Convertable or hardtop?

[JulesMaximus]

Originally posted by: MiataNC

Originally posted by: Captain Howdy
......If you want a car to carve corners, do not get a convertible, hands down.

So you are saying the following cars cannot carve corners...

Mazda Miata
Honda S2000
BMW Z3/Z4
Porsche Boxer/911/etc/etc

Those are just the ones off the top of my head. Automotive history is filled with fast agile convertibles that can carve corners.

Few people have the skills or balls to drive a car 100% on the street, and anyone who does is a complete douche. Any cornering performance lost with a 'vert will be hardly noticed by anyone under normal or even aggressive driving conditions on the street.

On a tight track like Buttonwillow here in California the fastest lap times are consistently made by Miatas and S2000s when unmodified street cars are run.

The differences only matter to people who race spec sheets in their head.

That's because they are small, lightweight cars with excellent weight distribution, excellent brakes and decent power to weight ratio. It has nothing to do with the fact that it's a convertible.

 

[MiataNC]

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus
That's because they are small, lightweight cars with excellent weight distribution, excellent brakes and decent power to weight ratio. It has nothing to do with the fact that it's a convertible.

All true.

I was pointing out how silly making a blanket statement like .....If you want a car to carve corners, do not get a convertible, hands down. is.

You are simply restating my point.

Cheers!

 

[MiataPaul]

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus

Originally posted by: MiataNC

Originally posted by: Captain Howdy
......If you want a car to carve corners, do not get a convertible, hands down.

So you are saying the following cars cannot carve corners...

Mazda Miata
Honda S2000
BMW Z3/Z4
Porsche Boxer/911/etc/etc

Those are just the ones off the top of my head. Automotive history is filled with fast agile convertibles that can carve corners.

Few people have the skills or balls to drive a car 100% on the street, and anyone who does is a complete douche. Any cornering performance lost with a 'vert will be hardly noticed by anyone under normal or even aggressive driving conditions on the street.

On a tight track like Buttonwillow here in California the fastest lap times are consistently made by Miatas and S2000s when unmodified street cars are run.

The differences only matter to people who race spec sheets in their head.

That's because they are small, lightweight cars with excellent weight distribution, excellent brakes and decent power to weight ratio. It has nothing to do with the fact that it's a convertible.

I think more important than convertible or not you do not want front wheel drive if handling is important! You want rear wheel drive, or all wheel drive. Front wheel drive just biases the car to way too much weight in the front, and puts both steering and power demands on the same wheels, not good.

Back to the original question, The Spider is a pig of a car heavy, slow and handles poorly. The Eclipse is all about show and no go. Coming from the Talon I assume performance is important I would say Miata is a much better choice unless you have children that have to sit in the back. The Miata is not very fast in a strait line, but that can be resolved easily. The short comings of the Spider are never going to be able to be reversed no matter how much you spend. The thing with convertibles are that you want something that was designed from the beginning to be convertible. Whenever you cut the top off a car you will have to add way too much bracing to try to get the stiffness back. The Spider and Sebring, sees to have made no effort to get any stiffness back. Heck a Jeep Wrangler is most likely stiffer, and perhaps handles as well!

As far as limitations of a convertible, they are noisy, drafty, hard to control temperature, leak water and mess you hair. Are they worth it, absolutely. You might want to rent one for a week to see if you like it or not. I have had convertibles since I started driving and have been miserable when without one. People make fun of me because I will drive around in the snow with the top down, and heat on. It really is a lifestyle, and have to not be bothered by nuisances such as leaks. I have read about $80,000 Mercedes that tops leak when brand new, it is just part of the deal.

If you need a back seat, then I would look into a BMW 3 series, Audi, VW or Toyota Solaris. The Spider would be the last on my list I would look into a used one of the above before a new Eclipse. I would get a Sebring before the Spider, as the new one looks good and is less money. Why they don't make the Eclpse in AWD as it could give the car a bit better handling, but would make it even heavier.

 

[MiataPaul]

Originally posted by: MiataNC
NC = 3rd gen Miata


Nothing can be done short of leaving the doors unlocked, buying a detachable hard top, or getting a model with a retracting hard top to prevent someone from cutting a soft top to get in. if you live/work in an area where this is a problem, then think twice about a 'vert.

You can drive a 'vert all year around and in all types of weather. They are only "part time" if that is how you choose to use them. I get by with just a Miata and a motorcycle. 30+ mpg for the car and 45+ for the bike.

Yup, I have driven my Miata year round in Upstate NY with no issues. Great in the snow. But then again I have driven motorcycles year round years ago. (Too old for that now, and driving one in the snow is not for the faint of hart!) I also have never locked the doors on my Miata in the 8 years or so I have owned it. Even when parked in Manhattan and Brooklyn at least once a month or so. Never had an issue, just don't keep things in sight, and a stock looking stereo.

Most reliable car I have ever owned. I have put at least 80,000 miles on it with only a valve cover gasket replacement and oil changes and replaced the clutch at 180,000 miles. It has around 197,000 on it and would drive it to California in a heartbeat, though I would want to replace the timing belt as it is long over due.

 

[Pliablemoose]

Gotta love us Miata fanbois :laugh:

 

[mxyzptlk]

I drive a Mini Cooper Convertible . It's pretty damned awesome. You should get one too. I guess an eclipse convertible might be okay, but it wont be as cool as a Mini

Riding with the top up in a convertible is horrible in every way, much much worse than just being in a normal hard top vehicle. If you get a convertible you need to be willing to put the top down as much as possible. Even in a light rain, as long as you're moving forward at a decent speed, no water will get into the cabin.. it all gets deflected away by the windshield.

 

[TechBoyJK]

I have a 2004 Z4 convertible and I love it.

Whoever said verts can't cut corners hasnt driven a z4.

And I don't think it has anything to do with the verts really..

My only issue is that yea, if you flip it, it could get bad, just buckle up. I like that my z4 has roll bars behind the seats that even if it does flip, and I'm buckled up, it might not be as bad.

that and my top rattles somewhat. more so due to flex, bumps in the road, and wind. I took it to the dealer, and they let me test drive two brand new z4's (mine is an 04) and their tops rattled somewhat too. They said with all the moving parts, its unavoidable to a degree.

But yea, i love my car. Its nice when you can drive around on a nice day and see everything around you and not feel confined.

 

[bobross419]

Originally posted by: mxyzptlk
I drive a Mini Cooper Convertible . It's pretty damned awesome. You should get one too. I guess an eclipse convertible might be okay, but it wont be as cool as a Mini

Riding with the top up in a convertible is horrible in every way, much much worse than just being in a normal hard top vehicle. If you get a convertible you need to be willing to put the top down as much as possible. Even in a light rain, as long as you're moving forward at a decent speed, no water will get into the cabin.. it all gets deflected away by the windshield.

Expect plenty of "What an idiot!" looks from other drivers when driving in the rain with the top down. When it rains and I'm on the highway the only water that gets on me comes from, ironically, the same place that my roof leaks

I've only ever had to stop and put the top up once (Live in Florida) and that was because the little lady was riding shotgun... the rain stopped within 2 minutes btw