convertibles

[wtpntigger2]

I had a VW Eos and I loved it! However, there is little trunk space and with the top down, there is even less. It does look like a Transformer when the top is going up and down. I always had people stopping to watch. I only got rid of it because I needed to be able to haul more "stuff", but now that it's starting to warm up, I am regretting my decision.

 

[Handbag Lady]

I have a PT Cruiser convertible and I love it. I can't speak for the snow, but one of the reasons I bought it was that it was NOT a sportswear for insurance reasons. The trunk is fairly large for a convertible, too.

My other choice would have been the EOS. It looks SO cool.

 

[Mrs.Toad]

My experience with snow has always led me to rear wheel drives. Every time I've ever slid off a roadway, my rear wheels weren't the ones off the road.

Maybe if you had front wheel drive, you wouldn't have slid off the road at all.

My experience has been the opposite. We've always had front-wheel or all-wheel drive and those cars did great in the snow. Now I have rear wheel drive and it's awful in the snow. No weight in the back means no traction and my wheels start spinning on uphills all the time. So do lots of other rear wheel drives. Never happened in my other cars. My in-laws love big rear-wheel drive sedans and alway put a couple of big sand bags in the trunk in the winter for traction. I will need to try that next winter, didn't even remember that until just now!

But as far as convertibles go, I had a 1988 Toyota Celica convertible that I loved! I have no idea if they make them anymore, or whether it was front or rear-wheel drive (didn't live where it snowed then), but it was a great car. 4 seats, but the back two were pretty cozy. That is the case with most convertibles, though. They will have smaller trunks and back seats than other similarly sized sedans because the top needs space to fold down into.

 

[Mandychelle79]

Just because it has 4 doors or seats four does not mean it wont be rated as a sports cars ( says the person who's 4 cylinder, chevy cobalt, 4 door, that seats 5, that is rated as a sports car). Trust me, ive fought that battle before and lost. Insurance doesnt rate the cars like they used to.

 

[TheBigBadWolf]

So, you're just going to scratch the Jeep Wrangler off your list? I mean, I know it's not a front wheel drive, but it's has a high 4WD gear and a low 4WD, for snow and mud. We dont' get a lot of snow, but we get a lot of ice. In fact, we had ice & snow on our street for over a week last winter and we were one of two families who made it out--with our Jeeps! They're great little cars. Plus, they're made of steel. If someone hits you, they're going to sustain some damage,and you? not so much. We had a porch fall on my Jeep last spring. It tore up the top and crushed the fender. My DH walked out there with a crowbar and pulled the fender back in place. Good as new!

We have a Jeep Wrangler bought new in '93. It still looks great, and I agree, it is a very tough vehicle. It's wonderful in snow, will get you wherever you need to go, but it slides all over the road on ice. However, I would never recommend a Wrangler for anything but a toy. Ours is 18 years old and has less than 80,000 miles on it. DH drives it four miles to work sometimes, and we drive in it to the lake or to the mountains, but it is the roughest riding vehicle I've ever ridden in! I feel sorry for anyone who has to drive a Jeep as their "every day" car. DH and I both have trucks for our every day vehicles. The Jeep is our "toy". It does have a lift kit on it now which makes it even worse riding, but it has always ridden very rough. I never drive it over 30 miles from home because it beats me half to death to ride in it. If you ever think about buying a Jeep, drive it at least 50 miles before buying it because you'll probably change your mind!

 

[Shmily1]

I enjoyed not one but TWO Chrysler Sebring convertibles over the past 10 years and loved them both. Front wheel drive, no leaks, just wonderful cars. I would recommend them highly.

Agreed! I'm on my second one too! They are awesome and super safe.... I would know since I got hit head on and the cabin area was still intact. The butt end of it was in the air permanently though.

 

[nhpooh]

I enjoyed not one but TWO Chrysler Sebring convertibles over the past 10 years and loved them both. Front wheel drive, no leaks, just wonderful cars. I would recommend them highly.

This is the one I was going to say, DD had one and loved it. Oh and my best friend who lives in Florida now has one and loves it.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

We have a 1999 Chevy Camaro. However it is on Craigslist right now, it has to go....

 

[Shmily1]

I should have also added that both DD20 and DS21 have had convertible Mustangs (DS still has one). They have four seats and the insurance on them isn't bad because they are domestic cars. It was cheaper to insure him on that than on a Camry.

 

[sbell111]

My sister and brother in law have a 3-series BMW convertible. We borrowed it once for the weekend when we were down for WDW and they had gone out of town. It was nice.

My Cadillac and Cathy's Smart don't have back seats so they don't fit your criteria. (Plus, the Smart is RWD.)

Regarding snow performance, our position is that these vehicles stay in the garage if weather is inclement.