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 11:42 AM ^
I have one. I ordered it new in May of 2007 and picked it up that August. It has about 28,000 miles on it now; it's definitely a fair-weather driver for me. The top, in fact, is rarely up.
That said, cruising back roads on a sunny day in an open-top car is an exquisite thing.
April 16th, 2019 at 11:44 AM ^
Love'em. My daily driver is a Jaguar XK convertible and it is the third convertible I have owned.
Nothing better than driving top down on a gorgeous summer day.
April 16th, 2019 at 12:41 PM ^
Tell me more. I've always wanted one, but I'm still gun shy after owning a 98 XJ8 that nearly put me into the poor house. Once that thing hit 125k miles it just started falling apart.
April 16th, 2019 at 12:56 PM ^
I nearly bought a 12cyl XJS in the early 80's but it was a HT. I love Jags especially the old ones but the reliability was crap. New ones look great but too many $'s. I just bought a used pickup and it was $23k
I've often thought about buying an old jag and putting in a different drivetrain (modern, American, etc). Some models are dirt cheap now that they aren't running anymore.
They are beautiful cars. I had heard of V8 XJ conversions several years ago. My brother had a couple early 1960's Jag Mark 2 sedans - they copied the look with a newer model in the early 2000's.
An XKE convertible would be my dream car along with an early 60's Corvette
The XKE is the most beautiful car ever made or ever will be made. Unfortunately, a nice one costs as much as a house does now.
I've seen some 80's JX's for sale with a 350 chevy engine and trans conversion. Apparently it's a pretty easy conversion, but I'd still worry about the electronics and everything else Jag half assed.
My Dad wanted a Jag in the worst way. Never got around to getting one and died when he was 66. I may pull the trigger on my dream toy car sooner.
I've never quite understood how a company that can bend metal that well f*cks up it's powertrains and electrical systems so badly.
I love my '07 XK (X150). It is beautiful and has been very reliable for me at 70k now (other than drained battery every now and then - very sensitive to slightly open doors). I have owned Merc's and BMW's (and Porsche, Ford, and Saab), and this car has been easily the most reliable. The parts are not cheap, but if you have a good mechanic, it is not so bad. Never buying another Mercedes...
You can buy a low mileage XKR from the same era for $25k or lower. I think that is a pretty good deal and a lot of fun for the money. Nothing sounds sexier than my cat growling.
I was hoping you would tell me the reliability was shit and that I shouldn't even consider buying one.
Fuck.
Have an X150 as well. It is a '10 so it is a 5.0 instead and has the supercharger. It is my any time it is above freezing car (put Pilot Super Sports on it, but next set of tires will be ones that can go below freezing).
Haven't had it long, but reliability has been good and I am 3rd owner. I worry the e-locking diff is starting to go.
It is fast, but hard to keep the rear end hooked up to be really fast. Love the looks and driving manner.
I get use of the top pretty much anytime it is warmer than 50 out. Roll up the windows and have a wind deflector makes the cabin pretty comfortable. It was 47 out on the drive into work this morning and loved it the ride in top down with a jacket on and a bit of heat.
April 16th, 2019 at 11:48 AM ^
Had a 2005 Chrysler Crossfire Convertible. 6 speed manual. Black with a white/black interior - looked like a tuxedo. Fun car but unfortunately under powered at only 225HP. Need about 300.
I'll never forget one day I was driving home and a bird pooped on the drivers side mirror and some of it went into my eye. Really gross and my eye was red for 2 days.
Spare that, yeah - convertibles are a ton of fun, overall. Great summer cars but here in MI, I kind of view them like a boat - since you can only use them ~6 months a year, it's hard to justify the purchase.
April 16th, 2019 at 12:40 PM ^
When I was 16 or 17, I had a Wrangler Sahara. It was early June, and the weather was fantastic. I spent about 3 hours totally detailing the Jeep as I was going out with a very good looking young lady for the first time. I pick her up with the music bumping thinking that I was king shit the wild man. I was on top of the world for roughly 6 minutes until we went under an overpass and a bird massively shit directly on top of my head - took my ego down several notches, but it was good for a laugh. Still miss that Jeep.
Wranglers are just fun. Sorry about the bird - bastard. We are now bird shit brothers - for life. Hopefully the chick laughed about it at least?
She totally did. However, it was enough bird shit, that we had to drive back to her house so I could shampoo my hair before going out. Ah, to be young again.
