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...or convertibles, whatever you call them...
Do you own one?
Do you want to own one?
Do you get the hood down more than twice a year!?
Do you feel cool or a fool when sat in traffic on a busy high street?
Here's mine - has more of a mature driver, flat-cap and string-backed driving gloves style rather than 'cool'. But it was cheap and really good fun! 🙂
They can be good but the musical isn't my thing
Not as cool as Transits.
I bought my first when I was about 19. I will never, ever, not own a car without a convertible/removable roof. It makes EVERYTHING better.
I say this as someone who also does the odd trackday, has worked in the world of chassis design, values feel and handling - but - for a road car, the ability to drop the roof has such a profound effect on the feelgood nature of the car.
Current toy is the last, and curiously cheapest way to enjoy the fabulous S54 engine, and IMO, the best!
Do you get the hood down more than twice a year!?
Every single time I drive it. Which is all year round, so long as the weather is not absolutely biblical or there is salt on the roads. Cant have that much cash locked up without ever using it, pointless. Same with every car that came before, Lotus, MX5s, Boxster etc...
Do you feel cool or a fool when sat in traffic on a busy high street?
Couldnt give less of a monkeys. Its my car, not theirs.
Look at me! Don't look at me!!
Do feel a bit of a dick driving it (it's my wife's car if justification required), but it makes life at least 125% better having the roof down.
I'm not a fan of them. In most cases the coupe version looks much better. Jaguar F-Type as an example.
I'm below average age for this forum so I've not had to resist temptation yet to live with a piece of cloth for a roof in a climate that is wet and cold more than it's dry and sunny.
Not once in my life have I seen a middle aged man in a convertible sat in traffic and thought he looked cool.
EDIT: Cabriolets as described someone above can get in the sea. RR Evoque especially.
I don't get the point. A car which isn't as safe as one with a roof, is more expensive, is heavier and has less storage space. As for "cool", you just like you're suffering in the sun when it's hot, generally with a silly sunburnt head, and suffering in a flimys tent when it's raining.
But then, I don't find any car "cool".
My mum has a golf convertable. She's 67 and I always think she looks cool when she's driving it. The kids love going in it with the top down.
Don't think I'd have one but I did love it when we rented one in Australia ack in 1998 we the missus and I were about 22. Mitsubishi colt soft top, it was pretty much the cheapest car we could rent and I don't actually think the roof worked/went up. We didn't need to roof though so it was cool!
Had a Nissan 100nx (Targa roof) in my 20s.
During covid I had a YOLO moment and bought a convertible Mini (notionally for my daughter to use when she passes her test).
No idea whether it's cool, but it puts a smile on my face whenever I get behind the wheel.
Basically, if it's not raining and above freezing (or above 18C if Mrs V is in the car), I'll have the roof down.
After riding motorbikes for years and not bothering with cars at all, I finally passed my four-wheeled test when I was thirty and bought one of these. It was older than me. I bloody loved it! I had the top down all the time, to sort of acclimatise myself to the idea of travelling while inside something heated and dry
kelvin
Full Member
I’d like a targa top. Cool or not
I was just reminding myself that I’ll never own a Honda NSX the other day and there’s a Targa for sale at the moment. Very much, yes.
We have had 2 convertible Minis. Now have a hard top (no electric convertible available at the time) and miss the option. Would buy another.
Don't care if they are cool or not. I'm a grandad, who is wearing crocs and clothed mostly by C&A today - you think I care if things are cool?
Had a Mini Cooper soft top/convertible/cabriolet (unsure it could be called a cabriolet as the rear 'seats' weren't as wide a plank of wood). It was nice to drive, had a bit of poke about it, but it was flexy...the rear view mirror was absolutely pointless as you couldn't see anything out it as it vibrated so much.
It was fine for driving if you weren't in a rush then I'm sure it would be fine, but I never wanted to be driving it. I was fine if I had to use the car, but it was never a willing choice. I've been in a few soft tops and they all seem to suffer that flexy feeling to some degree, the ones that don't seem to be overly engineered to help reduce the twisting that no roof creates.
I don't think I'd have one as my only car, but for a weekend thing to take a wee drive through the countryside in, it might be nice.
A car which isn’t as safe as one with a roof, is more expensive, is heavier and has less storage space.
That's head -v- heart thinking though which doesn't apply here!
We have a bigger sensible car for sensible stuff.
The roof coming down makes everything better.
