Thread 28597964

2000s was really the golden age of the cheap convertible. There were so many different cheap convertibles especially hardtop convertibles that you could drive the whole year. The Peugeot 206CC, Opel Tigra Twintop, Renault Megane CC, Ford Focus CC and Mitsubishi Colt CC to name a few.

Now hardtop convertibles are almost completely extinct. And besides the Fiat 500 Cabrio there really aren't any cheap convertibles at all for sale. How did the convertible market crash so quickly?

>>28597964 (OP)
Why would you want a car without a roof, which only sometimes has a hard roof?

Besides, a car without a roof has nothing but disadvantages: smaller trunk, greater weight, less rigidity, higher price.

>>28597964 (OP)
>>28597980
Convertibles are best enjoyed as second cars, and no one has the money for that anymore. Also, all nu cars are cuckovers, which naturally won’t have a convertible variant.

A Mazda mx-5 rf starts around 30k. That is pretty cheap for today's standards.

>>28598122
What do you think you got with one of the shitters OP mentioned? Plus the Miata is at least RWD with a great chassis, the cars OP is talking about are all FWD econocuckshit with the roof chopped off.

>Wrong wheel drive
If I will have to deal with constant gay jokes, at least let me pretend I am driving a sports car.
It's no wonder Miata is the only mainstay of that market segment.
>>28597985
>which naturally won’t have a convertible variant
Doesn't stop them from trying bro

>>28597985
>which naturally won’t have a convertible variant
I honestly have no idea why, I'd like a slightly lifted possibly awd convertible. Mine sits too low and has no skid plates.
There were like three attempts at it in total, not counting t-tops and targas, all seem to be retarded.

>>28598128
>Wrong wheel drive
Means more trunk space, more leg space and probably a normal spare tire. And mainly
>cheap
which is the main point of the OP. Keeping it cheap and somewhat utilitarian (e.g. trunk big enough for grocery shopping and other errands) helps to keep such convertibles less specialized, in other words, people would buy and use them more often.
>>28597980
Because driving without it is cool.

>>28598156
Driving roof-down is only cool if you can enjoy the car.
Cutting the roof off an otherwise miserable economy car does not suddenly make it fun or good.

>>28597980
For me personally it took me a while to finally understand that I don't enjoy roofless as much as doorless. Had suzuki samurai and no roof was ok but no doors is something completely different.
Could kinda get away with it back in the day, tried that with double cab hilux and it didn't last hundred miles before I got caught by poo-lice.

>>28598191
>miserable car with roof
>miserable car without roof
Which one is more cool I wonder

>>28597964 (OP)
convertibles fucking suck.
as soon as I got a hard top for my miata, it literally never came off.

>>28597964 (OP)
I live in the UK, wtf do I need a convertible for?

>>28598328
You must be brown
Indigenous Bongs love convertibles and open roadsters despite their meme shitty climate.

>>28598328
UK has the highest per capita convertible sales in Europe.

>>28598328
For 4 days of british summer

>>28598367
>>28598380
>>28598431
so many autistic bong fags trying to justify their purchase of picrel itt
just admit it, you look ridiculous, and your stupid topless car is rusting away, like tears in rain

>>28598436
Are you seething because in a 'vert everyone can see that you are brown?
I'm not a Bong and never been to Bongland but we must've hit a nerve lol

>>28598442
>I'm not a Bong and never been to Bongland but we must've hit a nerve lol
no nerve hit. I'm just incredulous at my fellow bongs advocating for convertibles, when as this anon points out: >>28598431, we have 0 need for them.

>>28598446
>>28598431
why do people think convertibles are only usable or good in the summer?

>>28598446
Post hand Ahmed

>>28597985
>>28598145
Volkswagen did make one but I'm not sure if it's a success.

>>28598126
Those econobox convertibles offered you a hardtop convertible that you could drive around even in the winter because of the hardtop. And they cost 2/3rd of what a soft top MX5 cost.

>>28598477
Oh and they did have 4 seats. (though realistically with something like a Peugeot 207CC you could only fit 3 people since there wouldn't be enough room behind the driver)

>>28598472
They still do, but the car is pretty retarded as a softroader:
>fwd only
>all engines available are anemic
>no gearbox with torque converter to compensate for the problems above
For me buying it would be a downgrade.

There's also a Mondeo with RR badge and ridiculous price for its underpowered 2 liter engine that can't even work together with the 9spd gearbox.

NGL I always wanted a solara or something that seats 4 so I can bring 3 German shepherds with me in a drop top. No sebrings because I expect to make it to my destination.

>>28598479
There was a number of verts with rather usable rear seats. And some even had trunks with pass-though.

>>28598114
No, the soft top starts at $30k.
RF starts at $38k.

>>28598490
I mean most cuckovers people are buying are never going to be driven offroad and have 4 cylinder engines that lack power.

