Manual says don’t operate it at or below 5C as that can damage it. Subscribing to the ‘it goes down if it’s not raining’ school of thought, does anyone worry about the low temp warning?
I was aware of it, and I haven’t done it less than 5 degrees. I’ve found though, if the temp is 5 degrees or so, that means the salt is probably down, so I don’t go out in it anyway. Mine’s always under a half cover, so that probably gives an extra ‘hidden degree’ or so of leeway. It;s never been frozen under a half cover.
I think a modicum of common sense is required here.
The advice from Mazda is perfectly sound for a car that lives outside where the hood is subject to wet and frost etc.
I am with you, not raining? Hood down then!
But my NC1 is lucky enough to live in a garage which is part of the house so it is hood down all the time, in which case it is dry and I would have no problem ingoing out like that and putting it up if I parked a while (for insurance cover reasons).
If it goir wet it would stauy up till dry.
I don’t generally worry between 2-5 degrees, but I am more cautious in the autumn and winter months and operate it more slowly, just in case I observe any reluctant behaviour as the material moves. I think the 5 degree warning is a bit pessimistic personally. But in owner’s manual terms, better to be overly cautious I guess!
Below freezing though, as it has been for most of the week here, I keep it up. I think there’s too much of a risk to the fabric with sub-zero temperatures. Note: this is based on my own experiences with an NA and ND soft top that’s sat outside, without a cover.
Cheers,
Steve
Interesting. Popular wisdom seems to be that the hood should be up when not in use (certainly when not being used/garaged in winter)? Nothing I could find in the manual about that though.
I’d be more worried if it had a plastic rear window (cracking in the cold) operating it in minus conditions. Mostly glass on the NC/ND but I suppose they’d open close more easily with a little warmth, just use common sense and don’t force them if stiff to operate.
With the NA when it was cold, I’d find when opening the roof it would tend to stop with about 25% still left and would then need to be encouraged into the resting position. Simply because the material was less flexible due to the lower temps.
When I bought it, it already had a later vinyl hood with glass rear window. But the same happened with a mohair glass window version I fitted later as well. Happy days!
I have found my stock ND roof initially a little more resistant going down the final bit even in 10C weather if it’s been up for weeks. Ie First outing after a stretch of icy weather.
My Na is garaged but is my daily drive Top never up i occasionally put top up but mostly leave it down whilst in garage ! I would definitely get a half cover if it was outside protection from weather, birds cats etc i am thankful to have a garage even if a old wooden 40 years old one
