What are the cons to owning a convertible?

Question

I'm thinking about buying a 1997 Ford Mustang Convertible. I was wondering what the downside to owning a convertible is. I live in Ottawa, Ontario and we see some heavy snowfalls. Can this car still be practical for me? What other flaws are there?

Answer 1

Well, I have owned three: a 79 Super Beetle convertible, a 91 Chrysler LeBaron convertible, and a 97 Jaguar XK8 convertible. I quite liked the first two, and quite enjoy the Jag still.

What are the cons?

Well, there is not much point in locking the car as then you are simply inviting someone to cut your $800 to $2,000 top to get whatever you left in the car. So generally you do not leave things anywhere but in the trunk.

The tops wear out every seven or eight years. I tend to think the canvas ones last a little longer than the vinyl ones, but they require more care--I put waterproofing on it about 3 to 4 times a year to keep it from soaking through when it rains--the same stuff you use to waterproof canvas tents--a silicone spray.

When you put the top down, of course you must put everything that is light weight in the trunk so that it does not blow away.

If you are tall, and I am, your hair tends to get dirty when you drive.

The VW had a manual top, and that was a little bit of a nuisance, as you had to stop the car to put it up if it started to rain. Also the VW top tended to stick up pretty high when it was down, and blocked my wife's vision, forcing her to rely on the rear view mirrors.

Some manufacturers use plastic in the rear window instead of glass. That means no rear defrost, and after awhile the plastic tends to get yellow and cloudy.

Owing to the mechanism for raising a power top, there are some fairly large blind spots in the rear corners, and you will come to use your rear view mirrors more anyway.

Although you did not ask about the pros, for the sake of balance I will mention some.

I used to ride motorcycles. Riding around in a convertible, especially a reasonably quick one, as many of the Mustangs are, gives you that wind in your (dirty) hair feeling that makes all of the other problems worthwhile. At the same time, when it rains you go not have to get wet, when it is cold you have heat, when it is hot you have A/C, and owing to that lovely windshield the bugs in your teeth problem is gone.

I drive with the top down even when it is as cold as 40-45 degrees, just putting the windows up and turning the heat to max. Still very comfortable.

When you go to pick up that large microwave, or television, or eight foot 2X4s that will not fit in your sedan, you just put the top down and the sky is the limit, literally. My wife has a very large sedan (Jag VDP) that will not admit things I have brought home in my little XK8. The Mustang is even a little larger inside and very versatile.

I personally think the Mustangs are among the best reasonably priced convertibles on the market. The four is reasonably peppy. The V-6 is borderline quick. The V-8, whew! Nice nice car. I suspect of the three the V-6 probably handles the best as it is not quite so nose-heavy.

Answer 2

Owning A Convertible

Answer 3

Convertible are manufactured out of a soft material. Either vinyl which lasts between 5-7 years depending on how it's cared for, or cloth which lasts between 7-10 years. Soft materials do not last as long as sheet metal does. The structural rigidity is compromised when the strong metal roof is removed for the convertible. Extra bracing is installed in and under the vehicle to make up for this but not entirely. The trade off is that you get to put the top down when the weather is nice and there is nothing like cruising on a nice day with the top down. The cost of replacing the top runs anywhere from $800 to $2500 depending on the type of top. Heavy snow accumulating on the top can bend the top bows and cause severe damage to the frame and top. It is best to keep a convertible stored indoors when not in use. Also it is best to keep the top up when not in use and don't use the top when it's below 60 degrees out.

Answer 4

I would recommend against purchasing it, unless you are planning on using it as a secondary car. Convertible tops seem to crack and leak after a while and I still do not feel very safe in the event of a roll over!

"The Pros and Cons of Driving A Car With A Sunroof Or Convertible Top
Driving a converible (rag-top) or a car with a sunroof / moonroof has its perks. On those beautiful sunny summer days one can slide the sun roof back or drop the top and feel the sun and breeze as one drives down the highway. There is no doubt that it is a great feeling.

For those low vision drivers with albinism or light sensitivity, driving a vehicle with the sun roof open or a convertible with the top down can make it difficult to see the road ahead or guages on the dash. Driving in a fully enclosed car is like wearing a baseball cap with a nice wide brim, which helps to keep direct sunlight or glare at bay. When one opens the sunroof or puts the top down you are effectively taking the glare protection of a brimmed hat away and creating a lot more reflections from the dashboard-especially if it is a light color.

Glare or strong sunlight coming from an open sunroof makes looking ahead or at the dashboard very difficult and may present a safety hazord so be careful when using one. You may want to try wearing a baseball cap to help shield you from some of that extra glare, but you'll have to deal with the reflections and glare from the dashboard surfaces. Dashboards with light colors or those treated with Armor All Æ reflect even more glare back at the driver's eyes so be extra careful."

Answer 5

For the best answers, search on this site https://shorturl.im/avZgb

If you really want a convertible, get one. Even hardtops have their own problems. But if you really want a convertible, buy a hardtop convertible. VW makes the EOS, which is a great car. Mercedes have several sporty hardtop convertibles. Mustangs are great cars, but not as solid as a VW or Mercedes. Yes, they have the typical leaks, lack of security, and lack of rollover protection, but convertibles today are built so much better than even 5 years ago. If you're really worried about it, have a chrome rollbar installed. Convertibles are cool, and they hold their value if the top is in good shape and operational. Covertibles suck when you want to put the top down, but you live in Seattle where it rains all the time. But if you really want one, get one.

Answer 6

Convertibles aren't as warm in the winter because some of the heat from the car's heater escapes through the fabric top. It's also noisier and the tops eventually wear out and leak. You'll also need to brush the snow off the top occasionally to keep the weight from building up and causing the top to sag.

That being said, I've owned several convertibles over the years, and have enjoyed driving every one of them! If you can live with the down side... GO FOR IT!!!

Answer 7

A ragtop/Convertible lasts about 5-7 years outside. Because it is cloth, or vynal and has to have area between the bows so that it can retract, it greatly reduces any R factor that can be found in and increased in a Hardtop.
If you have a cover or garage, go for it. Convertibles are as fun as any other car.
The top will need to be replaced every 5-7 years as a rule though.And that is if it is well cared for.

Answer 8

convertables hold heat like a paper towel in the winter, they are low-riding cars made for cosmetics, not working, and the cars weigh so little that they fly around on any slippery road. I had a 2003 ford mustang gt convertable with leather interior and a brand new bose speaker system. but i live in bay city, Michigan, stupid me. i sold the car in March because I couldn't drive it through the winter, i had to go buy another new car, a 2002 chevrolet Jimmy, which was much more practical.

Answer 9

The weather really beats down on you when the tops down. It looks cool and comfortable but it really isn't, it's hot and misearable. Plus women hate to have their hair blowing all the time.

In your area, your long cold winters would sure put a damper on the top down thing. It seems to me that having a convertible would be for the fact that the top can come off more than anything else.'

Answer 10

Well...the obvious....the car is lot easier to steal or at least get into....cut the top and your in....i wouldn't advise buying it unless you keep it "garage kept"...leaving convertibles out on the street overnight is quite risky. Unless you live in a million dollar neighborhood....Some people say after time they develop leaks. Sun dries out the top and you also get significant fading. But all in all, keeping it real, this is just advice right?...do what your heart tells you...if you really want one...go for it...you only live once, right?....best of luck