I don't get convertibles

[DrYazz]

I have never owned a convertible, and only ever been in one with the top down ONCE as a passenger - that was in a BMW Z3 (admittedly, a previous generation convertible). At a constant 75 mph on the A3 (on our way to a prostate cancer seminar) the turbulence was horrendous and a conversation nigh-on impossible.

My hair is thinning, and in a few years a toupee may be my most prized accessory.

My brother has a Honda S2000, and from memory, I have NEVER seen it without the hard-top.

Don't convertible versions of cars always weigh more than their hard-top equivalents, and I believe the handlling suffers aswell.

Just what is the fascination with convertibles? - someone please explain.

[perdu]

No

you either get it or dont

explanations just cannot work

And my MG weighs less than your paper hankie anyway
A roof for it weighs nearly as much as the car

anyway

my dog loves it, given the choice of which car to go in, the Midget or the Monjo he waddles to the MG every time

So I go with him

[James_N]

amazing in this weather but dont understand people who always drive around with the roof up / hard top on, or even worse, roof down and windows up, as thats like having the roof on anyway, roof down and windows up just feels like driving around with the roof on!

My roof has been down on the S2000 for days now. There is nothing in it to steal, so just leave it down!

[perdu]

James_N said:

amazing in this weather but dont understand people who always drive around with the roof up / hard top on, or even worse, roof down and windows up, as thats like having the roof on anyway, roof down and windows up just feels like driving around with the roof on!

My roof has been down on the S2000 for days now. There is nothing in it to steal, so just leave it down!

[DrYazz]

perdu said:

No

you either get it or dont

explanations just cannot work

And my MG weighs less than your paper hankie anyway
A roof for it weighs nearly as much as the car

anyway

my dog loves it, given the choice of which car to go in, the Midget or the Monjo he waddles to the MG every time

So I go with him

I don't have a dog. Some dogs look just as happy in the back of a Volvo estate.

[Adz The Rat]

I would love one, an M3 or a S2000.

[Jonny671]

James_N said:

amazing in this weather but dont understand people who always drive around with the roof up / hard top on, or even worse, roof down and windows up, as thats like having the roof on anyway, roof down and windows up just feels like driving around with the roof on!

My roof has been down on the S2000 for days now. There is nothing in it to steal, so just leave it down!

Hmm.

At 70mph, windows down and roof off can get quite windy and annoying, but normal driving windows down and roof off, always.

Never understand these who have soft tops but don't take them down in this weather, A/C or no A/C the roof should be off.

Must be broken in these cars

[B3njamin]

You get to feel the sun on your face and fel as if there is space everywhere around you.

Women like it and their friends also like it - Double approval so everyone is happy.

[a8hex]

Drove an XJS convertible past a collage full of young ladies once. Don't think I've ever been so popular - or at least had quite so many offers quite so quickly.

[David87]

I could take or leave them, to be honest. Saying that, they're absolutely awesome on a warm night - much prefer having the roof down in the dark for some reason.

[James_N]

Jonny671 said:

At 70mph, windows down and roof off can get quite windy and annoying, but normal driving windows down and roof off, always.

Never understand these who have soft tops but don't take them down in this weather, A/C or no A/C the roof should be off.

Must be broken in these cars

True motorways are the only exception to the windows up rule!

[PHmember]

It's not just great in this weather, winter driving with the roof down can be awesome as well. Nothing better than a clear night, country pub & a great top down drive home across the moors.

[lost in espace]

a8hex said:

Drove an XJS convertible past a collage full of young ladies once. Don't think I've ever been so popular - or at least had quite so many offers quite so quickly.

Were they as pretty as a picture?

In very sunny weather I find the last thing I want is the sun blazing down on my head. Conversely in the winter I quite like the roof down.

[blank]

I had a convertible as a hire car in Germany.

It was a 1.6 Astra Twintop - so about as bad as convertibles get.


But I absolutely loved it - just something awesome about having the roof down!!

[madbadger]

DrYazz said:

perdu said:

No

you either get it or dont

explanations just cannot work

And my MG weighs less than your paper hankie anyway
A roof for it weighs nearly as much as the car

anyway

my dog loves it, given the choice of which car to go in, the Midget or the Monjo he waddles to the MG every time

So I go with him

I don't have a dog. Some dogs look just as happy in the back of a Volvo estate.

Happy dog.



Tam is quite a bit lighter than the T350 so the convertible isn't always heavier. It often depends if a car was designed roofless or chopped later on.

[rottie102]

1) 11pm last night - London to Brighton for fish and chips and a coffee. My passenger didn't let me put the roof up in the Z3, she enjoyed it so much although doing 80-90 on motorways (only while overtaking of course )
2) wind deflector is the word - it makes HELL OF a difference to motorway speed journeys
3) I have to admit that after spending 2hours in the middle of Clapham Common I was really happy to leave the roof and windows up and enjoy aircon coolness on the way home...
4) I have to say that next to a AM Vantage at the traffic light today I had a feeling that I'm in the better car, just because of in not having a roof

[nightflight]

I only put the roof on my TVR Griffith if it's going to be parked in the rain. Soft top cars are meant to be driven with the roof off. Nothing beats it, unless it's a bike!

[Plotloss]

Yeah I fail to see the appeal of a car with no roof on a day like today. Must be awful, tarting along, wind in your hair, sun beating down on your face as you listen to the outpouring of a selection of popular beat combos.

Are you mad?

[P9]

Roof down as much as possible is the only way to go in a ragtop

[Dracoro]

DrYazz said:

Don't convertible versions of cars always weigh more than their hard-top equivalents, and I believe the handlling suffers as well.

Not proper top down cars, they are mostly designed as a soft top from day one. Handling suffers on things that have been "cut", i.e. convertible versions of hatchbacks/saloons/coupes etc.

Many don't weigh more (or not much) if they have a "soft" top. Hard top convertible things yes probably do weigh a fair bit.

Drive a proper roadster on a nice day, some gunning for it down b-roads, some cruising through some countryside and you'll "get it", if not I question if you've petrol running through your veins

Personally I don't care for many 4 seater and "converted" (hatch/saloon/coupe conversions) open tops as they don't really offer the sports car feel that a proper roadster does. However, for the open top cruising through the countryside, they fit the bill for many, esp those that aren't that bothered about a sporty drive.

Anyway, do you really not see the appeal in driving around in one of these

Edited by Dracoro on Sunday 23 May 20:33