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’m going to nominate my daily: 2017 Fiat 124. It has Miata reliability in a sharp Italian suit. It is by far the most fun car I’ve ever owned.
Not the best, but I wanted to mention the VW Cabriolet model, like the one Mercedes drives in “License to Drive”
Those just look like so much FUN…and tossable since they are lightweight. I used to have an 84 Jetta and that thing was a blast to drive w/ stick. The Cabriolets, AKA “bitch baskets” have that stereotype, but I really wouldn’t give a shit about that- they look so fun and are a great design.
The most unique and interesting would be the Ford Ford Fairlane 500 Skyliner w/ it’s fancy top.
The BEST to me, would be any classic muscle car and to pick one, would be the Plymouth Roadrunner
Miata
Is
Always
The
Answer
It’s a very subjective question. I can see many “Bests”. Modern vs Classic, Luxury vs Non Luxury, Utility vs Non Utility. The list goes on. It’s like asking what’s the best pizza! It depends!
I have, have had, or had access to several over the years. Each one is “the best”. Like:
-my 1980 Triumph TR-7 convertible. 4 cyl, 5 speed, two seats. I drive it like a regular car, not a collectible/classic car. Always starts a conversation in a parking lot when I go somewhere with it. Definitely not a show queen, but nice enough that people take notice. Completely checks the box of fun marked “driving a slow car fast”.
-my mom had an 1988 Allante’. This was the TR-7 on steroids, so to speak, but minus the stick shift. 8 cyl, auto, again two seats and a massive trunk. She always looked elegant and sophisticated pulling up to a spot in it, and most people didn’t know what it was, so again, lots of questions.We took it for a trip to Atlanta years ago, and it was super comfy for two people and their luggage. Folding top was deisgned by Satan.
-my 1989 Mustang GT convertible. Removed the rear seats (custom enclosure placed there, as no normal human could sit back there anyway), redid the interior, modified the engine and exhaust to the max, and drove the heck out of it. Always felt like slipping a pair of old jeans on, just comfortable and familiar. And despite the proliferance of the Fox body/1979-1993 cars, you really don’t see them on the road up here, probably because they’ve rusted away or been wrecked. It’s my ‘forever’ car.
-my 1996 Mustang GT convertible.This is probably the show car. Original owner, turned an even 42,000 miles on 4/20 ironically, triple black convertible. Every option available at the time. All original apart from tires/brakes and one replacement top after someone decided they had to try and break into it while in Toronto years ago. Crazy that it’s 30 years old!
…so yeah,they’re all the best (to me)!
For me it’s the 2008 Saab Convertible sitting in my garage.
“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.”
That in mind I will nominate a 1972 Buick Centurion with a 455 4bbl. I helped a buddy slow tow his old Mercedes a few hundred miles from Pismo beach back to San Jose with such a Buick and it was glorious.
(Of course that was long before $5/gal gas…)
I’m going with Austin Healy 3000. This is based solely on (once) seeing a pristine silver 3000 with the wire spoked wheels driven by an elegant older woman with matching silver hair. This was many years ago, but in terms of style it was the most perfect combo of car and driver I’ve really ever seen.
The proper answer is any convertible is the best. From an expensive new German one to a neglected 70’s sportscar or an old American boat, all of them are great. Of course, this is predicated on driving back roads cruising or wringing them out to hear the exhaust.
However, all convertibles suck on modern interstates. Even with the top up and noise-canceling earbuds in, it is too loud (judgement based on driving a 2017 Mustang GT CS on Charlotte-ear interstates to and from work). Also, the V8 was mostly superfluous as you could never stay on it as intented so the Ecoboost would have been sufficient.
Everyone car person needs to own at least one convertible in their lifetime. After owning 2 so far, I am always looking for the next one.
On the interstates point: I think it depends on the car (and probably the extra length of the so-called back seat doesn’t help). My 2019 Miata was quite comfortable at Houston interstate speeds. For sure at about 75 I’d usually roll up the windows, but even at 80 you could hold a conversation with a bit of a raised voice.
I’ve owned 5, opinion summaries:
Loved my FC RX7 because it was unique and my first
Eh on my IS250 – comfortable but a turd performance wise
Miss my E550 – wish I hadn’t traded it in for something practical
Eh on a G37 – nothing wrong with it, quick enough, reliable but the interior kinda fell apart
Favorite was a CLK350 – just a small, fun, quick if somewhat porky toy
An old Mercedes SL, emphasis on old
Not that fast, full of style, german overengineering at its finest
Jeep Wrangler. Doors off >>> normal convertible!
I like the slow convert sometimes, a friend of mine had a 1971 buick electra convertible, but if I were spending my money I’d go for a decent cobra replica.
Nissan Murano Crosscabriolet… it’s convertible fun with Xtronic practicality and efficiency. The best of both worlds!
A 1963 Ford Galaxie 500 XL convertible is the best big car one I’ve had!
Mustang. Almost any Mustang.
70-72 Olds Cutlass or 442
E36 or E46 BMW
61-67 Lincoln Continental
Oddly enough, one of my very favorites was a malaise-era ’75 Olds 88 with a 455. An absolute dream to drive.
Owner of E46 M3 drop top. Can confirm
Too many modern convertibles have windowsills far too high, windscreens far too raked, and A-pillars far too thick to have any sense of being out in the open, particularly if one isn’t tall.
Classic VW Beetle Karmann built convertible:
Simple, 4 seats and 4 roll down windows, wonderful 3 layer quality convertible top, so also usable when it’s cold.
I still own and drive a 1973 Fiat 124 spider. It has a dual overhead cam engine, 5 speed gearbox, four wheel disc brakes, a soft top, and two seats. It’s fun, and looks good. What more do you need?
I loved my 69 LeSabre convertible. When I got the hanking for another converitble a couple of years ago I seriously considered a getting another old Buick convertible because I do lean to a cruiser type convertible. But then I wanted it to be something the wife could also hop in, drive w/o worry and have modern safety features too. A Mustang certainly was in the running but fell by the wayside due to a similar argument. If I want a Mustang I want a V8 and a MT which isn’t a cruiser. Plus the Mother in Law has one of those last year V-6 Mustang convertibles with really low miles that will eventually be ours. So I ended up with a Retrobird. Being a cruiser was its mission and it does that quite well.
Mid 60’s lincoln continental convertible.
Kennedy approves.
Anything GM made in 1959 or 1960. All of them are rolling monuments of wonderful, exubert, wretched excess. Personally I like the angry 1959 Buick and slightly cleaner/leaner 1960 Cadillac.
The 59 is my favorite Buick by far. Of course that was the basis for all the 59’s so it isn’t surprising that it wears the body so well.
The one with the hottest looking driver?
‘71 Cadillac Eldorado. It’s like two couches with a 500 in front of them. I was in one that got up to 110, with the top down. You wouldn’t think you were going over 30. Except for the noise and actually watching the gas gauge go down.
2003 MR2. Like the one we used to own that I regret selling.