Convertibles...

Uther

Uther

Uther

Soldato
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16 Jun 2005
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As usual, after the last few days of great weather I start thinking I want a convertible 2 seater. I'm sure that feeling will go away once it starts ****ing down again though.
I'm sure some people own one on the forum, are they mainly sunny day cars or can they be used day to day without too much compromise?
I think I've just got fantasies of cruising down to the south of France and Italy in one going on at the moment :p
 
We've had a couple of MX5's back in the day before kids and loved them, we used to have the top down any time of year really as long as the rain wasn't too hard!

If you've got heated seats its amazing on a clear winters day, i actually found i didn't want the top down in the peak of summer as it was just too hot on my head unless i was wearing a hat but then i really don't like the heat and sun at the best of times.
 
I’ve just been up to Loughborough and back with the roof down both directions the entire way.

It’s an awesome experience and makes driving significantly more relaxing.



I’ve never found it to compromise my day to day driving experience, other than reduced visibility out of the car for junctions. Don’t find any of them particularly noisy.


As soon as the sun is out in the winter, I’ve got my roof down. Heated seats + max heat is warm enough :)


I hope that I stay fortunate enough to run a convertible as part of my garage indefinitely. I love them :)
 
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I won't have a car that isn't a convertible. Yes, they are a pain in the ass in the winter when the windows freeze to the roof, yes they are noisy, yes they are massively compromised for driving dynamics (unless a dedicated roadster like a MX5, S2000, Z4 etc), yes they cost more, and yes they require more care and maintenance due to the soft top, but one drive on a sunny day with the roof off makes you forget all that completely.
 
I've never had one as my only car but I have thoroughly enjoyed the two I've owned and didn't find them to be a pain to use daily, quite the opposite in fact.
 
I've never had a problem with them, even the Elise.

I wouldn't want one which started life as a shared platform and had the roof removed though (like the Audis etc), they tend to be quite sloppy driving wise. It needs to be a proper roadster.
 
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I love them. Never thought I would, but even on a winters day, if the sun is out I'll have the top down.

Originally had an NB MX5 and I've now gone for my probable final hurrah with a big old ICE engine with a Z4.
 
Currently have an older MX5, a MK2.5. my first convertible.

I don't think I can go back now, really love the roof down thing.

Was looking at Mustangs for a bit and didn't even consider the soft top, then started looking and quite fancy one now. I think it suits that car well enough.

In the mx5, over winter, it's a bit noisy in there. But I imagine more modern cars with hard retractable tops negate much of that
 
I had a Z4 for a few years. I was consulting at the time so doing loads of motorway miles. It was totally nice and comfortable for cruising with the top up and of course great with the top down on a sunny day on the back roads. Roof was really good.

Also had a Smart Roadster Brabus Coupe for a while which was great fun but the roof is utter cack and it leaked like a sieve, had to be kept under a cover and regularly dried out if you drove in the rain.

I'd probably have a roadster of some kind now if I didn't have hobbies that required an estate to lug stuff round in.
 
mid_gen said:
I had a Z4 for a few years. I was consulting at the time so doing loads of motorway miles. It was totally nice and comfortable for cruising with the top up and of course great with the top down on a sunny day on the back roads. Roof was really good.

Also had a Smart Roadster Brabus Coupe for a while which was great fun but the roof is utter cack and it leaked like a sieve, had to be kept under a cover and regularly dried out if you drove in the rain.

I'd probably have a roadster of some kind now if I didn't have hobbies that required an estate to lug stuff round in.
Click to expand...

TBF, my Z4 is the most comfortable motorway milage car I've had. I regularly do a 170 mile trip to my parents and I get out the other end after a straight through run without my aging body complaining.
 
Here you go Uther, suits you perfectly <3

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I use mine many days when it isn’t full sun. You can’t beat a convertible. Modern cars are far far less drafty than they used to be too. Plus I love the sound of the engine.

My TTRS is my first soft top and I actually prefer that to the hard top convertibles that I’ve owned.
 
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