[djs]

I was wondering with temperatures struggling to hit 0 F here in the mid-west how are the convertibles holding up? Can you keep warm while motoring down the freeway?

Thanks
Duane

[mxyzptlk]

wouldnt know as the coldest its ever been down here in SoCal was about 47f.. I was zipping along PCH and then sunset blvd at around 2am with the top down having a blast.. couldnt feel my ears, but damn was it fun

with heated seats and ear muffs you should be fine i think..

[miniboyblue]

Hi Duane

Ask you asking about with the roof up or down ??

[djs]

I was thinking roof up, but hey whatever works for you.

[Meg]

I am having some issues with the heat in my convert...I think there might be something wrong with it, cause it is only warm if I have the dash vents on blowing at full force. I don't think this is typical though. I have to have it looked at.

[dalboyne]

Hey Duane

No problems here in Luxembourg, where the temperature gets quite low in winter (eg like now!)

The car is as warm as a tin-top,and with the heated leather seats, life just can't get much better!

Ian

[indimini]

Just got back in town where my MINI sat at the outside lot at the airport withtemps dipping into the low teens every night. When I got to pick her up, it was 21 deg. The car heated up fine and there were no issues with starting (aside from my guilt about making her sleep outside in such frigid conditions ).

[howardpm]

It was 18 degrees after work today. Car heated up well, my drive home from work is about 10 minutes. About 5 minutes into the drive my car was warm. Heated seats are great. Though it always seems odd to me they can heat up before the air in the car. I can barely tell the difference being in this car in the cold as oppose to my last one.

[2phun]

Have only had a few really cold days so far in my cabrio, but even so it heats up faster than my A4 did. Haven't noticed any drafts from the roof like I did in my Miata either. It seems the roof is rather well insulated. Kudos so far.

[DUCTTAPE]

Mine doesn't heat up so well. I tend to drive with the top down. This morning it was 9F, which I think is about -11C or so.

But, it's not a bad problem because I tend to bundle, and the cold air doesn't really blow in. Contrary to what Madison MINI was telling me in October, there IS air blowing in from between the seats. It sometimes nips my upper thighs.

But, the seat heater works, the air blows nicely on 2 and 3, and my gloves work well.

But, I almost lost feeling in my thumb using my bare hand to adjust something in the cab.

d

PS, my neighbor at work came in yesterday and asked if I drove with the top down (I parked it that way) I said yes, and he said "then it WAS you. There are people talking about this Orange Cab up and down Rte 17 that drives with the top down in the snow!"

[Rich C]

Ducttape - I'm with you - top down whatever, although it hasn't got as extremely cold here as where you are.

Found a neat (or mad) way of reducing the draft in the cabin though - I've tied the sleeves of a sweater around the headrests of the front seats and let the 'body' of it hang between them - cuts down a lot of the draft, especially at higher speeds (80+). Still a bit of cold air coming under the seats and between the seat and the door though but the cabin is retaining a lot more of the heat the vents are putting out.

Still struggling to find the best setting for the vent control though - set to the feet/face position neather seem to pump out much heat, even with the blower on full. But they sure give enough out to heat the car quickly on those occaisions the roof is up.

[DUCTTAPE]

Rich! My Man! You may have solved the problem! There is another thread where we all complain about the absurd cost of the wind deflector. You may have solved the problem!

Now obviously, I'm not going to permanently use a sweater to deflect the wind (no, anything about a $500 car deserves more!), but at least the wheels are turning. Maybe something velcro'ed between the seats.

Brilliant! Thank you so much! Sometimes the best solutions are the easiest (and, thank goodness, the cheapest.)

d

[Rich C]

Quote: Originally Posted by DUCTTAPE

Rich! My Man! You may have solved the problem! There is another thread where we all complain about the absurd cost of the wind deflector. You may have solved the problem!

Now obviously, I'm not going to permanently use a sweater to deflect the wind (no, anything about a $500 car deserves more!), but at least the wheels are turning. Maybe something velcro'ed between the seats.

Brilliant! Thank you so much! Sometimes the best solutions are the easiest (and, thank goodness, the cheapest.)

d

Why thank you!

I best rush off to the patent office quick then.... I was planning to do a bit of development work when I get a good w/e and the weather is better (although they tend to be the ones where I go off driving!).

I was thinking along similar lines too - some elastic, a bit of well positioned velcro and some stockings! (Or similar material... ) Want it to be easy to put in and out, I occaisionally allow people in the back, and hopefully cover the gaps under the seats and by the doors too. Needs to be easy to put in (MIni, take note with your Oragami wind deflector!) and compact enought to put in the boot.

I do have one confession, I use the sweater in conjunction with the wind-deflector - you are REALLY brave (or mad) driving in your temps at speed w/o even the deflector!

[DUCTTAPE]

Mad! Mad I tell you! Muha ha ha ha!

I'm thinking a giant T shaped piece of fabric. Velcro the I parts to the sides of the seats, and the _ part wraps around the head rests brackets!


Muha ha ha ha!

[Rich C]

Sounds like a plan - I am thinking along the same lines - perhaps elasticated 'pockets' to put the headrests into - but then taking the fabric right to the sides of the car to try and prevent the draft down the side too - good old velcro huh?

The idea of the 'stocking' material was to still give visibility - similar to the current wind defelector. Toying with the idea of it also filling the gab between the headrests as well as the body of the seats.

Madder than a mad thing on mad day you are....

[Goatherder]

Get some thick foam and jam them under the seats. That should block the wind from entering there. Could cut them to fit.

[alpinamike]

this might wrk and be cheaper, they sold one for the Z3 bmw that might fit!
alpinamike

[schapman]

I actually had the wind deflector on my spec when I ordered my cabrio', but on reflection decided it was a bit expensive and cancelled it. Thought I would have a go at designing an alternative, something that would fit, as you have all suggested, behind the rollover hoops.
Will let you know how I get on - when I get the car at beginning of March.

[LagunaSol]

Quote: Originally Posted by Rich C

Found a neat (or mad) way of reducing the draft in the cabin though - I've tied the sleeves of a sweater around the headrests of the front seats and let the 'body' of it hang between them

Sounds like something MINI would slap a logo on and sell for $250.

[TheJester_MH]

Hi there!

Recently we had about 0F here in Munich and the MINI runs perfect. Sure the leather seats are freezing when you sit down at first but the seat heating is brilliant. To accelerate the heating, I switch off the fresh air supply, so that the fan reuses the cabin air. My impression was, that this really makes a difference. I keep the fresh air out until the windows start to get steamy but by then the air is cabin air already so warm, that it's fine to let the fresh air in.
By the way, went into the alps after christmas and didn't have the slightest problems getting up the snowy mountain side and reactivating the car after a one week standstill at an temperature between -5 and 10F.

Thanks Ducttape, your idea with the sweater sounds brilliant! Even with a wind stopper in the back, I had a slight cold right arm, as wind brushes between the seats.

Enjoy the wonderful winter weather!

you MINI-maniac, The Jester