Driving with the windows fully down on the highway

[daves87rs]

Originally Posted By: Pop_Rivit
I usually drive with the windows down on the highway, weather permitting, unless it's the interstate. I prefer the fresh air rather than the air the A/C gives off.

I normally open the drivers window and the passenger side rear window. That eliminates almost all wind buffeting unless it's windy outside and it's coming straight at the drivers window. There's nothing better than driving past a field of freshly mown hay and enjoying it.



+1

Yep!

Unless I dress up for whatever (suits and such), the ac is off and windows down....

 

[HTSS_TR]

Originally Posted By: turtlevette
Jan Feb? I'm talking spring and fall. Jan would be frost bite territory. It'd freeze the water in your eyeballs.

So you can only drive with top down for 8-9 months a year, and of those 8-9 months you may have some rainy days.

Here in So Cal we can have top down more than 350 days most years, because we have less than 10-15 rainy days a year and most daytime the temperature is above 60-65F.

 

[KenO]

Originally Posted By: mclasser
I've noticed a lot of people do this but always wondered why. When driving around town, I like dropping the windows if it isn't too hot because the breeze feels great. But on the highway, the wind noise becomes so irritating and frankly unbearable. The radio's hard to hear unless it's turned up super high and it becomes difficult to talk to passengers. I'm no expert, but doesn't drag increase at higher speeds with the windows all the way down, negatively affecting gas mileage? I've seen drivers of cars -- both old and new -- doing this so it can't be the A/C is busted in all cases.

I could never own a convertible

Not to mention the increase in fuel economy of keeping the windows up at highway speeds. At highway speeds, the aero drag of keeping the windows down is far greater than the load to the engine from the a/c compressor, resulting in a decrease in fuel economy.