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I had a hard top convertible and two soft top convertibles.
Hard top looks nicer with the top up and kills more of the road noise when you are going fast.
You can go on the high way in a convertible. I would wear sunglasses - the wind can be drying and irritating to the eyes. Um, I have long hair, and that gets whipped around into a tangled frenzy. If you have a wind screen, this may mitigate the effect. If you are a guy or have short hair, who cares?
This may apply as well to soft top convertibles, but as the mechanics run on electronics, there is a chance that it might fail and not operate. It has happened to me twice in five years of ownership. In that case, you operate it manually.
Hardtop convertibles also take twice as long to retract or close as they require electronic open/closing of trunk lid and folding of roof parts. This takes up to 30 seconds.
Some convertibles don't come equipped with an "anti-roll" bar that is positioned slightly higher than the seat (common in 4-seat convertibles). This is a safety measure in case your car is in a rollover collision.
You can definitely drive 75+ in a convertible. If you couldn't, the speed would be limited once the top goes down.
Be wary of bug splatter inside the car and flash rain showers.
Oh, and with a convertible, if you're worried about wind noise, you can drive with the windows up. Additionally, some convertibles come equipped with wind deflectors which may help some.
My soft top has the trunk compartment open up, too. It's faster than with my XLRV, but it still has to open and close part of the trunk.
Lots of soft tops are like this - to hide the top and get a sleeker look.
I am with you on the hard tops often looking better.
Unless they have that really visible ugly hinge looking thing.
Yeah...I feel safe.
But all my convertibles have been very large, very heavy cars with big engines.
well let me ask you another question since you know your cars here. BTW I enjoy your other posts on this forum very educated.
What do you think of the EOS VW or would you make another suggestion for me? I am single no kids and HATE driving people so I will be for the most part alone. I live in Reno/Tahoe Area with plans on moving to LA Female 47 yres sexy and young lol
Um, first I need to know your reason for buying a convertible. And then what are your most important features (obviously hard top is one of them - I suggest you be flexible with this, though, as you could miss out on some good cars)? And your budget?
I personally don't look for a convertible. I say, "I want a bad-ass fast car...now which is the bad-ass fast car that I can get that is also a convertible?" If the ZR1 came without a top, that's the pic you would have seen above...lol!
One negative that has not been mentioned: the roof of a conventional car provides rigidity. Typically convertibles have more body flex than the same car with a fixed roof (if it exists). Sometimes manufacturers claim they have built in extra rigidity. This adds weight.
The absence of a roll bar (usually) has been mentioned. Depending on how reflective you are, you may feel more vulnerable in a convertible.
I have seen the VW, nice looking car.
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