How is the drivers leg room on a R57 2012 convertible compared to a R56 2012 Hardtop S. I am guessing it should be the exact same?

Also I was just watching a youtube video of a review of an '09 convertible. He said it was noticeably louder inside the cabin with the top up compared to the hardtop. He said it's due to the single layer of the soft top.

So my second question is, did they quiet the 2012's verts any. For some reason I thought I read somewhere the tops have a double layer/liner now?

 

When I was testing out the convertible and the hard top for rear passenger leg room, I found them to be similar. The major difference i found was in the back rest. In the hardtop, the back rest are slightly inclined whereas in the convertible they are more upright (like sitting straight and tall) I think its to create more room for the soft top when folded. I haven't read anything regarding a double layer for the soft top, but if you find something out, let us know. My convertible is on a ship making its way to California. I can't wait!

 

My understanding is that the new roadster has only a single layer top (and more headroom, less weight), whereas the new convertible has two layers (plus the "sunroof" ability).

If you opt for a hardtop with a sunroof, I wonder if there is much difference compared to the convertible? The sunroof is relatively noisy on the highway.

 

My wife has a 2011 cabrio and with the top down the noise is not that bad and even with the top up not to bad. It is louder than my clubman. I know this is not a direct response to your question but hopefully it helps

 

Thanks for the replys. To answer my question also, I just read the hardtop and convertable both have the exact same legroom at 41.4 ". I also sat in both yesterday and they did seem exactly the same for legroom. ok question number one is complete

Wind and general noise, with the top up, was a considerable difference between the two. When sitting at a red light, with all the windows and top up, you could hear the other cars going by pretty clearly and the interior in general had a slight echoe like feel to it, while the hardtop you feel like you are in more like a coocoon. The conversation via driver and passenger is much easier too in the hardtop. When driving at higher speeds there was also a noticeable difference too...

Surpsingly, after all my negative talk here, we ended up getting a convertable anyway lol...Well, don't have it yet, the dealer located a black one for us that was in transit to another dealership.... I did fail to mention we already have a red hardtop s with 2k miles. We didn't really like the color and wanted a convertible anyway. So I guess we just have to put our neurosis aside for a bit and enjoy it

 

I would think the leg room, i.e. R56 vs. R57, would be identical. As to noise, of course an R57 is noisier than an R56, although IMO the R56 is noisier with the windows open than the R57 with the top down. I have driven my R57 for almost 3 years and 33,000 miles and have never thought of it as being noisy though.

 

Same leg room as r55. Noise levels less than any other rag top I've driven.

 

You may want to get the wind blocker -- I have it and it makes a considerable difference in the ability to hear the satellite radio or have a conversation when the top is down.

 

I have to second asc63 -- the wind blocker makes a huge difference. With the top up, it's still a bit noisy, but that's the price you pay for open-air motoring

 

I just got my new R57 - I love it! In answer to the question, the difference in rear leg room is considerable between the R56 and 57 - enough that the rear seats are basically unusable in the R57.

But - I really don't care! I love my new baby!