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Original poster

to buy a convertible

41 replies

spongebobpineapplepants · 08/09/2017 20:30

When I could buy a family car... said convertible is small, two doors, no boot and I have a 4 yo.
Points for- I get to tart about like a right Wally in a new convertible which has heaters round the neck and boiling hot seats so I can drive around with the roof down as long as the sun is out. I've never owned a convertible so could be being a bit naive though.
I rarely have passengers but the car has 4 full adult seats. I don't use my boot. I am so lazy I put my shopping on front seat always. I shop every day as I'm too disorganised to remember to buy what I need have an addiction to supermarkets
I have always wanted one and wish I'd owned it before 4yo but no good looking back!

Against - I have a 4 yo. Feel guilty about buying impractical car that isn't a 4x4 or whatever the safest thing is out there... have driven lots of family cars but never feel like I want one.
It's raining heavy now. Highlights the use of a convertible in the uk. Roofs are fairly useful on a car.

OP posts:
Oysterbabe · 08/09/2017 20:33

I'll admit I'm not a car person but I particularly have never seen the appeal of a convertible. Yanbu to get one if you want one though.

NancyDonahue · 08/09/2017 20:51

I think they're a bit pointless in this country. Plus I prefer something solid above my head in case of accident.

Apileofballyhoo · 08/09/2017 20:59

My sister has one, 2 DCs. Seem to manage car seats and weekends away ok. It's a sporty version of a sensible family car so I'm sure it's quite safe.

Original poster
spongebobpineapplepants · 08/09/2017 21:04

Thanks. Yes definitely pointless. I live in one of the driest parts of the country however I believe a roof is necessary for most days in the uk Grin
The car got 5* on eu safety. Would only drive with roof down when not with dc but that's most of the week and part of weekends. Need a new car but could definitely buy something practical. I drive less than 10k miles a year so not like I'm driving day in day out.
Need to either be talked into or out of it. Have left a deposit on it on a whim today and need to report back in the morning. Ahhhh.

OP posts:
MaryShelley1818 · 08/09/2017 21:05

I'm on my 3rd convertible...absolutely adore it and plenty of opportunities for the roof down! There's no better feeling 😊

MumsOnCrack · 08/09/2017 21:06

I work for a car manufacturer and we get our pick but, honestly, they're a pain in the arse. I've now got a huge 4X4 and it's amazing. Even the one time you need to give someone and lift and can't, its crap. Just sayin'

MumsOnCrack · 08/09/2017 21:07

And it's freezing in the winter.

If you want one I'd wait until it's really cold and you'll get a discount. Don't buy now...

MumsOnCrack · 08/09/2017 21:08

Personally, I'd buy one in Jan - they're mega cheap. No one wants one!

Albertschair · 08/09/2017 21:09

I'm not sure this is the time of year to enjoy a convertible.

Hard or soft top?

New or second hand?

Worst case scenario and you hate it. And you want a different car come March, then can you afford to lose the depreciation in value? If yes, totally buy it. Enjoy it. And if you hate it swap next year

RandomUsernameHere · 08/09/2017 21:11

Is it going to be your only car? Are you planning to have any more DC?

Orangebird69 · 08/09/2017 21:17

I've got a convertible as my 'special' car and a 4x4 as my 'daily' car. My poor convertible just sits on the drive looking sad most of the time. I have a toddler and CBA to change the seat over etc and I can't fit his buggy in the boot so I use my 4x4 all the time.But I luffs my ragtop and I'm keeping it. It's old (20yrs) though. Potentially a classic I think. It's maintained etc. Can't wait for a toddler free sunny day. Maybe in 2020 😭

Whiterabbitears · 08/09/2017 21:18

OK this is really boring but I don't think they're healthy for you. I was at a stop smoking course (NHS) and we did carbon monoxide breathing tests on ourselves, a mix of smokers and non smokers. One of my colleagues had never smoked but his breathing test scored really high for carbon monoxide, higher than the smokers, in the fact his was the highest there. The tutor asked how he got to the course and my colleague said he had drove there in his convertible. We were told that was probably the reason why and that because he driven with the roof down it meant he had an abnormally high carbon monoxide reading because he had been exposed to traffic fumes.

Now this could all be a load of bollocks and a massive co incidence but the bloke had never smoked. There could of course be another explanation for the high reading but it put me off travelling in a convertible.

hennaoj · 08/09/2017 21:19

Get it, drive it with the roof down whenever its not raining or when you are going fast enough so that the rain doesn't go in (worked in a mk 1 mx5). Have warm coats and heating on full blast in the winter. It's great fun, I miss mine.

Poshjock · 08/09/2017 21:20

I have a 2 seater soft top - It's totally impractical and I love it! It's my second and when it's done (145K on the clock at the moment) I will get another.

