I go back & forth. Last summer I spent a weekend with a 911 cab and vowed that when I buy a 911, it will be a coupe. The wind noise drove me nuts, especially with the top UP.

Two weeks ago, dad was down with his Carrera cab. I drove it a fair bit, and had a few *fantastic* drives along the river, at night, with the top down. Yeah, game changer. I can deal with the noise

I'll say this though, the 911's with the power top are a shocking PITA. Someone needs to put together a simple kit to convert them to manual latches, with instructions on how to disable everything else. I have spent countless hours figuring the system out and debugging it, and it is a rediculously complex system. No good reason to not just reach back and lift it manually

I love convertibles. Tastes just like chicken. Oh wait, never mind.
On a serious note: Although I love driving with the top down, I don't like the soft top since I don't feel comfortable locking the car. Its too easy for some punk to use a pocket knife to "unlock" my car via the top. My 380SL has a hardtop hanging from the ceiling of the garage. It goes on in the winter or when the car needs to be parked overnight somewhere (which is very rare). On a lesser note: I like the quiet and insulation of a coupe as opposed to a convertible and I've found that most Targas leak and have wind noise.

A man shouldn't have to choose. One of each.

I've had many dates who LOVED the top down on a cool night with the stars out...It's a GREAT way to end a date. :)

I have enjoyed every mile in my Miata & 911 Cab. Early morning or cool late evenings drives with the top down are the best!

Most people who "hate" have not driven a cabriolet (or targa) on beautiful day with the flat six singing it's song.

98% of the population (and I am being generous) could not out drive (or even be aware of) the differences in flex between a cabriolet and coupe.

Most talk about the "lines" of the coupe vs a cabriolet or targa - but really from the driving position in the car, the view is much better in a cabriolet (with the top down) - and marginally better in the targa.

My old cabriolet was actually quieter than my old Targa with the top on - which is one reason why I never pushed to replace the original top (which was fine, just a little worn in spots)

Only thing my wrench recommended when I told him I was looking for a cabriolet 7 years ago - was to find one with a manual top..... Good advice.

Best part was getting the point by from one of the more serious types... :)

I've had coupes and cab, even a Miata (gasp!), which was probably more fun than any of my 911s on the street (had to really work to go fast)

Agree that for most, chassis flex is a non-issue (certainly on the street), as is added weight. It is a factor for track, of course.

Safety is the biggest issue for open cars at the track, though. Don't discount it on the street, either. While nowhere near the number bikers brought in to the ER, I've seen a few mangled heads from convertible rollovers (supect more are dead on-scene).

As for convertible-haters, the usual mantra is that convertibles are for 'hairdressers' while coupes are for performance guys. There is some truth to it, I suppose, but plenty of exceptions.

CONS:
The tops rattle.
The tops squeak.
The tops leak.
The tops offer very little insulation.
The tops let in wind noise. The tops require extra maintenance.
The tops don't last that long.
Replacement tops are expensive.
Convertibles often look like ass with the top up.
Top-down weather conditions are rare in most places.
It's tempting for a punk vandal to cut a convertible top.
Visibility often sux in a convertible with the top up.
Convertibles give up a lot of interior or trunk room or both.
Covertibles usually cost more.

PROs: they are cool to drive with the top down, when conditions allow.

Targa or coupe?..

Had a targa.. it leaked...it was noisy..it was not secure...it flexed.. it sounded glorious down the Blue Ridge Packway in the spring/ summer and fall.....the smells the view... it was fantastic..

The coupe....it is noisy... its about as secure as a fridge door...its not bendy...it does leak.. too much....

It sounds great when accelerating down the striaght at Goodwood... it is fantastic..

Now having one of each would be heaven....

Horses for courses....

Sure, but that don't make it a convertible.

I remember being corrected in a Porsche showroom by a salesman in '77. He assured me that the ONLY true sporting Porsche was the 911 coupe WITHOUT the sunroof. I'm sure he had a point, but since then I believe Porsche has made some very fast and potent convertibles, which can be driven to good effect.

I haven't been without a convertible in 34 years. I have never owned one to be seen. In fact, I have only driven them to go fast, have the top down, and because women love them. As far as I can see, a poser is someone who poses, and a Poseur is someone who uses the word poseur indiscriminately

If you are the convertible type, nothing else will do. My Targa is set up quite softly, so I can't really compare it to some of the really set up coupes I have driven, but in general the flex in a convertible becomes part of the suspension, and always has been, way back to the days when some cars had oak chassis rails. It doesn't mean you can't flog them, if that is even your intention in owning one.

I guess a lot of the slantnose 911s were considered poser cars as well, and I guess they can be, but really, that was a manifestation of the latest racing technology when it came out, and you see a more laid back headlight on all Porches now.

My wife wears a scarf when the top is down, and I suppose she feels like Grace Kelly. I remember lapping a track in a formula Dodge a few years ago really cooking, and thinking about Jimmy Clarke. I suppose monkeys feel like Romeo and Juliet too. That doesn't make us impostors.

I'd rather be a Walter Mitty milquetoast Jim Clarke wannabe than the guy who publishes the article that says that your Porsche is one of the 10 worst of all time, or step on your dream.

