time to test same with the top town

thanks for the data

 

Interesting that you got different results; I wouldn't expect that as the geometry really doesn't seem all that different (though I think the hardtop goes higher right?). I guess the soft-top can buffet somewhat.

If you wanted a perfect test, you'd have to not know that you were driving with a hardtop or soft-top to remove any bias You do also have kind of a small sample size, though I know that t-testing widens the threshold for significance testing purposes.

I can't help it...economics major (which is very heavy in stats). Interesting data nonetheless

 

Time for a few runs blindfolded. Let us know the results.

 

How about a top up/top down comparison, anyone?

-jazzman

 

I would expect more drag on the soft top due to the uneven surface since it raises up under the bars and dips in the spaces between. Of course, the hardtop itself is fairly short, but the airflow coming across both the top and sides should also be smoother.

 

Makes sense to me. Aerodynamically the hardtop is smoother than the softtop so there is less drag.

 

Hardtop adds 40 lbs of weight. Not that the 40 lbs would change mileage noticeably, but it should negate any minor aero advantage...just my thought, your numbers say otherwise. Interesting test....

 

True with the 40lbs of weight, but I do have some weight reductions done to negate the hardtop weight.

 

I have a hard time believing there's anything more than a negligible difference between the two. Sure, if the soft top was flapping in the wind while driving I'd see how its lack of solidity would cause a less aerodynamic roof line, but that's just not the case. In order to really test this, one would have to have quite a large sample of both to really come to an accurate conclusion one way or another.

 

40 lb of weight is not going to make a huge mpg difference at highway speeds once you finish accelerating. Aerodynamics is going to play a bigger role.