OT: Talking Cars Tuesday - 'Verts?
Some folks took last week's SUV topic poorly, and for that I apologize. I was purposely antagonistic and curious how people justified their car purchases logically - and I agreed with many of the responses that said cars are often NOT a logical purchase! Both of my Jeep Wranglers were not wonderful cars but amazing vehicles and toys. They were loud, slow, bad on gas, and far from the best way to get from Point A to Point B. And despite all that, I find myself longing for a 20 year old vehicle that I sold 8 years ago every spring. The biggest reason - dropping the top.
Convertible sales are down across the US, now only about 1% of the market. Every spring I open my sunroof and wish it was a whole top. So - do you have a convertible? did you? Do you want one? Miss one? Why? Why not?
April 16th, 2019 at 10:44 AM ^
No, never had one. Thought they were cool when I was 12. Might like one if I lived in a warm, sunny and dry climate. I had a 96 Trans Am with T Tops in my younger days and the chicks dug it, but 4 months out of the year in SE Michigan is all your getting out of the tops off.
April 16th, 2019 at 10:53 AM ^
But those 4 months though...
April 16th, 2019 at 11:03 AM ^
Right, that’s why when I was younger it was worth it. Same thing with having a motorcycle when I was younger. Once I was old enough to realize I was paying way too much money for things I didn’t get enough use out of, it was time to move on from those toys.
April 16th, 2019 at 10:48 AM ^
T-Tops all the way.
April 16th, 2019 at 10:49 AM ^
60-65 degrees in April? Top was DOWN (even if the heat was on near your feet). 75 in October? Maybe the windows were down? It's funny, what felt warm was definitely relative.
April 16th, 2019 at 11:35 AM ^
that is a perfectly set up jeep. hat tip to you, jeepinben. very nice.
April 16th, 2019 at 11:45 AM ^
Thanks. It was quite good for midwest 'wheeling. 2" budget boost suspension lift (new shocks, and pucks to make the springs taller) combined with springs from a 2004 Rubicon got me about 2.5". The rusty exhaust got replaced with a Banks cat back, the cracked exhaust manifold became headers. The 31x11.50's in the picture got replaced with 32x11.50 BFG ATs (the Baja claws wore quickly and were terrifying in the rain).
I sold it when I moved to Chicago and couldn't justify a regular car and a toy with 140,000 miles on it - and I used the cash well. But man do I miss it!
April 16th, 2019 at 12:41 PM ^
grad school sweetheart owned a 'hollywood', convertible scrambler, 4 speed. it was so pretty it had been in movies. set up like your jeep, but all black. very nice.
April 16th, 2019 at 12:15 PM ^
Jeeps are the only car I would take the top down. In fact, my wife and I rented a wrangler and drove from San Diego all the way to Napa with stops in SB, Carmel and Napa. Awesome trip and the car added a level of enjoyment to the drive. Oddly, made you feel more contented to nature while driven along the coast
April 16th, 2019 at 10:55 AM ^
My current Jeep is probably the closest I would get to a convertible. If I had a sports car or newer muscle car I would want a hard top, I think they look more aggressive that way and the convertible takes away from that.
April 16th, 2019 at 10:55 AM ^
Question for the board, wife and I are going to start looking at new SUV's. Has anyone had an Infiniti? Question is how do they hold up long term and are parts hard to get or expensive if something is needed?
Trying to decide between a Toyota/Honda or an Infiniti that we like.
April 16th, 2019 at 12:33 PM ^
I have two Infiniti's, a 2002 I-35 (195K) and a 2011 G37x (155k). Both have been very reliable. Parts are the same as any other Japanese car maker.
Protip: If you're taking it in to the dealership for service out of warranty, take it to a Nissan dealer to save a few bucks.
Save even more money and take it to a reliable independent mechanic's shop vs. ANY dealer
April 16th, 2019 at 12:34 PM ^
These are just generalities of course, but Infiniti's tend to largely be fine when new, up until around 100k or so, then they can start getting issues and get real expensive real quick, at least compared to say Lexus or Acura. You might be like the gentlemen above me and have zero issues, not like they're terrible or anything, but generally speaking Infiniti is more likely to have issues as they age than the other Japanese luxury brands. So if you're buying new and you like it, would probably be fine for years. If you're buying used, be warned that there's a chance you might be spending some money on it.
Again, generally, Toyota and Honda are going to be a much better (I would say best) bet if you're looking to drive it as long as possible for as cheap as possible.
April 16th, 2019 at 12:55 PM ^
Thanks guys.
April 16th, 2019 at 12:57 PM ^
Had an I30 some time back. Never any problem with it. Closing on 200K when we gave it to my daughter. She drove it like she stole it for a few years, then sold it before she moved to Boston.
