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I once owned an MG Midget, a chrome bumper one, not the horrid plastic bumper one, and it was fun to drive, but it would jump out of second all the time, and the soft top leaked, but it did have a full tonneau cover, so driving it at any time it wasn’t raining was fun, because I just turned up the heater and I was toasty. It got nicked one night, and I had to go down to Wales to get it back. 😖
I sold it to a mate, because it had been damaged and I couldn’t be bothered to deal with it. I’ve no ambition any more to own an open-top car, I’d have to wear a hat in fine weather because a sunburnt head isn’t at all comfortable, especially when it starts shedding large quantities of skin… 😝
However, I would make two exceptions; one would be a Vitesse, like Binners posted. I’ve always had a liking for those, having a central box-section spine chassis, with suspension hanging off each corner, and the bodywork fixed on top, reducing flex as a result. With a 2ltr straight-six, a bit more go than a standard Herald.
The other would be the BAC Mono that FunkyDunk posted. A road-legal race car, a phenomenal amount of fun, where a sunburned head isn’t an issue ‘cause I’d be wearing a helmet. I also have Castle Combe race circuit about five miles away where I could go and play. 😁
Cabriolets are not popular in hot countries, as it can be too hot to put the roof down.
This is true in Oz. It's utterly pointless, unless you're prepared to lather yourself in sunscreen every time you drive and wear a hat. Years ago we borrowed a well sorted Triumph Stag from a friend for a week to drive around the southwest of Western Australia. He said to not bother putting the roof down as you'll get scorched. We insisted on doing it of course. An hour later, up went the roof.
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.
IIRC Australian CKD 12/50 Heralds came with Vitesse bonnets for the four headlight bling.
My Mum's car was a Vitesse when i was a kid. I remember Dad removing the roof for some reason or other (they unbolt quite easily) and me saying how cool it looked, can't we keep it that way.
I always thought convertibles were daft in the UK, but someone pointed out that the UK has actually the best climate for soft tops. Neither too hot nor too cold, you can have roof down for 80% of the year if you want.
I’d quite like one, but where do the bikes go? That’s the limiting factor for me.
I had. 1967 triumph spitfire mrkII with 1275cc engine and removable hard top. Drove it as a daily runner for a couple of years great fun, not so much on the M25.
Ex got it in the divorce, mate told me about 6months later the floor fell out of the boot and she just left it to rot. Feel quite sad about that.
I’d quite like one, but where do the bikes go? That’s the limiting factor for me.
Luggage rack on the boot, I mind someone on Descent World was dailying an MGF and would just strap his DH bike to the rack.
I keep thinking about having a punt on a Talbot Samba cabriolet that is on eBay. Maybe that would be cool??!?
Scratched that itch about 30 years ago with a TVR 350i 'wedge'. Also scratched the V8 itch at the same time which made the most beautiful noise. Still can be had for not much money but not the most reliable of cars.
4 seat 'convertibles' not cool? Au contraire!
Me and the Mrs had one of these when we were first together and drove it in a similar manner.....
My first, and currently only car is an MG Midget.
My last "real" car was a Berlingo with the full length fabric sunroof.
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.
They still have heaters, with the roof up they're no colder than a tin top.
I'm not yet middle aged (definitely wasn't at 21) and really don't care what your opinion is, I'm not doing it for you. If I'm going to subject myself to the utter misery of driving and burden of car ownership, I'm going to take any small wins I can get.
I always thought convertibles were daft in the UK, but someone pointed out that the UK has actually the best climate for soft tops. Neither too hot nor too cold, you can have roof down for 80% of the year if you want.
It's like cycling, it's great in anything other than actual rain.
I’d quite like one, but where do the bikes go? That’s the limiting factor for me.
Roof racks are available for some models which fit like an exocage , bodge something to a rollover hoop, boot racks, towbar racks, the passenger seat, there's plenty of options.
Mini Convertible here, (was the wife's but since upgrading the "main" car she now driver that more) so I get to throw the mini about.
Kid's friends love it, the kids less so. God forbid I ever rock up to school with the roof down.
Dog loves it and so do I when off to the lads cricket, just throw the bag into the back seats... Actually the lad does like it when he gets to jump in over the door a la Duke's of Hazard (not that he knows what that is)
And its fun to pick a pal up with the roof down, we get to pretend we are Thelma and Louise.... "Lets not get caught... Lets keep going!!"
Neither too hot nor too cold, you can have roof down for 80% of the year if you want.
In my S1 elise as long as you stay north of 65 in anything but the heaviest rain very little makes if into the cabin. You do get some funny looks though!
AI says they're cool.
Or not wedge yourself between dashboard and rear of the steering wheel!