We love our convertibles or do we?

I have two convertibles and do like them. The top gets opened for most drives and the experience never fails to improve my spirits. But, there are downsides. My Miata is now 20 years old and the dampness is begining to affect the electronics. My radio display needs a tap or two and some buttons are not operating. The cigarette lighter/12v outlet is intermittent to use. My airbag module has bad capacitors. The top will drip all over the seat if opened when wet. Vandals have cut open three tops in 9 years (please try the door it is unlocked). My Fiat is faring a bit better since it gets parked inside with the top open so it will dry out fast if it gets wet and I will use it in the rain. I always park them outside with the top up since I feel small black clouds look for open sports cars. My tally is two convertibles for combined ownership time of 24 years and 6 new tops installed by me. Both were purchased in need of tops.

Cheers Ron

Three Spitfires, two of them don't even have a top attached. If it's not nice enough to drive the entire day with the top down, I'll take D Driver. I was the same way with my jeep Wrangler, except for the winters, when I put on the hard top, it had to be nice enough to drive with the top off. The only option I had with the Jeep was whether to keep the doors on or not. That was usually based on who else was going to be in the Jeep, my wife is "uncomfortable" with the doors off. I've learned if Mommy isn't happy no one will be.

mike

Purchased my first convertible in 1968 (an MGA). Since then, I have always owned at least one soft-top.

My current fleet.

I need to replace some of the hardware on my BMW's top - the mechanism has enough that can go wrong that sometimes I wish it wasn't a power top. (And Germans really overcomplicate everything with top designs.) I don't regret having bought this car, but I'm not sure my next DD will be a drop top.

my XJS 2 seat roadster has no top,just a torneu cover

While I've owned plenty of convertibles (and, in the case of the MGAs and TR3s, roadsters) over the years, I have come to value closed coupes as I got older. More comfortable, often better looking and much better protection from weather if you live in an area that needs that.

Four of the current coupes - MGA, Solstice, Jensen and Lamborghini.

Very nice selection.

mike

Since college I've only spent about 5 years without a convertible in the fold. A Fiat 124 Spyder was my first ride after college, but that quickly developed rust issues, so a German V6 Capri replaced it. Feeling the pangs a couple years later, I decided to search out a fun convertible for a second car, which lead to the arrival of the Tiger.

It's great fun on back roads, but for any extended highway voyages, I've found it to be more comfortable with the hard top on, even in the summer. Quieter, better visibility than with the soft top, you don't bake in the sun ( I burn real easy), etc.

I see one of those MX5's with the retractable hard top once in a while, and it gets me to thinking...

Stu

At my wifes suggestion, we removed the bows off the Morgan, The TR will keep the bows, and the MGC-GT is well a GT.

If I have only 1 sports car, it will be a roadster.

Leo

MadScientistMatt wrote: I need to replace some of the hardware on my BMW's top - the mechanism has enough that can go wrong that sometimes I wish it wasn't a power top. (And Germans really overcomplicate everything with top designs.) I don't regret having bought this car, but I'm not sure my next DD will be a drop top.

You're half right. "Germans really overcomplicate everything." That says it all about German cars, not just the top designs.

Don't stop buying convertibles. Just change the country of manufacture.

One of the best things about a soft top is to buy a good car in need of one. The owner will have discovered it costs $1000 or more to replace one and will knock it off the price. Then you get to put in some effort. Nothing says "I am ready to negotiate" like a roadster covered in garbage bags and duct tape. Cheers Ron

It has been a bit since I had a convertible, but I'd really like to get another one.

I bought the Fiat 2.5 years ago, was the first convertible I've ever owned. Less than 6 months later the Jeep Wrangler arrived for my Wife. We've been enjoying top-down fun quite a bit, but both soft tops get garaged. We don't drop the tops a ton, but the times we do always make it worth it.