Yep - certainly does!
Mine wasn't so much fun last night though. First drive back from work in the dark, pouring with rain, the dog sat on the seat beside me steaming the windows up, blinded by on coming traffic - but still more fun than driving the wife's 4x4 bus!
Well the word immediately makes me think of these, so what do you think?
One of the postie's that works in the sorting office opposite my firm drives one. I lust after it every day. You can take the boy out of Essex....
Have to be honest, after rolling a previous car down a steep hill and climbing out unscathed - the passenger space of the car was undented, but the front and rear of the car all had dents and bashes, the roof and doors where the people were sitting were unscathed. It confirmed that I won't have a sunroof or soft top as my car...I'm not intending to ever roll a car again, but if I do, then I'm happier knowing that there is a protective cage around me and the passengers.
A car which isn’t as safe as one with a roof, is more expensive, is heavier and has less storage space.
Good news! I've found your next bike.
Soft top and 4 seats not cool
Soft top and 2 seats cool
Soft top and 2 seats and no soft top even cooler
Soft top 1 seat and no roof awesomes
I'd like one, but it's hard to justify a whole other car just for that. Most soft tops I see driving around, even on nice days, have the top up, which suggests to me that it's more trouble than its worth generally, at least in a daily driver.
My pal rolled a Fiat Barchetta (lovely car) down a grassy embankment and was largely unscathed.
Not exactly desperate to try it myself though.
We have 2 convertibles. A Merc SLC and a Lotus Elise. I always think I look like a numpty driving the convertibles (receding hair line etc...), especially the Merc. Thats why I often run the Lotus with the hardtop on and mostly keep the top up on the Merc. Although I do like driving them.
MrsG although I always think looks cool driving the convertibles, especially the Lotus.
4 seat convertibles? Never!
Well the word immediately makes me think of these, so what do you think?
The price difference compared to the hard top suggests not.
Bikes are cool.
All cars are fundamentally uncool. At best you can say that some of them are at least occasionally useful (eg transit).
(Previously owned an MX5, also not cool, just showed that I had been taken in by the marketing bollocks).
The cars can be cool, the people driving them usually ****ers.
I have had a number of soft tops and one of the years in my Caterham 7 as only car life was with just a tonneau so if it rained I got wet as did some of the inside of my half of the car but at least never had a roof up.
In my yoof I had a succession of Spitties and then Westfield sevens and other assorted safety hazards masquerading as cars, a number of them didn't even have roofs, or did have roofs but they fitted so badly, they may well have not bothered. Driving with the roof down (even in winter) is always betterer than not. None of them were cabriolets,
chakaping
Free MemberWell the word immediately makes me think of these, so what do you think?
Cool as a penguins cloaca
I’m not sure if it’s cool but it does make me grin…
I've had quite a few convertibles/cabriolets over the years and currently have an open top car. The open top car I'll take out most weeks as long as it's not raining. I had the attitude with my convertibles that I would need a reason to drive with the roof up.
Are they cool or make me look cool? I don't care. They keep me happy.
I’m not sure there are many cars that I would say are cool. I owned a visually fairly standard but heavily mechanically modified Mk1 MX5 until fairly recently, which I thought was cool, but I don’t suppose many other people did. I had the roof down whenever it wasn’t raining and absolutely loved it. Unfortunately engines appeared to be a consumable and I was always terrified I was going to break it (again). Barely used it once I got an EV for work, so sold it. I’d love an electric MX5 one day, which again, I think would be cool
On our 4th mx5, a mk3. Very much not cool, couldn’t care less due to the amount of fun it provides.
I dont know I couldnt wait to get rid of my Mk3 MX5 it wasnt much fun compared to a Mk1/Mk2/Mk4
i’ve no idea off they’re cool or not but cars with no roof are fun. as mentioned above they are not all “convertibles”.
a cabriolet is a conversion that leaves some on the superstructure from the pre-chopped vehicle in place, like the old golf and escorts of the 80’s. a convertible does away with all the roof structure, like the bmw 3 series of the same era (and later).
a 2 seat sports car designed with no fixed roof is generally referred to as a roadster (which i think is an american word). a closed sports car is a coupe. boxster/cayman for example.
Why are MX5s not cool? We've got a Mk4 RF (The one with the folding steel top) My OH uses it as her daily driver and often comes home from work with the top down. She's a teacher and the kids at her school think it's cool .... it's bloody good fun to drive and fairly cheap to run. What's not to like? (OK luggage space is abysmal and there's virtually no room for oddments in the cabin).
