Coupe or Convertible?

[LordBretSinclair]

laterontoday said:

................................ I then rationalised that in this country its only really warm between June and mid August at best no more than 10 weekends, I wouldn't use the car every weekend so maybe no more than 8 weekends maybe. .................

...............................I then looked at a roadster and it was just horrible, smelt damp , very heavy wear on the interior, it almost put me off an older Aston altogether.

What has warmth got to do with it ??????? The roof on a roadster only goes up when it's chucking it down with rain. The roof on mine has been down for the past 5 months.

Basing your choice on just one roadster is somewhat perplexing and of course completely irrational but I hope you enjoy your choice of coupe and enjoy the experience in your "tin can"

[avinalarf]

laterontoday said:

I've just been through the same decision making process coupe or convertible. I looked at both and went for a coupe.

The coupe looks so much better than a roadster whether the roadster is top up or down in my opinion. I fancied a roadster though because I was after a weekend and high day motor not a daily drive so why sit in a 'tin-top' on a hot day surely 'top less would be the way to go. I then rationalised that in this country its only really warm between June and mid August at best no more than 10 weekends, I wouldn't use the car every weekend so maybe no more than 8 weekends maybe. In all reality was having a topless car for maybe 16 days a year even a decision given the coupe looks soooo much better.

In practical terms you get a boot on the coupe, the roof takes up a huge amount of the boot on a roadster so how would I get all my gear to Le Mans in a roadster. I also suba dive and no point having a nice car left in the garage on weekends when I'm off to the coast because I cant get all the gear into the car, so again the coupes boot space scored the points. (might be too practical a reason for many owners)

I then looked at a roadster and it was just horrible, smelt damp , very heavy wear on the interior, it almost put me off an older Aston altogether. I then looked at coupes and parted with the cash and a big smile on my face.

Do I now wish I had a roadster? no , will I perhaps one day ? maybe. Do I love the coupe? you bet I do.

Who is this guy.....scuba diving....the only diving I do nowadays doesn't involve scubas.
Smelt damp....maybe the previous owner peed his pants....mine isn't damp.
No room in the boot...pack efficiently and there's room for two for a couple of weeks.

Top tip for packing efficiently....from your AM fashion icon...

I stick to two colours, navy and white....this means that everything will match

Jeans X 2
Casual trousers X 2
Jacket X 1
Casual jacket X 1
W/proof packaway jacket X 1
Tee / polo shirts X 6
Shoes / trainers X 1
Sandals X 1
Sox and pants
Shorts X 2
Swim shorts X 2
Raybans X 1
Gimp suit X 1
Handcuffs X 1

Edited by avinalarf on Wednesday 15th August 13:33

[laterontoday]

avinalarf said:

Who is this guy.....scuba diving....the only diving I do nowadays doesn't involve scubas.
Smelt damp....maybe the previous owner peed his pants....mine isn't damp.
No room in the boot...pack efficiently and there's room for two for a couple of weeks.

Top tip for packing efficiently....from your AM fashion icon...

I stick to two colours, navy and white....this means that everything will match

Jeans X 2
Casual trousers X 2
Jacket X 1
Casual jacket X 1
W/proof packaway jacket X 1
Tee / polo shirts X 6
Shoes / trainers X 1
Sandals X 1
Sox and pants
Shorts X 2
Swim shorts X 2
Raybans X 1
Gimp suit X 1
Handcuffs X 1

Edited by avinalarf on Wednesday 15th August 13:33

You are right of course what was I thinking https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/imgs/12.gif

Surely though you wear your gimp suit so more space in your manbag.

[Phil74891]

avinalarf said:

Who is this guy.....scuba diving....the only diving I do nowadays doesn't involve scubas.
Smelt damp....maybe the previous owner peed his pants....mine isn't damp.
No room in the boot...pack efficiently and there's room for two for a couple of weeks.

Top tip for packing efficiently....from your AM fashion icon...

I stick to two colours, navy and white....this means that everything will match

Jeans X 2
Casual trousers X 2
Jacket X 1
Casual jacket X 1
W/proof packaway jacket X 1
Tee / polo shirts X 6
Shoes / trainers X 1
Sandals X 1
Sox and pants
Shorts X 2
Swim shorts X 2
Raybans X 1
Gimp suit X 1
Handcuffs X 1

Edited by avinalarf on Wednesday 15th August 13:33

I’m a little concerned that you’ve owned up to owning a pair of sandals.

[baconsarney]

avinalarf said:

Who is this guy.....scuba diving....the only diving I do nowadays doesn't involve scubas.
Smelt damp....maybe the previous owner peed his pants....mine isn't damp.
No room in the boot...pack efficiently and there's room for two for a couple of weeks.

Top tip for packing efficiently....from your AM fashion icon...

