2000s was really the golden age of the cheap convertible. There were so many different cheap convertibles especially hardtop convertibles that you could drive the whole year. The Peugeot 206CC, Opel Tigra Twintop, Renault Megane CC, Ford Focus CC and Mitsubishi Colt CC to name a few.Now hardtop convertibles are almost completely extinct. And besides the Fiat 500 Cabrio there really aren't any cheap convertibles at all for sale. How did the convertible market crash so quickly?
>>28597964Why would you want a car without a roof, which only sometimes has a hard roof?Besides, a car without a roof has nothing but disadvantages: smaller trunk, greater weight, less rigidity, higher price.
>>28597964>>28597980Convertibles are best enjoyed as second cars, and no one has the money for that anymore. Also, all nu cars are cuckovers, which naturally won’t have a convertible variant.
A Mazda mx-5 rf starts around 30k. That is pretty cheap for today's standards.
>>28598122What do you think you got with one of the shitters OP mentioned? Plus the Miata is at least RWD with a great chassis, the cars OP is talking about are all FWD econocuckshit with the roof chopped off.
>Wrong wheel driveIf I will have to deal with constant gay jokes, at least let me pretend I am driving a sports car. It's no wonder Miata is the only mainstay of that market segment.>>28597985>which naturally won’t have a convertible variantDoesn't stop them from trying bro
>>28597985>which naturally won’t have a convertible variantI honestly have no idea why, I'd like a slightly lifted possibly awd convertible. Mine sits too low and has no skid plates. There were like three attempts at it in total, not counting t-tops and targas, all seem to be retarded.
>>28598128>Wrong wheel driveMeans more trunk space, more leg space and probably a normal spare tire. And mainly >cheapwhich is the main point of the OP. Keeping it cheap and somewhat utilitarian (e.g. trunk big enough for grocery shopping and other errands) helps to keep such convertibles less specialized, in other words, people would buy and use them more often.>>28597980Because driving without it is cool.
>>28598156Driving roof-down is only cool if you can enjoy the car.Cutting the roof off an otherwise miserable economy car does not suddenly make it fun or good.
>>28597980For me personally it took me a while to finally understand that I don't enjoy roofless as much as doorless. Had suzuki samurai and no roof was ok but no doors is something completely different. Could kinda get away with it back in the day, tried that with double cab hilux and it didn't last hundred miles before I got caught by poo-lice.
>>28598191>miserable car with roof>miserable car without roofWhich one is more cool I wonder
>>28597964convertibles fucking suck.as soon as I got a hard top for my miata, it literally never came off.
>>28597964I live in the UK, wtf do I need a convertible for?
>>28598328You must be brownIndigenous Bongs love convertibles and open roadsters despite their meme shitty climate.
>>28598328UK has the highest per capita convertible sales in Europe.
>>28598328For 4 days of british summer
>>28598367>>28598380>>28598431so many autistic bong fags trying to justify their purchase of picrel ittjust admit it, you look ridiculous, and your stupid topless car is rusting away, like tears in rain
>>28598436Are you seething because in a 'vert everyone can see that you are brown?I'm not a Bong and never been to Bongland but we must've hit a nerve lol
>>28598442>I'm not a Bong and never been to Bongland but we must've hit a nerve lolno nerve hit. I'm just incredulous at my fellow bongs advocating for convertibles, when as this anon points out: >>28598431, we have 0 need for them.
>>28598446>>28598431why do people think convertibles are only usable or good in the summer?
>>28598446Post hand Ahmed
>>28597985>>28598145Volkswagen did make one but I'm not sure if it's a success.
>>28598126Those econobox convertibles offered you a hardtop convertible that you could drive around even in the winter because of the hardtop. And they cost 2/3rd of what a soft top MX5 cost.
>>28598477Oh and they did have 4 seats. (though realistically with something like a Peugeot 207CC you could only fit 3 people since there wouldn't be enough room behind the driver)
>>28598472They still do, but the car is pretty retarded as a softroader:>fwd only>all engines available are anemic>no gearbox with torque converter to compensate for the problems aboveFor me buying it would be a downgrade.There's also a Mondeo with RR badge and ridiculous price for its underpowered 2 liter engine that can't even work together with the 9spd gearbox.
NGL I always wanted a solara or something that seats 4 so I can bring 3 German shepherds with me in a drop top. No sebrings because I expect to make it to my destination.
>>28598479There was a number of verts with rather usable rear seats. And some even had trunks with pass-though.
>>28598114No, the soft top starts at $30k. RF starts at $38k.
>>28598490I mean most cuckovers people are buying are never going to be driven offroad and have 4 cylinder engines that lack power.
>>28598499Yeah but something like a Peugeot 307CC which had usable backseats also had basically the same price tag as an MX5. So your options were an econobox with usable backseats or an MX5 without backseats.
>>28598510Nah. Other Land Rovers are still cuckovers very rarely driven offroad yet they have more powerful engines. So are BMWs starting with the X3.
>>28598514So basically these two options:>somewhat practical funny econoboxor>meme car for tryhards
>>28598502Are you calling me a liar, boy?