If I may, seriously take a look at an Audi. I currently drive a S4 and the wife is wanting either the Q5 or the new Q8. If you buy new, get the Audi Care package, takes care of everything for the first 60K miles. Then you can continue to buy additional packages and basically don't have to worry about anything sans an actual car accident.
Their AWD system is top notch and I like in Kansas City which sucks with winter plowing/salt. Able to drive in all conditions, no issues, handles like a dream.
April 17th, 2019 at 12:44 PM ^
I just put the deposit down to get the Q5 I've been wanting. Replacing a Nissan Murano.
I loved the Murano and got 185k miles on it, but had major transmission problems at the end. Largely cost me more than the car was worth to get it running so I could sell it.
If you're looking at the Infiniti SUV like the Murano, be aware it has a CVT or Continuously Variable Transmission. Some like them, some hate them, but you are basically agreeing to the idea of having Nissan or Infiniti service it (because independents don't have the experience to work on them). From what I've read, they fail between 150k and 200k miles, which is when mine died. Also, not great resale value. 2009 with 185k miles, pristine in every way with a new transmission and a new transfer case -- sold it for $6000.
I'm super excited about the Q5 I will be getting in the next couple days. Everything I want in a luxury SUV. I also considered the new Honda Passport and the new Chevy Blazer. For me the third row is superfluous and mostly useless (we have a Suburban for that).
April 16th, 2019 at 10:58 AM ^
I've owned two in my life. A silver, 1970 GTO convertible with a 455 & four speed and a 84 powder blue Mustang with a 302 and 4 speed. Loved every minute of owning them and there's nothing like rolling down the road with the top down for pure driving fun. The GTO I owned when I was at Michigan (78-81) so that brings back doubly good memories of the car.
April 16th, 2019 at 11:50 AM ^
That GTO looks great. Do you wish you still had it?
April 16th, 2019 at 11:58 AM ^
That is definitely the silliest question you will ask anybody all day.
OF COURSE I WISH I STILL HAD IT!!!!!!!
Especially when you consider I sold it for a whopping $1,800 and I did so because the water pump developed a leak that a bottle of "bar leak" couldnt fix and I didnt want to spend the $150 dollars or so to replace it.
April 16th, 2019 at 12:43 PM ^
nobody cry too hard for mgrowold. remember that sweet GTO pic he posted a few weeks ago? the hard top, tricked out one? yeah. very small violins for our friend.
I made a much worse decision than you did...in the summer and fall of '76 I owned a '66 Catalina convertible that looked pretty much like this. It was what I was driving when I started dating the cute art student who I'm still married to, so I guess it did its job.
For some reason that's still a mystery to me I let my mother persuade me to get rid of it so she could give me her piece of crap '70 Duster. WTF was I thinking?
Oh man. A Goat. The 455. THE TORQUE. I bet listening to that idle with the top down must have been a trip.
April 16th, 2019 at 11:11 AM ^
Rented a 2019 Mustang convertible this week while my wife and I are hanging out in Florida. Lotta fun. Last trip before our first baby girl arrives in June.
April 16th, 2019 at 11:11 AM ^
I've had two, both black Miata's. The 1997 was fun but underpowered. That was the last year of the first generation and I think it only had around 100 HP.
The 1999 that a got two years later was the best car I've ever owned, by far. They upgraded everything from the 1st gen and upped the HP to around 140. I bought the top of the line package available that year (LSD, leather, BOSE, etc) and I got a great deal buying it in October. I used to put the top down pretty much anytime it was above 40 and not raining.
Was the car a little gay? Sure, probably more than a little. But I've never had more fun behind the wheel, and I've owned some pretty sweet cars over the years.
I never should have sold that car. I'm buying another one as soon as my daughter graduates from college.
April 16th, 2019 at 11:43 AM ^
You know the Miata owner joke right?
"No....I'm NOT gay. But my car is."
NTTAWWT
April 16th, 2019 at 11:53 AM ^
Folks who denigrate Miatas have never driven one.
April 16th, 2019 at 11:59 AM ^
That might be true but I do know you need to be very secure in your manhood to roll up to your buddies driving one.
April 16th, 2019 at 12:47 PM ^
That and a second gen VW Bug
April 16th, 2019 at 12:32 PM ^
waiting for JFW to post, he of the green miata convertible somewhere in northern michigan/TC area....
LOL. Got here late.
Yes. When I first saw the Miata as a kid in HS I hated it.
When my BiL offered me his, I jumped on it in a heartbeat. Despite the fact that one of my best buds and I got weird looks all the way back from LA to TC.
I've never had more fun. It just all works. You aren't going particularly fast, but it sure feels like it.