>>28598499
Yeah but something like a Peugeot 307CC which had usable backseats also had basically the same price tag as an MX5. So your options were an econobox with usable backseats or an MX5 without backseats.

>>28598510
Nah. Other Land Rovers are still cuckovers very rarely driven offroad yet they have more powerful engines. So are BMWs starting with the X3.

>>28598514
So basically these two options:
>somewhat practical funny econobox
or
>meme car for tryhards

>>28598502
Are you calling me a liar, boy?

>>28597964 (OP)
It was the golden age of cheap cars period. We didn’t get a lot of these cheap Euro convertibles outside of the VW Eos and Golf Cabriolet in the US, but I always liked them. I think Buick rebadged an Opel convertible for us one time too.
I’m also very partial to the StreetKa.

>>28598868
Wasn't StreetKa basically the cheapest convertible? It was 12500 pounds new. Was there anything cheaper at the time? Even something like Peugeot 206 CC started at 13k+

>>28598868
The Cascada, which was basically an Astra (or Verano) with the roof chopped off. That was near the end of the econovert hype train though, Opel was building steel-top convertibles out of the Corsa (with the Tigra Twintop) and Astra long before that.

>>28597964 (OP)
I have a friend with a candy red one of those.

BL product with rear engine in the room.

>>28598114
Euros love trannyverse FWD cuckboxes

>>28598872
An another Opel that did get to the US

>>28598931
Was Saab Opel now. Its death throws were in GMs hands.

>>28598624
>euro
4k is still a significant amount to be off by

Mini Convertible, starting from 31k Eur or so

What year Miata should I be looking for if I want a cheap toy that will last for awhile?
Is the liability only insurance cost going to be insane if I’m in my late 20s? No accidents, incidents, claims or anything on my record and it would be in addition to my daily beater.

>>28597964 (OP)
I always hated those handlebars on the trunk.

>>28598624
Taxes are different in every shithole.

>>28599262
Just go to the insurance website and find out faggot.

>>28598871
I believe it was. I guess it was essentially Ford Europe’s answer to the Kei car in a way

>>28599262
I'm pretty sure insurance websites have calculators. So find a Miata you want to buy and use those websites to calculate your insurance.

If you want it to last for a while and not rust too much. Honestly it might make sense to get an NC Miata even though they are hated.

>>28598204
>Doesn't have sports car pedigree
>Yet makes sacrifices of practicality
We go back to >>28597985 being right, convertibles are second cars or you end up in a cope mobile
Maybe that is what one of the Cs in CC stands for

>>28599688
>sports car pedigree
AHAHAHAHAHA
Seriously though, the entire thread is about the cheapest part of the market, anon.
>Yet makes sacrifices of practicality
Can say that about anything lesser than the Suburban (and still get replies that it lacks the bed, or the roof is too low so trucks or vans are more practical)
>convertibles are second cars or you end up in a cope mobile
I agree, but because of the different reason: precipitation. Not every part of the world is suitable for driving in a 'vert every day all year round without significant maintenance efforts (i.e. waterproofing).
I think you're also missing the part that there always has been a distinction between the GT cars and the roadsters. None are "better", their applications are slightly different, both can be convertibles.

>>28597964 (OP)
Car manufacturers came to a realization at some point, which flipped the scope of the new car market on it's head. This realization was that people need cars, so no matter what the car market looks like, people will still buy them because they need them. This realization told manufacturers that they could phase out anything that didn't sell in high quantities, and that they should just make a narrower selection of vehicles that satisfy the largest swath of consumers as possible, and not only will people continue to buy their vehicles, but they would make more ,money because the expense of making fewer different models of vehicles costs them less so they make more profit.

Manufacturers basically realized that it was they who controlled the market, not the consumer. This became the death of creativity and the death of variety. And now we're left with a market that's like 80% crossover suv clones and pickup trucks.

>>28597964 (OP)
Convertibles are cars for men, and as you know most cars nowadays are developed with women's sensibilities in mind

>>28598472
I recently learned that these things can come with a manual, doesn't make it a good car but it could be a fun 2nd car

>>28599896
>Convertibles are cars for white men
Fixed.

A reminder you have to actually drive your car to enjoy driving it.
The more it is suitable as a daily the more you're going to drive it and to enjoy it.

one way to enjoy convertibles is if you grew up driving go-karts as a kid.

>>28599810
What is this about GTs?
Did you mean roadsters and convertibles?
Yea, roadsters are a subset but not all sporty droptops are automatically roadsters, for example 3 series convertibles.
>Can say that about anything lesser than the Suburban
Completely out of scope of argument.
>Should I get a 4-seater hatchback with FWD, a 2-seater roadster with RWD or 2-seater convertible based on the FWD hatchback?
In this comparison the third option is a compromise, some would say "cope", without a clear benefit.
If I have to sacrifice practicality, it is reasonable to expect something valuable worth the sacrifice, and the Miata is the only one that provides that value(RWD), and so it endures while all those CCs died out.

