Death of the Convertible - Sales Collapse
Discussion
BBC News article reporting that over the past 20 years, sales of new open-tops have fallen by nearly 90%, from 109,171 in 2005 to just 11,484 last year, according to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cx212yy4er0o
Article suggests that people mostly want SUVs these days and that manufacturers are reluctant to incur the costs of developing new ones for what is now even more of a niche market. (That's surely a bit chicken and egg, though.)
Personally, I wonder if there has been something about the national and global mood over the last 20 years where where people want to hide away in big steel cocoons rather than risk being seen enjoying themselves in a convertible. Or maybe people have just decided that practicality is king.
Whatever the reason, as someone who has enjoyed a few convertibles over the years (MX-5, MR2 Roadster, Alfa Spider, 3 Series) I find it a bit sad. Means pickings will be slim on the used market going forward, and is just further evidence that the romance of motoring seems to be dying.
The article does point out that convertibles have almost vanished and then had a resurgence before, so all may not be lost, although it suggests that any hope of more convertibles may rest with the Chinese manufacturers, as they are seemingly the only ones who might be able to build them profitably enough.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cx212yy4er0o
Article suggests that people mostly want SUVs these days and that manufacturers are reluctant to incur the costs of developing new ones for what is now even more of a niche market. (That's surely a bit chicken and egg, though.)
Personally, I wonder if there has been something about the national and global mood over the last 20 years where where people want to hide away in big steel cocoons rather than risk being seen enjoying themselves in a convertible. Or maybe people have just decided that practicality is king.
Whatever the reason, as someone who has enjoyed a few convertibles over the years (MX-5, MR2 Roadster, Alfa Spider, 3 Series) I find it a bit sad. Means pickings will be slim on the used market going forward, and is just further evidence that the romance of motoring seems to be dying.
The article does point out that convertibles have almost vanished and then had a resurgence before, so all may not be lost, although it suggests that any hope of more convertibles may rest with the Chinese manufacturers, as they are seemingly the only ones who might be able to build them profitably enough.
I'm an owner of a 2005 E46 M3 convertible, bought at 18 months old, my third in a string of BMW convertibles.
Back then the roads were in decent shape. I'd never, ever had to replace any suspension component on any car I had owned.
In the last two decades I've had to shell for umpteen drop links, snapped coils, knackered lower arms, all because of the absolute s
te state of the roads.
I hate to admit it, but my next car will be an SUV too.
Back then the roads were in decent shape. I'd never, ever had to replace any suspension component on any car I had owned.
In the last two decades I've had to shell for umpteen drop links, snapped coils, knackered lower arms, all because of the absolute s
te state of the roads. I hate to admit it, but my next car will be an SUV too.
I was just thinking this week how I rarely see or notice convertibles these days.
There was a time when in addition to the sports and grand tourers every manufacturer was making convertibles of even the most humdrum cars - Nissan Micra, Ford Focus, Renault Megane, Peugeot 206 and they've all died off spectacularly.
I'm not sure the state of the roads is an excuse for having an SUV since more and more of them seem to come on 20+ inch wheels with rubber band tyres now anyway, which kind of defeats the purpose.
There was a time when in addition to the sports and grand tourers every manufacturer was making convertibles of even the most humdrum cars - Nissan Micra, Ford Focus, Renault Megane, Peugeot 206 and they've all died off spectacularly.
I'm not sure the state of the roads is an excuse for having an SUV since more and more of them seem to come on 20+ inch wheels with rubber band tyres now anyway, which kind of defeats the purpose.
It's also down to climate.
I love my TVR, but.....every other car I have owned in that time (14 years) has had aircon, and on a 26-34 degree hot summer's day it is far more comfortable to sit in a traffic jam at 18 degrees in the cool of an air condiitoned car than frying with the sun beating down on my head in the TVR, gulping in everyone else's fumes.
As everyone else has aircon these days, all buyers are aware of this.
I love my TVR, but.....every other car I have owned in that time (14 years) has had aircon, and on a 26-34 degree hot summer's day it is far more comfortable to sit in a traffic jam at 18 degrees in the cool of an air condiitoned car than frying with the sun beating down on my head in the TVR, gulping in everyone else's fumes.
As everyone else has aircon these days, all buyers are aware of this.
Shooter McGavin said:
I'm an owner of a 2005 E46 M3 convertible, bought at 18 months old, my third in a string of BMW convertibles.
Back then the roads were in decent shape. I'd never, ever had to replace any suspension component on any car I had owned.
In the last two decades I've had to shell for umpteen drop links, snapped coils, knackered lower arms, all because of the absolute ste state of the roads.
I hate to admit it, but my next car will be an SUV too.
Will a 4x4 be better for potholes that suddenly drop an inch in terms of damage to the suspension?Back then the roads were in decent shape. I'd never, ever had to replace any suspension component on any car I had owned.
In the last two decades I've had to shell for umpteen drop links, snapped coils, knackered lower arms, all because of the absolute s
te state of the roads. I hate to admit it, but my next car will be an SUV too.
I passed my test in a Hillman Avenger back in 1970. Days were warmer then, I found it sweltering in that car and vowed I'd have convertibles when I passed my test.
Loads of MGs, Lotus, Caterham, TVRs etc. Actually now is about the first time I don't own a convertible although my wife has a Mini convertible.
Sadly 56 years of drop-tops has left me with tinnitus and a rather nasty skin condition on my bald head.
As for everyone wants an SUV (which all look the same) I believe it's because they've been told that's what they want - the power of advertising.
Loads of MGs, Lotus, Caterham, TVRs etc. Actually now is about the first time I don't own a convertible although my wife has a Mini convertible.