>>28597964It was the golden age of cheap cars period. We didn’t get a lot of these cheap Euro convertibles outside of the VW Eos and Golf Cabriolet in the US, but I always liked them. I think Buick rebadged an Opel convertible for us one time too. I’m also very partial to the StreetKa.
>>28598868Wasn't StreetKa basically the cheapest convertible? It was 12500 pounds new. Was there anything cheaper at the time? Even something like Peugeot 206 CC started at 13k+
>>28598868The Cascada, which was basically an Astra (or Verano) with the roof chopped off. That was near the end of the econovert hype train though, Opel was building steel-top convertibles out of the Corsa (with the Tigra Twintop) and Astra long before that.
>>28597964I have a friend with a candy red one of those.BL product with rear engine in the room.
>>28598114Euros love trannyverse FWD cuckboxes
>>28598872An another Opel that did get to the US
>>28598931Was Saab Opel now. Its death throws were in GMs hands.
>>28598624>euro4k is still a significant amount to be off by
Mini Convertible, starting from 31k Eur or so
What year Miata should I be looking for if I want a cheap toy that will last for awhile? Is the liability only insurance cost going to be insane if I’m in my late 20s? No accidents, incidents, claims or anything on my record and it would be in addition to my daily beater.
>>28597964I always hated those handlebars on the trunk.
>>28598624Taxes are different in every shithole.
>>28599262Just go to the insurance website and find out faggot.
>>28598871I believe it was. I guess it was essentially Ford Europe’s answer to the Kei car in a way
>>28599262I'm pretty sure insurance websites have calculators. So find a Miata you want to buy and use those websites to calculate your insurance.If you want it to last for a while and not rust too much. Honestly it might make sense to get an NC Miata even though they are hated.
>>28598204>Doesn't have sports car pedigree>Yet makes sacrifices of practicalityWe go back to >>28597985 being right, convertibles are second cars or you end up in a cope mobileMaybe that is what one of the Cs in CC stands for
>>28599688>sports car pedigreeAHAHAHAHAHASeriously though, the entire thread is about the cheapest part of the market, anon.>Yet makes sacrifices of practicalityCan say that about anything lesser than the Suburban (and still get replies that it lacks the bed, or the roof is too low so trucks or vans are more practical)>convertibles are second cars or you end up in a cope mobileI agree, but because of the different reason: precipitation. Not every part of the world is suitable for driving in a 'vert every day all year round without significant maintenance efforts (i.e. waterproofing).I think you're also missing the part that there always has been a distinction between the GT cars and the roadsters. None are "better", their applications are slightly different, both can be convertibles.
>>28597964Car manufacturers came to a realization at some point, which flipped the scope of the new car market on it's head. This realization was that people need cars, so no matter what the car market looks like, people will still buy them because they need them. This realization told manufacturers that they could phase out anything that didn't sell in high quantities, and that they should just make a narrower selection of vehicles that satisfy the largest swath of consumers as possible, and not only will people continue to buy their vehicles, but they would make more ,money because the expense of making fewer different models of vehicles costs them less so they make more profit.Manufacturers basically realized that it was they who controlled the market, not the consumer. This became the death of creativity and the death of variety. And now we're left with a market that's like 80% crossover suv clones and pickup trucks.
>>28597964Convertibles are cars for men, and as you know most cars nowadays are developed with women's sensibilities in mind
>>28598472I recently learned that these things can come with a manual, doesn't make it a good car but it could be a fun 2nd car
>>28599896>Convertibles are cars for white menFixed.
A reminder you have to actually drive your car to enjoy driving it.The more it is suitable as a daily the more you're going to drive it and to enjoy it.
one way to enjoy convertibles is if you grew up driving go-karts as a kid.
>>28599810What is this about GTs?Did you mean roadsters and convertibles?Yea, roadsters are a subset but not all sporty droptops are automatically roadsters, for example 3 series convertibles.>Can say that about anything lesser than the SuburbanCompletely out of scope of argument.>Should I get a 4-seater hatchback with FWD, a 2-seater roadster with RWD or 2-seater convertible based on the FWD hatchback?In this comparison the third option is a compromise, some would say "cope", without a clear benefit.If I have to sacrifice practicality, it is reasonable to expect something valuable worth the sacrifice, and the Miata is the only one that provides that value(RWD), and so it endures while all those CCs died out.I don't know what to tell you bro, I already said in the original post that if one has to deal with constant gay jokes being thrown at them because of their choice of car, at the very least it should be a gay "sports" car and not a gay econobox
>we will never have cheap fwd little 2 seat convertibles like the del sol>cars are too big to even make something small on the same chassis as the regular car anymore
>>28600148That's only possible for richfags.
>>28600554You're seriously going to try to say go karts are for rich people? Are you retarded?
>>28600542I do a lot of stuff in my four-seater. I just brought a week of groceries (including water) for two people with ragtop down and rear seat empty, I do other shopping and run errands in it, I don't even need another car to get to the airport (enough space not only for two people but for more luggage than these people have bags for), I can give my friends a ride, I can throw bags, clothes and gear in the back which is useful both on longer journeys and for making short trips quicker, and I can tilt my seat back far enough to lie and watch the night sky. All these are the reasons I drive it daily and can enjoy top down experience at every possible occasion, and I won't be able to replace it with a roadster convertible.Is this clear enough for you to comprehend? If yes, let's move to other topics you touched like wheel drive arrangements and compromises.
