Mercedes S class cabrio.

[Galaxy]

All in all it is a beautiful car, Mercedes has the most progressive styling of all the german car makers right now. I am still not a fan of the huge caving that the instruments are hiding in, however I do not hate it as I used to. Maybe it is a better solution then the iPad on the dash.

However there is one thing they really botched on this car imo, and that becomes apparent in the last picture. They have created a land yacht of a cabrio, and yet it still suffers from lack of rear leg room like most other cabrios. This is the one thread in all of Carspin history that Wimmer should spam with 1960s American cars. Seriously, Mercedes should have really benchmarked a 1964 Lincoln Continental Cabrio. At least when it comes to leg room. Maybe Mercedes should have been a bit more daring and made this a 4 door like the concept a few years ago.

[AutobahnSHO]

no doubt.  I want a true 4-seat 'vert.

[giant_mtb]

Have there been any 4-door convertibles?  I can't recall any in my lifetime.

[Rich]

I felt the same way about the legroom.

If you're a luxury automaker and you don't have a rival for this car, you're doing it wrong, imo.

I don't know how I feel about the all digital dash in a straigh up luxo car. I know it's the "future," but it's just a flat rectangle. With real gauges it gives the opportunity for some craftsmanship to come through in design. Instead it's just software.

[AutobahnSHO]

I don't know how I feel about the all digital dash in a straigh up luxo car. I know it's the "future," but it's just a flat rectangle. With real gauges it gives the opportunity for some craftsmanship to come through in design. Instead it's just software.

in-laws have a really nice new Sorrento with digital dash. Looks very nice, the digital gauges are so much nicer in appearance than cheap plastic needles etc...

[RomanChariot]

This will make a really nice car for politicians to ride in during parades.

[Byteme]

Have there been any 4-door convertibles?  I can't recall any in my lifetime.

Lincoln in the 60's was the last. 

[Speed_Racer]

Lincoln in the 60's was the last. 

You can always get one custom

[12,000 RPM]

Looks cheap

Hoping for B-pillarless 4 door S class coupe. Would never buy but it should be made. CLS should have been b pilalrless

[Cookie Monster]

How does it look cheap?

[12,000 RPM]

Looks like my MIL's 200 convertible in the rear 3/4 with roof up

Y u no hardtop

Compare to RR Ghost or Landaulet. "B-b-b-but they cost 2x as much!" OK, even same price SL looks more special/expensive. This looks cheaper than the sedan for some reason, just on the exterior though.

[MX793]

You can always get one custom

If you open all of the doors at once, it's impossible to close them again.

[Laconian]

Yeah, why isn't there a hardtop? Even my Infiniti Sentra has a hardtop.

[12,000 RPM]

If you open all of the doors at once, it's impossible to close them again.

No way. For real?

[Raza]

Have there been any 4-door convertibles?  I can't recall any in my lifetime.

The Lincoln one from Entourage. But that's probably from the 70s or 60s.

[Raza]

Looks like my MIL's 200 convertible in the rear 3/4 with roof up

Y u no hardtop

Compare to RR Ghost or Landaulet. "B-b-b-but they cost 2x as much!" OK, even same price SL looks more special/expensive. This looks cheaper than the sedan for some reason, just on the exterior though.

I don't see what you see. I think it looks good. Pointless, but good.

And hardtop convertibles need to die, they're a terrible idea. Hey, want a convertible that can either have a trunk or a roof? Then this is your answer! Just press this button and half an hour later, the overly complicated roof will fill your entire trunk and then you can drive around in style, letting the wind through your hairpiece!

[Raza]

Yeah, why isn't there a hardtop? Even my Infiniti Sentra has a hardtop.

Hey honey, the weather is nice. Let's go on a little roadtrip, it'd be lovely!
Oh, I agree, dear, we should put the convertible roof down, I'd love to feel the wind in my hair!
Indeed, sweetie, let's pack the luggage and then box the luggage and have it mailed to our destination, since it will never fit in our pathetic excuse for a trunk if we want to use the convertible part of our convertible!

[2o6]

I think a lot of soft tops are really just hardtops without the metalwork, often times the folding mechanism is similar to the regular hard top.



NVH issues on big cars like these mean that most likely a soft top will never return (or at least a space saving one that you're alluding to.




Also, the one in the 3-series is reasonably compact.

[Madman]

I don't want the peasants to be able to see me! 

[Raza]

I think a lot of soft tops are really just hardtops without the metalwork, often times the folding mechanism is similar to the regular hard top.



