heater /defroster, vinyl top

[era620]

Man, do I love this beast! Problem is that I am so hooked that I want to drive this thing year-round. Wonder if anyone has experience with driving a cobra in Connecticut during the winter?

Specific questions are:

- Is the heater/defroster a must-have? is it difficult to install? I'm not that handy and I didn't build my car.
- Does the vinyl top work well...or is it mostly a pain?
- I do not have a roll-bar so I am hoping that there is no modification required to the top...true?

Any other suggestions for how to drive in the dead cold of winter would be greatly appreciated.

era620

[Bob Putnam]

Is the heater/defroster a must-have? is it difficult to install?>>

For cold driving, it's necessary to keep ice off the outside of the windshield. Installation requires removing the dashboard and drilling a couple of holes in the firewall. About 4 hours labor.

Does the vinyl top work well...or is it mostly a pain?>>

It's not completely tight, even with the side curtains, but at least it cuts down on the breeze considerably. It's easy to install without the roll bar brace - for a professional.

Any other suggestions for how to drive in the dead cold of winter would be greatly appreciated. >>

Very, very carefully.

[Jack21]

When I built my Classic Roadsters, I wanted as close to a 4 season car as I could get. Like you, it's such a ball to drive, I wanted to drive it year round. And way back when in my Triumph TR4 days, I did drive it year round (the TR4), on the South side of the Long Island Sound from Connecticut.

Heater/defroster is a must have. And if you can install it in 4 hours, go for it. Would also recommend a Tonneau Cover for those nippy, but sunny days where you need heat, but not the top on. Keeps the heat at about shoulder level with passenger side buttoned up.

CR soft tops are made out of Hartz cloth, not vinyl, and it holds the heat a little better. But in the rain, it works OK. You'll still need a towel in the car for defogging and drips.

Had a concern that heavy rain would soak the air cleaner, and ignition through the hood opening. On a hot engine, rainwater that gets through the hood opening evaporates before it can cause filter clogging, or ignition shorting. On a cold engine, it might be a problem.

There is one unexpected problem in sub-freezing temperatures you need to be aware of. The flexable clear plastic used for sidecurtains, and rear windows becomes brittle and will crack if bent too sharply, or smacked to remove ice or snow. Then you will have to tape it from both sides until the panel can be replaced.

Driving in "dead cold", which is 10 - 20 deg in DC isn't a problem. CACC terrorized the Capitol last New Years Day, some with no heater - no top. Spouse & I were toasty with heater and top.

Ice and snow is another matter. I, we, you could put the right tires on a Cobra and negotiate ice and snow just fine. However, why would you want to. In DC we have a substantial portion of the population who learned to drive on 50cc motorbikes, or Camels (not the cigarette, the animal). Winter in their country of origin was never less than 60 deg. Here in the land of the Big PX, and skating rink roads in the winter, leave the Cobra in the garage, and drive your beater to play your local version of Beltway bumper cars. I paid more for the radiator and fan for the Cobra, than I did for the "beater", and it's a wintertime/rust belt annual write off.