>>28600614Depends on the country, but usually yes, getting children into karting school is not cheap. Other sports are way less expensive.
These are cheap now.
>>28597964>How did the convertible market crash so quickly?Rollover safety regulations in the US now require a car to support 3x its weight on top without danger to occupants. Making that work is more expensive than previous standardsStill, you can buy a jeep or bronco or Miata
>>28597964Convertibles are total ass as an only car, so cheap ones don't exist anymore. The roof often leaks, doesn't last as long, requires maintenance, is noisier, is more expensive, eats into cargo space, etc. Convertible is cool if you want a second car to cruise in on nice days, but nobody is spending more for a worse car when it's the only one it can afford just so that they can put the top down on a nice day. That's why cheap convertibles are gone.
>>28601537>govt regs kill fun cars>every fucking timeTook 60+ replies to get to the real answer
convertibles are fuckin gay which cuts your market in half and they leak and fall apart. that's why. its pretty simple.
>>28601531Yeah the 2000s convertibles are cheap now. But in 20 years there isn't a single cheap convertible that isn't 40 years old.
>>28601580But enough of your father's car, tell me about yours.
>>28597964Don't forget the smart roadster.Probably the best smart ever built.
>>28600704>getting children into karting school is not cheapyou know you can just buy and use a go kart, right?the poorest, white trashiest family in my hometown were the ones whos spawn would constantly fly around on dirt bikes, atvs and karts
>>28602096>driving aroundvs>getting into sports
>>28602242nobody said anything about getting into competitive motorsports
>>28599907I was going to contest that but after looking into it, yeah you're right
>>28603337So we can confidently say that people seething at convertibles are not white or not men enough.
Gonna get one of these for a family convertible (with the 5 speed and M113 V8 obviously) and I already have an R129 with the same drivetrain. Stay mad convertible haters
>>28597964It's fucking heartbreaking.I bought a 206cc as a daily driver in 2020 and I enjoy every drive with it. Driving around in Switzerland with the roof down makes it a real comfort car.Unfortunately, the rear axle is fucked and it's a hassle to get a replacement part in non-EU countries. Asked several workshops and they don't want to go through hoops to get parts and do the labour > and the ones that do quoted me above 4kThe car is in ok condition and probably would need a new front steering within the next year or two as well.So Either I'm doing all the administrative effort myself to fix my soul car, or bite the bullet to get a Cupra Born.What's your take on my dilemma? Fix ir or not.2025, 190k km btw
>cupra bornI didn't know certified retards could post in internet without supervision. The magic of llms I guess.
>>28603607Why don't you give it to me straight my negro?I'd take my time if I wouldn't be so busy until my MOT comes around. God gifted me with IT-, not car DIY skills.
>>28603503They aren’t engineered to last longer than 170-200 kkm before issues like that happens, it’s the same with Tigra and small cars in general. So, scrapyard it is.
>>28603363Seems to be the case, yeah
>>28603503Drive to any neighboring country of your choice and get it fixed there. You guys even do grocery shopping at your neighbors, at least those living close to the border.
>>28603687yea, found one herehttps://diehinterachse.de/produkt/hinterachse-peugeot-206-ccThey don't ship to Switzerland, but I guess I can just drop it to one of these packet stations near the border and import it myself. Then I just ask a guy to put it in for me.Just hope it fits inside my 206cc somewhere.Hope that can give this 'lil fella a few more years.I even changed the timing belt and fuel pump not too long ago. I really should buy some shitty house so I have space for 2 cars and do repairs myself. It's insane how emotionally attached you can grow to these tiny shitboxes.
>>28603903I'm not talking about importing, I'm talking about going to a cheaper garage on the other side of the border, ordering the part through them and installing it there.
>>28603913I got that, but the next 2 months are rather stressful due to me having a full time job and getting a degree on the side (exam period), so I won't be able to have an overnight stay within the foreseeable time - which will clash with my MOT. I'm pretty central so going to any bordering workshop is around a 2 hour commitment one way. [spoiler]ergo a world tour for a swiss guy[/spoiler]I was just told my many workshops that the piece is pretty hard to get in switzerland (it is), but if I get it they'll gladly chuck it in. Guess I just didn't look around properly.Just had to happen at the worst moment, stars really don't allign atm. But that's another story.
>>28603919Yeah, deferred maintenance is a bitch that stacks with other things in the worst possible time. Find someone to smuggle it in to save your time, possibly the same guy that is going to install it if you know each other well enough for that.
Shitty ecobox convertibles are so endearing to me. I wish they could be a cost saving measure like they use to be instead of a luxury. I hate being American.
>>28604043>I hate being American.Don't you guys have more disposable income than even the wealthiest Euro countries?
>>28604043Who needs shitty ecobox convertibles when you've got shitty convertibles with V8s?