NVH issues on big cars like these mean that most likely a soft top will never return (or at least a space saving one that you're alluding to.




Also, the one in the 3-series is reasonably compact.

Oh yeah, very compact:


In the Z4, cargo space is unaffected by stowing the roof. And for something more comparable, this is a E class convertible trunk:



Soft tops > Hard tops.

[12,000 RPM]

Z4 is a 2 seater, roof is damn near nonexistent. I.e. no C pillar. 4 seater roof is 2x as big, obviously it's going to take up more room.

And for travel for 2 people you can keep your luggage in the back seat. If u stop off for gas u just have to close the roof.... as any rational person with or without luggage in a convertible would do anyway.

[Cookie Monster]

Hard tops are horrible. I wince every time I see a PRHT Miata. They look so fucking awkward, and at least in the Miata's case, it's actually louder on the inside because the plastic PRHT panels don't absorb noise as well as the ragtop does.

If you're going to make a convertible, at least make it a proper one, not this "best of both worlds" bullshit awkward ass complicated folding hardtop crap.

[12,000 RPM]

They should make a optional hardtop like the R129. Case close

[Submariner]

Z4 is a 2 seater, roof is damn near nonexistent. I.e. no C pillar. 4 seater roof is 2x as big, obviously it's going to take up more room.

And for travel for 2 people you can keep your luggage in the back seat. If u stop off for gas u just have to close the roof.... as any rational person with or without luggage in a convertible would do anyway.

Not long after my brother was born (1996), my family was taking 3-4 day summer trips in my dads E320 'vert (the W124 chassis from 1995).  I may have only needed one small(ish) bag because I was still fairly small, but my baby brother needed a collapsable stroller.  The luggage/stroller fit nicely in the trunk save for the diaper bag which sat in-between myself and his carseat in the back. 

For them, it was nice to be able to have a family vacation and use a convertible.  I'm sure many consumers feel the same way.

[68_427]

I want one to air out.  Slam that bish on the ground

[Raza]

Z4 is a 2 seater, roof is damn near nonexistent. I.e. no C pillar. 4 seater roof is 2x as big, obviously it's going to take up more room.

And for travel for 2 people you can keep your luggage in the back seat. If u stop off for gas u just have to close the roof.... as any rational person with or without luggage in a convertible would do anyway.

Z4 is a two seater, which I acknowledged by showing a picture of the more comparable E class convertible, which is a four seater, and roughly the same size as a G37 and 3. The E class has ample room in the trunk with the roof down and an opening that's at least twice the size of the 3er.

And no, it is not rational to put your luggage in the back seat and just put the roof up every time you stop. Cars have areas that are designated for putting cargo in, they're called trunks. 

[Raza]

They should make a optional hardtop like the R129. Case close

You do realize that the R129 had a clip on hardtop, not a folding one, right? Having an optional hard cover for the roof when it's up doesn't address any issue with convertible usage, all it does it make it so you can't put the roof down.

[MrH]

Not long after my brother was born (1996), my family was taking 3-4 day summer trips in my dads E320 'vert (the W124 chassis from 1995).  I may have only needed one small(ish) bag because I was still fairly small, but my baby brother needed a collapsable stroller.  The luggage/stroller fit nicely in the trunk save for the diaper bag which sat in-between myself and his carseat in the back. 

For them, it was nice to be able to have a family vacation and use a convertible.  I'm sure many consumers feel the same way.

Lol, what? No, very very few consumers feel that way. The market for four seat convertibles has dropped like a rock.

If a family of four is going on vacation, space, utility, fuel efficiency, and comfort are the important things. Very few families are putting a convertible at the top of that list.

[12,000 RPM]

You do realize that the R129 had a clip on hardtop, not a folding one, right? Having an optional hard cover for the roof when it's up doesn't address any issue with convertible usage, all it does it make it so you can't put the roof down.

I know

It looks better though

Z4 is a two seater, which I acknowledged by showing a picture of the more comparable E class convertible, which is a four seater, and roughly the same size as a G37 and 3. The E class has ample room in the trunk with the roof down and an opening that's at least twice the size of the 3er.

And no, it is not rational to put your luggage in the back seat and just put the roof up every time you stop. Cars have areas that are designated for putting cargo in, they're called trunks. 

No, my point was to keep your luggage in the back seat instead of the trunk if you don't have people there.

[Raza]

I know

It looks better thoughNo, my point was to keep your luggage in the back seat instead of the trunk if you don't have people there.

I know. And my point is that's neither a good idea nor a smart thing to do. It makes your car a target when parked and/or forces someone to always stay with the car.