I find that I can drive better with the top down.I don't have a feel for the car with the top up.I've only been driving for a few days though.Stil breaking in the car.200 miles so far.Grinding less the more i drive it.No grind at all with the top down.Does anyong feel the same way or is it just me?

Can't wait til VTECH day!

600 miles right?

Sorry for being such a noob.

 

I used to feel that way too, but then I realized that the sound of the wind and the other noises and distractions while the top is down drowns out all the grinding noises and such. The car seems so much noiser with the top up no?

 

I felt the same way. With the top up there are definitely problems with rear vision. Use all of your mirrors. You'll also grind for a month or two until those gears loosen up and you get used to where they are. My MY 03 is 8 months old and is just starting to really be mellow. I 've heard the more the miles the better the engines starts to go.
Be careful and cruise with attitude

 

Mine is an 03 with about 3000 miles now..just got new last November. I do still notice some gear grind, especially when cold...but notice after any highway driving when maybe to trans oil get warmer the grinding goes away.

Mainly in 2nd and going to 3rd gear.

You will find when driving like a normal person sometimes a slightly higher rev in 2nd will let you then shift to 4th and then to 6th with a much quicker response for speed than going through every gear. Try it...mainly when on level ground.

Save the high revs for when your in a hurry or wanting a little fun!

Enjoy!

 

with the top down, ur enjoying what it is, a roadster! woohooo... i've been driving with the top down too much lately, my hands are chapped/dry (chilly sf) got the heater blasting on my hands... maybe i need some racing gloves


Yeah baby!
Alex

 

IT'S NEVER TOO COLD. IT'S ONLY TOO WET!!

 

What is all this talk of gear grinding on new cars?

Top up or top down, I enjoy this car. Yeah, you can hear the mechanical noises more with the top up because you don't have the wind whistling past your ears. But that isn't necessarily a bad thing. I prefer top down, but on a nasty weather day, it's real cozy inside with the top up.

 

Yep. Read your owner's manual. I followed the advice of some other guys here and went to 6500 rpm at 600 miles. then upped it 500 rpm for every 50 miles thereafter. I feel my car got broken in nicely. It's insanely faster now than it was at 1000 miles. (I just hit 7000). I'm told it gets faster up to 10,000 miles. Have fun, and be sure to let us know how your first vtech goes.

 

I drive better with the top up. I guess it is because the wind isnt pounding my face, and I can hear what the car is doing.

 

I drive better with the top down. Sometimes i just dont want to deal with all those blind spots.