Top up or down when parking

During a drive, it's completely random. More often than not, I think I do things based on weather. When I'm done for the day, I close the roof. I'm not too paranoid and have not had issue so far with my 488 and other drop tops.

 

I would say its a matter of how secure a place is when you park. Friend's house; top down. Public parking area where you will be away for a while; up. Potential for weather change? Up! Keeping the top mechanism "exercised" is not a bad thing. Remember, Ferraris that sit unattended have more issues than those driven!

 

I'm a top up kind of guy when I park it...T

 

Intrigued to know why you asked the question. I had the same question but in connection with the alarm system. In the summer, when I knew I was going to go out again opentop, I would leave the top open. Locked the car, which puts the alarm on of course. Once put my hand in to get something and the alarm went off. Since then, always close it if parking outside as a bit scared the wind may trigger the alarm. Wonder whether anyone else has any expeiience with the alarm and wind with the top open.

 

That top is a very complex mechanism. The more you use it,the sooner you will spend $$$ on it.

 

Oh, I think there's arguments on either side there ... using it regularly keeps the parts and fluids moving ... kind of like how cars that are driven regularly do better than the garage queens. The tops are manufactured by Webasto, and they make the hard tops in huge numbers for the other big manufacturers -- BMW, Mercedes, etc. I think the mechanisms are reasonably robust, it's more the Italian electronic wiring and sensors that seem to be finicky, no surprises there.

Putting the top up does help protect the leather from the sun -- and other things. Back when I had my last 911 convertible I used to leave the top down all the time. Ran over to the local hardware store, left the top down and ran inside for 10 minutes. Amazing seagull migration/altercation in the parking lot while I was in there, cars all over the place liberally splattered. I got lucky and only had one small hit on the center armrest (and a great big one dead center on the windshield). Ever since then ...

 

I think not opening it is more detrimental. The seals dry out and can cause problems. Make sure your battery is less than three years old. Old, weak batteries cause problems because the roof requires "juice" to open it. Also check with the service people regarding lubrication every so often. There are a lot of moving parts involved! I believe there is a thread somewhere on F-chat regarding how to lubricate and what to use. What good is a convertible if you're afraid to use it? As far as leaving the top open, if the car is in view, we will leave it open. We have a Weathertech sun shield that is custom designed for the California, and we protect the dash with that. We always close the top when we pull in the garage.

 

And, oh, drive, drive drive! These cars are meant to be driven. A properly maintained car should give you many miles of FUN!

 

I used to always keep the top down on my convertible while parked on short errands, until some jackass threw a lit cigarette butt into my pristine 911 turbo cab and burned a hole in the linen leather passenger seat. Top up while parked since then....