April 16th, 2019 at 11:58 AM ^
I had a 95 Mustang GT convertible and a 2001 Jeep Wrangler. The Wrangler came with a hard top as well but I mainly used the soft top. Loved them both, probably the Wrangler more.
April 16th, 2019 at 12:02 PM ^
I have had 2:
1955 T Bird - the problem is it was limited where I could go and how far I could go - more of a Sunday afternoon car. Tough to justify garage space for something used so infrequently but it was a cool car.
1972 Porsche 914 - not a full convertible but a Targa top was fantastic. Hard top fit in the front trunk, could be driven in any weather unless the snow was too deep. Nice compromise.
That said I can't see owning another standard convertible - but maybe a hardtop convertible like a used Mercedes SLK. Almost bought one but ended up with Mini Cooper S hardtop.
April 16th, 2019 at 12:11 PM ^
Never owned a convertible. A buddy of mine had a Nissan 300ZX T-top, though, when we were in high school. It's one of the very, very few Asian cars I'll cop to actually really liking. Celebratory rides were in order, honking at everything in sight, when we both got our acceptances to UVA.
April 16th, 2019 at 12:13 PM ^
Owned a 1980 911SC Targa for 20 years. Sold it last year to buy a house. Still not over it. Probably never will be. I keep telling myself there will be another. . .
At least with air cooled 911 prices you could probably pay cash for the house?
LOL. I wish. Not in SoCal.
awas, where was that picture taken, if you don't mind me asking. it looks like off of las virgines/malibu canyon area.
This was taken at a trailhead off of Sunrise Highway about 10 mi north of I-8 in east San Diego County. This is looking east, where the escarpment drops 4000 ft into Anza Borrego and the Mojave desert.
April 16th, 2019 at 12:25 PM ^
I want one, but I am due for my midlife crisis. If I had the $ I would buy a vert as a toy. Alas, I am stuck driving my 17 year old clunker.
April 16th, 2019 at 12:25 PM ^
My second car was a 93 Chrysler Lebaron convertible. Sure I got some little penis jokes, but it never bothered me. I loved being able to put the top down and cruise around stoned. The biggest problem I had with it were the large plumes of smoke that poured out of the exhaust. Depending on how the wind was blowing it could completely consume everyone in the car.
April 16th, 2019 at 12:51 PM ^
I had a truck that smoked a bit. At idle it would occasionally blow a perfect smoke ring
My sister had a '95 (I think '95).
Red. White top. 5 speed. 3.0 liter Mitsu V6 good for ~ 135hp I think.
That car was fun as hell.
April 16th, 2019 at 12:30 PM ^
Yes, more skin cancer, please!
April 16th, 2019 at 12:41 PM ^
I rented a convertible PT Cruiser back in '05. It was fun to drive and zippy enough. The worst part? Getting my forehead and scalp fried driving around with the top down. Not good for a fair-skinned, freckle faced reddish-head... I'm not opposed to convertibles, but will need a good driving hat so I don't do that again.
The worst sunburn I've ever gotten was driving from Lansing to Ann Arbor for the art fair top down in 90 degree sun. Getting off M-14 I was quite comfortable with the 70MPH wind. Then as I slowed down I realized how hot my skin was. Hat came out instantly.
April 16th, 2019 at 12:30 PM ^
I will add that a local dealer has a super clean 1966 Caprice with a 396 Turbojet engine. If it was a convertible it would be in my driveway.
April 16th, 2019 at 12:38 PM ^
now with a minute to answer the question. my first car was a '66 dodge dart convertible that i bought from a friend of my mom's for $500. i think she felt sorry for me b/c mom had passed. i sold it after it snowed inside the dart on the way to hockey practice. i'd had enough. this pic is a near-identical view, minus the fancy-shmancy wheels:
second was an '88 mustang 5.0 that i owned when i lived in socal. i had no fear of getting a ticket b/c of my then-occupation, and from time to time i drove like it (but sober). sold that one when i realized i was driving it too darn fast for my own good. it was an excellent car, i called it a 'poor man's porsche'. fast, well-built, nice looking, etc. representative pic here:
Was it a GT or 5.0 liter LX?
Uncle worked for Ford. I have a soft spot for the fox body mustangs. Sure, they had their limitations. But for the price, you could pack in a crap ton of performance.
We live in a golden age of cars now, where you can get a Chrysler 300 or a Ford Escape nudging right around 300hp.
But when I was growing up the HP/Torque/Price quotient on cars like the GT or the GLHS was hard to beat. I enjoyed reading more about those cars than about Testarossas.
