Spider Top Up or Down when parked in garage

Does it matter if the top is left up or down when parked in my garage? As I am only driving the car in nice weather, does it matter if the top is left down throughout the summer? Does it make a difference better or worse for the hydraulics and other parts either way?

 

I have 2002 spider and leave the top both up and down. I use mine daily but I think to leave the top up or down for any length of time is not good. The fluid need to circulate and the fabric need to not be stretched all the time.

 

I don't know if Ferrari addresses this or not. However, my late model Alfa Spider had a very similar top and the owners manual was quite adamant that the top MUST be up when the car was left parked for any length of time.

 

That's what I do. The worry is that if not up, the top material shrinks and takes on permanent wrinkles. The plastic window also gets creased. I'm sure the top has a finite number of cycles but don't know how many. I also think it good to cycle it now and then to keep the fluid circulated and the seals wet.

 

Leave it up, it will crease up otherwise

 

Ok... so there seems to be a consensus to leave the top up when not in use. Do you guys believe this means to put the top up at the end of every day of usage, or to not leave it down for more than a few days or week or some other time frame?

 

My Porsche owner's manual also says not to leave the top down for extended period of time. My understanding is whenever possible after the drive, the top should be up.....it is the fabric material of the top that needs to be put in shape most of the time. Porsche use electric motor to operate the top and there is no fluid involved.

 

I left mine up during my ownership when it wasn't being used - mainly to keep the fabric from getting creased.

 

Will get back to you on this one. My top is broken at this time and has been down for 10 days know.

 

The Spyder has a top?
Learn something new every day!

 

Keep it up the elastics are stretched and wearing --- Keep it down you get creases ... Decisions decisions

 

I leave my car parked with the top up, in the closed position. I've always done this with my convertibles.

 

Up, prevents creases and dust in the interior.

 

Up . Here

 

Up, up, up.

 

Definitely up.

 

Yup...Up!

 

Mine is stored up but spends most of the summer down under a car cover. You can steam out the creases anytime if a problem.

 

My 08 430 manual says up if car parked for awhile


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Always put the top if it's going to be more than a couple days. The tops definitely crease, shrink, and the fabric gets a memory.

 

360 Owners Manual admonishes against leaving the top down for "extended periods of time" as it may develop creases which could impair operation. My recently purchased '04 had been for sale for six months with the top down the entire time. Couple of heavy creases and the top operation was very jerky at first, then improved after several days with it up in the garage. Rear window has a crease which will not go away. My gut feel is a few days and you're OK, but if it stretches into weeks, better to close it. We close it routinely as we live in a rural area with a lot of animals, and the dust is amazing, even with the car garaged.

 

Always up when not in use.

 

How do you "steam" out creases??

 

Portable steamer like what you use to take out wrinkles fron clothes on a hanger.

 

Just bought a 2001 Spider from Earth Motor cars in Texas. Owner Arthur was very clear to keep the top up when parked for any amount of time. Top will shrink and crease. Arthur was also very clear to let the car run for a few minutes before operating the top. Must let the hydraulic fluid circulate and everything warm a bit or problems will occur.