Owning a convertible may not be for everyone. However, if you are up for open-air motoring, we’re here to help. Plus, we share our five picks for the best ones to buy.
An automobile can literally just be a conveyance, an appliance, something meant purely for getting from point A to point B. However, owning the right vehicle can change everything. After all, owning a convertible is a rite of passage for anyone who truly enjoys driving.
We truly believe in this adage, but we won’t say that it’s all roses and sunshine. There are some drawbacks to convertible ownership. So, let’s delve into the realities of convertible ownership to help you decide if it’s right for you.
Convertibles Have Gotten Even Better Over Time
The history of the convertible is as old as the history of the automobile itself. If you look back on the very first cars, virtually none of them had a top. Of course, none of them really had doors either.
However, as engines became more powerful, it became more important to protect the driver and passengers with some sort of structure.
Early models were fitted with basic folding structures, manually raised or lowered to protect the occupants. It wasn’t until 1939 that Plymouth introduced the first mechanically operated convertible roof.
Today, there are a mix of convertibles on the market, some still using simple manual-folding tops. Others use power-folding cloth tops or more complicated folding hardtops.
There are a lot of questions about convertibles that many readers likely have at the ready. Is a convertible safe? Do convertibles get stolen more often? Is the extra expense of a convertible worth it? Here, we will delve into some of the most common questions and then run through our list of the best convertibles on the used market. Let’s get to it.
Is Driving a Convertible Right for You?
Remember reading the latest car magazines as a kid? Road & Track, Car and Driver, Motor Trend, we read them all religiously. When the latest sports car came out, it was testing time. In almost every issue, the convertible version of any car was less rigid, not quite as quick, and that made sense right?
Cutting the top off of a car can certainly affect its driving dynamics. Reports of inconsistent handling, bad weight distribution, chassis shake at speed all permeated the reviews of convertibles from the 1980s and 1990s.
Since then, however, automakers have invested billions in engineering and testing to improve the convertible-ownership experience. Open-air motoring is some of the purest things a driver can experience. It’s just you, the car, and the road. With the top down, you’re closer to the action. The sights, the sounds, the smells, they are all more prominent with the top down.
Now that new materials like carbon fiber, and enhanced production processes have made the convertible more capable, the experience is only heightened. Modern convertibles are built as convertibles from the beginning, they are no longer afterthoughts. The old process of cutting off the roof and trying to adapt a couple into a convertible is gone.
Are Convertibles Noisy?
The latest convertibles, particularly from the 2015 to 2020 model years are packed with engineering to maximize your driving experience. Now, there may be a bit of road noise compared to the fixed-roof version, but that should be something that you can discern whether or not you are OK with during a test-drive.
Many expect a convertible to be colder in the winter and leaky during the spring and summer, but none of that is necessarily true. Modern soft tops are insulated and made of thicker material than they used to be.
Bottom line: the engineering that has gone into newer convertibles has all but eliminated the likelihood of unwanted exposure to the elements. Plus, if you able to find a good retractable hardtop, well that’s the best of both worlds.
Are Convertibles Safe?
Back in the day, the notion of a rollover in a convertible wasn’t a particularly attractive outcome for anyone involved. The aforementioned lack of rigidity meant that the passenger compartment of a convertible wasn’t likely to be as protected as it could be. The “cut off the roof and hope” era meant that driving a convertible wasn’t quite as safe as it is today.
Modern convertibles have integrated roll bars–some that can pop up when the vehicle senses a rollover–as well as fortified windscreens and other safety features. A recent study from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety determined that actual crash statistics show no added risk for convertibles.
They noted that “manufacturers have voluntarily strengthened the A-pillars on each side of the windshield and installed roll bars to provide additional protection in rollover crashes,” which has contributed to the overall safety of convertibles. “If you’re shopping for a convertible, you should consider crash-test ratings and safety features, just as you would if you were shopping for any other car,” noted the report.
Are Convertibles More Expensive to Insure?
One of your key concerns about buying a convertible is likely to be about the upkeep and insurance of a convertible compared to a non-convertible. Are convertibles more expensive in this realm? Sort of, yeah, but not for safety reasons. It’s mainly because these cars include additional moving parts to operate the convertible top.
For instance, a convertible may have a very complex retractable hardtop, which may give you–and any potential insurer–a little anxiety in regard to long-term reliability.
So, there is the potential to pay a bit more on insurance for your future convertible, but that is purely based on the complexity. Most insurance companies will let you test the waters via their website or mobile app and toss in the VIN number of a car you might want to buy to see just how expensive it might be.
There are some considerations from a maintenance perspective. Make sure you monitor the critical parts such as hinges, struts, and other elements that make the top function. You don’t want any post-purchase surprises to surface.
So, always get a good pre-purchase inspection done. Seats, dashboards, and other surfaces are susceptible to sun damage and cracking over time, so keep up with basic interior maintenance with protective sprays to help keep everything in good working order.
Get a comprehensive virtual overview of the 2019 Mazda MX-5 Miata in the video review, above, by popular auto influencer Doug DeMuro.
