Pros and Cons of a convertible

[s197richie]

I think there is exactly one PP six-speed in the state that isn't in transit or equipped with unbearably ugly wheels, and it's a convertible. I rented a 911 vert for a couple of days and it had its moments. Fill in any blanks I might have missed:

Pros:

Some women seem to enjoy being driven around in them
Raw, classic, unbuffered driving experience somewhere between a coupe and a motorcycle (sounds, smells, etc)

Cons:

Ugly with the top up
Leaks even more than a coupe Mustang if you can believe that
Blind spots with the top up
Someone who dislikes you can drill a hole in the top before a strong storm and flood it
Easy to break into and easier to carjack
Rollover = 110% death
Unavoidable stoplight conversation unlike with a coupe where you can just quickly put the window up
Jealous ppl use it as a trashcan
My "manual transmission anti-theft" stickers would have to be placed on the trunklid and driver's door handle instead of the glass which is a bit tacky


TIA preesh

Sponsored

 

[Decio]

My two cents:

Pros:

Some women seem to enjoy being driven around in them (my wife prefers a wind screen to help keep her hair from beating the hell out of her without needing a clip or a hat. I guess I could drive slower, but that’s not likely.)

Raw, classic, unbuffered driving experience somewhere between a coupe and a motorcycle (sounds, smells, etc) No doubt.

Cons:

Ugly with the top up (If it’s cold or raining my GT doesn’t leave the garage – top down > 90% of the time)
Leaks even more than a coupe Mustang if you can believe that (No issues with my S197 vert)
Blind spots with the top up (See point 1)
Someone who dislikes you can drill a hole in the top before a strong storm and flood it (Someone who has it out for you has a thousand ways to irritate you)
Easy to break into and easier to carjack Probably
Rollover = 110% death (+/- 11%)
Unavoidable stoplight conversation unlike with a coupe where you can just quickly put the window up (Usually BS like nice car, rev it up, or I can smoke you in a race [good luck])
Jealous ppl use it as a trashcan (Always secure it when you park – especially in the FL sun where you can get a 1st degree burn parked outside of Pollo Tropical – trust me)
My "manual transmission anti-theft" stickers would have to be placed on the trunklid and driver's door handle instead of the glass which is a bit tacky (Only sticker is the state inspection – I like mine clean).

If you don't like the local inventory you can always order or trailer one from a few states away. I bought a Challenger 400 miles away with (almost) no issues buying it over the phone/video calls.

 

[Jimbo33]

I own a 2024 gt vert. I have been driving Mustang convertibles since 2014. I store the car for the winters. The feeling of driving with the top down for me can't be beat. I know I give up some performance but because I don't intend to race it or track it, it is irreverent to me. The thrill of top down driving on a hot summer day along the finger lakes is fantastic.

 

[LouG]

I never locked my only convertible, and never left anything of value in it.
it did have an alpine perimeter alarm system, for whatever that was worth.
It was never attacked, but that was 23 years ago and people are much shittier now.

 

[AZ_Ryan]

I think there is exactly one PP six-speed in the state that isn't in transit or equipped with unbearably ugly wheels, and it's a convertible. I rented a 911 vert for a couple of days and it had its moments. Fill in any blanks I might have missed:

Pros:

Some women seem to enjoy being driven around in them
Raw, classic, unbuffered driving experience somewhere between a coupe and a motorcycle (sounds, smells, etc)

Cons:

Ugly with the top up
Leaks even more than a coupe Mustang if you can believe that
Blind spots with the top up
Someone who dislikes you can drill a hole in the top before a strong storm and flood it
Easy to break into and easier to carjack
Rollover = 110% death
Unavoidable stoplight conversation unlike with a coupe where you can just quickly put the window up
Jealous ppl use it as a trashcan
My "manual transmission anti-theft" stickers would have to be placed on the trunklid and driver's door handle instead of the glass which is a bit tacky


TIA preesh

Convertibles are also far less rigid and dont handle as well. This is a big deal to many people that I would add to the cons.

Ive owned both. They can be great. But my personal experience is that you never drive with the top down as much as you think you would. So you're just putting up with extra road noise and top maintenance. Im not disparaging vert owners, but after my 08 GT vert, ive never felt the need to get another one. Its more of a novelty to me at this point.

 

[rbuike]

Wheels are easier to change than trying to add a roof

 

[Neggytive]

well.... I have had 3 ragtops in the last 25 years, A Porsche, a sweet 2007 GT Premium and the current 2024

3.5 if you count the removable roof on my C4

I live in FL from mid to late Sept til early May.

The car sees 2000 miles a year.

When it is hot you are putting the top up. Even my 07 that had a tan top and interior got hot here in FL some days

thanks to Ford's cost cutting BS , it leaves me with a black roof and black interior
The "cooled" seats can only do so much when your face is being nuked by the FL sunshine... so the top goes up.

We took the car to go to dinner the other night, top up for the ride up, but when we came out it was after 700 PM so the top went down for the 30 minute ride home

Yep I paid an extra $5000 for the ability to do that !


My car is garage kept, only sees water when it is washed a couple of times a year, and is rarely out of my sight so I don't worry about people screwing with it.

