Decadence all the way! I drive top down, A/C on in the summer, and top down, heat and heated seat on in the winter. Top goes up in heavy rain and snow.
The median accident reminds me of an incident I had with a rental car in the late 90's. Finishing up a trip on Barbados, I had a late flight and spent the day on the east coast. I let time slip a little too much and was hustling back to the airport in my best rally style, drifting the Hyundai Elantra through corners amongst the sugarcane fields of the island center.
All was bliss until I took a corner a bit too fast and slid off onto the wide grass shoulder. The recover was graceful, but as I regained the pavement I overran a large rock hidden in the grass. About 12 inches tall and pyramid shaped, it passed under the nose with a resounding crunch and wedged under the point where the rear suspension arms attach at the center of the car, lifting both back wheels completely off the ground. Acting as a very effective brake, the car literally ground to a halt trailing a long white line and belching vapors from under the hood.
My first though was that I'd wiped out the radiator. Examination revealed a shattered air-dam and smashed A/C radiator. Amazingly, the oil pan was untouched and only a shallow grove marred the undercoating back to the rear suspension. A professional tire thief could not have perched the rear better for tire removal. The perch was so secure I could not rock the car off the rock. I had to break out the jack and lift the car further to free it, providing much amusement to a passing busload of citizens heading home from the west coast.
Sans A/C, I still made the airport in time to confess my sin to the rental agency and make my flight. The $400 deductible beat me home.
