Going against every shred of common sense I possess–and opening myself up to merciless razzing–I must ask if it’s true (or merely an Urban Legend) that, by driving at highway speeds, it’s possible for the driver of a convertible to keep the car’s top down without him/her getting wet. As the story goes, the windblast blows the rain away from the driver, even though the back seat can get soaked. (No mention about hydroplaning, nor the probable IQ or motivation of the driver in question.)
Let’s try to answer this one without too much abuse, unless you’ve had a rough day and need to vent. Ciao.
Well I drive around a Jeep Wrangler with the top down 90% of the time. When it is just dripping or drizzling I can’t feel any reain at all. The only way I know it is raining is by looking at the windshield or when I am stopped. Never kept the top down during a heavy down pour though.
True. Among miata fans, this is known as the ‘45 mph effect’. At speeds over 45-50, the air rushing over the windshield can blow hard enough to blow raindrops that would hit you on the head behind you, keeping you dry. The miata club has caused quite a stir, 20 or so cars, in a row, pouring rain, with most of our tops down. The problem — stop signs, traffic lights, and the like. If you go too slow, you’re just as drenched as if you were standing still.
I drive a classic Mustang convertible - when it suddenly rains on me, I get damp, but not necessarily soaked. (I get wetter with the top up, often, because it leaks a bit.) The windshield is very “low”, however. So some water does get in. Warning - stopping, for example to put the top up, will get you absolutely soaked.