Do Convertibles Get Stolen More Often?
At one time, the risk of a convertible top getting sliced open was a real fear. While that’s not completely out of the realm of possibility these days, modern convertibles are built more solid than they used to be.
Nowadays, convertibles feature real glass windows instead of the easy-to-slice plastic of yesteryears, and it’s much harder to get into a convertible than it used to be.
Some convertibles will set off a factory-installed proximity alarm if you reach into it while it is locked with the top down. Common sense practices like not leaving attractive electronics or other goods visible is important whether you own a convertible or not. That not only keeps your stuff safe, it reduces the likelihood of the whole car getting stolen.
Can I Afford a Convertible?
Are convertibles expensive? Definitely. Nationwide insurance estimates that the average convertible costs $5,000 to $9,000 more than a comparable hardtop version. A quick survey of convertible prices versus the coupe version seems to validate that there is definitely a mid-to-high four-digit difference in price.
However, there are some vehicles like the Mazda Miata and Jeep Wrangler that are only sold in convertible format. So, there are some very affordable ways to get into top-down motoring. Which gets us to our big finale: What are the best convertibles on the used market?
Top 5 Best Used Convertibles
It’s important to look at the variations and segments of convertibles available on the used-car market, because there aren’t quite as many as there used to be.
If you find yourself browsing our best convertibles section and you can’t quite afford the highest-rated convertible, the 2018 Aston Martin Vanquish, fear not, there are lots of options. Let’s break it down by segment.
Best Luxury Convertible
The luxury market is full of great convertible options. While we’re tempted to proclaim that the 2016 BMW M4 is without a doubt the best convertible available, there are a ton of great candidates in this segment.
The Audi TT is a solid choice, as is the Mercedes-Benz C-Class. And it’s hard to ignore Porsche engineering.
As good as the perennial sports-car favorite Porsche 911 is, the better option is the smaller, lighter, and cheaper Porsche Boxster. For the money, it’s hard to find a more fun-to-drive convertible.
Best Budget Convertible
On the opposite end of the luxury-convertible spectrum is the best budget convertible. There really aren’t many options on this list. The Fiat 500 Abarth Cabrio is an incredibly-fun option, with a cool retractable top and Italian style.
But, there is an even better option for car shoppers looking for a budget convertible, and it may be the best ever: the Mazda Miata. Mazda ended up making an amazing tribute to the classic British roadster, but with Japanese engineering and reliability. And, there is even an Italian roadster out there that is sort of the average of the Miata and the 500: the Fiat 124 Spider.
Best Muscle Car Convertible
The top-down Route 66 road trip is about as American as it gets. So, what better to experience it than a tried-and-true American muscle car? Candidly, there aren’t many options on this list. The pure “pony” or “muscle car” class only includes a few cars.
The Chevrolet Camaro is a great option, but every best-convertible list has to include the Ford Mustang., which recently landed at the top of our “Best Ford Cars” list against some strong competition. Available with a variety of engines and trim levels, the Mustang is a fantastic choice if you are looking for that traditional convertible road trip.
Best Money-is-no-object Convertible
Let’s pretend that we can buy literally any convertible on the market, a scenario where no MSRP is too high. If that’s the case, it’s hard to ignore the amazing 2020 Ferrari 488 Pista Spider. With a sticker price higher than the average price of a house in the United States, the Pista Spider isn’t for the faint of wallet.
It’s a fun exercise to imagine that your post-lottery winnings land you at the closest Ferrari dealer, and this topless 711 horsepower Italian is now in your driveway. Check it out in action in YouTube auto influencer Shmee‘s test-drive through Italy, above.
Best Off-road Convertible
OK, back to reality. Our recommendation for the best-ever off-road convertible is the Jeep Wrangler. A few great preowned options include a 2012 JK Unlimited, a 2017 JK Unlimited, and a JL two-door.
The Jeep is a fantastic vehicle, and aside from actually being aerodynamic, it does literally everything else well too. It is perhaps the most versatile convertible on the market. Where else can you literally take off the top, the windows, the doors, and the windscreen? Now, that’s open-air motoring.
Thinking about picking up a used Jeep as your next ride? Check out what Doug DeMuro has to say about the 2018 Jeep Wrangler, above, and why it’s even better than previous editions.
Dropping the top is an event. It’s an experience. It’s something that you owe yourself to at least try. So, go take a test-drive to see if a convertible might be right for you.
Naturally, you’ll need to be OK with a two-door vehicle, unless you’re up for a Wrangler Unlimited — and if you are, it’s incredibly rewarding. The old concerns about theft, leaks, and cold driving experiences are greatly exaggerated, at least for modern convertibles. Top-down driving is closer than you think.
Editor’s note: Check out this article’s author Will Byrd‘s awesome original video review, above, of Will’s “amazing experience” driving a topless Lotus Elise from San Jose to Monterey, California, and back.
Photos: Ford; Mazda; BMW; Stellantis; Ferrari