Love and hate convertables! What I hate is driving them on a really hot day with the top down, and I'm too lazy to put the top up, otherwise I love them. Stopping and putting the top on an S1 or S2 Elan is not a reach behind and pull the top up thing. You have to open the trunk (boot), gather the pieces, and assemble it. I love the process if I'm not in a hurry, but for the most part I'll suffer in the heat (or cold), rather than putting it up. So far I've had 3 Alpines, 3 Tigers, 4 Lotus, 2 MX5's, 1 Austin Healy, 1 Morris Minor, 1 Mercedes, and 1 Alfa, so I guess I like convertables.

In reply to Tahoe:

I got spoiled on the Fiat roof, it's 2 clips, grab the handle and throw (Mazda copied it for the Miata). Now the Jeep on the other hand takes 2 minutes to get down, and about 5 to get up (yeah, that's what she said)...

I've had convertibles for years, and I'd really like to say I love them, but I'm not quite sure. Part has to do with our summer weather here, where's its stink'n hot and humid. So often times, the top gets left up and the ac is on (Miata).

The current Spitfire has its top, and it's frequently up when parked. Some years ago I had another Spitfire that went without a top at all. Lots more room in there without the top hardware being in the car at all. Running just the tonnoe cover was kinda romantic.

1960 MGA and 1991 Miata here. Thing I love about convertibles. every drive seems special. You don't really need to be driving fast or aggressive for it to be enjoyable. Also, taking the car out for a drive in winter in the sunshine really helps those winter blahs hear on the coast. Currently, the Miata gets put away for winter and the MG gets winter fun drives duty until the Miata reaches 25 years collector status and cheap insurance. Then I'll have two to choose from year round.

aeronca65t wrote: Purchased my first convertible in 1968 (an MGA). Since then, I have always owned at least one soft-top. My current fleet.

What are the plans for the little guy in the garage?

I really loved my old TR3 when the top was down. Nothing better in my opinon. But what a miserable top it was when it was up. No weather protection at all.

My 64 Spitfire has had the top up once since I acquired it about 1989. It was so noisy that time I went home and took it off. Then I could never get it back on. I bought a new Robbins top that is still in the box. I have never had it fitted.

I also have an 80 Spit that will need a new top whenever I get aropund to getting it on the road. It will be a much easier top to put up than the 64 which is an erector set.

The wife has a Solara convertible that couldn't be any easier to live with. Its a great top. But, the car is still hot as Hades in the summer. I feel stupid driving with the top down and AC running. Its also not a "cool" car. I feel like a gray haired old fart driving that car...well I am.

spitfirebill wrote: I feel stupid driving with the top down and AC running.

Why? Who can see the A/C on? I do that in my Mustang GT. Top down and A/C on in the heat of summer, just like having the top down and the heat on on a spring or fall evening. Makes for a wonderful drive.

I've always had a convertible of some sort in the stable, and hopefull will always have one. Right now I have two, the mustang and an MGB project (which, if I don't sell it, will get worked on come springtime). I just really love driving with the top down on a nice day.

The only reason I own a convertible is because Miata. My hardtop stays on except for autocross. If it weren't for autocross I'd bolt it on like Spec Miata.

If I could, I'd live in a place where I could have a convertible with the top down 24/7/365.

I heart my ragtops, spring and fall just aren't the same without a drop top. High summer (95 deg +) and the wet part of the winter, I stick with something that puts tin over my head and has real climate control. Guess I ain't as tuff as I used to be.

My first convertible was my Mk3 Sprite I bought in college. After that, I went four years without one, then had a Jeep, then added a miata. Ilike putting the top down the best when it is about 50F outside. Not so much fun in the summer.

I love our TR3 and 8. Both are garage kept and almost never have the top up. Being in the PNW has put a slight damper on our driving, but every once in a while we get a cold dry winter day and one of them will get to go out and play. I have considered seat heaters in both cars. There will always be some sort of convertible in our garage.