Convertible Hard Top Cars

[daepp]

I am looking for a used, low mileage convertible hard top for my wife. It seems my options are quite limited - am I missing something? Having never owned one they seem to be a great combination for a daily driver - anyone have experience with one?

We will only be buying used

BMW 3 Series - awesome looks, but at a recent dinner party I met the service manager for a large BMW dealership who told me he won't buy anything from BME made in the last 15 years unless new and under warranty. That sure got my attention but the cars have a great design.

Mercedes SL - after putting 200K on a ML430 and my wife putting 110K on a GL450, we're done with the brand. Misguided?

Lexus SC430 - last one made is 5 years old. Don't know what to think of the looks. Reliability for the brand should be good.

Are there any others I'm missing?

[911SauCy]

VW EOS.

Fantastic car.

[scottmandue]

Miata may be too small but thay have a hard top model.



http://www.autotrader.com/cars-for-sale/vehicledetails.xhtml?zip=90731&endYear=2016&keywordPhrases=hardtop&modelCode1=MIATA&showcaseOwnerId=100008806&startYear=1981&makeCode1=MAZDA&searchRadius=50&mmt=%5BMAZDA%5BMIATA%5B%5D%5D%5B%5D%5D&listingId=391610785&Log=0

Cars for Sale: 2013 Mazda Miata MX5 Grand Touring Hard Top in City of Industry, CA 91748: Convertible Details - 383335643 - AutoTrader.com

Curious why you are "done with MB"?

[Tobra]

PRHT Miata is the droid you are looking for...

[GH85Carrera]

Go for a budget buster!

911 Carrera 4 GTS Cabriolet - All 911 Models - All Porsche Models - Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG

[Jay Auskin]

Didn't know these existed until I searched, but 2012+ Infiniti G37 came in a retractable hardtop, as did the Q60...2014+???

[Scott Douglas]

Didn't Volvo have one too in recent years?

[daepp]

We're both 51 - is there enough room in a Miata for briefcases, grocery getting, all the "normal" day to day stuff you're likely to encounter? Seems like a young person's car but that's pure opinion on my part.

VW Eos - that wasn't on my radar. I will look into that further. Is VW doing better than BMW these days on reliability?

MBZ - While most things were covered under warranty, the down-time we experienced in those 300K+ miles was tedious beyond belief. My dealer rep knew us by name. The Lexus dealer doesn't know us by face or name. That said, I am the first to say a Lexus has no soul, and it nothing like a Benz. And we loved those Benz's, but they were too complex for their own good.

[recycled sixtie]

[QUOTE=daepp;8470992]We're both 51 - is there enough room in a Miata for briefcases, grocery getting, all the "normal" day to day stuff you're likely to encounter? Seems like a young person's car but that's pure opinion on my part.

I would not want my wife driving a Miata of any description and perhaps you might think the same way. Although they are agile(I am talking about the car) there is not much metal around you in the event of an accident. If I was by myself I would have no hesitation driving one and that is what I am considering in the next year or so.

I like the idea of a Lexus. Solid and dependable and sexy.

Guy
PS

No there is not much room for stuff in a Miata.

[PorscheGAL]

BMW Z4 hardtop convertible would be my pick. Beautiful car.

[Tobra]

I have enough room in my Miata for all my daily stuff. Trunk is not huge though, and I suspect a PRHT might intrude on that space a bit. If you are as concerned about her safety as much as Guy is, do not get a convertible anything.

[Rot 911]

Just curious, why a convertible hard top. They look great, but sure take up a lot more room in the trunk area when they are down.

[daepp]

Rot - the thinking was that my wife wanted a convertible, but I know she won't put the top down all that often. So it just seemed like a good compromise.

That said, compromises sometimes just don't work. For example, while I've only owned Ford trucks, I've always lusted over the "concept" of the Chevy Avalanche where the back seat can be made to become more "bed" room for the truck. But for some reason that's never caught on. IDK why. Was thinking maybe the convertible hard top was maybe a similar problem.

[zoomie]

I have a 2008 328 convertible, owned for 5 years. No issues, a trouble free fun car, it's the best of both. Great car.

[tcar]

1958 Ford Skyliner.

Perfect.

[jorian]

Lexus IS 350 C. Been around since 2010 so there should be some to choose from. Decent looking, performing and reliable car. Friend has one. Very nice rig. Goes good too.

[Z-man]

Originally Posted by daepp

VW Eos - that wasn't on my radar. I will look into that further. Is VW doing better than BMW these days on reliability?

Mrs. Z's daily driver is a 2009 Eos. Fantastic car! The convertible top is designed to maximize the space that remains in the trunk by stowing some of the top on either side of the rear passenger area. Have not had any major issues with the top - some minor adjustments were necessary that were covered under warranty.

Her car has the DSG transmission -- and while I am not a big fan of the flappy-paddle manu-matics, this one is a gem. The upshifts are so slick - and the 2.0 liter turbo has a lot more scoot than the numbers would indicate. It is a FWD platform - for Mrs. Z, that is perfect, but if you want something more performance/handling oriented, then a RWD car is more optimal. The car is solidly built - doesn't have the inherent cowl shake most 'verts have: I think the short wheelbase helps with that.

the Benz SLK has very little room - a little bigger than a Miata, but not by much. Still a decent choice, if you don't need the space.

-Z

[jorian]

Like Zman sez, the SLK is a small car. Very small. I'm not a big guy and it felt cramped after 5 minutes.

[scottmandue]

I have a 1995 ragtop Miata with the pop off hardtop, Only takes a minute to pop off the top, it is fiberglass and doesn't weigh more 50lbs. (I'm 57 and wife is 50 and we can remove the roof no problem)
I can get three bags of groceries in the trunk and two more in the passengers seat (one on the floor) however I have no idea how much the of the trunk the folding hardtop takes up.

I truly lust over a Z4 hardtop... but I can't see any car (other than a Honda or Toyota) being as reliable as a Mazda.

FWIW I think I'm done with the convertible thing, super cool but don't use it much. Pretty sure my next car will be some type of sporty two door coupe.

[onewhippedpuppy]

I question the need for a hard top. I have a 2010 Boxster right now with a hard top. We had some recent nice weather so I removed the hard top, frankly I don't notice a difference. A modern soft top is well sealed and insulated, it will be nearly as quiet. Really there aren't any compromises. And if you want a Boxster with a hard top just let me know.