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MG MGA - Hood down and weather hardened

It's a cool and wet summer day in the UK right now. In the office everyone around me is complaining how cold it is. Some have put fan heaters on around their desks. Others have put on their jackets (males), cardigans (females). I have to say that I am in shirt sleeves and find it quite pleasant.

As usual I came to work in the MGA hood down. Many of you know that this is my norm, come winter come shine. I reckon this exposure to the elements keeps me healthy and less sensitive to the cold.

Are we becoming a nation(s) of mamby pambies who are so reliant on central heating and air-conditioning? - some southern US States and other equatorial areas excepted.

With the cost of oil for ever climbing I commend top down driving as a way to reduce domestic/industrial fuel bills. It's good for the sun tan as well. Many people in the office ask where I have been on my holidays. They are amazed when I tell them that I have yet to take a holiday this year, it's just from driving the car.

Steve
Steve Gyles

Air conditioning and central heating are all recent innovations...mankind has survived quite well without either for millenia. Growing up in north Florida, in the forties and fifties, we had neither. My wife, from south Florida had the same experience. I moved into my first home with central air conditioning in 1982, in Jacksonville....up until then--it was either a small window unit, or mostly--none at all. In my retirement, I sometimes wonder how we endured all the hot and humid summers, and chilly damp winters (a lot like England in the spring). Our first air conditioned car was bought in the same year. Every time a hurricane comes through (getting to abe a common occurence, again) we lose power for a week or two--it only takes a day or two to aclimatize again to living in the real world...
R. L Carleen

I agree with the sun tan - or wind tan, perhaps. Often get asked if I've been on holiday - particularly in the spring or autumn.

I rarely use the roof. Because of the way the frame folds away into the car on the A, passers-by often assume that the car just doesn't have the option of a roof, and look at you with a slight air of sympathy, as if to say - 'poor fellow, forced to sit there in the cold'.

No - entirely my choice. Rain is rarely a problem, except when you are actually sitting in stationary traffic.

Richard.
Richard Ross

Yep, I don't even have a hood anymore, as I run a competition windscreen and am too lazy to swap it out with my standard screen. Drove 500+ miles in the last four days to/from our MG2006 meet here in the States; rain easily accommodated with tonneau and driving goggles. :)
Chris Sloan

I agree about driving with the hood down totally enjoy the drive and a little bit of rain will not hurt anyone.
I rather the cooler days, I have diven from Adelaide to Sydney (around 1,400 kilometers) through inland NSW during a very warm January (Summer), my water consumption was higher than fuel. Maybe it did cross my mind to put the hood up for shade but didn't give into that "mamby pamby" (haven't heard that phrase for years) attitude. I did enjoy my stops in airconditioned service centres.
My work friends (I use the word friend loosly here) know that if I drop down to below about 60kph then I will get wet with light rain. Its amazing how many find the need to drive at 55kph when I'm behind them in the rain. The way I feel about it is that I just get more time to enjoy driving my car all warm in my coat and hat.
shane rossetto

So ... to the heart of Steve's question.
Are the 'youngsters' getting soft? Probably - some of them. SPeaking as one of the younger members of the Board (almost 40), even I notice the generation below me (the early 20s) are strongly attached to things of comfort, and probably not so excited by the fairly raw pleasures that an open top MG offers.

I'm no fan of daily cold showers, but a bit of open-top motoring ... that's a different thing entirely.
Richard Ross

I know it's really cold up there where you are, so we all have great respect for your apparent hardness Steve.
However us "A" lovers just know how much heat comes out of that footwell.

With the half tonneau, heater on and suitable attire we are just smug and as snug as a bug in a rug aren't we! Love it.

The youngsters? Most have spare fat and bare middles nowadays. No sense no feeling?

Pete
Pete Tipping

From 1993 - 1995 I lived in England, and thoroughly enjoyed running a '72 midget as my daily transport. For most of that time I did a daily round trip of 60 miles (100km) and the roof was only up if there was stuff falling from the sky, winter or summer.

There is no such thing as bad weather, only inappropriate clothing.
James Reinhardt

I have a top, and I'm not afraid to use it! (My wife likes it too, and it stops that annoying whine that comes from the passinger side.)
Ed Bell

This thread was discussed between 26/06/2006 and 03/07/2006

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