Driving Topless....'s topics - tribe.net

I'm in love!!

SweetNypples — Thu, 12 Jan 2006 20:27:25 GMT

I've been slowly searching for my next hot ride.... Mine is getting kinda old, and it's time to get rid of her, before she poops out on me!

well, I fell in love with a new beauty.... it's the pontiac G6 convertible!!

has anybody seen these yet?? Fairly new car... but it's getting great ratings, not too mention, not too shabby on the price!!

Eeeeeeeeeee I wish I could go tonight and get it!!! LOL

posted in Driving Topless.... - 7 replies

the moment I may never go back

Noah — Sat, 15 Jul 2006 05:46:16 GMT

So early in my driving life my dad bought this little blue two door convertable suv and I didn't much care for it. One day my dad decides to teach me to drive stick and the only vehicle that fit the description was the Tracker. So we go out to a dirt/gravel parking lot to learn to launch, perhaps to save the clutch/drive line from the shock of being hard luanched on pavement. His answer was when I can do it with out spinning the tires I'll have it. But it was early spring and just warm enough to take the top down so we did. Eventually I figured it out and was treated to unrestrained burn outs and doughnuts in the gravel. If you haven't done it doughnuts + dirt parking lot = gritty smiles. I still have the Tracker and have spent entire summers w/o putting the full top on even in rain; the bikini top covers just the front seats and thats all I need dry any way. I still prefer to ride with a jacket on instead of the top up. And when I see gravel parking I still find time to make some gritty smiles. When did you fall in love with topless driving?

posted in Driving Topless.... - 1 reply

Ah, Summer Nights...

Thrift Store Cowboy — Mon, 17 Jul 2006 02:49:23 GMT

It was on warm summer nights like these that I fell in love with convertibles while still a teenager in the late 80's. A friend of mine would borrow his mom's new '89 Mustang LX and we'd cruise it all over town blasting gangsta rap from the crappy little speakers with the top down. I would always sit in the back seat with my head back, watching the stars, smelling the trees, and feeling the wind in my face as we drove along the back-country roads, four white small-town geeks singing along with Ice Cube, Ice-T, and sorry to say, Vanilla Ice. Warm summer nights meant cruising our town's two main streets before hanging out in the Taco Bell parking lot talking to the girls in the VW Cabriolets. I fell in love with the fact that I could be open to the world around me as I travelled - something you can't quite experience through an open sunroof.

Since graduating high school I've always had at least one drop-top car. Sometimes they're sporty, sometimes cushy, and sometimes classics. I'm currently on my sixth and believe it or not, my favorite so far: a cheap, tiny, reliable little Geo Metro convertible that is really great for both city driving and long road trips due to getting 38/50 mpg. This time of year I like to put the top top back on my little two seater and drive to the coast or the desert at night, going where the stars shine their brightest above my head and the sea air or smell of sage comes in from all directions. That feeling of freedom you get when you pass 85 mph on a straight highway with the warm wind and sun on you head, neck, arms, and legs.

Okay, enough typing - I'm going out for a drive!

posted in Driving Topless.... - 0 replies

rubbing hands together

incendiarydream — Sat, 13 Aug 2005 16:27:11 GMT

alright everyone -

i know i have been slacking around here but i really don't have much to talk about convertibles now that i don't own mine anymore. but the other day i was reminiscing and i thought i'd post an interesting topic:

has anyone had sex in their convertible? top up or down? location? small clip of the scenario?

lets see if any of you are devilish as i.......

posted in Driving Topless.... - 6 replies

a new tribe, for Crista...

thom — Thu, 29 Dec 2005 17:28:06 GMT

I'd like to announce a new tribe, one that celebrates the life and times of Crista (formerly known as ~Incendiary Dream~, or ~ID* for short). You're all invited to join us there: http://tribes.tribe.net/IncendiaryDream

It was almost a year ago that I first met Crista one late night, and since then we’ve become very good friends. As anyone who knows her will tell you, Crista is a petite, beautiful, sexy lady, and the subject of many a tribe member’s fantasy! And although she may be small, Crista has the heart of a giant, a wit to match, and a simple, intoxicating smile that can brighten the day of anyone who sees it! I feel fortunate to have Crista as my dear friend!

posted in Driving Topless.... - 0 replies

nice ride.....

incendiarydream — Fri, 23 Dec 2005 00:39:41 GMT

thx to those of you who posted pics in the album recently. way to hook it up.

