Short of owning a motorcycle, arguably a convertible offers both driver and passenger a sense of freedom on the roadway like no other set of wheels.
But like any style of auto, the convertible has a host of great benefits and not-so-great drawbacks. In the end, it all boils down to your lifestyle choices and your risk comfort.
Unfortunately, convertibles aren’t as popular as they were last decade. The market for convertibles has dropped steadily since its peak in 2004, according to Bloomberg Business. Sales have plunged 44 percent since convertible car manufacturers’ high tide mark of 465,800 cars sold that year. So if you’re buying solely on popularity – SUVs - which have doubled in sales, may be the way to go.
But let’s get back to buying and owning a convertible.
Data on Accidents Involving Convertibles
Statistically, the good news is that a 2007 study into death rates among people involved in an accident while inside a convertible appears to be no greater than those with fixed roofs, according to a report by the Insurance institute for Highway Safety Highway Loss Data Institute.
However, the data is a bit more complicated than it first appears. The report also shows that there were “a greater proportion of deaths of convertible drivers” involving rollover crashes. Having a hardtop creates a safety cage around occupants, who have a better chance of withstanding a rollover accident. A convertible top means occupants aren’t full enclosed so protection is diminished.
New developments in safety technology has helped minimize the convertible’s Achilles heel. These technological advances, which include stability control, side airbags, and roll bars, and the fact that convertibles are typically heavier than your traditional hardtop cars, have made convertibles more “crashworthy,” added Adrian Lund, president of the institute, in the report.
The benefit of the technology improvements is clear. In 1990, according to IIHS’s Highway Loss Data Institute, the driver death rate per mission registered 1-3 year old softops was 72.8 in rollovers while that number was 29.1 in similar accident involving hardtops. However, by 2005 driver death rates fell to 19.8 in rollover crashes and hardtop death rates fell to 20.6, the institute reports.
Another safety issue convertible drivers faced were accidents due to blind spots. Convertibles usually have a smaller rear windows so a driver’s range of vision, especially when pulling out in front of traffic, can be challenged. Again, new technologies like blind-spot warning systems, parking sensors, and rearview cameras are options that can offset this safety issue, according to Edmunds.com.
The pros of owning a convertible
Coolness and freedom factors aside, today’s convertibles are better designed than the ragtops of yesteryear. Although today’s convertibles require a little more maintenance to keep the roofs clean and protected from UV rays, convertible car ownership is relatively the same amount of work as owning a hardtop.
Many convertibles have thicker roofs so wind noise is greatly diminished and problems with leaks aren’t as prevalent as they once were. These more robust roofs are better insulated too so most convertibles owners no longer have to garage their vehicles when it’s really cold and the air conditioning works well if you need to put the roof up when it's too hot.
Moreover, most convertible cars have mechanical systems to raise and lower the roof. This is a nice feature especially when you want to raise the top quickly in an unexpected downpour.
The drawbacks of owning a convertible
There is usually little difference between the cost of owning a convertible and a hardtop car. However, things can get expensive quickly, especially if the rooftop mechanical system breaks, in which case the repair or replacement costs can be high. If you want to eliminate mechanical system issues consider buying a manual top - but be prepared that it’ll be more work for you.
Convertible owners also need special cleaning products to wash their tops and then a conditioner treatment, which helps protect the top against damaging UV sun rays.
The other drawback is interior space. Convertibles are designed to be store the roof in a folded down position so manufacturers typically either decrease the rear seat room, trunk space, or both to accommodate this need. Most likely you’ll have a hard choice whether to make a convertible your primary “family car.”
Do you own or have you owned a convertible? Share your story in the comment field below.