This is the year you buy a convertible.
“But Brendan,” I hear you exclaim, “We live on the North Shore! It rains so much here that our pets grow mildew! You sometimes need a snorkel just to go for a walk! I’ve developed webbed feet, like Kevin Costner in that horrendous movie! And anyway, there’s no convertible version of the Toyota Tacoma or Subaru Outback.”
Nonsense. Just because it’s a little damp around here (OK, so maybe a red hermit crab with a Caribbean accent serenaded me last time I walked to the grocery store) doesn’t mean we can’t have a little fun. Spring is on the way, and it’s time to think about scraping the mould off your upper torso and putting the top down.
Like you, I wasn’t always a convertible person. Being of Irish extraction, any time I take my shirt off, Commander Chris Hadfield could clearly see me from the International Space Station. Not that he wanted to. And also, to anyone who’s seen me in shorts, I’m sorry.
Further, as someone who values handling and road-holding above outright power, a convertible seemed like a bad idea. A car is basically a box, so cutting the roof off one inevitably turns it into a soft and wobbly shape, a bit like a flexible running shoe. That’s hardly ideal.
So, slightly floppy handling, you get your hair mussed up, it’s bound to rain on you most of the time, and you suddenly have a need to be nervous around seagulls. Who wants that?
Ah, but you’re missing the best part about convertibles. It’s my belief that the advent of the modern automobile, sealed off from the world in a perfect cocoon of silent comfort, presaged the rise of people being mean to each other over the internet. Ever noticed how dear old grannies who never had a harsh word for anyone suddenly turn into Gordon Ramsay behind the wheel of their CR-V?
Faceless behind the windshield, we honk and fume and complain that everyone is just out to get in our way. Traffic becomes the comments page on some contentious internet article about the benefits of kale.
But the steel cages we surround ourselves with are just that: cages. In a convertible, you’re less likely to cast stones (or honk your horn incessantly). People can see you, and what’s more, you can see them. Smells tickle your nostril passing a bakery or, less wonderful, hitting that part of the Lion’s Gate that’s just above the waste treatment plant.
In a convertible, you see more, hear more, smell more, experience more. Instead of being locked up in your car, you’re part of the world again, and it colours every part of your interaction with it.
Now, obviously, there are going to be a few compromises. The BMW 4 Series convertible, with its folding hardtop, weighs more than the moon. The Volkswagen Eos also has a hardtop, one so complicated that if it breaks you should just buy a new car. The Mini convertible’s top appears to have been designed by the same guy who came up with blinkers for horses, and has the rear visibility of a pair of snow blindness goggles.
However, there are all sorts of wonderful drop-tops that can really open up your motoring experience. Obviously, the new Mazda MX-5 is a bit of a champ, and you’ve your choice of a targa-like hardtop for a bit of extra security when parking on the street. Further, there are some 30 years of used Miatas to pick from. Don’t ignore the previous, third-generation car, as it’s probably the most comfortable and practical of the lot.
And, since we’re talking two-seaters, neither should you overlook the Honda S2000. Many insist that the Acura NSX is the best piece of engineering to come out of Honda, but I’d argue that the S2000 embodies the best of the company, with its high-revving four-cylinder engine and rigid performance. Values are on the rise, so don’t wait.
However, two seats really aren’t enough for most families, so don’t forget four-seater convertibles like the Audi S5 or one of Mercedes-Benz’s host of convertibles. Or, dialing back the price tag, there’s the sheer joy of rolling back the top on your Mustang Five-point-Oh so your hair can flow.
And, since we can all buy a lottery ticket, it’s worth touching on the new Porsche 911 cabriolet. Just revealed, the open-topped 911 is every bit as quick down the road as its tin-top cousin, and its back seats are big enough to carry your kids along for the ride. If you’ve never experienced the joy of teaching your kid about sticking their hands straight up into the slipstream, then put that one on your bucket list.
But of course, things don’t have to be that fast or fancy. Some big ol’ Cadillac or Buick convertible cruising along the Shore makes for a wonderful experience. A little open-topped Beetle is really good fun. A Lotus Seven is so open to the elements that you end up getting a bunch of those elements jammed straight up your left nostril.
Spring is coming, friends, and the beauty of where we live deserves better than closing the door on it. If you’ve already got a convertible, let me gently point out that it’s probably got a working heater, and encourage you to get that top open.
If you’ve ever before considered owning a convertible, then maybe you should. Open yourself up to a new driving experience. You won’t regret how good the sun feels on your gills.
Brendan McAleer is a freelance writer and automotive enthusiast. If you have a suggestion for a column, or would be interested in having your car club featured, please contact him at [email protected]. Follow Brendan on Twitter: @brendan_mcaleer.