:-)

posted in Driving Topless.... - 3 replies

so i bought the new car.

incendiarydream — Fri, 10 Jun 2005 23:24:51 GMT

there's a pic in my blog for those interested. i love it!

maybe now i shouldn't be moderating this tribe?

eh - i still love convertibles so i guess it doesn't matter either way!

posted in Driving Topless.... - 10 replies

may have to give up searching....

incendiarydream — Mon, 16 May 2005 17:49:49 GMT

after much internal deliberation i feel that i am not going to be able to buy the car that i REALLY want. i can afford it, but if in order to make the payments affordable for me, i have to deplete my whole savings account, and i just can't bring myself to do that. i like having my little "nest egg". so - now i'm looking for something sporty, with a sun roof or moon roof to compensate for the convertible top.

ugh - i'm depressed. i really wanted that car. and i am REALLY going to miss the convertible.

anyone willing to send me donations? lol

alright - what's new in 05 and 06? i need front wheel drive and a back seat. any cars you all have seen that caught your eye lately? fill me in!!!!

posted in Driving Topless.... - 23 replies

does this count?

vlad_X — Sat, 30 Apr 2005 00:57:51 GMT

Yeah, I just came here stalking you ID.

But do motocycles count as convertables? heh heh.

:)
-V

posted in Driving Topless.... - 2 replies

finally!

incendiarydream — Tue, 29 Mar 2005 22:22:28 GMT

i went topless today.

posted in Driving Topless.... - 28 replies

follow up test on my (maybe) new car...

incendiarydream — Fri, 25 Mar 2005 05:17:13 GMT

http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/Articles/articleId=102469

Summertime is here. Forget, for the moment, baseball, barbeques and dopey Hollywood blockbusters. Instead, think about being outside. Think about sneaking off in a convertible some Sunday evening. Cruise along your favorite stretch of road. Drop the top and soak up that warm summer night air. Smell the trees. Hear the thrum of the tires against the blacktop. Watch the sun add Technicolor to the clouds as it finishes its duty for the day. This is summertime motoring at its best.

Of course, "this" does require that you own a convertible.

Should you not have one, no doubt Toyota would be happy to sell you one of its new Camry Solaras. And having evaluated one, we can say with fair authority that taking Toyota up on the offer might not be such a bad idea.

The Solara, should you be unfamiliar with it, is Toyota's grown-up two-door coupe and convertible. It is based on the Camry, Toyota's hugely popular family sedan. Of course, the Camry is known for being comfortable, dependable, refined and well built. Identifying excitement, fun and flair in a Camry — traits one would normally associate with a convertible — is somewhat of a futile task, sort of like trying to find a Greenpeace member at a GOP fundraiser.

Yet, Toyota managed to add enough of those more interesting elements to make the first Solara convertible, sold from 1999 to 2003, a respectable success. Now, a new Solara convertible bows for 2004. Like a Hollywood sequel, it's got more of the same while also being bigger and flashier. We've covered the new Solara coupe (on sale since the summer of 2003) in a first drive and a comprehensive road test. Here we will focus on the Solara convertible, which began arriving at dealerships in the spring of 2004.

Our testing occurred during a typical sunny week in Southern California. Lowering the soft top (full headliner, glass rear window with defog) on a Solara convertible is a relatively straightforward process. First, pull back on the two clamps that secure the top to the windshield frame. Then punch the top's "Close/Open" toggle switch. In about 10 seconds, the top quietly motors down and one is maximizing his or her UV exposure to the fullest. That basic routine is pretty easy.

The basic routine isn't the whole story, though. First, while there is a button that allows all four windows to be raised or lowered with one touch, the windows themselves are not synchronized. First the rear-quarter windows move, and then the doors' windows move. This two-step dance move slows down the overall fully open to fully closed process.

We also noticed that because the Solara is a good-sized car, drivers who are belted in or are short in stature might find it a bit difficult to reach over to grab and operate the passenger-side clamp. More annoying, though, is the tonneau cover. This vinyl form-fitted cover is meant to be manually installed over the folded top, presumably for aesthetics and weather protection. Attached clips are used to secure the cover. In practice, we found the installation process fussy. The cover is unwieldy and its clips don't seem to work that well. It also partially blocks what is already a middling view from the rearview mirror. When not in use, the cover must be stored somewhere. This "somewhere" might be the trunk. Based on our experience, it might also be the owner's garage.

With the top down and the driver on the move, the Camry Solara provides an average amount of wind protection. A wind blocker is being sold through Toyota dealerships for a $395 MSRP; without being able to test it, we can't comment on its effectiveness. Top up, the Solara produces such low levels of road and wind noise that it would beat some coupe and sedan hardtops in this regard. The only negative to mention about the top being up is the poor rearward visibility, particularly because of the very thick C-pillars and rising rear beltline. (However, it should be noted that thick C-pillars are a problem endemic to many convertibles.)

