I was tinkering with the car in the garage this morning. I like to get a regular MX-5 fix even though it is currently off the road due to the owner suffering from severe Halophobia. Anyway, I had the top down to facilitate said tinkering and it occurred to me that for future episodes of “pratting about in the garage” ( as my wife would describe it), it would be convenient to leave the top down as it makes access to the cabin much simpler especially for someone of my vintage. I just wondered, if anyone can think of any potential problems with leaving the roof down for an extended period? Personally, nothing springs to mind, but always a good idea to ask around IMO.
For information, the garage is integral to the house, dry, insulated, heated and secure (hopefully) and I have a fitted cover over it. It is also attached to a CTEK 5S trickle charger throughout the hibernation period, so I don’t need to start the engine to operate the roof.
Any thoughts welcome.
I would say, no worries, probably apart from it getting dusty in the cabin or vermin attacked but you’ve got it covered on the dusty bit.
Soft tops, I’d say it’s advisable to store them hood up, as prolonged periods left down can leave them looking a little creased when put up again, best to have the stretched and closed in place.
Personally, when not in use I prefer to have the top under tension in order to avoid any natural shrinking that can occur when the top is down for prolonged periods.
I must confess, I hadn’t considered vermin. If a mouse (or god forbid, something larger) got inside the cabin, you can bet they would target the Recaro seats which would cost a fortune to repair or replace 
.
Perhaps I’ll keep the roof closed after all!
Yes I’ve had them in my garage, field mice, I’m opposite farmland. They nested under the plastic engine cover of my first NC. No damage done, but they did, or some others chewed away at some flat pack furniture I stored for future assembly. I’ve been mouse free for around 3+ years now in the garage, I’ve sealed up any potential entrance points, mainly around the up and over door.
Yes, fields and copses very close to us. Before we altered the garage to its present form we had little furry visitors on occasions but (as far as I am aware) non since but you never know! We do get quite a few in the garden and the garden tool shed. I believe they can get through gaps as small as the diameter of a pencil. Roof up I think! Thanks for the heads up.
Didn’t someone on here have a tin of paint fall into their car when it was in the garage with the roof down?
Yes they did! Excellent memory:
Yes - that was me 
I don’t have paint or anything that would spill) on shelves any more but I wouldn’t rule out leaving the top down in the summer as it was a freak accident.
I used to get mice in my garage but not anymore. I just leave my cats in there all winter.
Here’s an idea.
Just drop the top when you’re working on the car.
Then its open when you need it to be and secure the rest of the time.
Yes, but that would add approximately 25 seconds to the task involved. Do you have any idea how busy I am since I retired?