Why do people "hate" convertibles?

[nynor]

my father loves convertibles. every time i've been in one, i've hated it. the wind and all just annoys me. i've never understood my father's love for convertibles.

[Bill Douglas]

I like them. In fact my dream car would be a silver '89 speedster.

[KaptKaos]

There's a certain romantic attachment to convertibles. A cool autumn morning, top down, snicking through the gears on a back road. The exhaust reverberating off of the trees as you snake through the valley. Your ladyfriend, hair tied up in a scarf, sunglasses on, along for the ride to the brunch place you know. That kind of thing that you just don't get with the AC on.

[porsche4life]

My dad wants one... I don't see why... The weather in OK sucks. Its always too hot, too cold, too windy, too rainy.... Weather here comes in extremes and it leaves very few days a convertible can be used. I can count on one hand how many times I've had the top out of the 944 in the last 2yrs...

I could see it in a more mild climate.

[nynor]

Originally Posted by KaptKaos

There's a certain romantic attachment to convertibles. A cool autumn morning, top down, snicking through the gears on a back road. The exhaust reverberating off of the trees as you snake through the valley. Your ladyfriend, hair tied up in a scarf, sunglasses on, along for the ride to the brunch place you know. That kind of thing that you just don't get with the AC on.

but, mostly, beyond the romantic crap (which is just mental nonsense), convertibles suck.

[450knotOffice]

Originally Posted by nynor

but, mostly, beyond the romantic crap (which is just mental nonsense), convertibles suck.

...for you.

But you're not me and a bunch of other people who can drive literally hundreds of miles in the sun and wind and LOVE it.

I have a 996 Coupe and love it, but I also have a black 911 convertible and have been enjoying the heck out of it these past few days. It's not "romance", it's real. I love it. It's like being on a motorcycle.

(Wait...YOU have a Ducati motorcycle. You, of all people here, should love being out in the elements.)

[nynor]

i do love being in the elements. and it is not like being on a motorcycle. at all.

a convertible is just not for me. i don't get the love affair. the noise, the wind, my hair blowing all over, etc. etc. etc.

[KaptKaos]

Originally Posted by nynor

but, mostly, beyond the romantic crap (which is just mental nonsense), convertibles suck.

Your reality is different than mine. What a shock.

[nynor]

Originally Posted by KaptKaos

Your reality is different than mine. What a shock.

[VaSteve]

KaptKaos....nice description but nobody snicks through the gears with a 915. Interesting reading all the comments. I don't think my title was that far off.

[svandamme]

Originally Posted by milt

Here's a "convertible" no one hates:

That's, in no way shape or form , a convertible.
The word itself says it all, Convert-ible, a car that converts.

con·vert (kn-vűrt)
v. con·vert·ed, con·vert·ing, con·verts
v.tr.
1. To change (something) into another form, substance, state, or product; transform: convert water into ice.
2. To change (something) from one use, function, or purpose to another; adapt to a new or different purpose: convert a forest into farmland.


So if you have car, that has a roof so it can convert from open top, to closed top... Then you have a convertible....
The pictures you posted.... are of a car that does not have a roof, nor can it convert to one with a roof.
If it rains, you get wet : not a convertible

[kanadary]

for me i think the lines of the coupe are nicer but i do enjoy the targa, maybe i'm jaded due to owning a 914 when i was in college. i think convertibles are nice too but the plastic back window is a pain, atleast on the e36.

[EarlyPorsche]

I love convertibles.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by Mark Henry

My dad always said convertibles were dirty, but he was an old fart and I guess they only had dirt roads back then.

They are dirty, but that would apply to a coupe with the windows down. If I do much driving with the windows down or the top down, when I clean the inside of the windows the rag comes back black. Of course, it may be due to all of the diesels and crappy smoking old cars/trucks running around Houston.

[azasadny]

I always wanted a boat and when I bought my Targa 8 years ago, it gave me (and still does) the same feeling that a boat did, without the hassles. I love driving with the top off and the only time I put the top on is when we're caught in a heavy rain! Having the top off also makes me feel less confined...

[Porsche-O-Phile]

Convertibles are awesome. I love my SLK and I love my Targa. I can't stand being in a capsule/cage driving anymore except in noisy urban-type environments, when it's preferable to shut out the cacophony of everything around. For this reason I like the SLK a bit more for versitility since it's simpler to put the roof up and shut out the din of the outside world with the push of a button - it doesn't take stopping the car, opening the trunk, finagling a bunch of levers and latches, etc. but the Targa is just as good (if not better) if I know I'm not going through an urban setting with a lot of noise and stuff I don't want to be exposed to.

Either one on a nice day in a rural/sparsely-populated area is pure bliss though.

Don't ever park a convertible (or a Targa) with the top open. People are a-holes. I've seen people spit into open convertibles, throw trash in them, etc. Jealousy. People are just dicks.

[KaptKaos]

Originally Posted by VaSteve

KaptKaos....nice description but nobody snicks through the gears with a 915. Interesting reading all the comments. I don't think my title was that far off.

Try it with a 901! LOL

[madmmac]

Originally Posted by VaSteve

I left the roof on since I didn't want to deal with it and didn't want the sun in my eyes.

I think you answered your own question.

[Z-man]

As a track car, I wouldn't invest in a 'vert. However, for a daily driver or a weekend cruiser convertables are great, IMHO.

Last year, we bought a VW Eos for my wife as her daily driver. Sometimes, I am able to steal the keys from her and drive a bit too.

Would I drive her Eos on the track? No way -- I've got my 944 with a slightly modified suspension (400 lb springs, delrin bushings, camber plates...etc). to play with! However, for a weekend jaunt up the country side, I'd much rather be tooling around top-down in her car!!!

I don't use a hammer to drive in a screw -- it's all about using the right tool for the right job.

-Z-man.

Side note: Mrs. Z-man's EOS is a hard-top convertable -- which makes it a 4 season car -- some of the rag-top 'verts really don't keep the weather out as well - making them less desireable in the wintertime.

[Zeke]

Originally Posted by svandamme

That's, in no way shape or form , a convertible.
The word itself says it all, Convert-ible, a car that converts.

con·vert (kn-vűrt)
v. con·vert·ed, con·vert·ing, con·verts
v.tr.
1. To change (something) into another form, substance, state, or product; transform: convert water into ice.
2. To change (something) from one use, function, or purpose to another; adapt to a new or different purpose: convert a forest into farmland.


So if you have car, that has a roof so it can convert from open top, to closed top... Then you have a convertible....
The pictures you posted.... are of a car that does not have a roof, nor can it convert to one with a roof.
If it rains, you get wet : not a convertible

Well, it was a coupe when Porsche cut the roof off.....