Best family convertible?

[EarSlaps]

We're thinking of replacing our second car with something a little bit more 'fun', and wondering about a convertible.

Initially we thought of a hard top, as it would have to be parked outside all year round (and sometimes under a lot of trees with birds and sap), but soft top gives a lot more choice. I suppose we could always cover it with some sort of fitted tarpaulin cover?

It would be used for DH to get to work (not every day, he gets the bus at least half the time) and for weekend fun trips out. We want one with four proper seats, i.e. a bit of leg room in the back. It wouldn't need any boot space really, just enough for a picnic, a little bit of shopping or similar as we have an Audi A4 Avant too. Our DCs are 2 and nearly 5, so they will be in car seats for a while longer so they need to fit in.

We like the look of the VW Eos or the Saab convertible, or even the Mini if you can seat people in the back (and we could potentially fit that in our garage if we cleared out the rubbish in there!). What are soft tops like to use in the winter?

Has anyone got a convertible with such young children? DH also questioned whether they are safe with such young children (our elder son is very safety conscious but who knows with the little one)?

I also gather it's much better to buy in the winter, but we're just getting ideas at the moment.

Thanks in advance.

There aren't many 4 seat convertibles to choose from - aside from the ones you've mentioned there is the Audi A4, BMW 3 series and Merc C or E class convertibles. Depending on budget, there's the BMW 6 series too.

There are a few convertible hatchbacks, the MINI as you mentioned, Audi A3 and Golf and probably others.

I don't think there's much difference between fixed, hard and soft tops in winter; any car is bloody cold when you first get it, then it warms up.

Work out how much space you lose in the boot with the roof down. How much stuff do you need to take on a picnic with a 2 year old?

In terms of safety, can the youngest undo his/her seatbelt? If not, I doubt there's much to worry about.

You would never get two baby seats in back of mini.
Most convertibles are small in the back, so I'd check if you have enough room for child seats.

It needs to be really really warm weather to sit in the back at speed in a convertible. Otherwise the children freeze in my experience!

We took a Volvo c70 for a spin and were very tempted by that. It had a big boot space, was very blustery in the back seat but you can get an optional shield to cut this down. We ended up with a more sensible xc60

Thanks all.

The Volvo looks nice too but the reviews aren't great. Looks spacious though. The BMW 3 series gets good reviews. But I have been in love with the Saab for a long time!

I doubt we'd go anywhere at speed in the convertible. It would be for local trips mostly. But DS does get pretty chilly at the best of times.

I have a c3 and it's got 2 biggest seats at the back. Can easy fit 1 car seat (that's all I need) and an adult so another car seat would def go in. I love my car as well as you can have it loads of different ways not just the roof down. You tube it and you will see what I mean. The d3 is out but not looked at that.

I have a Saab and it's great but it was chilly back in a May and they needed extra jumpers despite the sun. Although the seats are wide in the back there still isn't much leg room. If they are seat kickers or you are precious about seat backs getting marked maybe not.
However once you get used to the quirks -key by the gear stick, lots of wind in the hair and having to wear sunglasses or risk getting fluffy eyeballs, it's great.
The kids really love it. Everyone thinks it looks lovely (and think it's twice the price I paid for it). They are good value as people tend to use them as second cars so lots have low mileage.

Sounds lovely revealall, I do love the Saab.

I had a nose at my neighbour's Mini convertible- much more leg room than I would have thought and the boot wasn't too tiny. Plus it fits in her garage and thus should fit in ours. Narrow seats in the back though but we only have two children.

We used to have the C70 and the kids loved it. It's a good solid car too.