Soft-top Convertibles are Making a Comeback

I’d only ever get a soft top or coupe, hard tops are dumb. However the 360 sees the “increased mechanical complexity” of the hard top and says “hold my beer”. It has more moving parts than the Apollo Space Program did.

 

I have been a fan of the hard top convertible
Perceived higher security, not having to repair or replace a top in the future, larger rear window.

I don’t really care about trunk space.

That being said I bought a Lexus LC 500 convertible last Fall and have enjoyed it a whole lot.

I sold my S2000 in 2005 and missed the open car experience.

The Lexus had enough positives to outweigh the negatives such as the top being cloth for me.

 

I like the soft top convertible. It is not as quiet, but the compactness, and simplicity of the mechanics are a bigger plus to me. For reference, I have an Afla 4C spider (a removable targa style fabric roof section), and an S2000 (a pretty simple folding cloth power top).

 

This is a tough one for me.

I liked my F430 spider more than my 458 spider because it felt more like a convertible. The 458 felt more like I was sitting down in a tub while the F43o seemed like I was out in the wind. But I did like the hard top function of the 458 and the little window in the back going up and down.

I had a Maserati Spyder that was a true soft top convertible for 12 odd years. I loved driving that car with the top down. I had it down almost all the time. I sold it when the strap in the top failed. The dealer said it was too much $$$ to fix and recommended selling it. So the top was the reason the car finally gave up the ghost. Soft tops do eventually need to be replaced and automatic ones will eventually break. It ain't cheap to replace them.

So I bought as a replacement for the Maserati a Corvette C7 convertible. It was the first Corvette with a power top. But the problem was the visibility out the back and over my shoulder was so poor it with the top up it was dangerous to drive. They didn't put side warning systems on C7's. It was one of the reasons I didn't like the car. I had to ease myself over for every lane change and hope if someone was there they got out of the way. Driving it top up was nerve racking.

Today I have a Corvette C8 convertible. Its a wonder. The top goes up and down in about 12 seconds even when driving 30 mph. Fully electric. Looks great top up and top down. And, it does have a more convertible "open air" feeling than the 458 because of the seating position. Top up or down its pretty easy to see behind you. With the top up, it has a camera that shows everything behind me in the rear view mirror. And it has side warning indicators which even in the 9 months I've owned it have saved my bacon several times.

The motto is -- not all convertibles are created equal. Some are great and some are a PITA.

 

I think it would be hard to do a soft top super car today. They are just so fast and have top speeds so high I don't know if a soft top will hold up?

I still don't know why Ferrari doesn't do their hard tops in CF. It's a great way to keep the weight transfer down between open and closed positions and would fit right in with the Speciale A and Pista Spider.

 

To this point Ferrari has limited CF construction to a few special cars

They love to charge crazy money for CF tidbits

I can’t really see them putting the money into a CF folding hard top, though it would be extra nice

 

Lamborghini still uses them on the Huracan EVO, so the speed isn’t an issue.

I owned a hard top BMW for 8 years, and it was never the be all end all It thought it would be. It would creak when flexing, rattle on non perfect roads, and not as quiet top up as a coupe. And the mechanism was a 2 piece design which added complexity and fear of failure.

So I guess I would try one again, but wouldn’t be too excited about it.

 

Generally speaking i prefer soft tops, but with my California i liked the hard top as it was my daily driver. but if its a fun car? Soft top.

 

I've had my '97 Z3 2.8 since 2000. Have replaced the soft rear window twice now, and the top it self is getting really quite ratty. Have a replacement top sitting around, but? Will probably sell the car for a couple thousand & the top for a few hundred, and come out ahead of the game versus installing the new top.

Me? I'd be good with a hard convertible top, but my ideal would probably be an older Boxster with a convertible top and the removable hard top.

 

From an aesthetic perspective, retractable hardtops are a challenge. The BMW 3 series convertible, for example, was a mess with too many seams. The e46 version looked classic with its fabric top.




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We have an S Class convertible and it is very quiet and well insulated which are my main complaints if soft top convertibles. I would be all over a soft top like that in an F car...




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2 seater exotics should have hard top while larger 4 seaters better w soft top

 

Definitely true about 4 seaters. The Mondial cabriolet was a handsome open top, IMHO. Later BMWs and Volvos were style catastrophes.

I actually miss the targa/removable hardtop. Not much to fail, and they’re light. I’ve had three of these X1/9, 308, 328 - and my brother had a 911. All ended up being somewhat iconic designs, although the Fiat was maybe less so.


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I love my 360 Spider but wish it had a glass rear window like the Gallardo. Heck, my '65 Mustang convertible had a folding glass rear window in the soft top you could unzip for flow thru ventilation.

 

Miss my 16M, soft top down was sublime. Intricate mechanism and yes there are multiple potential failure points - straps, sensors, etc.
Funniest most useless soft top was the Murcielago. You had to fold it and unfold it like a tent, it was a royal pain in the ass.
Targa tops are cool, the CGT top off was also exhilarating.


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