Sadly, she's down with a bad clutch this summer, and it will be awhile before I can get it fixed.
April 16th, 2019 at 12:35 PM ^
My best friend christened it the "fagmobile". Then I let him borrow it for the weekend and he didn't want to give it back.
April 16th, 2019 at 11:51 AM ^
You wanna know how you make a Miata un-gay? Throw a V8 in it!
http://www.monstermiata.com/
Edit add: Don't mind that the site looks like it was built in 1997.. it probably was! #Geocities
April 16th, 2019 at 12:37 PM ^
Some of the newer models are available with a turbo and there are tons of other aftermarket performance parts.
I think I'm going to buy an older model (late 90's - mid 00's) since people barely drive them and usually take better care of them than their kids. Then I'll just add a few K in performance upgrades.
The new Fiat spyder everyone loves is a Miata in disguise.
I work with a guy who had one when he started here. He's 6'9" and it was hilarious watching him get in that thing. Must've been ok once he got in because he had it for several years.
There is this guy who drives his Miata year round in SE Mich. I have seen him and he looks like an interesting dude.
Loved my '99 Miata. Grew up in Michigan before finally moving for a new job to Raleigh, NC 20 years ago. Got off the plane, took a cab straight to the dealership and picked up the car. Barely put the top up for the few years I lived there. It was a lot of fun, especially on the twisty roads outside of town.
Moved back to Michigan not long after and sold it. I miss it, it was a lot of fun. Now with a wife and 3 young kids, a convertible is just not in my foreseeable future unfortunately.
All hail the mighty Miata. It does what the MG Midget I drove in my youth could never do - run flawlessly for 100,000+ miles. Remember the truest fact of owning an sports car: It’s more fun to drive a slow car fast than a fast car slow.
Q: why do the British drink warm beer?
A: because Lucas makes refrigerators!
Your car came with LSD? I guess that explains your posting history.
My first car out of college was a 1997 Miata. Was awesome for a few years, but I eventually realized that it is not great as a year-round car (no clearance for snow, AC was weak on humid days). Not very powerful, but I drive too fast anyway. That car could could hug a tight corner though.
It was worth enduring the jokes.
April 16th, 2019 at 11:14 AM ^
When I was a kid, my dad bought a 68 convertible Camaro to restore. He finished the rear, then it sat in the garage for several years.
The summer before I turned 16, I started thinking about asking him to let me finish it so it could be mine to drive. Before I worked up the nerve to talk to him about it, he sold it. I came home from school one afternoon to see him and a couple of guys pushing it onto a trailer, and they drove it away.
I didn't talk to him for a month. If I had the cash, I would get one for nostalgia, since I never got to drive that one.
April 16th, 2019 at 11:29 AM ^
Rose...bud...
April 16th, 2019 at 11:15 AM ^
Had five in my life. Bought my latest one last November, a red VW Eos (wife wanted a hardtop for living in the city).
Nothing better than dropping the top and riding around on the first warm day of the year! Finally did that last week Monday before the snow returned this past weekend.
April 16th, 2019 at 11:26 AM ^
Bill Simmons referred to it as "Halter Top Day" in Boston, I remember it more for skirts showing back up in Ann Arbor, but that first day without a coat, when people wear things that aren't just for warmth and you take the top down and cruise around... THAT's what I miss.
April 16th, 2019 at 11:29 AM ^
Convertibles are a whole lot of fun. I love renting them in the summer. But I've always viewed them as unpractical for the climates I've lived in. Thus, I've never considered purchasing one.
However, an experience this past fall has me re-considering.
When I flew back for the PSU/Michigan game last November, Hertz's DTW car rental was out of the compact cars (what I rented). So I got free upgraded to a Mustang convertible. I put the top down traveling on I-94 out to AA in the 40 degree weather. With partly sunny skies and heated seats, it was actually fairly comfortable. So they may be more cold-weather practical than I thought (I live in Denver now, which has A LOT of sunny 40 degree days in the winter).
April 16th, 2019 at 12:39 PM ^
They're honestly fine in the winter. Just keep the top up and use the heater like you would in any other car.
Most of them are hardtops now anyway.
FWIW I pull the Miata out usually in April and drive it to November, most times with the top down. I just crank the heater and wear a wool pea coat and hat.
I probably look like a complete schmuck, but I'm having fun.
April 16th, 2019 at 11:36 AM ^
I love a convertible. Nothing like dropping the top. Even after a shitty day of work and getting stuck in traffic, dropping the top makes that all go away. I've had 2. A Saab 900 and a Saab 9-3 convertible.
With the 9-3 the top was lined and the wind noise was minimal. With weak Colorado Front Range winters, I've had the top down every month out of the year.