April 17th, 2019 at 10:58 AM ^
exactly like the one in the picture, even the color. i didn't like the GT 'ground effects' look, i called it 'disco lettuce' and didn't think it served much of a purpose. i hope i don't offend any GT lovers, but that just wasn't my style.
April 17th, 2019 at 11:47 AM ^
Ha! The Cheese Grater tail lights! The White! The bright colors!
Yeah, I *much* preferred the LX to the GT. Though TeenageJim still had some attachment to the '90's Bling.
I just remember being wowed by the engine. '225 HP!?! That's almost as much as the 'Vette!'
April 16th, 2019 at 12:43 PM ^
I definitely wouldn't get one with where I currently live, but if I lived in a warm climate area that didn't really have "winter" per se, I would possibly consider a hard-top convertible. I've only ridden in a few, it's really great when the weather is just right. Just don't be crazy and roll it, probably not going to go well!
April 16th, 2019 at 12:51 PM ^
Parents had a 72 Lemans convertible when I was a kid. Used to sit in it when they were gone and dream about driving it. They sold it just before I got my license and replaced it with my grandparents 77 Monte Carlo, which eventually became mine. Took a while for me to get over that. A Wrangler is as close as I've gotten to having one.
My first car was a 73 Lemans although not a convertible. What a beast that car was. I bought it for $400 and it was well worth it even though it was a rust bucket.
Have owned a variety of convertibles over the years, but with exception of my first one, they have always been as the 3rd car/fun car:
- 96 Mustang, my first car - 6 Banger, handled like shit in the snow in AA when I was in school
- BMW M Roadster
- Mercedes 300 SL
- Porsche Carrera
- Porsche Carrera 4
My favorite was the Carrera 4 as it had the soft top, but also a Hard Top I could put on during the winter and still drive it, but also had a complete second set of snow only tires, and of course was AWD
Convertibles are a lot of fun, don't get me wrong, but depending on climate, not worth the investment unless you can have a hard top attachment.
I had a Porsche Boxster S. Very fun to drive but completely impractical. If I wanted to take my golf clubs in that car they had to ride in the passenger seat. I therefore did not drive it much. Don't miss it at all.
I've never owned one.
But I do rent them when I go on business trips to nice locales though and they are definitely fun to drive, especially if said convertible is a BMW or Camaro or Mustang.
Am I the only one that has never heard or seen convertibles referred to as ‘verts?
Our summers are too damned short. When it's balmy, my top goes down. (BMW 335; my all-time favorite ride and I bought my first car in 1978.) I would be very disappointed not to have one in the future. My wife had a Honda Del Sol in the 90s and we both loved that little thing.
Love my Jeep Wrangler Rubicon. The soft tops on the JL's are way easier to operate than the JK series. Not as easy as a convertible but still pretty easy. I agree on your observations about Jeeps but overall I love mine to the extent that I never drive my Challenger Scat Pack anymore.
You DON'T drive your chally Scat anymore? I mean, I love Jeeps as much as the next guy, but my man... my '18 Chally Scat Pack is crying in the parking lot for his brother.
April 17th, 2019 at 11:15 AM ^
Our new plant manager, just back from an expat job went out and bought a 2019 Charger Scat Pack. Room for the kids, content from our plant, and a 6.4L V8 to waste some gas.
April 17th, 2019 at 12:36 PM ^
Oh now now... careful with the word "waste". I'd say, "well spent!"
My wife always wanted a Mustang convertible. It was her dream car. So, after we had been married a few years, we bought her a 1987 Mustang convertible. Custom ordered it so it was exactly what she wanted. You can see where this is going. Yes, after a few years, my son was born and we discover that a Mustang convertible is not working well with a young child and large kid car seats. So, it was traded in for a Ford Explorer.
In 2003, I had a great year in sales and some disposable cash. I bought her a 2001 BMW Z3 that had just come off of lease and was certified. James Bond blue (Atlanta Blue) with a black top. We still have the car. She will not part with it. Basically, the cost of each service appointment is about the trade-in value of the car.
I love driving the car on crisp days (55-65 degrees) with the top down. It is a lot of fun. Drives like a go-kart. The BMW in-line 6 makes nice noises under the hood and provides enough giddy-up to get the car moving. Unfortunately, the wife has dibs on the car and will grab the keys whenever we have nice weather.
I dream of replacing the car with a new Miata or a used Boxster.