I Don’t Understand 4 Seater Convertibles

Posted by Martinprizzle@reddit | cars | View on Reddit | 48 comments

It’s always been a class of cars that has made zero sense to me. Mind you, I have a bias because I am not a drop top type of person.

I’m talking Mustang Convertibles, Camaro Convertibles, BMW 3 series and Audi A/S5s. The list goes on. They’re heavier so they’re slower and handle worse. Some of them have to have structural support that looks bad. The dimensions don’t look right for a convertible. I totally get and appreciate the small roadsters like Miata’s, S2000s, Z3/Z4, SLKs. Those make a ton of sense to me.

I know I’m just being a hater. If you love them, go for them! If you have one, please tell me why you bought one. Enlighten me!

[-]

ZombiePope@reddit

The "they handle worse" argument doesn't hold much water irl. I autocross my 328 and regularly match or beat the hardtops of the same platform. The fact is very few people push their cars to the point where the hardtop/'vert diff actually matters.

Also, convertibles are just fun.

[-]

Melodic-Temporary113@reddit

Most people that say things like that can’t actually tell if they “handle worse”.

[-]

Martinprizzle@reddit (OP)

Sounds like driver mod, so props to you! They’re definitely in a disadvantage if all else are equal, though. I happen to have an E92 335i, so we’re BMW bros!

[-]

strongmanass@reddit

They’re definitely in a disadvantage if all else are equal

Yeah but that's just a hypothetical. In the real world it doesn't matter. I have a 6 series convertible. It weighs two tons and understeers at the limit. I don't care because most of the time I'm not at the limit. It's the most rewarding car I've owned when I'm not driving at the limit (up to about 7/10). Even a basic 30 mph cruise is a joy in that car.

They’re heavier so they’re slower and handle worse.

Doesn't matter. I had a Miata for years. Wasn't for me in the end. Didn't feel planted, oversteered wildly if you so much as sneezed with the wheels turned, noisy at every speed. These days I'm not after the best handling. I'm after a specific combination of size, refinement, smoothness, interior quality, and ride quality. Handling is just one part of that.

The dimensions don’t look right for a convertible.

I like the boat on wheels aesthetic of a big 2+2.

Also it's fun to occasionally stuff two friends in the back and take a quick riverside drive with the top down on a summer night. That's probably the most approachable fun non-car people will have in a car.

TL;DR: 2+2 GT cabrios not being razor sharp doesn't matter because that's not what they're for. The harsh suspension that usually comes with razor sharp handling isn't faster on my public roads, more pleasant, or more rewarding to me than a cruiser with good enough handling.

[-]

ZombiePope@reddit

Nice! The E9X is a brilliant platform.

[-]

One-Butterscotch4332@reddit

Also like, the coupe will handle better in sporty convertibles. Ie. Z4 coupe vs. convertible, or any supercar.

[-]

oidoglr@reddit

It’s fun to take kids out for a ride in a convertible.

[-]

ihatemakinghandles@reddit

This reason alone for sure, you're not tracking or reaching your convertible but you want a sporty ride that the top comes down on.

Beach cruise with the family and some light mountain twisties. It's the reason crossovers exist, higher ride height but feels like a car.

[-]

timetravelerfrom2027@reddit

I’ve owned nearly a dozen convertibles in my life, all because of that first magic summer night time ride through the Columbia River Gorge, staring up at the stars from the back seat of my uncle’s bright red 1965 Impala SS as we flew down the highway, wind in my hair, smile on my face.

[-]

Melodic-Temporary113@reddit

A sunset drive through Willamette valley wine country in a convertible with 3 pedals is just about perfect. Oregon in general is an under-rated driving State. Shhh, don’t tell anyone!

[-]

Sandy_Koufax@reddit

Sometimes when I’m anxious or depressed, I go for a ride with the top down and most of my problems melt away when I hear the roar of a V8 with the wind in my hair.

[-]

Reprised-role@reddit

Exactly. I’m looking for M4 competition ‘vert precisely because I can’t fit them and their car seats in anything else remotely in the same performance bracket.

I don’t like the models OP listed very much but I see their place.

The suv/ crossover abominations (looking at you, Nissan Murano et al) are heinous and should be destroyed with fire.

[-]

ymjcmfvaeykwxscaai@reddit

Riding around with my kid and spouse is fun. I’ve taken them down tail of the dragon. If I had a 2 seater vert I’d either have to get a babysitter or leave both of them at home and that’s kinda sad since it’s a fun experience.

If I had the coupe Mustang it would have made that trip have slightly better driving dynamics for me and much less fun for my passengers. And since mostly I’m driving boring roads it’s not worth trading for that slightly better experience on the off chance I find a fun road.

[-]

Shomegrown@reddit

They’re heavier so they’re slower and handle worse

You're already lost the plot. That's like the geeky reddit kid calling out a supermodel's bony elbows. 99% of people buying those cars won't notice or care about the very minor differences.

[-]

French_Bill@reddit

A 4 seater convertible is great if I want to take my 4 years old and my wife for a drive. Well, I don't have a convertible, but I'd love to. And my 4 years old keeps asking when will we have one, since the day we got into a convertible wrangler for a short ride.

[-]

gaius49@reddit

My early Plus4 is a 4 seater, and its well under 2000lbs, and it handles beautifully. There have been great 4 seat convertibles... just not many.

