While I agree completely.... <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif" alt="" /> (sorry! I've had to shut up for 5 days while I was gone!)
I wonder if vent windows would be pressure-locked or -assisted, once unlatched?Kown: Water pushing in is stronger than the air pushing out. But these swivel on horizontal center, not an "equal area on both sides" center.
Pure speculation: They swivel in the middle, but I still bet trying to move them would be hard, especially since you have very little leverage/torque on them.
In addition, air compresses as you descend, water doesn't (compress) but the weight builds up. This would help with a soft top, as it would implode in (rip out of the track) and fill up the Amigo/Sport almost instantly after about 5 feet of descent. Even if you don't go out the door, you now have an open back end to swim out of.
Under the not-gonna-have-the-presence-of-mind-to-do-this category, flipping the HVAC over to vent instead of recirculate should help, or better yet, unlatching the sunroof before the top goes under.True...but again, a window would fill it faster. Plus, I think part of the idea is you--well, most peop....umm,
some people can push out of driver side window, a la Dukes of Hazzard, without waiting for pressure to fully equalize.
Most vehicles will float for just a bit before nosing under, so these options might just allow an exit...They float due to trapped/displaced air; it does look easy to open the doors, but I'll bet it's hard as you still have several feet of water pushing against the bottom. Think about that 1.5 foot stream that pushes non-lifted cars down the river bed. And now you know why Navy ships don't have a door below the waterline.
You are right, "floating time" is your best bet to get out, especially since your windows are above water and hopefully the motor is still dry in the "sealed on the outside" door. Undamaged batteries do work underwater, for a while. Roll the windows down and hope you're skinny enough to get out the window. I'll bet there's a boomer or two who's regretting that "cocooning" effect in their latest car purchase--windows get smaller, backsides get bigger, and they get stuck!
Here's what triggered my memory:
http://www.cartalk.com/content/columns/Archive/2004/December/08.htmlYou can buy an Amphibicar and not worry about it:
http://www.amphicar.net/minnow/faq_OF.htm
