Pipe Smoking While Driving a Convertible?

[cshubhra]

Run flat tires can drive 50+ miles even if they have popped. I did drive for full 50 miles before changing. All other time, the tire lost form, but was drivable.

You have to forego some practicality when you are driving a fun car. While the wheels/tires should have had an improved design, it is still the car with most fun in its class. NJ roads with potholes are also to blame.
It will also make a better driver - you focus on the potholes and very soon will get skills to avoid them, at least during the day.
I downgraded the tires in my wife’s car. That car is more reliable, but less fun.

That does not sound safe.

 

[briarbuck]

The thought of pin holes in my back seat upholstery would prevent me from doing it.

 

[SpookedPiper]

Run flat tires can drive 50+ miles even if they have popped. I did drive for full 50 miles before changing. All other time, the tire lost form, but was drivable.

You have to forego some practicality when you are driving a fun car. While the wheels/tires should have had an improved design, it is still the car with most fun in its class. NJ roads with potholes are also to blame.
It will also make a better driver - you focus on the potholes and very soon will get skills to avoid them, at least during the day.
I downgraded the tires in my wife’s car. That car is more reliable, but less fun.

Run flats make for a terrible ride. When leased a car with them I would swap them out asap and save them for when I have to returned it. The only down side if you get a flat you're waiting for a tow. most cars these days have the towing included so it's not really and expense.

 

[bluegrassbrian]

My advice is to start clenching.

 

[SpookedPiper]

The thought of pin holes in my back seat upholstery would prevent me from doing it.

Pin holes in other things should prevent you from doing it, no in the seats! Never heard of anyone getting prego because of pin holes in the seats! Have you? ?

 

[mingc]

You could try a Dunhill Bendy. I believe they're designed so the ash doesn't blow in your eyes when you're smoking in an open top sports car.

View attachment 29008View attachment 29009

If you're driving a Brit right hand drive, you'd be sitting on the right front seat and the bowl would lean to the middle of the car while clenching. In a left hand drive, the bowl would lean towards the window! We need a left hand drive bendy here in the US!

 

[mingc]

Run flat tires can drive 50+ miles even if they have popped. I did drive for full 50 miles before changing. All other time, the tire lost form, but was drivable.

You have to forego some practicality when you are driving a fun car. While the wheels/tires should have had an improved design, it is still the car with most fun in its class. NJ roads with potholes are also to blame.
It will also make a better driver - you focus on the potholes and very soon will get skills to avoid them, at least during the day.
I downgraded the tires in my wife’s car. That car is more reliable, but less fun.

This all sounds perfectly reasonable for a British or Italian made car. But for a German vehicle? Shameful! ??

 

[Gecko]

I smoke pipes all the time in my work van, no problems there. But in a convertible I would not dream of smoking a pipe while driving. Used to have a BMW Z4 back when I was young and handsome and even with the windows up and wind-deflector between the headrests in place I had to use a bandana to keep my hair from hitting my eyes in the turbulence.

 

[Gecko]

Oh yeah, I almost forgot... Run Flat tires are horrible, bad grip, noisy, uncomfortable and puncture/leak prone, never again.

 

[cshubhra]

I really don’t have the expertise to comment on that authoritatively. I would say it depends on what you look for in a car. I now have had 3 cars with run flats. Not a single problem with any of them, expect for the popping problem with the 2-series I mentioned above. I always look for hard suspension (to aid handling) and steering feedback. All 3 cars with run-flats have had superb steering feedback. Low profile tires, run flat etc... improve handling, but I have never driven the same car on two different sets, so I cannot comment how handling changes.

Driving 50 miles on run flats have a side benefit - yes, you can wait for a tow, but if you are getting late for a meeting, you can do the meeting first before calling for the tow

Again I am not stating run flats are better than non-run flats. Just stating experiences.

Run flats make for a terrible ride. When leased a car with them I would swap them out asap and save them for when I have to returned it. The only down side if you get a flat you're waiting for a tow. most cars these days have the towing included so it's not really and expense.

 

[SpookedPiper]

I really don’t have the expertise to comment on that authoritatively. I would say it depends on what you look for in a car. I now have had 3 cars with run flats. Not a single problem with any of them, expect for the popping problem with the 2-series I mentioned above. I always look for hard suspension (to aid handling) and steering feedback. All 3 cars with run-flats have had superb steering feedback. Low profile tires, run flat etc... improve handling, but I have never driven the same car on two different sets, so I cannot comment how handling changes.

Driving 50 miles on run flats have a side benefit - yes, you can wait for a tow, but if you are getting late for a meeting, you can do the meeting first before calling for the tow

Again I am not stating run flats are better than non-run flats. Just stating experiences.

Yeah the convenience is definitely there with runflats and BMW's are stiff to drive by design.. being a sports car. I agree that the low profile tires also don't aid in comfort, either. But on a lease if you don't have tire insurance and you puncture the runflat...will it's buthurt time.

As for meetings...well flats happen! ?

 

[mikethompson]

 

[Parsimonious Piper]

I have a 2014 Miata hardtop convertible. I do smoke with the top and windows down, deflector up. I only do so on backroads where my speed is under 60, so there’s little turbulence to deal with. Because I’m concerned about burning a briar, I only smoke cobs, which are incredibly light and comfortable to clench—which has got to be a necessity when driving. I also only load bowls about 3/4, and don’t fiddle with moving relights. Good luck finding something that works for you.

 

[ssjones]

The thought of pin holes in my back seat upholstery would prevent me from doing it.

Exactly! My MGB has a new tan leather interior and tan carpet set. There's no way I'm smoking in it. Convertible +pipe+4-speed = recipe for disaster

 

[PaulTheScandinavian]

I could not imagine smoking pipe in convertible, even to get a big rig back to a full speed with 13 to 18 gear Fuller Eaton gear box in it is quite nerve demanding process,shifting thorough the gears I have to clench hard or put the pipe away

 

[Sonorisis]

One time, I tried to carry a large watermelon home by carrying it in my lap on a motorcycle. That was a really bad idea.

 

[jpmcwjr]

Only with the top up. Only after you've learned to clench.

Good luck! I smoke in my car all the time, window cracked about an inch.

 

[Eaglesgift]

Only with the top up. Only after you've learned to clench.

Good luck! I smoke in my car all the time, window cracked about an inch.

I only just noticed your avatar - you can do whatever you want. C.O.Y.S!

 

[mingc]

You could try a Dunhill Bendy. I believe they're designed so the ash doesn't blow in your eyes when you're smoking in an open top sports car.

View attachment 29008View attachment 29009

Lo and behold, a left hand drive bendy for the American market (smokingpipes.com):

 

[anotherbob]

I once caught the carpet on my bass boat on fire by smoking a pipe while driving the boat if that's any indication of what could go wrong.

good thing you were near water at the time.