I don't know what to tell you bro, I already said in the original post that if one has to deal with constant gay jokes being thrown at them because of their choice of car, at the very least it should be a gay "sports" car and not a gay econobox

>we will never have cheap fwd little 2 seat convertibles like the del sol
>cars are too big to even make something small on the same chassis as the regular car anymore

>>28600148
That's only possible for richfags.

>>28600554
You're seriously going to try to say go karts are for rich people? Are you retarded?

>>28600542
I do a lot of stuff in my four-seater. I just brought a week of groceries (including water) for two people with ragtop down and rear seat empty, I do other shopping and run errands in it, I don't even need another car to get to the airport (enough space not only for two people but for more luggage than these people have bags for), I can give my friends a ride, I can throw bags, clothes and gear in the back which is useful both on longer journeys and for making short trips quicker, and I can tilt my seat back far enough to lie and watch the night sky. All these are the reasons I drive it daily and can enjoy top down experience at every possible occasion, and I won't be able to replace it with a roadster convertible.

Is this clear enough for you to comprehend? If yes, let's move to other topics you touched like wheel drive arrangements and compromises.

>>28600614
Depends on the country, but usually yes, getting children into karting school is not cheap. Other sports are way less expensive.

These are cheap now.

>>28597964 (OP)
>How did the convertible market crash so quickly?
Rollover safety regulations in the US now require a car to support 3x its weight on top without danger to occupants. Making that work is more expensive than previous standards
Still, you can buy a jeep or bronco or Miata

>>28597964 (OP)
Convertibles are total ass as an only car, so cheap ones don't exist anymore. The roof often leaks, doesn't last as long, requires maintenance, is noisier, is more expensive, eats into cargo space, etc. Convertible is cool if you want a second car to cruise in on nice days, but nobody is spending more for a worse car when it's the only one it can afford just so that they can put the top down on a nice day. That's why cheap convertibles are gone.

>>28601537
>govt regs kill fun cars
>every fucking time
Took 60+ replies to get to the real answer

convertibles are fuckin gay which cuts your market in half and they leak and fall apart. that's why. its pretty simple.

>>28601531
Yeah the 2000s convertibles are cheap now. But in 20 years there isn't a single cheap convertible that isn't 40 years old.

>>28601580
But enough of your father's car, tell me about yours.

>>28597964 (OP)
Don't forget the smart roadster.
Probably the best smart ever built.

>>28600704
>getting children into karting school is not cheap
you know you can just buy and use a go kart, right?
the poorest, white trashiest family in my hometown were the ones whos spawn would constantly fly around on dirt bikes, atvs and karts

>>28602096
>driving around
vs
>getting into sports

>>28602242
nobody said anything about getting into competitive motorsports

>>28599907
I was going to contest that but after looking into it, yeah you're right

>>28603337
So we can confidently say that people seething at convertibles are not white or not men enough.

Gonna get one of these for a family convertible (with the 5 speed and M113 V8 obviously) and I already have an R129 with the same drivetrain. Stay mad convertible haters

>>28597964 (OP)
It's fucking heartbreaking.
I bought a 206cc as a daily driver in 2020 and I enjoy every drive with it. Driving around in Switzerland with the roof down makes it a real comfort car.
Unfortunately, the rear axle is fucked and it's a hassle to get a replacement part in non-EU countries. Asked several workshops and they don't want to go through hoops to get parts and do the labour > and the ones that do quoted me above 4k
The car is in ok condition and probably would need a new front steering within the next year or two as well.

So Either I'm doing all the administrative effort myself to fix my soul car, or bite the bullet to get a Cupra Born.

What's your take on my dilemma? Fix ir or not.
2025, 190k km btw

>cupra born
I didn't know certified retards could post in internet without supervision. The magic of llms I guess.

>>28603607
Why don't you give it to me straight my negro?
I'd take my time if I wouldn't be so busy until my MOT comes around. God gifted me with IT-, not car DIY skills.

>>28603503
They aren’t engineered to last longer than 170-200 kkm before issues like that happens, it’s the same with Tigra and small cars in general.
So, scrapyard it is.

>>28603363
Seems to be the case, yeah

>>28603503
Drive to any neighboring country of your choice and get it fixed there. You guys even do grocery shopping at your neighbors, at least those living close to the border.

>>28603687
yea, found one here
https://diehinterachse.de/produkt/hinterachse-peugeot-206-cc
They don't ship to Switzerland, but I guess I can just drop it to one of these packet stations near the border and import it myself. Then I just ask a guy to put it in for me.
Just hope it fits inside my 206cc somewhere.

