Is there a point owning a convertible...
Discussion
... as your daily driver in this country?
Whilst driving back from work and stuck in a little bit of traffic I've noticed a rather attractive lady in an MX-5 with the top down. As the sun was shining from inside my car it does look very ideal. However, I know outside of the comfy warm confines of my car it is rather breezy and chilly out there (circa 3C).
This gets me thinking, I've never actually owned a convertible before as my daily driver. I wonder if it is really worth owning a convertible in this country as a daily?
If I were to buy a convertible I think I would go for a tintop... not many choices around but closest to fit bill (and my budget) on top of my head is a merc SLK AMG. Gotta love them air scarfts.
Opinions?
Whilst driving back from work and stuck in a little bit of traffic I've noticed a rather attractive lady in an MX-5 with the top down. As the sun was shining from inside my car it does look very ideal. However, I know outside of the comfy warm confines of my car it is rather breezy and chilly out there (circa 3C).
This gets me thinking, I've never actually owned a convertible before as my daily driver. I wonder if it is really worth owning a convertible in this country as a daily?
If I were to buy a convertible I think I would go for a tintop... not many choices around but closest to fit bill (and my budget) on top of my head is a merc SLK AMG. Gotta love them air scarfts.
Opinions?
carmadgaz said:
Yep
My MX-5 had a cracking heater and had the roof down whenever it was dry (even on frosty evening runs). God I miss that car
Been in a rag top Punto convertible ages ago. The roof doesn't really inspire confidence at speed (or when it pours). However, I believe technology has moved on since then My MX-5 had a cracking heater and had the roof down whenever it was dry (even on frosty evening runs). God I miss that car
Drove home tonight with the roof down, heater turned up although I actually had to turn it down because it was too hot. The thing is, if you have to ask if there is any point then there probably isn't for you. I've always wanted one and now I'm on my second one. I can't even see the day when I don't own one but for me they work.
Maybe it helps that my commute is all on quite country roads and not stuck in traffic.
Maybe it helps that my commute is all on quite country roads and not stuck in traffic.
This video tempted me loads :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BI-1bPsbwB8&fea...
Don't get me wrong, nothing against convertibles - I actually would like to have one. However, my budget so really need to think long and hard.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BI-1bPsbwB8&fea...
Don't get me wrong, nothing against convertibles - I actually would like to have one. However, my budget so really need to think long and hard.
rallycross said:
Well its great if you like excess wind noise on the motorway and a floppy creaky flexy chassis compared to a coupe, and wet carpets in winter.
Nope, nope and nope to all three of those in mine A punto ragtop is just a Punto hatch with an afterthought roof, try a proper one. I really do want another open top car (I'm limited to occasional runs out in the neighbours toys
)
Nothing finer than finishing work on Friday, it's sunny you have the weekend to look forward too, get in the car drop the hood and take the long way home.
I am totally sold, I love owning a convertible.
The modern convertibles are so well insulated and they don't leak like they used too, there are no problems using one as a daily driver.
I am totally sold, I love owning a convertible.
The modern convertibles are so well insulated and they don't leak like they used too, there are no problems using one as a daily driver.
rallycross said:
Well its great if you like excess wind noise on the motorway and a floppy creaky flexy chassis compared to a coupe, and wet carpets in winter.
This. I bought a GTE convertible purely cos it popped up eBay quite local. Nice chap, had a poke around it. Seemed genuine and was as good as car as you could hope for, for £410! Went fine, electric roof worked. But it just wasn't for me. Too noisy and buffety on high speed runs, got a burnt forehead a lot, was even more wary about parking it overnight anywhere and it was very impractical otherwise with a very small boot.steve_bmw said:
Nothing finer than finishing work on Friday, it's sunny you have the weekend to look forward too, get in the car drop the hood and take the long way home.
I am totally sold, I love owning a convertible.
The modern convertibles are so well insulated and they don't leak like they used too, there are no problems using one as a daily driver.
Pics? I am totally sold, I love owning a convertible.
The modern convertibles are so well insulated and they don't leak like they used too, there are no problems using one as a daily driver.
Getting the roof down on a nice sunny day does add some interest to the commute. You could even drive my MX5 in the rain, if you kept your speed over 30mph (and it wasn't pissing down).
Mind you, in the cold it was bloody cold until those heaters kicked in.
Would I do it again? Yeah, probably.
Mind you, in the cold it was bloody cold until those heaters kicked in.
Would I do it again? Yeah, probably.
Had convertibles since I was 18 and some of the emotions still come back to me. There's nothing like the smell of fresh grass in the late summer's evening when driving on country roads. I remember being buzzed by bats as I drove at night through what I call "tree tunnels" along Cornish lanes. Loads more memories you only get in open top cars...
crazy about cars said:
... as your daily driver in this country?
Yes I have used my MX5 as a daily for years.I take my 4yr old to school in it and she wants the top down anytime it's not raining.
In winter I just wait for the first set of red lights before I drop it so we have a warm heater.
crazy about cars said:
I wonder if it is really worth owning a convertible in this country as a daily?
Worthwhile? Any point? No. But if you do it, you will get immense pleasure from driving with the roof down, anyway. 
I can't explain what it is but, for me, it doesn't matter what the model is (premium or s
t), I still enjoy it.They make sense a small percentage of the time, the rest is a compromise, I am on my first one and am enjoying it.
I think like a lot of things in life convertibles are one of those things that people like to have to make others think they are having more fun than them, sometimes it may be true but most of the time its a less rigid, heavier, wobblier version of a car, but for those moments when it is right it seems to be worth it, I am thinking summer evenings as it goes from dusk to dark, as the air temp drops a bit, so you arent getting blasted by the sun, when you are out on nice roads and not in town.
It does seem in this society that people like to show off a bit and others like to make a point of saying something to try and spoil someone elses fun, you do make yourself that bit more vulnerable, I am used to that from cycling.
I think like a lot of things in life convertibles are one of those things that people like to have to make others think they are having more fun than them, sometimes it may be true but most of the time its a less rigid, heavier, wobblier version of a car, but for those moments when it is right it seems to be worth it, I am thinking summer evenings as it goes from dusk to dark, as the air temp drops a bit, so you arent getting blasted by the sun, when you are out on nice roads and not in town.
It does seem in this society that people like to show off a bit and others like to make a point of saying something to try and spoil someone elses fun, you do make yourself that bit more vulnerable, I am used to that from cycling.
Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff