If your first impulse is to answer that question with another question – namely, “What counts as a convertible?” – don’t worry about it. As long as enough of the top comes off for you to see the sky unobstructed and there’s sufficient airflow to give you a headache, it’s convertible enough for this AA. And it doesn’t matter if the car “converts” or the top is something you remove and stow in the trunk or leave in your garage. Top down, top off, entire roof goes away or just the bit over your head … whatever, it’s all good.
Now, me personally, I’m thinking of the classic “folding soft top” mode. And though the snobbery is entirely unearned, my feeling is a convertible car should either be designed for cruising, or if it’s going to be a sporting machine, it should be a roadster – that is, a car designed from the start to be topless. Once you start cutting the tops off muscular cars originally conceived with a stiffening roof, thus making them flexible flyers and neutering their handling (in my imagination, anyway), I cannot in good conscience condone the concoction.
So, while I do fancy a Mustang convertible, I would not get a GT (like below), as I would feel I was “wasting” the engine – never mind that the chassis is plenty stiff, I assume, given that it’s 2026 and engineers know things. No, give me the boostang minus a top. Or heck, let me get whatever was the last year for the V6 ‘Stang off Marketplace, that’ll be fine. Convertibles are more fun when you’re going slow, anyway.
With going slow in mind, I think the perfect convertible is a big boat, something you could fit your entire crew into for a night on the town or a trip to the beach. In college, a pal had a Chrysler Newport convertible that was the ideal machine for such things. Six people could fit comfortably, and as that massive trunk lid hints, there was ample space for beach paraphernalia (or smuggling more friends into the drive-in, I’m old).
What’s the perfect convertible to you (or targa, or whatever)?
Please, just keep it interesting, unlike Antti. I mean, get a load of this guy:
(“lol.” You don’t have to keep it interesting.)
I quite liked my 71 TR-6, especially after swapping a corvette small block and 4spd into it and completely replacing the electrical system to keep the smoke in.
For a modern take an LC500 would be nice.
1) Miata.
2) LC500.
The rest is a bunch of stuff you should just make sure the roof is down when the weather is warm. Doesn’t really matter what the order of the list is.
Though I do know the PT Cruiser convertible and Sebring Convertible should be at the bottom of that list.
I do have a gripe though:
Why on earth would you spend the money on a Mustang with a roof that goes down and not get the one that sounds good?
I’ve had an ecoboost convertible as a rental in the past and it is FAR inferior to the GT (which I’ve also had as a rental). Surprisingly fast, but I want the V8 vrooms with the roof down, not the Focus ST whooshes. Save that crap for F&F.
EVEN WORSE: The V6 Mustang convertible is easily one of the worst I’ve driven. Better than the Sebring, but not by a lot. That V6 is lifeless. The Ecoboost is a HUGE improvement in all ways, it’s just not as good as a V8.
Earlier V6s were anonymous lumps, but the new 300hp V6 for 2011 was a remarkably fun engine. It made as much hp as the previous GT, and would run nearly 30 mpg on the highway. It was replaced by the crude “Ecoboost” turbo 4 in a fit of eco-posturing.
Maybe if the comparison was to an older worse engine… I really didn’t like it. All I remember thinking was that the 4cyl engine in the Mazda6 I had at the time was significantly more fun to use.
+1 for the Miata
I’ve driven a LOT of convertibles and to me the best are the ones I’ve owned: full frame fords (65-68) and any BMW (though I’m most partial to the E30 and 128i)
Very fond of the wife’s M235i vert. Not too big, plenty of power, back seat if you need it. It succeeded her 128i vert, which was also fun.
My Dads’ 1961 Austin Healey 3000 Mk1 BT7. My 1968 Triumph TR250. Love to have either one of those today, but could not have the AH 3000 here in FL as the heat from the engine into the footwells could roast a goose.
Just here to add to the number of Miata answers.
Best one?
A cheap one.
I can’t say what the “best” convertible is, but I’ve owned a few. Starting with my 2nd car in 1977, a ’68 Mustang, a ’72 Impala, then in the 90’s, a ’72 K5 Blazer that I foolishly sold the hardtop and had a roll-up bimini top installed. In the early 2000’s, a Suzuki Samurai then my last, 20 years ago, a ’97 Miata. Hands down, the Impala was my favorite, an excellent, reliable cruiser, with a 350 and a 3-speed manual trans. The Blazer next, Miata, Mustang then Samurai. The Samurai top was a bitch to deal with so I rarely put it gown. All sticks except for the Mustang.
That Impala had to be pretty rare being a drop top sporting the 3sp. A lot of people rag on the Peak B and C cars but I do like them and wouldn’t mind another, as they are great cruisers though definitely a rag top this time.
Yeah, it was rare and 17 year old me fucked it up by removing the column shift and moving it to the floor. It was a nice Hurst shifter but still… cut a hole in the floor and tossed the factory linkages. A year later I sold it to a neighbor who promptly replaced the trans with an automatic.
An Aston V8 Vantage or Jag F-Type. Both are just gorgeous.
1) Whatever you have to keys too. It really doesn’t matter as long as you’ve got the top down on any day within a sniff of being “nice” out
2) A Miata, obviously
3) My dad’s 1965 Olds 98
This community would say Miata is the answer if you asked about the best moving truck, but you’re actually asking about a convertible? This answers itself.
There’s only one way to make this interesting.
Dodge Dakota!
1989_Dg_Dakota_convt_o-1.jpg (1075×400)
Like the LC500, the Jensen Interceptor is one of very few cars I’d rather have as a convertible.
VW Schwimmwagen
I wish it stayed in production post war and got the Acapulco Thing treatment.
The concept Cadillac Evoq was a beauty when I first saw it in print in 99, but I guess the production XLR will do. Anyone ever been in/drive one of those?
Haven’t driven one, but I once toured the Corvette factory in Bowling Green while they were also building the XLRs, so I got to see a few being built.
A very memorable experience.
The correct convertible is a cruiser and the best cruisers are either 1959-1964 Cadillacs or the Rolls Corniche or Dawn or Bentley Azure
The one you rent on vacation.
Miata Is Always The Answer ( of course) … but
Corvette C8 stingray is my 2nd choice, either removable hard top or full convertible. Irks me when I see a C8 on a nice day with the freaking roof panel in place. Go topless people!
Not just the C8 or Miata, the same goes for any convertible.
I live in northern Wisconsin, where there’s a good chance of snow six months out of the year, and I’m amazed how many people drive around in convertibles in the summer with the top up.
FFS!
I don’t care for BMWs but I lust for Z8 convertibles.
At this point considering their age and the fact that they are luxury German cars I’ll probably better leave that as a dream…
I rented a Boostang convertible last year. It was far better than I thought it would be.
But I’m voting for LC500.
Jeep Wrangler. The two door version.
It’s pure Americana.
Without the doors…
Hell yeah!
Owned one. Taking it out with the top down was the best thing about it.
One of my favorite memories was riding around in a Jeep with the top and doors off.
Classic Saab 900, naturally. On my second, this time with a turbo.
This is THE answer. There’s a red one I see around here when the weather is nice.
I don’t like red. I don’t like convertibles. But I LOVE that car.
The one convertible I ever even remotely thought of actually buying was a Saab 93 convertible – a wonderful car. Never drove a 900, but likely just as good a driving experience.
It may be hard to choose a best convertible model, but I can say without a doubt it’s a roadster.
The MX-5 is always excellent, but taller folks could be better served by a Boxster, a Z3, an MGB or an Alfa Spider. For those of us who need to hem our pants, there’s the Sprite, the Fiat 850 and the Spitfire.
My pair of course. ’74ish Spitfire in Maine, ’11 128i BMW in Florida.
But really, there is no “best” only best for your circumstances. I absolutely adored my Fiata, but I didn’t fit in it comfortably and couldn’t drive it for more than about 45 minutes at a time without literally being in pain. So for me, the 128i is a better fit, even if it’s not as much fun. I’ve also had a Saab 900 turbo convertible and an Alfa Romeo Spider. LOVED the Spider, I will have another one someday. Will probably replace the Spitfire with one rather than bring it to Florida from Maine.
I do have a soft spot for Mustangs, but have never pulled the trigger. I do think the MOST guilty pleasure of them all for me is thankfully one that was never done by the factory – a (modern) Hemi Challenger Convertible. One of those with a stick and I would certainly have one in my garage. But the aftermarket ones are just silly money on top of a car that was already not that cheap for what it was.