Top up or down, we were impressed by the amount of structural rigidity, particularly for a four-seat convertible of this price range. Both grades of the Solara convertible, SE and SLE, come standard with a sport-tuned suspension. While this certainly doesn't endow the car with handling that is anywhere close to a BMW 325Ci's, it's taut enough that you won't feel like you're driving a car with a suspension made of squishy balls, either. Around town and on the freeway, the Solara provides a comfortable ride overall.

Should you need to haul something, the Solara convertible's trunk can hold 11.7 cubic feet of stuff. Due to the space taken up by the top mechanism, this is down a bit compared to the Solara coupe (13.8 cubic feet) but still enough for a week's worth of groceries or a couple suitcases or golf bags. Likewise, the rear seat does away with the coupe's center position but is still very roomy for adults, particularly in regard to legroom and overall comfort. In fact, with the top up, there's actually more rear headroom than what's available in the coupe.

Both convertible trim levels come with a comprehensive standard feature list, including the 225-horsepower, 3.3-liter V6 engine. As expected, it's very refined and — with the additional power boost over the previous Solara's V6 — gives the car plenty of motivation for everyday situations, such as freeway entrances and overtaking. In terms of options, our test car came packaged with traction control, stability control and the DVD-based satellite navigation system.

The nav system is certainly impressive due to its large screen (6.7 inches), major-league database and many directional and display features. If you're one who would benefit frequently from a nav-equipped car, we would have no problem recommending it. However, keep in mind that ordering the nav system eliminates the otherwise standard in-dash six-disc CD changer found in the SLE. A single-CD player is put in its place, and it's located inconveniently behind the nav screen; to access it, one must push a small button at the bottom of the screen. We also noted that the nav system is less effective when the top is down. Direct sunlight can make the display very hard to read and any audio prompts from the nav system can be muffled out due to wind noise.

From an overall perspective, though, we came away from our test with a very positive outlook. We might have nitpicked the nav system, for instance, but at least the Solara comes with the option of having it. Its closest competitors — the Chrysler Sebring, Mitsubishi Eclipse and Ford Mustang convertibles — don't offer one. That goes for many other features, as well.

The Solara is reasonably priced, too. It costs about the same as the Sebring yet is more refined, more comfortable and packs in more luxury and safety features. It's not until you start spending another $10 to $15 grand (Audi A4, BMW 3 Series, Saab 9-3) that you start to see comparable features. If you're shopping for a four-seat convertible, regardless of price, the Solara is certainly a car you should check out for your summertime enjoyment.

posted in Driving Topless.... - 0 replies

my new car?

incendiarydream — Fri, 25 Mar 2005 05:08:23 GMT

http://www.edmunds.com/news/autoshow/articles/101248/page006.html

2004 Toyota Camry Solara Convertible

What's Special About It?

By the halfway point of the winter season, the novelty of the snow-covered landscape begins to wear off and the reality of slippery roads, wind-burned skin and wet socks becomes tiresome. Well, for some of us it does. Whatever your state of mind, it's never too early to start thinking about warmer, sunnier days. Toyota, for one, is ready to give the press and the public their first look at the convertible version of the Camry Solara.

The coupe's sleek yet unexpectedly forceful lines transfer to the drop top, but this time the convertible has a body of its own that was engineered from the beginning to be an open-top vehicle. The fact that the Solara convertible hasn't undergone a "top chop" conversion job has resulted in a significant increase in torsional rigidity, according to Toyota. Out on the road, this means better handling and less cowl shake. To our eyes, the tail end of the convertible is better resolved than the coupe's, thanks to a tasteful rear lip spoiler that reduces the sag effect.

Inside, the convertible has all the style of the coupe. The soft leather upholstery, silver-toned controls and white-faced gauges look more Lexus than Toyota, giving this midpriced convertible a level of sophistication unmatched by any Chrysler Sebring. The standard power top raises and lowers at the touch of a button in just 10 seconds and stows neatly under a tonneau cover that matches the color of the interior. With the imposition of a removable top, seating capacity drops from three to two in back. Trunk capacity is just under 12 cubic feet.

As the convertible weighs in at over 3,500 pounds, Toyota has made the 225-horsepower, 3.3-liter V6 standard equipment. A five-speed automatic is the only gearbox available, though Toyota does include an automanual gate for drivers who would like a little more control over shift points. Handling assumes greater importance on the second-generation Solara convertible, as both a sport-tuned suspension and 17-inch wheels and tires are standard. Toyota will sell the Solara convertible in both SE and SLE models. Standard features on the SE include cloth upholstery, silver metallic interior trim, a six-speaker CD stereo and full power accessories. The SLE provides a leather interior, wood grain trim, a 315-watt JBL stereo with an in-dash CD changer and automatic climate control.

