For many drivers, few sensations can beat the freedom and excitement of a convertible with the top down in perfect weather. However, convertibles offer some extra challenges from the threat of environmental damage to special maintenance and repair needs.
If you own a convertible that you'd like to keep in top condition for many years to come, you need to understand how to protect your vehicle both inside and out. Start by following these four tips.
1. Park and Store Your Car With the Top Raised
As much as you may enjoy keeping the top down on your convertible, you'll do your car a great favor by raising that top whenever you park or store the vehicle. An open top leaves your car's interior especially vulnerable to pest infiltration, moisture damage, and deterioration caused by ultraviolet (UV) radiation.
The more time your soft convertible top remains raised, the nicer it will look for a longer period, even without the threats mentioned above. The extra time spent in the raised position helps to reduce the formation of permanent crease marks and preserve the top's original shape.
2. Don't Let Wear and Tear Damage Your Top
Any car exterior faces its share of potential damage from flying or falling debris. Leaves, branches, and rocks can tear up your convertible's top. Mold and mildew can also settle into your soft top material. Check the top periodically for signs of damage that might require professional repairs.
Wear and tear can include more than just tears, stains, or other acute damage. The same UV radiation that does so much harm to car interiors can also damage a convertible's top fabric or vinyl over time. Depending on the material, long-term UV exposure can cause cracking, shrinkage, and/or color fading.
If you can't park your convertible in a garage on a regular basis, think carefully before you park, seeking shade on sunny days whenever possible (watching out for branches). When you have your car washed and detailed, make sure the top also gets a coating of UV protectant to guard against UV damage and color fading.
3. Clean Your Convertible With Care
Soft convertible tops don't necessarily require special detergents as opposed to other car tops. However, they can still sustain damage during washing unless you attend to their particular vulnerabilities from the seams and seals that keep water out of your interior to the plastic windows typically included in these structures.
Automated car washes use methods that may prove too rough for the soft materials in convertible tops, so resist the temptation of this convenience. Instead, take your car to a place that offers professional handwashing by skilled experts. If an automated car wash damages your top, get the damage repaired right away.
Some cleaning products may include substances harmful to soft tops, such as petroleum derivatives, silicon, citrus, or bleach. If you absolutely must wash the top yourself, use only a gentle car shampoo. Even if you only need to clean one spot on the top, you should wet the entire top evenly as part of the cleaning process.
4. Repair or Replace Your Convertible Top as Needed
No matter how carefully you look after your convertible, sooner or later the soft top will fade, tear, stain, or develop other issues that call for repair or replacement. In the case of a torn top or worn-out weatherstripping, you need to make those repairs as quickly as possible for the sake of your car's interior.
An experienced auto body team can examine your convertible top and administer the necessary repairs. A combination of fine stitching and interior sealants, such as glue or tape can often take care of smaller tears. If necessary, your auto body shop can replace the entire top and/or damaged weatherstripping.
Automotive Super Sports can help you fix your convertible's interior and exterior damage so you can keep enjoying life with the top down.
Contact us with any questions or requests.