The first 2 months I had the car which was when I put 1000 miles on it to break it in before moving it to FL, the car was in NH and parked outside. Never an issue and I had the top down a lot more up there than here and that was in late June. all of July and early August

If I didn't get the 24 with a ragtop after having the 07 I probably would be kicking myself now, buy once cry once, and I had the money to waste so I did it

Like the car the convertible top is over priced and impracticable but hey, why not?

If I want "wind therapy" I go out on 2 wheels not 4

 

[BimmerDriver]

I really don't understand the point of the OP, but then I don't do mushrooms.

I know it's a targa, not a convertible, but...

 

[OldCoastie]

This is about my eighth convertible. In High School I drove my father's 1967 Buick Wildcat, ever since then I love Convertibles. Looking up at the stars at night with a cool breeze and the smell of freshly cut grass. Living in Florida my rule is it its over 85 the top goes up, between 80 and 85 depends upon the humidity, and anything below 80 top is down. I have had Corvettes, Camaros, and Buicks drop tops and waiting now for my Mustang. I really don't go on the track with a Convertible, nor do I push it to extreme driving, noise doesn't bother me, and women just LOVE the Vert. So simple just don't buy one if you have any doubts or objections. Besides its much easier to carry a surf board.

 

[s197richie]

This is about my eighth convertible. In High School I drove my father's 1967 Buick Wildcat, ever since then I love Convertibles. Looking up at the stars at night with a cool breeze and the smell of freshly cut grass. Living in Florida my rule is it its over 85 the top goes up, between 80 and 85 depends upon the humidity, and anything below 80 top is down. I have had Corvettes, Camaros, and Buicks drop tops and waiting now for my Mustang. I really don't go on the track with a Convertible, nor do I push it to extreme driving, noise doesn't bother me, and women just LOVE the Vert. So simple just don't buy one if you have any doubts or objections. Besides its much easier to carry a surf board.

yeah I forgot to add I'm in FL so summer is not convertible weather; it's seal the car and crank the a/c so you don't die weather

 

[steveo1960]

Growing up my dad had a 60's something Corvair vert and also a 64 Impala vert and as a kid they seemed to be so much fun to ride in. Skip to the 1980's and traveling on biz I got to drive a zillion different rental cars. My favorite was a 200x Mustang vert so I bought a 2003 Mustang GT vert.... Loved it and it's still running with ~250k on it. My son has it now.

Pluses: Like others have said, you really feel free, somehow more tuned to the air, surroundings and so forth. Har to describe.
I'm married but women would always give me the look when I was driving top down. There is something to that urban legend. If you are the shy type and don't like attention from all sides, don't get a vert!

Minuses: Leaks, noise, not as tight as a coupe although a STB and full length subframe connectors helped a lot. Cowl shake. Again this was a 2003 GT.

I too always left the car open.
Never had a problem as there was nothing in view worth stealing.

Cost to replace top is substantial and finding someone who can actually perform the job is difficult even in NY.

Bottom line is my 2024 GT is a coupe.
However, if you have never had a vert you really need to give it a try and see if it's something you like.

Rent one from Hertz or another agency and see if it's for you.

 

[sarahestelle]

Some women love driving them, top down. Guys dig it.

 

[hal26]

My two cents:

Pros:

Some women seem to enjoy being driven around in them (my wife prefers a wind screen to help keep her hair from beating the hell out of her without needing a clip or a hat. I guess I could drive slower, but that’s not likely.)

Raw, classic, unbuffered driving experience somewhere between a coupe and a motorcycle (sounds, smells, etc) No doubt.

Cons:

Ugly with the top up (If it’s cold or raining my GT doesn’t leave the garage – top down > 90% of the time)
Leaks even more than a coupe Mustang if you can believe that (No issues with my S197 vert)
Blind spots with the top up (See point 1)
Someone who dislikes you can drill a hole in the top before a strong storm and flood it (Someone who has it out for you has a thousand ways to irritate you)
Easy to break into and easier to carjack Probably
Rollover = 110% death (+/- 11%)
Unavoidable stoplight conversation unlike with a coupe where you can just quickly put the window up (Usually BS like nice car, rev it up, or I can smoke you in a race [good luck])
Jealous ppl use it as a trashcan (Always secure it when you park – especially in the FL sun where you can get a 1st degree burn parked outside of Pollo Tropical – trust me)
My "manual transmission anti-theft" stickers would have to be placed on the trunklid and driver's door handle instead of the glass which is a bit tacky (Only sticker is the state inspection – I like mine clean).

If you don't like the local inventory you can always order or trailer one from a few states away. I bought a Challenger 400 miles away with (almost) no issues buying it over the phone/video calls.

 

[hal26]

I restored classic cars for 13 years professionally. I will never forget the poor girl (waitress )that paid $2000 hard earned dollars for a new top for her mint VW convertible only to have it ripped to shreds in order for some lowlife to steal her $5 AM radio! That is right ...$5 radio....
Convertibles are noisy with top up. The novelty wears off quickly. Easy to get hijacked when driving through urban area. JUST DON"T!!!

 

[LouG]

Then there's heat in a convertible that doesn't have air con. We got stuck in a holiday traffic jam in 34C temps and had to put the roof up to keep from cooking.

Sponsored