There's another post on "What are the reasons NOT to buy a convertible?" that I've been following... so negative. I just like to see some positive input on the reasons to buy a convertible? We all know that owning a convertible is not for everybody but we all know what they are all missing out on...come on show yourself,,, km

 

As I posted in the "negative" thread - if you're a REAL convertible person, you have no other choice.

One-ness with the world and the road (same reason lots of folks buy motorcycles). Unlike a motorcycle, ability to ENJOY driving in adverse weather conditions (that's what the top's for). A reminder every day of just how BIG the sky is. Because they're cool as hell. Joy, joy, joy.

 

One word.......FUN.

 

Beautiful sunshine, the wind in your hair....... (the sunroof option for when it's not quite top down weather!)

 

I used to be one of those people who didn't see any value in a convertible. They weren't as rigid as a non-convertible, heavier, and it didn't seem like I'd be able to put it down most of the time. I was even one of those people who'd order a car withOUT the fold down rear seats because I wanted the extra rigidity you got from stationary seats.

Then I test drove a Z4 for the sole purpose of trying out the SMG transmission. My plan was to buy a new 330i with SMG.

But two things happened. First, I fell in love with the small little Z4. As great as the 3 series is, they are getting big, and the smaller cars (like the Z4, the 1 series, or the MINI) are a lot more fun to toss around. So I bought the Z4 mostly for it's small size and fun factor, thinking the convertible roof would be interesting.

But then I fell in love with convertible driving. You feel so much more connected and in touch with the world as you're driving through it. You aren't isolated.

Opening the sunroof & all the windows in a coupe or sedan is no where near the same experience; that's just like opening a window in your bedroom when it's sunny out instead of actually going outside. Plus my experience has been that opening the windows & sunroof in a sedan or coupe creates more noise and turbulence than you get from being in a well designed cabrio with the top down (and maybe a wind deflector in place).

And I put the top down a lot more that I'd have imagined. As long as it's not raining a whole lot, you can comfortably have the top down even when the temperature is in the low 30s. It's a wonderful feeling to drive a convertible with the top down right after a good snow storm (but don't forget your winter tires!) I only wish the MINI gave you a little more control of the air vents... the ideal air vent combination (at least for me) is maybe 30% of the hot air blowing from the bottom vents near your feet and the rest blowing from the dash vents that point right at you. The automatic settings want to blow all the hot air from the top/defroster vents, which is useless; and when you just turn on the bottom and dash vents it seems to blow most of the air from the bottom vents.

The convertible top also makes it a LOT easier to clean the inside of the car since it affords you much easier access to the interior.

And like Compensating said, if you are a convertible person, you have no choice. I drove a MINI coupe for a few days and was amazed and delighted at how much stiffer the body is as compared to the stock cabrio. I even began to have some regrets about the cabrio. But then once back in the cabrio, I knew I made the right choice. I recentally put an M7 strut bar in, which made a noticeable difference in the feel of the car. And I plan to install the M7 under strut system which I expect to help even more.

 

'Cause I'm a convertible person - ever since my Fiat Spyder (ooh, now talk about a headache!) way back in the college days.

Plus, now with the MINI convertible, I get these cool sun-tattoo stickers...

 

ronmichael - exactly.

I rest my case.

 

You should buy a convertible because you'll appreciate the nice weather so much more. Because people on the sidewalk will say Hi to you when you're stopped at a red light. Because you'll notice things about buildings you drive by that you never noticed when you had a roof over your head. Because there's no feeling like driving along on a cool night with a starry sky all around your car!

 

Kate gets it.

 

Not sure I have much to add. I realized I was a convertible person about three years ago (kind of a late bloomer) when I rented a Mitsu Eclipse on vacation one year. At that moment I knew I would sell my MC for an MCSC as soon as they were available. Almost two years of top down motoring and I couldn't be happier. Like RonMichael said, as long as temps are above freezing, my top is down.

I've really enjoyed this autumn season where my drives take me through wooded areas. The smells from the woodlands plus the way the sunlight plays thru the bare branches would all be lost on non cabrio owners.

I don't think I'll ever go back to a hardtop.

 

Why? Just as posted above, you feel one with your surroundings, smells, scenery, just as some (including myself) feel/felt when riding a motorcycle... except w/ the Mini Cabrio, I can take the whole family & they can enjoy the same! That's what I like the most

 

I'd love a convertible (30 year biker) but it's just not an option where I park my car at work.

