from san jose to fremont in a rain storm on the freeway and didn't get wet at all.

luckily the rain stopped by the time i had to get off the freeway near home.

tons of guys on miata.net have driven top down in the rain with no problems. just dont stop :-p

the looks you get from others on the road make the adventure really worth while.

 

Never gotten wet going over 60

 

Before the 275 and 295 tires, I was on Falken RT-615 (stock size 225/255) and would be scare $h!tless to drive over 50 mph under any rainy conditions.

But yes, if you drive above a certain speed, water should flow right over your head under light rain. Never bother with the heavy rain scenario.

 

You should submit this to Mythbusters.

 

I've only had water creeping over the driver's side window frame (wasn't using wipers at the time).

No need for Mythbusters as plenty of us have done this. You can test it out yourself as well.

 

As long that your going over 55 you'll stay dry.

 

I've left the top down in light rains and did not get wet as long as I stay ~40+

A few times times I drove into a small local storm on the freeway and it was great - the rain just channels from the windshield to the side windows and flies out the back. I stayed completely dry the whole time and got out of the rain by the time I took the off-ramp.

Some people on the freeway were looking over like I was crazy... haha. Top Always Down!

 

so you guys are driving with the windows up? what if you drove with all windows down?