Cabriolet versions of what are already boring/rubbish vehicles I think are generally awful looking things. Anything actually designed to be a convertible/sports car from the outset has a much higher chance of looking good and driving well. I never really 'got it' and then I bought an S2000 about 6 years ago and I was fully converted, it's great fun and I don't care if I look cool or not.
I bought a 2001 MR2 a couple of months ago, after wanting a convertible car for absolutely years. It wasn't expensive - I was in the lucky position of being able to sell a bike I no longer used to pay for it.
Like others have said, I'm not bothered about how cool other people think it is. I like it, it's a lot of fun to drive, it makes me smile and I love the experience of driving around with the roof down (top down unless it's raining is basically my rule). I'm also aware it's a bit of a mid-life crisis cliché, it's quite a tongue in cheek one and I have no illusions anyone will find me more attractive or interesting because of it.
But it's fun. And that's cool for me.
Just a play on the thread title - but expanding it to the whole genre not one particular model.
Good news! I’ve found your next bike.
The picture you have linked appears to be heavier than a bike, won't handle as well, isn't as useful and you look silly in it. The cabriolet version of a bicycle.
Another MX5 here, had it 10 years now. Just so much nicer to be in the fresh air rather than hemmed in by glass and pillars. It passed the MOT yesterday first time so will keep it until next winter then consider a change. Won’t go back to a hardtop though, I have the SMax for sensible and useful.
Cabriolets are not cool.
Sports cars are not cool.
Both can be fun.
The word “cool” is not cool. Or on fleek for that matter.
Had a VW Eos (silver with red leather seats - a must as everyone can see the interior). It had the most space in the rear for two growing children and a MASSIVE boot (to store the roof, naturally). I looked at all the typical suspects at the time (Volvo, A4, BMW), and this was the most spacious. It was heavy (very heavy steel beams under the floor) but looked like a transformer when the roof packed away. Everyone thought it was cool when you pressed the roof button. To be honest, I liked the large glass roof more, and would get a Targa top next time. Or a two-seater to prevent the buffeting from the rear. The back two seats were not heated and were not a pleasant place with the roof down at almost any speed. But winter driving in the sun with heated seats and hot air on the feet was great and I miss that.
Cabriolets are not popular in hot countries, as it can be too hot to put the roof down. That and I would always wear a cap anyway.
A good rule of thumb:
”Would Jeremy Clarkson approve?”
If the answer is yes, then not cool. Or on fleek.
I found this today. I really want it but I'm not really in a position to pounce on it...
https://bbrgti.com/blogs/cars-for-sale/2013-mazda-mx-5-sport-tech-bbr-stage-one-turbo
Driving this through Southern France, Northern Italy and Corfu, is definitely not cool. In fact, it's a f***ing oven. Great fun coming back through Switzerland though
That engine in that car and rwd! 😍 😍
An S2000 is on my list, but the prices are getting further away from my budget. 😕
@the-muffin-man I missed them when they were ~£3000 at the bottom end of the market as I couldn't afford to insure one, paid double that ~5 1/2 years ago and it's been steadily rising since. Not an investment as such, but enough to be essentially 'free motoring' outside of fuel costs for the most part. Plus it makes nice noises!
@sharkattack that's a lovely car, my friend has just purchased the same age BBR185 (so slightly tuned engine/suspension by them, but not the turbo conversion) and absolutely loves it.
I have an MX5. Driving around with the top down makes me feel like an absolute dick. But that's OK because I am an absolute dick, so, I have embraced it.
(it's kind of offset by it being really scabby, so it's not like I can really be posing... I think the personality of the car was perfectly summed up when I found an unopened packet of generic viagra under the seat, it is the exact motoring equvalent of cheap boner pills)
Kramer
Free MemberA good rule of thumb:
”Would Jeremy Clarkson approve?”
If the answer is yes, then not cool. Or on fleek.
Much as i loathe the man, that rules out Merc 600 Grosser, classic Minis, Escort cossies, Ford GT, mk1 CR-X, MK1 Scirocco, GR Yaris, Aston Virage, Ferrari 355, E46 M3 CSL, 675LT, Lex LFA.
If you're saying all those are uncool then I'd like to know your definition of what is cool!