I have seen 911 cabs with rollbars, Sparcos and harnesses. Tell me that guy isn't having fun.

Now I'm going to take two dammitols and jump into my Miata. This is the best time of year for such shenannigans. Know what I mean, Vern ?

One thing that I really like is driving in a convertible at night in a city. Its really nice on a warm evening.

I have a coupe and a cabrio and really can't notice any difference on the street in handling. I am sure its different on the track.

Right now I think the coupe looks better but that may change as they become classics (like the 356's did).

Well, I've had problems with my convertible and was wondering why I didn't buy a couple instead, until I finally converted the top to a manual. I disconnected the convertible top transmissions and just use the mechanical latch above the windshield, and no more problems.

Whats great about driving a cab is that open cockpit feel while taking a spirited drive on a curvy road. I drive it with the top down with temps in the 20's and only put the top up when it rains. BTW, the top has never leaked.http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1285040602.jpg

On the 911 the lines are just the nicest on a coupe.

I like ragtops - gave up on it because I got too much UV - but I miss them.

G

Power is out....gonna go for a drive. Top down.....

Sure but that was one time. Its what made me think of starting this thread, though.

I have driven coupe's, convertibles, and targas on the track. Had a blast in all three. I suppose if I wanted to go Club Racing and be competitive, I would choose a coupe, but otherwise, who cares which flexes the most as the point is to have fun right? Well that is why I do it anyway;)

Nothing compares to driving an open top car down a narrow tree lined road on a cool starry night! The feel of the air, the smell of the air--it's heavenly! I think I need to get out for a drive!

there is NOTHING BETTER THAN A VERT! and i echo the above my dream car would be a 89 spudster(speedster).


ya know verts are like boating here in da dezert. why in hells name would you go to the lake when the weather is poopy out with mega thunderboomers and lightning???WTF? do you have a death wish?


same w/a vert. ya got 360 freeking days of sun out and ya get to pick and choose when ya drive it. i havent driven mine except once to burn out some old fuel since last may when we broke the FUN BARRIER in spades at INDEMOTORSPORTS.com


i have driven my vert in the rain and had only one small leak and replaced the upper drivers door molding and its been fine since.


theres also NOTHING BETTER than some MORON telling you that you cant take it to the track cuz it will "flex". horror of horrors the old "vert flex syndrome!" NEVER have i felt any "flex" and i have run it to redline every chance i have had and whupped MY AZZ doing it. and it purrs like a kitten. and to top it off when ya pass these "nay-sayer morons" thru the twisties, it tends to send them OVER THE EDGE a tad bit and the next thing ya know when the session is over and the cars back in the pits, these guys come up and ask "whatta got in that thing?" and when ya reply its a "PCA SHOWROOM STOCK" they really get an attitude after they have spent gazzillions on their perfect prim and proper "sunroof delete" coupe.


try ripping thru calif. motor speedway turns 1 and 2 at mega mach speed with the TOP DOWN! after driving it from phx(not trailering-2 different years now)) and then driving back after 3 days of time trials with 42 other NUT CASES!


now since we ARE GOOFY enough to do this and enjoy it more than life itself, heres the OFFICIAL PCA STANDING ON VERTS.................


car CAN BE RUN W/TOP DOWN as long as TOP SECURED and ARM RESTRAINTS IN PLACE! the reason which is obvious as all hell in the event of flipping the damn thing, nobody wants the vert top metal struts SKEWERING anyone. well after some sessions at calif motor speedway heading out onto the track we were black flagged and ordered to put our top up. reason: PCA ZONE 8's interpertation of the rulebook.


well putting our top up just added more aerodynamics and we gained a WHOPPING 7-10 MPH IN TOP END SPEED much to somes chagrin.



hahahahahaha all it is, is a POS showroom stocker, nothing more and it suits me just fine. and it comes with the value added bonus of PISSING ALOT OF PEOPLE OFF!



ask me sometime about when it was getting a tad bit warm temp wise at INDEMOTORSPORTS last may and i asked my co-dawg if he was getting warm with his 2 layers of nomex cuz i was burning up with my 4-layers and I TURNED THE A/C ON and ran all the afternoon sessions with A/C! hahahahahahaha LOL!

one thing i forgot to add...................the vast majority of "vert haters" that hate "verts" with a passion, is because ................................THEY DONT HAVE A FULL HEAD OF HAIR ANYMORE!


and as WE ALL KNOW...............there is NOTHING WORSE(well maybe a lil dinger donger) THAN A BALD GUY(chrome dome) buzzing around in a "VERT"!



the horror the horror!



at age 53................i HAVE A FULL HEAD OF HAIR!

Oh yeah, that's it :rolleyes::rolleyes:

ANY woman you talk to will say the exact same thing. and trust me, here where i am at, theres a hell of ALOT of old farts driving around in "verts" w/out HAIR!

heres a very attractive womans exact words verbatum..............


"instead of spending mega bucks on a sports car, they ought to spend the bucks on "hair club for men" and then maybe they will get a date."


so the bottomline here......................if yer "bald" buy a COUPE! (sunroof delete) LOL!