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914World.com _ 914World Garage _ topless teener-1st time??

Posted by: Jamie Apr 21 2005, 08:09 PM

Drove thru the countryside last week with the top off for the first time, and she wasn't the same?! Felt more unsettled and subject to wind gusts, and I was surprised at the difference? Began to appreciate the flow dynamics of the top, and got a sunburn/windburn while doing the research!

Posted by: J P Stein Apr 21 2005, 08:11 PM

For me, it's worth .5 sec at AX.....go figure.

Posted by: SirAndy Apr 21 2005, 08:38 PM

QUOTE (Jamie @ Apr 21 2005, 06:09 PM)
and I was surprised at the difference?

how rusty are your longs? having the roof on adds rigidity which is "feelable" if the longs are rusted and the tub is twisting ...

Andy

Posted by: mharrison Apr 21 2005, 09:40 PM

hmmm.....I've never driven one with the top ON....what a novel idea!!!

Posted by: john rogers Apr 21 2005, 09:45 PM

When the top is off and the windows are down the rear window is nothing more than a huge airbrake. It is better if the top is on and even better if the top is on and raised about an inch or inch and a half. I raised mine and it broke the vacuum behind the rear window really well. Of course there is a tad more wind noise now but hey it is a race car. The best for drag is to cut the top off, no windshield or targa bar and feel the wind in your face!!!

Posted by: cdmcse Apr 21 2005, 11:36 PM

Bring it over and we will check it good for rust. I know exactly where to look now that I've seen mine inside and out.

Posted by: anthony Apr 21 2005, 11:48 PM

QUOTE
how rusty are your longs? having the roof on adds rigidity which is "feelable" if the longs are rusted

My longs aren't rusted and I can definitely feel a difference between top on and top off.

Posted by: SirAndy Apr 22 2005, 12:19 AM

QUOTE (anthony @ Apr 21 2005, 09:48 PM)
My longs aren't rusted and I can definitely feel a difference between top on and top off.

as in:

QUOTE
Felt more unsettled
????

if so, we need to talk ....
Andy

Posted by: ninefourteener Apr 22 2005, 07:10 AM

Naaa.... doesn't necessarily mean your car is falling apart. Neither of the 914s I've owned had rust on the longs.... at all...... but they both drove better with the top on.

Could just be that the rear targa bar is like dragging aroung a parachute... thats what I attribute it to.

My car feels "sloppier" around curves, not necessarily "hard" cornering, but I can definately feel it on "fast" cornering with the top off.

Plus...... the car doesn't accelerate on the highway as quickly (like from 60mph to 80mph) with the top off.

No worries

Posted by: Joe Ricard Apr 22 2005, 09:01 AM

Well I'll be damn never thought of it but ya'll make sense. I think leaving the top on for Autocross will give me the benefit of SHADE. and if it helps me fo faster then way cool too.

Posted by: Jamie Apr 22 2005, 09:09 AM

So now what I need is a raised wedge spoiler on the back edge of the top, right above the roll bar!!?? I don't think so!!!

Posted by: ninefourteener Apr 22 2005, 09:37 AM

QUOTE (Jamie @ Apr 22 2005, 07:09 AM)
So now what I need is a raised wedge spoiler on the back edge of the top, right above the roll bar!!?? I don't think so!!!

I know we've got some photoshop experts in here...

Lets see a 914 with an aluminum "ricer" wing mounted on top of the targa top in the rear----LMFAO

Posted by: Lawrence Apr 22 2005, 09:49 AM

I've found that lowering the passenger windows about 3 inches (both sides) reduces the amount of wind that buffets the occupants around.

As far as feeling unstable - I've never noticed that. It's louder and more open, though.

Posted by: firstknight13 Apr 24 2005, 08:50 PM

you could always take out the rear window to reduce the wind drag!!

Posted by: mharrison Apr 24 2005, 09:17 PM

With no glass in a racer (including no windshield) the back window is a great place for an oil cooler.