So, now that I have my new roadster, I am split as to whether I should put the top back up when I park.

My coworker leaves the top down on his Maserati at our parking garage in the office, and he says he has closed it 5 times in the last 2 years. His comment was that, "If someone is going to do something to the car they will do it whether the top is up or down, and by leaving the top down people assume the owner is nearby or will be returning soon."

I can see his point that if someone wants to vandalize your car, that a knife through to top is just as bad as a coke on the interior.

I definately think it looks better with the top down... Are there any insurance ramifications if I leave the top down and it gets stolen?

Maybe I am starting to obsess, but I am always worried in the back of my mind after I park it that someone is going to ding it or steal it or vandalize it. Am I just being too paranoid?

--
Coz

 

I always put the lid up when I park, I have too much crap to get stolen (radar detector, etc.) and I don't feel like cleaning out my car every time I park.

Yep. But that's part of owning a new Z buddy.

 

I don't own a roadster, but if I did, I'd be concerned about birds, squirrels, (maybe lizards where you live) trying to use my seat as a toilet.

Put the top up

 

Having a hard time believing it just dawned on you about the top. You didn't think about this BEFORE you bought the car??

Your friend is off in another world. The easier something is to be messed with the greater the chance of it getting messed with is. Simple.

Not sure about your insurance. That's a question for your agent. All carriers are different as are almost all policies.

 

your friend doesn't care because he can afford a maserati. just don't be lazy and be safe. put it up.

 

I have mine 'top up' unless it is only for a couple of minutes.. I think insurance is automatically higher for roadsters

 

i always park with the top up, unless i'm in my personal garage. less to worry about and the interior won't get too beat up by the sun. also, it's about 30 seconds to close, so why not?!

 

Seeing someone in a convertible park his car with the top down, get out, lock his doors and pull on the handle to make sure the door is locked is the funniest thing to see...

 

Who has time to think about the details when there is such a beutiful car to buy!

 

I put my top up even for the shortest of stops. Too many haters who would use it as a trash can with the top down.

 

You should always make yourself a difficult target. Top up.

 

I saw a 3000GT Spyder witht he top down one day where I live. Only thing is it was POURING down rain at the time. I live in the Florida panhandle so we get pop up thunderstorms like crazy..so its nuts to leave a top down even if the sky is blue at that moment

But I can see some jerk tossing a cup or dumping something in the car if you leave it down. It only takes what...22 seconds to put it back up?

 

Top up unless you going in a convenience store for a few seconds. Better safe than sorry and I agree with earlier posters that there are entirely too many haters that would use your roadster as a trash can or a toilet if given the chance.

 

Top up unless it's a very quick stop somewhere AND I can be sure of seeing the car, like through the window of a 7/11 or something. Definitely NEVER leave it with top down in public parking garage or on a busy street. Might leave it top down in my own driveway if I'm going out again in a few minutes.

The Z has one of the fastest, easiest and simplest closing mechanisms of any drop-top out there. Unlatch and press a button, or press a button and then latch; enjoy the clink-clank music for 22 seconds. Take advantage of it!

 

I'll leave the top down if I'm only going to be a very short while at a store unless the sun is blazing then I put it up. I will also leave it down if I park in the parking garage at work (which is a hike for me so I don't do it often). It amazes me to see people parked all day at work in the sun with their vert tops down...I'd much rather take ~18 seconds to put the top up then let the sun ravage/fade my interior.

 

Your location says you are from santa monica so either you are in a really affluent neighborhood or you are in the more poorer areas. Always use your judgment. If your coworker drives a Maserati, I would like to think that the company you work for is pretty big and that the standard of living would be pretty high around your area. I go to USC so the surrounding area is pretty bad which means that when I get my roadster next week, i will NEVER EVER EVER leave the top down. I do go to santa monica beach a lot and also the surrounding affluent areas and I always see bmw's, mbz, and even exotic convertibles with their tops down in the parking lot. I good rule of thumb would be to look at what cars are in the parking lot and that should tell you if you should leave it down or not

 

So do you rather the knife got through the roof or the knife got through the LEATHER SEATS???

Having driven a cabrio (BMW 323ci) for seven years, my advice: TOP UP!!!

BTW, I've sold my cabrio couples months ago and my 07 ZR is on its way!!!

 

Top up. I've seen teenage punk kids do all sorts of things to open-tops...especially if you're parked near a fast-food restaurant.

 

your friend might as well leave his house's front door open, with that mentality

 

Top up, given the manual says so and our roof is vinyl vs. cloth.