>>28605303I hate being Europoor
A bit surprised to find out these (up until 2009) had 3.2L VR6 option and it was possible to swap 4Motion AWD stuff in them.
>ctrl+f "gay">posts mention the miataLike clockwork.
>>28597964Just bought this bad boy for cheap off of Facebook
>>28604852I'd rather be broke but not have had my foreskin (((stolen))) as an infant
>>28608096Congrats. 4 or 6 cylinders? How's the condition? Post photos.
Only roadsters are good convertible. Rest is goyslop>>28597985Rangy had a convertible evoque
>>28608115>Rangy had a convertible evoqueSee >>28598490
>>28599979>t. cuckover faggot
>>28608249Unfortunately, I'm stuck with a regular, non-cuckover convertible.
>>28604043You had the Chrysler Sebring hardtop Convertible and the Pontiac G6 Convertible. Plus I'm pretty sure VW Eos was sold in US as well.
>>28608388No offerings from Ford?
>>28609269Only convertible in the 2000s ford offered in US was the soft top Mustang convertible. In Europe Ford did offer the hardtop Ford Focus CC.
>>28609326Oh I forgot about the Thunderbird as well.
>>28609332Noice. I guess it came with removable hard top as an original accessory. Was it cheap though? Looks fancier than the Mustang, has a Jag V8 inside.
wranglers with the top off count as convertibles in my book
>>28609467Closer to T-top
>>285979642 door cars are dead in general aside from actual sports cars
>>28609627
>>28609441>has a Jag V8 insideMore than that, it's on the same S-Type platform that the Lincoln LS uses too. Quite why they decided to make a strange weaker 3.9 version of the engine instead of just using the existing 4.0 is puzzling to me though.
The market is largely filled by jeeps/broncos these days. If you want an open top, that's the way many go now. It's fitting considering it fits in with the death of the sedan for SUV/Crossover designs. I still like convertibles, especially the cheap ones. Tons of great memories of being driven around in my grandma's LeBaron and my oldest sister's Geo Convertible. Ebb and flow of trends. I think we'll see them return.
>>28610294>>28609467Having nothing but the windshield frame above the belt line is a bit different from having the cage (or parts of the roof, or even door frames) in your field of view. You get the wind but you don't get the openness.>I think we'll see them return.I very much hope so.
>>28610260I remember pre-2000 or so aluminium 4.0s suffering from the Nikasil plague. Is it possible that Ford decided to make their own version to distance themselves from the problem both technically and in public view? I mean it's easier to convince people the engines are different if they have different displacement and don't share the block.
>>28603387>family convertibleyou clearly have never had a child if you think that is a family car. it would be a bag of dicks to put a kid in and out of a car seat even with the top down. car seat systems would be severely limited as it doesnt have a anchor system.
>>28611432>you clearly have never had a child if you think that is a family car.Not him but I know several family men who get their kids to school in convertibles on a regular basis and the children are overjoyed. Don't think it's their only car, though.>car seat systems would be severely limited as it doesnt have a anchor system.My 'vert from 2004 has those in the rear seat, anon.
It ended with g class
>>28612069
>>28597964Every single complaint you have about modern cars is 85% the fault of women and 7% liberal douchebags who probably still think Nuclear energy isnt green.
>>28612070It's a landaulet or something
I want to get a Megane II CC and do this to it.It's one of the cheapest cars you can buy in the UK right now, has a glass roof which is way simpler mechanically than the competition was (hence still works, unlike the Astra), and doesn't look catastrophically ugly.Once I'm in a position to get a different car, It will be this one.
>>28612083Tell me again how polluting the earth with pure concentrated death for 10,000 years is so green and nice. That's twice as far in the future as the advent of written language is in our past, so good luck even communicating the danger to the humans you'll be poisoning.
>>28613770
>>28613770>not getting the absolute simplest mechanism
>>28613772Most nuclear waste is safe in decades. Most spent fuel can be reused. Worst case you're talking about 20 tons of spent fuel for the entire USA Vs millions of tons of Co2. Lmao please kill yourself.
>>28613884Wonderful, the problem is solved.Because you think it's completely safe, I say we put it all in your house.
>>28597985mogs you...
>>28614006There's literally an entire continent that we could dump this in without consequence
>>28614052Oh so now you want this totally safe and nice waste to be as far away from you as possible? I wonder why that could be HMMMMMM
>>28613777The only reason I'd want to subject myself to this car already named after a fart would be to put a "fluence" badge on it, and add more letters with arrows so it says "flatulence".
>>28597985Miata is my only car. I guess it helps to not live in America.
>>28614077It's only named after a fart if you break it.Plus, Twingo RS chassis and GT or RS engine. It's quite fun to drive.
>>28614077By Jove, I just realised I could instead create the word "effluence" or "effluent". The world is a changed place.
G37 convertible
>>28613772>polluting the earth with pure concentrated death Earth produces it, dummySometimes it can even surface by itself, you obviously don't know what a natural nuclear reactor is
>>28614014>mogged by its own CVT
>>28614688Excuse me for not knowing about a process that stopped happening billions of years ago. Not an argument.