I manage it in Scotland - top down as often as possible. It's not as cold as you'd think - excellent heating in the seats and around your legs and middle. I love my car! But I am a petrolhead and a biker too.

Try it...

PianoThirty · 08/09/2017 21:27

Depends on the roads you drive on. If your commute is mostly dual-carriageway or motorway, having the roof down is just too noisy for comfort. If your commute is in the city, you can feel quite vulnerable stopped at the traffic lights with the roof down and yobs kids milling around.

The ideal environment for a convertible is on quiet country roads.

nocake · 08/09/2017 21:31

The best car I ever owned was a convertible. I drove it with the top down as much as possible. It was no problem in winter because you just whack the heater on.

If you want one, go for it.

MirandaWest · 08/09/2017 21:36

DH has a Saab 9-3 convertible. He got it a few months ago and has been enjoying it very much Smile I have a very boring Ford C-Max. Probably the combination of both cars works well. There are two dc here but 13 and 11 so no car seats etc needed

Original poster
spongebobpineapplepants · 08/09/2017 21:52

Brand new. Has 4 adult seats but only 2 doors, electric seats go forward with one touch and automatically adjust back without hitting anything in the way behind them.
My dd climbs out the front door of current car anyway despite it having back doors and is able to put in and take off seatbelt in car seat on her own anyway. Fantastically lazy Mum has her well trained
And yes I always check it before I drive off.
I could buy 4x4 and drove one today but I'm useless with big cars. I've never used all 5 seats in current car and tbh was reduced to 4 seats for a couple of years after I bought apparently safest available car seat when dd was born small rocket launcher took up so much space now have normal seat.
Feel like I'm making excuses for convertible though now haha.

OP posts:
Original poster
spongebobpineapplepants · 08/09/2017 22:01

Oh yes no more kids. They wouldn't fit in the new car?!

OP posts:
toomanydicksonthedancefloor1 · 08/09/2017 22:30

Well I'm going to go against the grain and say go for it if you want one!

I've had convertibles in my younger years, but since starting TTC I've had 3 4X4s which were practical and good cars but didn't excite me. I love cars!

4 months ago I got a BMW 435 convertible and I haven't regretted it for a second. We have been able to have the roof down loads this summer - even though we live in the north! It has full size seats. And I have a 4 year old and a 2 year old and there's plenty of space for us all in it. The pushchair fits in the boot even with the roof down. I don't usually have a passenger in the front so I put shopping in the front seat and foot wells.

I think as long as you have thought it through thoroughly and are prepared for the disadvantages then go for it. I don't have as much boot space as before. I can't take the kids bikes in it, or take stuff to the tip anymore. It's much lower down. As it's 2 doors they are much bigger doors so harder getting kids in/out in tight parking spaces. I have to clamber into the back to fasten the kids into their car seats.

But for me the positives are far greater. I feel happy every time I drive my car now. It's really reignited my love of cars.

Do it Smile

toomanydicksonthedancefloor1 · 08/09/2017 22:33

Oops crossed posts! Pleased to see other people are saying to go for it too.

Forgot to add the kids also love it with the roof down!

Original poster
spongebobpineapplepants · 08/09/2017 22:47

Thanks! I never use my boot. I'm 30 and look younger so feel could still get away with the roof down without frightening anyone just yet.
Boot was used once upon a time with pram but don't have that any anymore. Shopping always put in front seat now even though I have a massive boot. Still haven't discovered what my freezers for so shop fresh and waaayyy too often.
I live in an area where no need to drive and bikes etc easily ridden in nice area with parks around in walking distance, no need to drive anywhere good transport links and I'm so shit at parking I literally only take car out if I really need to. Love walking so car would probably get used for couple of trips a day tops. In fact getting into test drive the car today made me realise I hadn't driven for a few days. So is basically a toy that I want to own before I'm too disheveled to get away with it. But honestly wondering if I'm gonna sit there in the winter thinking wtf was I thinking Grin

OP posts:
toomanydicksonthedancefloor1 · 08/09/2017 23:14

Sounds like
You've already talked yourself into it! X

BonnieF · 08/09/2017 23:22

I used to own a Mercedes SLK. They 2 seater cars, but if you can live with that, they are absolutely brilliant. SLKs have a superbly designed folding hard-top, which means that with the roof up the car is as refined and quiet as any other coupe, but with the lid down you have a proper convertible. I used to have the roof down all the time, even in winter. I loved mine and I miss it.

toomanydicks has great taste in cars. If I could afford a BMW 435 convertible, I would buy one tomorrow.

RandomlyGenerated · 08/09/2017 23:31

You need a soft top - you don't need a dull, heavy, slow tank that you will hate.

I can get a weeks worth of food shopping or three large teenagers into a 2+2 (although the teenagers do have to bend in slightly odd ways and you don't want to be going over too many speed bumps) so they are entirely practical.

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