General Question

Carly's avatar

What kinds of convertibles would you recommend buying?

Asked by Carly (4555points) April 21st, 2012

I’m interested in buying a convertible because my boyfriend is super tall and doesn’t fit in my current car. I’ve always wanted one, but I’m not sure which make/models are horrible and which ones are good investments. Any suggestions?

P.S. I do not know how to drive a stick, but I’m very willing to learn if most models are only sold with manual transmission.

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17 Answers

bewailknot's avatar

As a tall person myself I found the Chrysler Sebring, available as a convertible and now called the 200, very roomy. I do not own one but rented one for a week when my car was in the shop.

Coloma's avatar

Yes, I love the Sebrings, zippy, stylish but have a reputation as “lemons”, mixed reviews, but they are really sharp looking cars.
Don’t forget the T-birds….pricey but LOVE those cars!
Stay away from older model BMW’s….fun but finicky.

lillycoyote's avatar

I am so biased on this one that I probably shouldn’t even be answering this question, but this is the only convertible in the world that I would ever buy:

A vintage, fire engine red Volkswagon beetle, with a black top

My dream car.

What a wonderful, delightful, lovely thing she is, don’t you think?

Well…. maybe not, it’s a matter of taste, I guess.

King_Pariah's avatar

Mustang, preferably GT… 500…

ragingloli's avatar

The SLS AMG Roadster
Or the Porsche 918 Spyder
Or how about the Bugatti Veyron Grand Sport, the fastest convertible in the entire world?

WestRiverrat's avatar

The fire department where I used to live had one of these they use for parades. It is fun to drive, and you won’t lack for attention.

JLeslie's avatar

If he is tall he might not fit comfortable in a Porsche. The newer ones are larger than the older ones. We love our convertible Porsche, but a guy I know wanted one, but wound up buying a Mercedes because he couldn’t fit comfortably. A used Porsche holds its value pretty well, except for a few years there where people were not happy with the style, but those sell very inexpensively anyway, I can find out the years if you are interested. The car still drives great though.

I drove a Sebring many years ago and I thought it was terrible, maybe it has improved over the years?

I had a SAAB covertible, and I liked it, but it did have a few problems, deifnitely check consumer reports.

If you want something used and not very expensive I would look at Japanese cars or maybe a Volkswagon, actually better an Audi, since he is tall. Toyota had a convertible, I think the Solara?

How tall is your boyfriend?

Carly's avatar

@JLeslie He’s about 6’7”, 250lbs.

JLeslie's avatar

@Carly Probably won’t fit well in most sporty convertibles. The Mercedes might work, and any of the cars that look more like a regular sedan.

rooeytoo's avatar

Wow at that height he needs a hummer and a can opener!

jerv's avatar

If my friend who was 6’9” and still growing could fit into an ‘85 Golf, I fail to see much of an issue. Of course, he fit more comfortably into his Crown Vic…

Note that the way Convertibles are, their tops are often lower than regular cars, so unless you plan to ride with the roof down all the time (even in the rain), you may be better off with a hardtop.

Also note that many of the cars listed thus far would be a little uncomfortable for me and I am only 6’0”

robmandu's avatar

Pontiac made a hard-top convertible of their G6 for model years 2006–2009.

Retractable hard-tops are a premium feature on convertibles and yet you buy a G6 with low miles in the mid-teens.

echotech10's avatar

I highly recommend the Ford Mustang Convertible. I have a 2004, silver with a black top. I have been wanting a convertible ever since I was old enough to drive. The only thing I don’t like about it…I would rather it was a manual transmission. I prefer driving a stick over an automatic any day any time. I also revcommend you learn how to drive a stick…you will be glad you did.

janbb's avatar

My husband has a Volvo C-70 which is a very nice car if you can swing the price but I agree with those who say a convertible is pretty uncomfortable for a big person, especially is the top is up.

wildpotato's avatar

We’re all pretty short in my world, so I don’t have a good suggestion other than for a terrific all-around hardtop convertible, check out the Lexus SC430 – but I’m just chiming in to say that my biggest problem with the Sebring convertible (~9 yr ago model) was its large blind spot. Very comfy car though.

And about convertibles as a general car for the tall – I’d have thought that they’d be good even with the top up because the back seats are diminutive or nonexistent, so you can lean the seats back further. But I am incorrect?

Edit – I just had a thought: how about a Mini Cooper or a new VW Beetle? I hear they are supposed to be good at maximizing headroom, and they both come as convertibles.

Ron_C's avatar

@lillycoyote I have owned many VW’s from a 1968 to a 1974 Super Beetle and have always wanted a convertible. I was tempted the last time by the Cabriolet but it had a gas engine not the TDI that I wanted so I ended up with a 2000 Jetta hard-top.

The closest I come to a convertible these days is opening the sun roof on my Ford Focus STW.

Some day I’ll have a convertibe, I always thought the beetles were cool but the new ones look and run better.

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