What's Edmunds' Take?

Looking for a stylish, comfortable and refined summertime companion with room for the kids? We can't think of a better $30,000 candidate than the Solara convertible. And, unlike its predecessor, this drop top should have the moves to handle a spontaneous back-roads detour. — Erin Riches

__________________________________________

posted in Driving Topless.... - 0 replies

Topless, but Not Toothless

Thu, 17 Mar 2005 05:35:24 GMT

By JEFF SABATINI

TESTED: 2005 Mini Cooper S convertible

WHAT IS IT? A drop-top version of BMW's stylish and sporty small car.

HOW MUCH? $24,950; as tested, $28,170.

WHAT'S UNDER THE HOOD? Supercharged 1.6-liter in-line 4.

HOW THIRSTY? E.P.A. rating: 25 m.p.g town, 32 highway; 24.5 m.p.g. observed.

WHAT ELSE IS THIS MUCH FUN? Honda S2000, Lotus Elise, Mazda Miata.

EVERY once in a while, I encounter a car so fun to drive that it demands I do stupid things, as if the remote clicker unlocks not only the doors, but also my inner adolescent. Before my rational side can intervene, I am throwing the car around corners, traveling at illegal speeds and shirking responsibilities to take impromptu drives.

If you think this sounds more like ad copy than criticism, I would agree - but the convertible Mini Cooper S is really that good. Blasting around in this little rocketship, with its exceptionally firm suspension, immediate steering and lack of rooftop encumbrance is in the same category of fun as piloting a Mazda Miata or a Lotus Elise, two of the most exceptional sports cars on the market.

BMW also offers a drop-top version of the standard Mini Cooper, which sells for $3,450 less but lacks the punch of the S's supercharged 168-horsepower engine. Still, the less gutsy convertible is an acceptable performer and its softer suspension is more comfortable on rough pavement. (And, unlike the S, it offers an automatic transmission.)

In a clever bit of engineering, the front of the power convertible top can be retracted like a conventional sunroof. Top up, the profile is almost identical to the coupe's. Though the convertible extracts no discernible penalty in driving dynamics or interior accouterments, it suffered some in the de-roofing process.

An awkward roll bar with integrated headrests for the rear passengers sticks up as high as the windshield, compromising the convertible's low-sill look. Worse than the roll bar's aesthetics is its effect on rear vision. You can see almost nothing out the tiny rear window, which is why BMW made parking-distance sensors standard on Mini convertibles.

Cargo capacity has also been sacrificed, with the Mini coupe's hatchback replaced by a tailgate that drops to reveal a tiny trunk. Cargo space shrinks more when the top is down, though folding rear seatbacks mitigate the lack of room somewhat - and nifty levers let you raise the folded top a bit to create a larger trunk opening.

I tested a Cooper S in late October, and immediately became one of those idiots who drive around on a cold day with the top down. Indeed, every Mini convertible comes with a contract suggesting that the owner keep the top open 90 percent of the time, yet another irreverent (and undeniably clever) marketing concept from the current masters of such.

But this is not why I acceded to shiver; driving with the top down is the best way to hear the car's exhaust. While the sound is no V-8 rumble, the Cooper S's twin center-mounted exhaust pipes burble like a motorcycle when you lift off the gas pedal. While probably bothersome to others, my wind-stung ears heard it as harmony to my rowing of the easy-shifting, six-speed manual transmission.

This is the essence of why the Mini is a great car: It offers a more involved driving experience than most other vehicles today. The convertible models now raise the bar by putting the driver out in the open air, even closer, in spirit, to the road.

posted in Driving Topless.... - 2 replies

reviews?

incendiarydream — Fri, 25 Feb 2005 03:10:02 GMT

anybody own or know someone who owns a Toyota Camry Solara convertible? any reviews? I'm looking at the one with the V6.

posted in Driving Topless.... - 27 replies

snow begone!!!!!!

incendiarydream — Sun, 13 Mar 2005 01:23:26 GMT

you know - it's march. i'm aware of the whole lion/lamb thing, but come on.... can it stop snowing already?!?!? i'm going to end up like the guy in the new mustang commercial.

Driving Topless....'s topics - tribe.net

I'm in love!!

the moment I may never go back

Ah, Summer Nights...

*rubbing hands together*

a new tribe, for Crista...

nice ride.....

so i bought the new car.

may have to give up searching....

does this count?

finally!

follow up test on my (maybe) new car...

my new car?

Topless, but Not Toothless

reviews?

snow begone!!!!!!

i'm here all alone....

rubbing hands together