Best (and Worst) convertible translations

[CJ]

One of the best:

That's Barry Wolk's Continental.  It's not a Lincoln. 

[Cookie Monster]

Worst:

[Eye of the Tiger]

'scuse me?

[Raza]

Worst:

Quoi?

[Onslaught]

I never thought that the 911 of any year model made a good looking convertible. So much better with a real roof.

[Cookie Monster]

'scuse me?

The whole rear end looks puffy and bulbous to me... the coupe's rear looks muscular, the cab's just looks fat.

[Eye of the Tiger]

It's rear-engined, you dipstick.

[Cookie Monster]

It's rear-engined, you dipstick.

No shit, which is why it looks fat when it has a roof piled on top of that which is why I think it looks horrible.

I like the older 911 cabs, because the roofs actually stick out of the body, like in the pic Hemi posted.

[Tave]

Although I see where you're comming from, I think those pictures are exaggerating the effect. It looks more supple and lean in real life.

[CJ]

The 911 Cabriolet is quite possibly one of the best looking convertibles ever made.

[Tave]

I never found the 911 to be the "beauty queen" of the exotics.

Or of everything else, for that matter. I think they look great, but not all that.

[J86]

I've always wanted to like 911 cabs more than I do.  (Considering the hardtop is maybe my favorite car)


I do like the 964 911 cab the best probably.

[Cookie Monster]

Although I see where you're comming from, I think those pictures are exaggerating the effect. It looks more supple and lean in real life.

Eh, even in person I don't like them.

Then again I hate convertibles, so that may be clouding my judgement.

[2o6]

I've always thought the 1st gen Sebring Convertible was attractive.

Really, the 90's, early 2000's is when Chrysler/Dodge was in it's groove in terms of styling.

[J86]

I've always thought the 1st gen Sebring Convertible was attractive.

Really, the 90's, early 2000's is when Chrysler/Dodge was in it's groove in terms of styling.

Man, I don't like cutting people over the internet, but you are completely off the fucking reservation.

[2o6]

Man, I don't like cutting people over the internet, but you are completely off the fucking reservation.

For it's price point, I think it looks pretty good.


I think the entire JA cloud car lineup looks great. The Sebring and Avenger coupe also looked good.

[Tave]

I've always liked the first gen too, and don't forget that it was one of the most popular 'verts in the world. People bought them because they looked good.

[Eye of the Tiger]

[2o6]

It was never a coupe or sedan.


It doesn't qualify.

[Eye of the Tiger]

It was never a coupe or sedan.


It doesn't qualify.

Oh yeah?

[SVT666]

I never found the 911 to be the "beauty queen" of the exotics.

Or of everything else, for that matter. I think they look great, but not all that.

911s are great looking coupes, but as verts they are almost ungainly.

[2o6]

911s are great looking coupes, but as verts they are almost ungainly.

I agree. It has this egg shape going for it that does not work well.

[Rupert]

One of the Worst:

I've been saying that for years and no one else agrees...

[Minpin]

Worst vert ever was the 350z. No competition.

[the Teuton]

Best:

[J86]

I actually really like the 9-3 'vert- good call.

I also think the A4 looks quite nice as well.

[Gotta-Qik-C7]

I always hated the 300ZX Vert and the Dodge Dakota vert.

[Vinsanity]

I also think the A4 looks quite nice as well.

the A4 is ok, but the A5 is one of the few that I'd definitely prefer the coupe version of

[Colin]

The problem with most convertibles is not making them look good with the roof down, it's when the roof is up that they look gawky.

I agree with Nick that the Solara is a complete munter...... but then the coupe version is pretty hideous, too!

Other recent visual dogs include all Peugeots (but then the regular cars are ghastly, too), and the Focus CC. I'm not impressed by the Lexus IS-C with the roof up, and with roof down it's not a styling winner. The A3 Cabrio is nice with the roof down, but it looks odd with eroof up, as the back end is so short. No prizes to the Pontiac G6 convertible, either.

I do like the latest Alfa Spider - better than the Brera. The A4 Cabrio (B6/7 models) were good. The latest Mustang works well in drop top form. The 1 series is probably better, or rather less bad, as a cabrio, but familiarity with the various models has made it less visually challenging than when it first appeared.

[ChrisV]

The way to the roof stacks up so high the rearview mirror is useless.  With the roof down and stacked up, it just doesn't look that good.  

That was mostly a German/Euro thing for decades. American convertibles folded the tops away out of sight, while Germans had them stacked up outside on so many cars.









Contrast that to even my era Comet:



or the full size converts from the '60s..

The problem with most convertibles is not making them look good with the roof down, it's when the roof is up that they look gawky.

The point of a convertible is to have the top down, so part of the design is really to want to make you put the top down. I personally don't give two shits what the convert looks like with the top up, as it's supposed to be down. The top may be up in inclement weather, but if it's shitty out, I'm not looking to see how beautiful the car is.

Top down motoring is a sublime experience, especially on days like today where it's 68-74 degrees out and not humid. With a convertible, I live for spring and fall, and clear winter days and summer evenings.