@Tracey. That looks an absolute cracker👍. Compliments to her for her efforts and to you for bringing up someone with the drive to work for hard for her dreams 👍👍
Thanks. I think she will be doing some more work on it over the winter.
Last winters project was an Evo 5
Kramer
Free Member
@multi21 – that’s the point, any “nice” car, by definition cannot be cool, because you’re trying too hard
Ah I'm with you, I reckon 8 year old me would have made a pretty compelling case for an f40 being cool though 😎
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@Tracey. 🤣🤣My son's EVO V looks equally immaculate, but yellow! Haven't got a photo to post (even if I could 🙄), but I'll work on it 👍
Ah I’m with you, I reckon 8 year old me would have made a pretty compelling case for an f40 being cool though 😎
Children are almost exclusively dorks and so cannot be arbiters of cool.
@Kramer tbf Tiff Needell owned one of mine and loved it. I suspect he's a lot better at driving it than me...
Children are almost exclusively dorks and so cannot be arbiters of cool.
That may be the case but are you suggesting an F40 isn't cool?
And on top of that, an F40 that pissed off Ferrari so much that they forced the owner to debadge it.
Utterly awful! Definitely not cool...
Whatever, personally I'd say having the balls to chop an LMP F40 is pretty cool but what do I know? Would absolutely have a Liberty Walk widebody as well.
I found this today. I really want it but I’m not really in a position to pounce on it…<br /><br />
how much bhp does that have? I had the standard 2.0 and it was woefully under powered for such a good chassis
Also the drivers seat needs to be mounted much lower in the car
Hopefully That would be enough to give the mk3 a bit of personality/ character
how much bhp does that have? I had the standard 2.0 and it was woefully under powered for such a good chassis
Minimum 260bhp so 100 more than standard from what they call their 'Stage 1' turbo conversion. Stage 2 needs an uprated clutch and remap and will see over 300bhp.
All this and it would attract zero attention from anyone. That's much more appealing to me that anything that looks flash.
I keep hankering after one of these - the Z4 35is. 3l straight 6 twin turbo
I'm definitely not cool
That may be the case but are you suggesting an F40 isn’t cool?
Show me an F40 driver who doesn't look like they're trying too hard. They mostly look like Jay Leno.
Not. Cool.
Car in 'only affordable to multi millionaires driven by typical multi millionaires' shocker!
The LMP I specifically linked is still driven in anger (raced), if that's not cool Im not really sure what is. Can we have examples please?
I keep hankering after one of these – the Z4 35is. 3l straight 6 twin turbo
I’m definitely not cool
They look really good now IMO, but I'm not enough of a car enthusiast to understand why they might be naff to those who really care.
I'm glad we don't really have this received wisdom about what's cool or not in MTB - unless ur bik is Saracin of course.
I was about to dig out a photo of my 1961 Triumph Herald convertible (with Vitesse bonnet) until I saw Binners's photo of his Vitesse.
In 1972 the now Mrs BigJohn and I drove it down to Skewjack surf village in Sennen Cove and felt very cool sitting up on the top of the back seats, eating our picnic sandwiches stuck in the massive queue on the Exeter bypass while everybody else was sweltering stuck inside their Morris minors and Cortinas.
It was my first car. I had another, a D reg, as my third. They were both shit. But not as bad as my second car, a 1958 Beetle.
The BMW Z4 is a cracking looking motor, early ones with the big Z just behind the front wheels in the lines of the bodywork
A 3.0i or if you can find a 3.0si and stretch the budget a bit more although I did really fancy a Honda s2000 but good ones too expensive
The newer Z4 does look less cool and much more flabby but probably a much more refined turbocharged engine
I've got a Mk1 Audi TT V6 Roadster. Cool? I don't care!
@squirrelking that is impressive rather than cool. Cool is how something looks (largely) and that yellow shape looks awful. Engineering point of view, it is impressive, but that is a very different thing to being cool as going by the looks, it very much isn't.
@squirrelking “cool” is the exception in motorsport rather than the rule.
I have a 2008 E85 Z4 in grey with red leather. The design is timeless imho and I have the top down whenever I can. Given me 8 years of trouble free motoring so far and the car I'm most happy just pootling around.
I keep hankering after one of these – the Z4 35is. 3l straight 6 twin turbo
I had the pleasure of driving one on the Isle of Man for a weekend.
Not a sports car. It’s a BMW lost its way car. The ride is terrible and it drives a bit numb, no different to a 3 series. Yep quick enough, sounds ok but not a sports car