Hope that can give this 'lil fella a few more years.
I even changed the timing belt and fuel pump not too long ago.

I really should buy some shitty house so I have space for 2 cars and do repairs myself. It's insane how emotionally attached you can grow to these tiny shitboxes.

>>28603903
I'm not talking about importing, I'm talking about going to a cheaper garage on the other side of the border, ordering the part through them and installing it there.

>>28603913
I got that, but the next 2 months are rather stressful due to me having a full time job and getting a degree on the side (exam period), so I won't be able to have an overnight stay within the foreseeable time - which will clash with my MOT. I'm pretty central so going to any bordering workshop is around a 2 hour commitment one way. [spoiler]ergo a world tour for a swiss guy[/spoiler]
I was just told my many workshops that the piece is pretty hard to get in switzerland (it is), but if I get it they'll gladly chuck it in. Guess I just didn't look around properly.
Just had to happen at the worst moment, stars really don't allign atm. But that's another story.

>>28603919
Yeah, deferred maintenance is a bitch that stacks with other things in the worst possible time. Find someone to smuggle it in to save your time, possibly the same guy that is going to install it if you know each other well enough for that.

Shitty ecobox convertibles are so endearing to me. I wish they could be a cost saving measure like they use to be instead of a luxury. I hate being American.

>>28604043
>I hate being American.
Don't you guys have more disposable income than even the wealthiest Euro countries?

>>28604043
Who needs shitty ecobox convertibles when you've got shitty convertibles with V8s?

>>28605303
I hate being Europoor

A bit surprised to find out these (up until 2009) had 3.2L VR6 option and it was possible to swap 4Motion AWD stuff in them.

>ctrl+f "gay"
>posts mention the miata
Like clockwork.

>>28597964 (OP)
Just bought this bad boy for cheap off of Facebook

>>28604852
I'd rather be broke but not have had my foreskin (((stolen))) as an infant

>>28608096
Congrats. 4 or 6 cylinders? How's the condition? Post photos.

Only roadsters are good convertible. Rest is goyslop
>>28597985
Rangy had a convertible evoque

>>28608115
>Rangy had a convertible evoque
See >>28598490

>>28599979
>t. cuckover faggot

>>28608249
Unfortunately, I'm stuck with a regular, non-cuckover convertible.

>>28604043
You had the Chrysler Sebring hardtop Convertible and the Pontiac G6 Convertible. Plus I'm pretty sure VW Eos was sold in US as well.

>>28608388
No offerings from Ford?

>>28609269
Only convertible in the 2000s ford offered in US was the soft top Mustang convertible. In Europe Ford did offer the hardtop Ford Focus CC.

>>28609326
Oh I forgot about the Thunderbird as well.

>>28609332
Noice. I guess it came with removable hard top as an original accessory. Was it cheap though? Looks fancier than the Mustang, has a Jag V8 inside.

wranglers with the top off count as convertibles in my book

>>28609467
Closer to T-top

>>28597964 (OP)
2 door cars are dead in general aside from actual sports cars

>>28609441
>has a Jag V8 inside
More than that, it's on the same S-Type platform that the Lincoln LS uses too. Quite why they decided to make a strange weaker 3.9 version of the engine instead of just using the existing 4.0 is puzzling to me though.

The market is largely filled by jeeps/broncos these days. If you want an open top, that's the way many go now. It's fitting considering it fits in with the death of the sedan for SUV/Crossover designs.
I still like convertibles, especially the cheap ones. Tons of great memories of being driven around in my grandma's LeBaron and my oldest sister's Geo Convertible. Ebb and flow of trends. I think we'll see them return.

>>28610294
>>28609467
Having nothing but the windshield frame above the belt line is a bit different from having the cage (or parts of the roof, or even door frames) in your field of view. You get the wind but you don't get the openness.
>I think we'll see them return.
I very much hope so.

>>28610260
I remember pre-2000 or so aluminium 4.0s suffering from the Nikasil plague. Is it possible that Ford decided to make their own version to distance themselves from the problem both technically and in public view? I mean it's easier to convince people the engines are different if they have different displacement and don't share the block.

>>28603387
>family convertible
you clearly have never had a child if you think that is a family car. it would be a bag of dicks to put a kid in and out of a car seat even with the top down. car seat systems would be severely limited as it doesnt have a anchor system.

>>28611432
>you clearly have never had a child if you think that is a family car.
Not him but I know several family men who get their kids to school in convertibles on a regular basis and the children are overjoyed. Don't think it's their only car, though.
>car seat systems would be severely limited as it doesnt have a anchor system.
My 'vert from 2004 has those in the rear seat, anon.

It ended with g class

>>28597964 (OP)
Every single complaint you have about modern cars is 85% the fault of women and 7% liberal douchebags who probably still think Nuclear energy isnt green.