I stick to two colours, navy and white....this means that everything will match

Jeans X 2
Casual trousers X 2
Jacket X 1
Casual jacket X 1
W/proof packaway jacket X 1
Tee / polo shirts X 6
Shoes / trainers X 1
Sandals X 1
Sox and pants
Shorts X 2
Swim shorts X 2
Raybans X 1
Gimp suit X 1
Handcuffs X 1

Edited by avinalarf on Wednesday 15th August 13:33

No lube?

[avinalarf]

Phil74891 said:

I’m a little concerned that you’ve owned up to owning a pair of sandals.

Gucci.....

[woodsypedia]

I’ve got an Ariel Atom that comes out of the garage from March until October. It gets used pretty much every weekend and some nights during the week. Anyone that says you can’t use a convertible in Britain is talking bks. I don’t even have a windscreen!!

[LordBretSinclair]

avinalarf said:

I stick to two colours, navy and white....this means that everything will match

Edited by avinalarf on Wednesday 15th August 13:33

Hello Sailor !!!!!!!

[avinalarf]

baconsarney said:

No lube?

No comment.

[avinalarf]

LordBretSinclair said:

Hello Sailor !!!!!!!

Whatever floats your boat .;)

[avinalarf]

woodsypedia said:

I’ve got an Ariel Atom that comes out from March until October.

First time I've heard it called that.....ooh you are awful.

[bogie]

woodsypedia said:

I’ve got an Ariel Atom that comes out of the garage from March until October. It gets used pretty much every weekend and some nights during the week. Anyone that says you can’t use a convertible in Britain is talking bks. I don’t even have a windscreen!!

I ride as many miles on motorcycles per year as I do in the Roadster ....even in "winter" there are dry days where you can wrap up or turn the heater up in the car

So its roof down all the time, so long as its not lashing down with rain ....theres a reason why the UK is the biggest market for convertibles in the EU....we have the BEST weather for them ...not toooo hot....not tooo cold

[anonymous-user]

zafod said:

Thanks for all the responses.

Still undecided... but I know I'll be really pleased with whichever I decide to get

If you’ve got the itch to get a convertible, you’re going to have to scratch it at some point. It won’t go sway.

I had it. It started with renting soft tops in the US. Then a weekend in an Elise and S2000 with a mate in the Brecons. Then I bought an S4 soft top, then a 996 turbo soft top.

The nicest time imo for hood down driving is any dry day other than in the middle of summer. Outside temp isn’t really an issue: cold air plus heaters to full is lovely. I found the hottest days of the year to be when I least wanted the hood down though: you just bake in the car, and on the move you’re being blasted by hot air.

Pros are all the obvious points. Cons are less obvious. You get buffeted and blown around even with a wind deflector, motorway driving is crappy hood down, and the car will almost certainly flex and creak more than you like (even the hardtop fitted to the 996 couldn’t cure that).

For me it was definitely an itch but it’s been scratched now and I doubt I’d get another one.

[CSK1]

I know not very "eco-friendly" but I turn the aircon on in summer and drive with the roof open. Even in the South of France I find it not too hot in the summer this way.

[LesF]

I recently picked up a 2007 DB9 Volante.
The sound of the V12 when the roof is down is wonderful.
I know the seats in the back are a bit of a joke, but I did manage to fit 2 x 22-year-olds in the back seats, albeit with the front seats way forward for a short run. Not comfortable I know, but it's nice to have the ability to do so.

I've had lots of convertibles over the years (even though I'm in England) and would not like to go back to a Coupe. When the sun is out nothing compares to it.

Edited by LesF on Thursday 16th August 10:56

[zafod]

[quote=LesF]I recently picked up a 2007 DB9 Volante.
The sound of the V12 when the roof is down is wonderful.
I know the seats in the back are a bit of a joke, but I did manage to fit 2 x 22-year-olds in the back seats, albeit with the front seats way forward for a short run. Not comfortable I know, but it's nice to have the ability to do so.

I've had lots of convertibles over the years (even though I'm in England) and would not like to go back to a Coupe. When the sun is out nothing compares to it.



That is one great looking DB9 - I just love that colour scheme. Is it Meteorite/Sandstorm?

Cheers

Edited by zafod on Thursday 16th August 12:26

[phib]

Has to be convertible ! Best of both worlds.

I looked at both and went for a convertible because it had all the bits I wanted, mine is only with me for a short time but I love it so far and really don’t want to sell but I bought it for a couple of specific road trips and can’t stop driving it !! 2007 4.3

It’s got a miltek exhaust on it makes such a difference !!

Good luck with the search

Phib

[LesF]

zafod said:

That is one great looking DB9 - I just love that colour scheme. Is it Meteorite/Sandstorm?

Its Meteorite with Phantom Grey upper & Cream Truffle lower with Phantom Grey stitching.

[zafod]

Coupe it was. Collecting on Saturday

Thanks for all the responses

[Gettoff]

zafod said:

Coupe it was. Collecting on Saturday

Thanks for all the responses

Cracking looking Vantage, prettier than it's ever been since.

FWIW, had two coupes followed by the current roadster. Enjoyed them all but probably slightly more likely to go back to a coupe next time.