>>28613774
>>28615001
>>28615024And here's a cutaway
>>28614999> a process that stopped happening billions of years agoImagine being so ignorant to not bother yourself with searching the thing mentioned. What else are you going to tell me, the Earth is flat? We have to breathe out less carbon dioxide to save the trees?
>>28615027So basically a drawing of a generic trannyverse FWD car without proper rear suspension. Needs a pic for the >glass roof which is way simpler mechanically than the competition wasI'm curious since I had my hydraulic ragtop (probably part of the "competition") fail and I fixed it learning a bit about these things in the process. Could you please tell me more about the Megane's roof?
>>28611484>my dad works at nintendothats a funny way of saying "i can't breed"> who get their kids to schoolkids who go to school typically dont use car seats
>>28615115>proven incorrect on two accountsYour point being?
>>28615072Sadly I can't find a cutaway image for that. I do have 2 other variations, but they both omit the roof mechanism entirely.I can go one better though. Here's the video given to Renault service centres telling them how the roof works (among other things about the other types of Mégane). Here's a link to the roof part. The auto translated subtitles are mostly okay.https://youtu.be/wu-AqxkULyo?t=513It's by no means simple, but if you compare it to the Astra's mechanism it has fewer parts in what seems to be a more robust configuration, and the Astra Twintop's youtube search suggestions are mostly about the roof being broken or the boot not opening lol. Meanwhile the Mégane has its rear window regulators as its only suggested problem.And just the roof opening of the Mégane vs Astra:Mégane: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SLI_ALKHsp8Astra: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5S_YmjGaanA
>>28615197It looks more complicated than the system I have, though I have a ragtop not powered hardtop. Mine has a similar hydraulic unit (electric pump, reservoir, valve body with actuators), several hydraulic cylinders that look similar, and a number of Hall sensors. Mine doesn't have any metal cables, nor does it have "side flaps" on the covering part. Hydraulic cylinders are the most common point of failure in these systems, so be sure to check the prices before buying (mine are 700 Eur per cylinder new, 50-100 used or $200+core remanufactured).>AstraYeah, four flaps instead of two and three-piece roof instead of just two. I see where "more complicated" comes from.
>>28615197Looks a lot like the 206 CC's system.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pjZ1itoa6oE
>>28613772>t. learned about nuclear energy by watching The Simpsons
>>28615254That reminds me - this cheap hardtop convertible boom was also a bit of a boon for coachbuilding, but resulted in the demise of two of them.Huliez's last project before imploding in 2010 was building the Tigra, after the success of the production of 206CC roof assemblies.Pininfarina designed the Colt CZC (yuk!), the Ferrari California, manufactured the Focus CC (I can't seem to determine if they designed the changes to the body too), except for the roof - which was designed by Webasto - and Karmann designed the roof of the Mégane II CC. The Ferrari's roof was manufactured by Webasto. Pininfarina has designed 11 Chinese EVs and one Morgan since they last designed for Enzo' company.When Karmann went bankrupt (also in 2010), at least some European production facilities were bought by VW (where they used to do final assembly of the Boxster and Cayman, but now just build complete but disgusting T-Roc Cabriolets), while the Japanese side was acquired by Magna (who did the 370Z's roof), with some more of it going to Webasto.Webasto does the MX-5 RF's roof, and was responsible for the PRHT on the NC before this.That was a fun rabbit hole.
I want to turn a road-going 307CC into one of these. I'll even have one more gear than the official WRC car had.
>>28615210If you look closely, you'll see it's a four piece roof, because the rear window glass pops out as well, unlike the Megane where there's just a space between the roof panels when they're retracted.The Megane 3's roof does retract the glass in the same way, but it means less window area when it's up. No idea why they chose to move the deck lid/parcel shelf to eat up space by retracting under the boot lid when the roof is up, though. I suppose it no longer needs the rotating flaps, and the internal parcel shelf can now be a solid piece attached to the rear section. Maybe it made the window retraction mechanism less complex or something.
>>28615572Oh, and Magna Steyr made the Astra's roof.And Webasto made the C70's roof, whose structure was designed by Pininfarina.And the Betamax video tape was invented by Columbo in 2008, and he makes them in his bath.
>>28615572>>28615640Those are quality posts, thank you.I can't find much about other Swedes: Saab's first convertible, the 900, was made with help from the coachbuilders of Valmet Automotive (then-partner of Saab), but there is not much about the later models though it does seem like they sold in pretty big numbers in Europe alone.
>>28614070As opposed to shitty wind turbines and panels made in China that can't be recycled and end up in fields polluting the ground water because they can't be recycled?
>>28597964No one bought those junkers anyway
>>28616329I see one daily, a red one, it's pretty much mint.
>>28616329People whiter than you did.