Sadly 56 years of drop-tops has left me with tinnitus and a rather nasty skin condition on my bald head.
As for everyone wants an SUV (which all look the same) I believe it's because they've been told that's what they want - the power of advertising.
Skyedriver said:
I passed my test in a Hillman Avenger back in 1970.
My first car was an Avenger. Brown. I cut quite a dash. Obvs.I can't disagree with the headline figures, but I've always had a convertible (apart from the Avenger). Jaguars, Audis, Bentleys, Astons, Porsches, Morgans.... Still have one for summer fun.
QBee said:
It's also down to climate.
I love my TVR, but.....every other car I have owned in that time (14 years) has had aircon, and on a 26-34 degree hot summer's day it is far more comfortable to sit in a traffic jam at 18 degrees in the cool of an air condiitoned car than frying with the sun beating down on my head in the TVR, gulping in everyone else's fumes.
As everyone else has aircon these days, all buyers are aware of this.
The climate is a serious problem these days for convertibles. When I first bought a drop-top around 15 years ago I could use it throughout summer. Over the last 3 or 4 years it’s just become too hot. 25 degrees is perfect but the last heatwave we had it was unbearable sitting in traffic jams with a roof down. I love my TVR, but.....every other car I have owned in that time (14 years) has had aircon, and on a 26-34 degree hot summer's day it is far more comfortable to sit in a traffic jam at 18 degrees in the cool of an air condiitoned car than frying with the sun beating down on my head in the TVR, gulping in everyone else's fumes.
As everyone else has aircon these days, all buyers are aware of this.
Chubbyross said:
QBee said:
It's also down to climate.
I love my TVR, but.....every other car I have owned in that time (14 years) has had aircon, and on a 26-34 degree hot summer's day it is far more comfortable to sit in a traffic jam at 18 degrees in the cool of an air condiitoned car than frying with the sun beating down on my head in the TVR, gulping in everyone else's fumes.
As everyone else has aircon these days, all buyers are aware of this.
The climate is a serious problem these days for convertibles. When I first bought a drop-top around 15 years ago I could use it throughout summer. Over the last 3 or 4 years it s just become too hot. 25 degrees is perfect but the last heatwave we had it was unbearable sitting in traffic jams with a roof down. I love my TVR, but.....every other car I have owned in that time (14 years) has had aircon, and on a 26-34 degree hot summer's day it is far more comfortable to sit in a traffic jam at 18 degrees in the cool of an air condiitoned car than frying with the sun beating down on my head in the TVR, gulping in everyone else's fumes.
As everyone else has aircon these days, all buyers are aware of this.
Shooter McGavin said:
I'm an owner of a 2005 E46 M3 convertible, bought at 18 months old, my third in a string of BMW convertibles.
Back then the roads were in decent shape. I'd never, ever had to replace any suspension component on any car I had owned.
In the last two decades I've had to shell for umpteen drop links, snapped coils, knackered lower arms, all because of the absolute ste state of the roads.
I hate to admit it, but my next car will be an SUV too.
[Exaggeration ahead, but not much]Back then the roads were in decent shape. I'd never, ever had to replace any suspension component on any car I had owned.
In the last two decades I've had to shell for umpteen drop links, snapped coils, knackered lower arms, all because of the absolute s
te state of the roads. I hate to admit it, but my next car will be an SUV too.
Why on earth would you buy an SUV? If your concern is buying a vehicle that can cope with UK roads every time then a Unimog is what you need.
cerb4.5lee said:
Chubbyross said:
QBee said:
It's also down to climate.
I love my TVR, but.....every other car I have owned in that time (14 years) has had aircon, and on a 26-34 degree hot summer's day it is far more comfortable to sit in a traffic jam at 18 degrees in the cool of an air condiitoned car than frying with the sun beating down on my head in the TVR, gulping in everyone else's fumes.
As everyone else has aircon these days, all buyers are aware of this.
The climate is a serious problem these days for convertibles. When I first bought a drop-top around 15 years ago I could use it throughout summer. Over the last 3 or 4 years it s just become too hot. 25 degrees is perfect but the last heatwave we had it was unbearable sitting in traffic jams with a roof down. I love my TVR, but.....every other car I have owned in that time (14 years) has had aircon, and on a 26-34 degree hot summer's day it is far more comfortable to sit in a traffic jam at 18 degrees in the cool of an air condiitoned car than frying with the sun beating down on my head in the TVR, gulping in everyone else's fumes.
As everyone else has aircon these days, all buyers are aware of this.
BlueMR2 said:
Why would you want to put the roof down and choke on your own diesel fumes.
I wouldn t be surprised if the death of (most of) the convertible market goes hand in hand with the rise of diesel and poor road quality.
I think people just seem a lot less "fun" nowadays to me to be honest. Hardly anyone drives fast anymore either, plus the traffic volume/cameras etc put a downer on fun too I think. So the majority just want to drive boring SUV's etc now instead, and they just can't be arsed with driving something entertaining I'd imagine now. I wouldn t be surprised if the death of (most of) the convertible market goes hand in hand with the rise of diesel and poor road quality.
cerb4.5lee said:
I'm currently out in one of mine, and 24 degrees is lovely roof down I think, but I don't enjoy 30 degrees plus with the roof down as much though.
It's fine until you stop. Then there's something akin to forest fire happening between your eyebrows and hairline. It's a fashion which ebbs and flows. In the 60s, cars were made with a convertible version, less so in the 70s and 80s, but returning in the 90s. Or something like that.
I've had a convertible for @ 35 yeas of the 44 I've ben driving. I quite like it.
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