Wanted to share this information with those that may not be aware of the intended use for this control. It took me a while to find this information as there are many tidbits on the S. I decided one day to peruse the manual and discovered when the canopy is down to use this setting.

"Air flows from the center vents in the dashboard above the audio system, the vents on both sides of the instrument panel, and from the floor vents. Select this position when you drive with the convertible top folded (Convertible Icon on Mode Control Dial pp 84 in Owner's Manual)."

 

What a find...

 

I'm on my 3rd S2000 and I've never used that setting before. I'm going to try it on my way home this afternoon. I'm curious though, based on the description... how is this "convertible" setting any different from the "head and feet" setting right next to it? Does this one cut flow to the passenger vent?

 

In my car it cuts the flow on the vent just above the Mode Control Dial, not on the passenger or driver’s side. I am not as smart or technical as most on the forum, I know it works for me and is what Honda recommends.

My guess is the air flows differently than flow through and recirculate and may help the life expectancy of the cabin filter, IDK.

I use it in the winter and in the summer when the temperature hits about 105 here in Texas, I turn on the A/C to cool my feet, lol!

 

Its about the mix of head and toe. It attempts to balance to retain more of the conditioned (heated or cooled) air in cabin, less of it flowing out the open cabin.

In practice I find it just makes my feet to hot or torso not cool enough. It seems it doesn't come down to trying to maintaining a layer of environmentally controlled air, more about constantly blowing conditioned air onto your torso and hands. An effective total loss approach.

 

At highway speed it works great. Used it the first night I had the car (was about 50 out and I wanted the top down). As you slow down for traffic or in town, you will end up wanting to turn it down since a setting that works at highway speed cooks your feet at low speed. But, normally at in town speeds I dont need any heat with the top down if it is not below 55 degrees or so. At highway speed, you can crank it up and it actually does a lot more than you think. Since it forces all the heat downward, a lot of it travels under the seat, up the back and out, which tends to create a warm bubble around you. I find that even my ears do not feel cold with it in that mode vs not. And with windows up and top down it works even better.

I had to figure out every way to make it work, since I will drive in a t-shirt with the top down at 60 degrees, while my wife will be freezing with the top down at 70 degrees Had to find a way to stretch the top down weather with us both in the car!

 

I've always used this setting for the heater, regardless of top up or down. Works for me.

 

I use this setting all the time in the shoulder seasons here in Vermont. Right now, for example, the weather has been gorgeous as we approach leaf peeper season. I have a wonderful drive to and from work at the moment so I have been driving the S with top down. In the AM its about 40 F or so. I have the heat on this setting with windows up and it is very comfortable with a light fleece vest. On the way home is about 65-70 degrees so no heat needed. This is a wonderful time of year to drive the S in Vermont. I am very lucky. But, we can feel the end coming. It won't be long.

 

So it was chilly drive in this am, 50. Since so many of you seem to like this feature, I thought I'd give it another shot. Nope, just makes my feet sweat, keeps my legs warm, the rest cold.

It might just be this feature is less effective if you sit high, long torso (even with bys seat rail rear view mirror is eye level).

Glad it works for some! My take away is if its not working for you, its probably you, not the car...

 

Yep. Same boat here. We just had a spike of 90ish degrees this week, but looking to highs in the 60's (more typical for this time of year) starting next week. Before long we will be sharing pictures of piles of white stuff on the ground again :P