>>28616343okay Ramirez, I'm sure you could store more crack in your convertible so you could sell it to your esteemed whypipo
>>28616363>ebonics
>>28616375I was putting it into words you'd understand. I can't speak Spanish but. I know you're close with black people
>>28597964ruined by the hairdresser meme.people think that convertibles inherently look fast, and if you buy something that looks fast, it better actually be fast. otherwise, prepare for nonstop mockery.
when picrelated started motorizing spain in the 60's, you could get one new with the savings from 7 months worth of working with an average wage. Nowadays, the cheapest cars you can find new also cost about 7 months worths of the average wage
>>28597964Convertibles are usually bought by people who want something to drive on the weekends and they'd settle for something more upmarket like an Audi or a BMW. The market for these cheap convertibles was already pretty small and inflation was the final nail in the coffin
>>28616425Where can you find a new car for 13k yuros? And I mean 13k cash key on hand, not conditioned to government incentives or having to finance. Also, for this calculation I'm assuming you can save 100% of your monthly income which is obviously very unrealistic.
>>28616460Base Dacia Sandero can be bought for 13940 euros brand new in Spain.
>>28616417>people think that convertibles inherently look fastNo, most people don't think that. I mean everyone tries opening windows at speed.
Anyone who's owned a convertible knows they fucking suck.
>>28616618What about current owners?
>>28616432I mean it wasn't. The 206CC was the best selling convertible in Europe.
>>28617364He probably meant that before 2010 or so more people had enough spare money to buy a cheap convertible as a second/third car
>>28616618My convertible has zero issues with the convertible part and is much more fun with the top down. Skill issue
>>28616469The cheapest convertible in Europe goes for 27k Euros apparently. Also was surprised to learn they made a "Grey Edition" of it. Not red, not green, fucking grey. They want for the convertible to become an NPC car too.>In time for spring, Volkswagen is launching the T-Roc Cabriolet as a limited “Edition Grey” small series. The car for open-top driving features a special matt paint finish in the colour Indium Grey as well as interior and exterior accents in black. The special-edition model also includes numerous driver assist systems and a range of high-quality equipment, with a price advantage of up to 1,400 euros. The first cars in the limited edition of 999 vehicles will be delivered from February 2023.
>>28618758Fucking grey. And I mean I truly wish T-roc cabrio would be a bigger success so convertibles don't completely die out. The Fiat 500 cabrio at least seems to be selling well. I'd say every other new Fiat 500e I see on road is a cabrio.
>>28618797They even mentioned >numerous driver assist systems first and apart from>a range of high-quality equipment like that's what makes a convertible more attractive. Why even buy a convertible if you don't want to drive it yourself? Completely misplaced advertisement, at least as I see it.>The Fiat 500 cabrio at least seems to be selling wellI can't even find it on Fiat Italy website. There are only electric 500 and Abarths there.
>>28618804Yeah I'm pretty sure the regular gas 500 has been discontinued. But the 500e still has the cabrio version and from what I've seen it's quite popular.
>>28597980They have soul.
>I HAVE TO MAINTAIN MY CAR!?Why are people so cheap and lazy?
>>28620223Not all of them are men and white I guess.
Why does this have to be an EV? It would be so good if it had a petrol engine.
>>28620459China have literally zero engines worth putting into cars. They'd need to outsource one, and the CCP wouldn't allow that.
>>28610260Maybe they didn't want to cannibalize Jag XK8 sales? >>28611373It's the same engine, they just decreased the stroke by 0.04 mm, which apparently was enough to decrease the horsepower by 38 HP.
>>28620528>It's the same engineSame Nikasil lining?>they just decreased the stroke by 0.04 mm, which apparently was enough to decrease the horsepower by 38 HP.Unlikely. What's the compression ratio for those two?
It really is terrible what they've taken from us.
>>28620220Cruising on some rural highway with the top down on a sunny day is pure bliss anon.Even with the top up my last 2 cars (2011 e88 and 2010 mustang gt) have been quite peasant to drive. Though I do live 15 miles up a curvy rural road, so I might be a bit biased.The only real problem is if you live near spiteful brown/poor people who could ruin your car with a penknife.
saw one of these for sale in bulgaria but it should stay there for 6 months a year unfortunately
>>28620711A Bertone design, that one.
>>28620706>The only real problem is if you live near spiteful brown/poor people who could ruin your car with a penknife.They can do it with any other car by keying it or slashing the tires.
>>28620942Those are both much cheaper to fix than a new roof
>>28621365Depends on severity, I guess, but still comparable. 3-4 body panels deeply scratched or a set of good tires can easily become more than a grand. My top cover (just the rag) goes for 1300 euros or so.
>>28614142I think the Wind might be one o' them modern classics.
>>28620711Probably the best looking Astra cabrio.
>>28622444Next one looks fine, even less angry maybeAlso checked
>>28597964>How did the convertible market crash so quickly?Expensive to repair.Easy to break into (don't even need to open the door).
>>28624792>Expensive to repair.If your garage charges you more just because you have a convertible not a sedan, go to a different garage.>Easy to break into (don't even need to open the door).Don't all cars have windows?
>>28624847Yes but a soft top isn't loud when you cut it open is it
>>28624996What the fuck are you talking about? Cars have alarms, they are loud, volumetric/motion sensors have been a thing since the 90s.
>>28625023>alarmsyeah i'm surehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_mdKV60oFXA
>>28625219>leisurely walks off at the end to talk to his burglar friends after the crimelmao
>>28597980I had a ford model A pickup that had no roof and I fucking loved that thing. It was not fast, like 55 tops, due to the wooden wheels. Original engine was long gone. Put the engine and gearbox from a pinto in it. Worked great.