 

my wife is a drop top girl.. she used to drive her vw cabrio everywhere with the top down no matter how hot or sometimes even how cold (and snowy) the conditions...

the mini drop top is a perfect fit for her. she loves it so far (only had it 4 days)

 

why do we buy convertibles ....
To drive around with the top down

 

I too followed that other thread... thanks Compensating for saying what needed to be said. I think you're either a ragtop person or you're not. No problem if you're not

I've never owned a 'vert before the MCC. A friend had a BMW convertable that was a blast to ride in (that was almost 20 years ago ). I never thought of getting one until I test drove the MCC. I'm not a track person nor am I a real gearhead so weight, rigidity, blah, blah, blah wasn't a concern for me

The MINI cabrio is fun to drive. Period. Even better with the top down. MC or MCS, Auto or manual.. it doesn't matter. My friends enjoy the ride as much or more. While that's important, I enjoy the ride and have no regrets

 

My next Mini will be a cabrio. They are one of the very few convertibles that I really like (what type of person wouldn't like a Mini Cabrio??), and would be a great alternative to my motorcycle (currently have a 2005 Suzuki DRZ-400S). There's not so many good riding days here in Kodiak Alaska, and I could drive the cabrio every day.

 

i drove a convertable and found it very noisy

 

This is my first ever convertible, and I am kicking myself for waiting so long to drive topless! All the things mentioned above, with a lot of emphasis on the word FUN! I will admit that our golden retriever (Sparky) did not seem to enjoy the top down driving as much as I thought he would... his loss!

 

I think you're in the wrong thread, this thread is for reasons why you should buy a convertible.


I love all the heightened senses you get when riding in a convertible, the good and the bad. When you drive through the country, it smells like driving through the country. And the sound of the MCS exaust is soooo sweet with the top down.

 

Along with agreeing with the other comments from this thread I find the MINI convertible to truly be the closest thing to a street legal go-kart. Last time I knew go-carts didn't have roofs. I also find it to be the perfect practical alternative to my Harley.

 

If it is 60 and you have your windows down and a convertible rolls by with the top up and and the windows closed and you ask "Why?" then a convertible might be for you.
Also, if you want to give a thumbs up to a convertible driver with the top down when it is below 60 the convertible might be for you.

 

I have owned a 1964 Plymouth Valiant Convertable since 1992 and despite being a constant project car it was the greatest expierience ever to be able to drive with the top down. The car was fairly reliable but was manual everything(you had to get out of the car to put the top down and bungee cord it to the frame. UGH). It squeeked rattled and smelled like unburned exaust all the time but it was a blast. It really made me think of weather in terms of Top Down/Top up Days. And here in sunny Portland, Oregon (heh!) there are plenty of Top Down Days. (Our best kept secret!!)

That Said, I have decided to sell my 1964 project car (the motor died due to a faulty oil pump!) and get another convertable. I drove the Miata, the VW Beetle Cabrio, and (god forbid!) the PT Croozer GT. NONE of those other cars are even in the same time zone as far as fun and refinement goes, compared to the MINI Cabrios !! To get a better car you would have to pay $15K more...

If you try to compare a convertable to a hard top there is really no way to compare! to REALLY understand how great the MINI cabrio is you have to drive OTHER convertables. You have to be willing to forgive your cabrio for things a hard top owner would never think of. Part of the roof is designed to MOVE. That means there are like 10 hinges in a convertable top that may or may not make noise on any given road.

But OH the JOY! I love being able to hear, smell and see what is going on around me. I had to have at least one Convertable in the family so I plunked down the deposit and ordered a MCSC.

 

This was my first covert and first MINI... they will not be my last of either.

I drove a coworker to lunch the other day and she said 'I can just feel all my worries slipping away!'

I love connecting back with life...I love to feel the wind, I love to feel the temperature changes, I love to hear sounds of other vehicles, I love to hear birds, construction site sounds, motorcycles purring motors and their riders saying 'love your car', children laughing, I like the different smells and easily my favorite...I LOVE TO SEE THE STARS AT NIGHT!

I was seriously contemplaing this weekend a career change....I must find a job where I can drive my car more!

 

Yeah, a starry night in the mid-50's with a warm jacket and the heated seats cranked up always makes for the perfect day, regardless of how work went.

 

Once you drive a cabrio, life will never be the same....