Should Your Next Sports Car Be A Convertible?
For many of us, the very thought of a sports car conjures up a
convertible top vehicle. We might think of a sports car as our
opportunity to drive in perfect weather, top down, feeling a
part of nature and closer to the driving experience.
Of course, not all convertibles are sports cars and not all
sports cars are convertibles.
When one is considering the purchase of a sports car, they need
to determine whether or not a convertible best suits their
needs, regardless of their almost innate desire to experience
the so-called open road. There are a variety of factors one
should consider when deciding whether to buy a conventional
hardtop vehicle or a convertible model.
Insurance costs are generally higher for a convertible.
Convertibles are, initially, more attractive to thieves as their
sliceable soft tops make entry a cinch. Also, whether we like to
think about such things or not, there is a greater risk for
serious driver and passenger injury in a collision while driving
a sports car with a convertible top. This also drives up
insurance costs. The hardtop shell provides an important layer
of protection in many accident situations and one must consider
both the reduced safety and high insurance costs associated with
purchasing a topless model.
Weather is also a factor that must be considered. If one
purchases a sports car, they need to have an idea of how much
they would like to drive it. Some want to use their sports car
as everyday transportation, others would be satisfied with a few
summer romps every year. If you'd like to get fairly regular use
out of your sports car, you should probably avoid the purchase
of a convertible unless you live and drive in a fairly temperate
climate. Of course, one can drive with their convertible top up
during inclement weather, but convertible tops are generally not
as well insulated as regular car tops making them less
comfortable in colder weather. Additionally, the additional
costs associated with convertibles (i.e. insurance) may not be
justified if you are only able to go "top down" a few months out
of every year.
One should also consider the greater risk of theft and vandalism
associated with convertibles. Easy access is afforded to
criminals even when the top is up and latched, making it a
potentially poor fit for those living or regularly parking in
areas where vandalism or theft could be a problem.
One may also want to consider "middle ground solutions." Some
sports cars are available with removable hard tops, which can
mitigate some of the weather-related challenges a convertible
owner faces. Others may be satisfied with T-tops or a large
sunroof as a compromise between an enclosed car and a
convertible.
All of these factors should be balanced against one's interest
in owning a convertible for aesthetic reasons. However, safety
and expense analysis is not always perfectly suited for decision
making. If they were, no one would drive sports cars. Instead
they would opt for safe, cheaply insurable vehicles all of the
time. For some sports car buffs, the idea of passing on a
convertible due to cost or safety issues is unthinkable. The
compromise solutions of T-tops and sunroofs may completely lack
appeal. After all, there is an almost innate desire among many
drivers to experience the open road and to catch as many summer
rays as possible in their sports car. For these individuals, a
convertible may be the only choice in which they are interested.
For the rest of us, it may pay to at least consider some of the
potential issues associated with convertible sports car
ownership.