>>28625219Your point being?
>>28625243Have any pics?
Was cheap, still is, technically a targa. On the inside it's a Suzuki Vitara.
I would say it's between this and the Volvo C70 in the running for the hardtop convertible with the least compromised styling. This for instance has an impressively low rear deck, and when closed looks good as well.
>>28597980>Why would you want a car without a roofBecause it's fun, really fun. Would never go back to cars with roofs.
>>28627834Yeah, those are quite practical too. Shame the trunk opening is really small with the top down.
>>28627834
>>28627909If you didn't already know, there's actually a button in the luggage area you can press that raises the 3 roof panels and the boot lid as one unit, allowing you more access without raising the roof.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kz_ESr_IWzUThe C70 has something similar, but it doesn't have to move the boot lid.https://youtu.be/hgpMhkf-QDk?t=30The Astra Twintop has the same, except it has to move the rear deck panels out of the way of the roof panels, because of course it does.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AMe_GVcLYaQ
>>28627928Yes, but it's still less convenient than just opening and closing the trunk.I understand it's a common thing for four-seater hardtops: the roof is so long it takes the entire length of the trunk to store it.
>>28627834When it comes to 4 seater hardtop convertibles I would put either the E93 3 series or it's successor F33 4 series as the best looking convertible. The sharkfin antenna ruins the C70 for me. The E93 and F33 somehow avoided the big boot problem most hardtop convertibles had.2 seater hardtop convertibles do look better though.
>>28627982VW's Eos roof design meant the roof used less space (retracting the front roof bars to a valley beside the rear seats), but they used that design advantage to make the whole car shorter rather than the boot space any bigger. The capacity is actually smaller than the competitors with the roof retracted.https://youtu.be/7Or73FNxQko?t=3
>>28629609At least the opening in the trunk (with the roof down) is rather decent.
>>28620694>The Laguna instead became a Supertouring saloonAt least they made up for it in the best possible way
>>28598196Wait til you try a motorcycle.
Does this count?
a used vw t roc?
>>28630711>used>nu-vw
>>28599979done 30k miles in mine over the last 2-3 years as my only car.The US has no corners so not sure why you'd buy one there anyway.
>>28613777these are pretty cool looking>>28627834the 335i engine is junk though (as is the later N53 330i). Have to work a bit harder to find a good one as a result.
>>28630743>The US has no cornersNever been there but roadcurvature.com disagrees with you. I guess you live in some flatland state and don't travel much.
>>28627834>>28630744Thoughts on older diesel convertibles? Is it bearable in terms of noise and smell?
Not even sunroofs survived the great depression of car design. I refuse to drive anything made after 2010 because it's simply a downgrade in luxury and quality. Modern cars are a bad joke.
>>28630723T roc is a good car in 2025 u trippin
>>28630764>TSI>DSGNo thanks
>>28630778And you're not concerned that the car looks like a skip?>>28630764Learn English.
>>28632293>And you're not concerned that the car looks like a skip?It's a Volkswagen, I mean it's kind of fitting.
>>28627834BMW 3 Series (E93)https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ldkkr_gtrNQ>>28627912Volvo C70:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-cdetz7ekhoI find it interesting that these two roofs (I always want to say "rooves") have more or less the same design, except for some reason the C70 folds a large rear deck lid under the boot lid.If we look to the E93's roof, one could see this as a redundancy, because there we instead see the rear roof segment doing the old under/over routine, with the deck remaining part of the boot lid because they included a couple of small sprung flaps for the internal legs of the roof to go through.Any guesses as to why the C70 goes with the double deck setup?
>>28598128>If I will have to deal with constant gay jokes, at least let me pretend I am driving a sports car.Take the floaty leather couch on wheels pill instead>>28598156Means more trunk spaceNope, that's where the roof goesBehold. I inherited this exact model and colour 1999 Saab 9-3 Viggen convertible from a crazy old alcoholic cat-lady aunt, and daily drove it as a shabby-looking 6'4" do-you-even-lift lanklet and the level of seethe from some guys in traffic was both frightening and empowering. I sold it 10 years later to a fat bald guy going through a midlife crisis who eventually sold it to another old catlady
>>28633978>Nope, that's where the roof goesThe roof goes to the upper and closer to the passenger compartment part of the rear, just try to remember your Saab. The rest is your trunk. Anything down below like the rear diff assembly, or a spare tire, or fancier suspension detracts from the trunk space from the bottom.>the level of seethe from some guys in traffic was both frightening and empoweringNever understood this one, could you please elaborate? I daily drive an NG, and all my interactions with traffic and pedestrians have been rather pleasant so far, but sometimes awkward (these cars do seem to attract mildly autistic people). Maybe seething at 'verts is just an American thing?
Just found this fantastic website that lists a lot of hardtop convertible models. They've got a list of production, concept, and converted models.http://retractable.free.fr/uk/index.htmlHave a gander at this working concept - The Peugeot 407 Macarena. It folds back the glass panel(s), then crosses the remaining arms of the roof, so that the boot lid only has to open in one direction for both roof operation and luggage access.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=poLd7YzdVNo
>>28634164Really cool, thanks. I guess UK and FR versions both have the same content?
