Shopping for a Convertible? Check out these Tips

 

There’s nothing like the feeling of driving a convertible on a beautiful, sunny day on the open road with nothing but the sky above you. But along with the thrill of driving a droptop come concerns you should look into if you’re thinking about buying one of these fun machines, and notable among those concerns is the roof. The roof on a convertible is essentially just another moving part, and as we all know, moving parts can sometimes malfunction. So here are some things to think about if you’ve got your eye on a new or used droptop.

Roof Types

Convertibles come with either of two types of roofs: hard tops or soft tops. Each has advantages and disadvantages. Let’s look at a few.

Hard Tops

For hard tops, the advantages include more secure protection for your car, against both the elements and vandalism. Simply put, a metal roof will provide toughness that a fabric roof cannot.

Another advantage, at least to some, is the appearance of the hard top roof. It looks much more seamless, and can often not easily be detected as a convertible. Soft tops are usually easy to spot because of the contrast in color and texture with the rest of the body of the car.

Additionally, hard tops cut down on the wind and road noise that are usually so present in soft tops. For many buyers, the quieter ride is worth the higher price tag that generally accompanies hard tops compared with soft tops.

Which brings us to the disadvantages.

Hard tops, because of the components and mechanical systems involved in their construction, almost always cost more. And because of those mechanical systems, if something malfunctions, they are more expensive to repair.   

Hard tops also weigh more than soft tops, which contributes to lower fuel efficiency and less nimbleness when it comes to performance driving. You can’t whip around twisty roads as deftly in a heavier car as you can in a lighter ride.

Finally, when you retract the roof of a hard top, it heads straight to the trunk, as there is no other area in a convertible that offers suitable storage space. That means no trunk space for luggage or groceries or any other cargo you want to haul.

Soft Tops

A key advantage of a soft top includes lower cost, because fabric is cheaper than metal and the more complex components found in hard tops.

If something goes wrong with a soft top, it’s usually easier and cheaper to fix, because the mechanical system isn’t as intricate.

And, some people like the contrasting look of a soft top, with the differentiating color and texture that easily identifies it as a convertible.

A key disadvantage of a soft top is the fact that since it’s a roof made of fabric, it can be subject to being damaged by someone with bad intentions. Even though the fabric is highly durable, if someone were to puncture it with a sharp object, they could cause significant damage, and gain access to any valuables stored inside your vehicle.

Another disadvantage is greater wind and road noise. The fabric top just can’t insulate you as effectively from the outside elements as a hard top can.

Other Things to Consider

In addition to malfunctions of the opening and closing mechanism of convertible roofs, understand that you might need to deal with leaks. Water intrusion can be a hassle, and it’s more likely to occur in a roof that has moving parts.

To test against this before you buy the car, consider hosing it down to see if you notice water dripping into the interior. While the individual seller or dealer might not be in favor of this type of test, if they’re confident the car is in good condition, and know that you’re a serious buyer, they should allow you to check it out.

Both hard tops and soft tops can be prone to leaks.

Also, as with anything mechanical, the opening and closing function of a convertible roof is subject to deterioration over time because of wear and tear. So, especially if you are considering buying a used convertible, be sure to check out the open/close function repeatedly to see if it operates smoothly.

It’s also a good idea to do some research on whichever model you’re considering to determine if it has a history of malfunctioning. Read consumer reviews, talk to mechanics and folks who have owned the model before to see what their experience was.

Overall

For many people, owning a convertible is a lifelong dream. If you are one of them, you don’t have to be too discouraged by the potential issues pointed out above. But it’s still a good idea to do your research on the make and model, and thoroughly test the individual car you’re thinking of buying. If you decide it’s worth making the leap, hopefully you’ll enjoy many years of driving fun under the sun.