[-]

Saskatchewon@reddit

If you want a convertible, but also want a practical daily driver that's capable of hauling more than one passenger, what other option do you have? There aren't really any budget eco sedans that offer a convertible anymore.

I have an aunt living in Florida who has always had a convertible. She loves being able to put the top down on bright sunny days. She doesn't care about performance whatsoever. She just picked up a new eco-boost Mustang convertible, not because she wanted a performance car, but because she wanted a convertible, with the convenience of back seats, and next to the MINI Convertible and Jeep Wrangler, there isn't a cheaper new option out there.

If you want a convertible and four seats, what do you expect a person to do exactly?

[-]

Sandy_Koufax@reddit

And there are barely any 2 seater convertibles under $100k left. Just Miata and Z4.

[-]

Czilla9000@reddit

My main issue with 4 seat convertibles - having owned one - is that the visibility sucks with the top up. That and cowl shake.

[-]

Sandy_Koufax@reddit

The rattles get kind of annoying but I still wouldn’t give it up.

[-]

alfredadamski@reddit

If I had money, I'd buy a nice Bentley Azure or 2000 - 2002 Rolls-Royce Corniche. A four seat convertible in that price range is for cruising around in Beverly Hills, Paris, Monaco, Cannes, the French Riviera and have three seats for your three 20 something girlfriends. Man, it must be great to be filthy rich. I got the filthy part covered, now I only need to get rich.

[-]

jdore8@reddit

If it wasn't for 4 seat convertibles, Rebecca Black wouldn't have to make her mind up about what seat she should take on Friday.

[-]

Infamous_Tonight4271@reddit

Mini convertibles have 4 seats too😬😬

[-]

V8-Turbo-Hybrid@reddit

There was a true 2-seat Cooper R58/R59. Anyway, it sold poorly, so no body knows its existence.

[-]

papercondition@reddit

Leave it up to reddit echo chamber hive mind circle jerk to downvote a post with a discussion question people obviously enjoy discussing.

[-]

meh_whatev@reddit

I don’t have anything to add to the conversation besides Clarkson always saying that Hitler is the only person that can be seen in the back of a 4 seat convertible lol

[-]

timetravelerfrom2027@reddit

He also called my beautiful SC430 the ugliest car ever made. ;)

[-]

solo118@reddit

Kids or pets, hell even rich teenagers drive around with 4 teens in a 4 series convertible. These are more cruisers than anything else.

Roadsters are another story, that's purely for a sports car experience.

[-]

Pitiful-Mobile-3144@reddit

Don’t get me started on 4 seater convertibles that are also SUVs! What’s the point of having fun with the top down, all your friends, and gear in the back for a summer day trip?

[-]

ItsAndwew@reddit

https://platform.cstatic-images.com/in/v2/stock_photos/368ce09d-eb2e-413c-af30-356c19cdde3a/997202f3-9121-48a1-ad64-c979fbc830ca.png

MMMMMM, you like that???

[-]

timetravelerfrom2027@reddit

I knew what that was going to be, and I was right.

[-]

ihatemakinghandles@reddit

The most beautiful car I've ever laid eyes on

[-]

dopadelic@reddit

without the doors too!

[-]

SubRedTed@reddit

Most the Porsches are 4 seats. The poorly designed ones are just that, poorly designed.

[-]

Redeemed_Expert9694@reddit

Look at the G90 convertible

[-]

Dangit_Bud@reddit

I’ve owned 4 different roadsters (3 Miatas in the past and currently a Z4 going on year 5). As much as I like a 2-seat roadster. I’d totally own a 4-seat convertible. 🤷🏼‍♂️

A 3-series equivalent to my Z4 does everything better: it can carry more people, more cargo, parts are more readily available (trim bits especially), it performs similarly, and honestly my driving consists of a quick burst of acceleration between the lights, drive to work and a Sunday drive to a park or icecream with my kid … the car weighing 100 lbs less, being 0.1 seconds faster to 60 or looking “better” makes zero difference. 🤷🏼‍♂️

[-]

Spicywolff@reddit

You get the fun of a convertible, but unlike Miata. You can actually recline the seat and scoot back a lot. You also get storage back there for quick access.

Manufacturers like it because it share a platform They already R&D for. But now have another body for. 2 door coupe- 2 door convertible - 4 door sedan- 4 wagon. So an offering without a dedicated chassis like Miata.

[-]

maxgeek@reddit

Convertibles in general sacrifice performance even the roadsters like Miata, S2000, and etc. A 4 seater convertible can be a great cruise to enjoy the top down experience.

[-]

Energy4Days@reddit

They're for late night drives with two girls that leads to a threesome 🤫

[-]

dopadelic@reddit

Some people just wanna cruise with an open top.

[-]

nachobox@reddit

Heavier and slower than what? The non convertible versions of 4 seater cars are also heavier and slower than 2 seater non convertibles. Not sure what you're getting at.

[-]

surgeon_michael@reddit

I just bought a e46 m3 vert Friday. I have two small kids. It’s perfect. My fast car is a 911 gts which has…two backseats

[-]

OtterCreek_Andrew@reddit

I’m not a convertible guy

But I have great memories of my friends dad taking us out in one as kids. My friends mom and dad in the front and me and my friend in back. We were probably 8 or 9. Top down just cruising and having a ball. So I could see a case for mom and dad up front and kids in the back family cruising.

[-]