>>28634164And it had four doors! And wasn't a 407, only the video says that.
>>28634170I presume so.I wish google had shown me this before. It's wonderful how a lot of the concepts are working models based on production cars, like the two versions A4 Coupé Cabrio. Feels like peeking into an alternate history. It had a unique version of the three piece mechanism too, where the rear roof panel only joins the front pair once they are already in the luggage area.
>>28634179And they teased it for the facelift as well.
>>28634171God damn I want a four door convertible
>>2863074310k miles a year isn't that much.
>>28637008I've been WFH for the past year and a half so no commuting. Only site visits to customers and personal travel.Plus we do less miles in the UK because everything is closer together.
>>28637023>I've been WFH for the past year and a half so no commuting.Same reasons I want more utilitarian convertibleTo not waste opportunities to drive it basically
>>28637132Either you love convertibles, or you hate them ; for me though (also wfh), there’s nothing better than a country drive on a sunny day with the top down.Even living in Oregon (pretty rainy) the 3 months of convertible weather make it so worth it
>>28637143>Either you love convertibles, or you hate themYou could also be indifferent to them until you try. And if you live in a big city with no garage or covered parking at the very least with shitty climate on top of it there's no reason to try. I used to be like that until I moved.
>>28613777>renault windthose french fucks bought the rights from ferrari just so they could put it on a fucking twingo
>>28642865And they did it better too, the Wind's headliner doesn't get ruined because it's under a cover when the roof is open.
>>28614087working just fine in america too
>>28642872The Ferrari's implementation also dumps any water/leaves/etc that collect in the headliner while it's open straight on top of your head when you close it, because it's hinged like a door rather than a mechanism that stows the roof with the top still facing upwards like every other hardtop convertible.
>>28642938>water/leaves/etc that collect in the headlinerImagine owning a Ferrari and collecting all that in the top.
i saw something like this when i was outside the other daylooked crazy and i liked it
>>28645079Have you ever driven a convertible before? If you get caught in the rain with the top down, you'll have to wait until you can pull over and close it, and in the meantime water will collect in the open top. On fall days you'd be surprised how many leaves are figuratively magnetically attracted to the area the soft top folds into. You don't have to just leave it open while parked forever for shit to collect.
>>28645215>Have you ever driven a convertible before?I own one.>and in the meantime water will collect in the open topIt won't. Why? Because with newer or fancier systems there's a body panel that fits over the roof storage compartment, and with the older ones you're supposed to fit a cover manually. If you're using the car without one, you're supposed to make sure there would be no rain or other shit falling in there (like actively driving in Californian summer or being near the parked car). Ferrari system is a bit unusual because there's no storage compartment, but they still provide a cover to protect the roof itself.>you'll have to wait until you can pull over How hard is to pull over? The only place where you generally are not allowed to do that (or to slow down below 20 mph for half a minute) is the controlled-access highway (freeway or how you people call it), but people usually drive there with tops up because of the speed.Besides, the question of "is it going to rain in the next few minutes if there are suspiciously-looking clouds in the sky" is something convertible owners are used to live with. Like a helicopter pilot always on lookout for an emergency landing spot. Another one is "should I stop or should I floor it". I mean come on, collecting leaves and rainwater in the roof mechanism is plain and simple neglect.
>>28620459I drove past an MG dealership the other day, saw an ad for one of those things and thought the exact same thing. Who the hell wants an electric roadster? I know Tesla tried it in the 00s but how many of those do you still see on the streets? People who drive convertibles like the sound of an engine and they don't like waiting at a service station waiting for their toy to be charged. I can feel Stacey's panties getting dryer already.
The 1900s through the 1960s is peak cheap convertibles.
>>28647144
>>28648160Was surprised to learn there were both hard and soft top versions of gen 3
>>28649226
>>28649226There's a 2013 one here in Finland for sale (well it's called Lancia Flavia but anyway) but it's the soft top. So because of that I'm not considering it.
>>28649226And the hardtop has what I think is a unique mechanism too. 3 piece, but the rearmost 2 pieces fold in the same direction.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EvkDfZ4cz8I
>>28649523>So because of that I'm not considering it.Don't you guys have underground parking doubling as bombing shelters everywhere in Finland?
>>28645175This HHR Convertible isn't a production vehicle sadly, but the PT Cruiser Convertible is. How much of a shitheap is it? There is a relatively low mileage one for sale near me.
This is now a cheap convertible where I am.Not cheap to maintain/repair, however.
>>28615573Seen here fitted with the rare hover kit.
>>28650427I don't want to keep a car in storage for 1/4th of the year. Which is what you need to do with a soft top.
>>28652786That’s simply not true. Live in Oregon, it’s a damp mess 8 months out of the year. No awning or cover, and park outside - no issues at all.
>>28597980for the bitches
>>28653031What's with her nose?
fuck i love my limited edition hard top megane 3.
>>28653377Nice dubs and nice car. What engine does it have?
