Andrew Clark cruises along the streets of Toronto on a sunny day in the rare Lexus convertible.Andrew Clark/The Globe and Mail
The first rule of Fight Club was that you never talk about Fight Club, at least I think it was. The first rule of Fight Club might have been that people like watching Brad Pitt and Ed Norton with their shirts off grappling each other. I’m not sure, but I do know that the first rule of driving a convertible is that if it’s not raining, it’s convertible weather and you never stop talking about it.
Summer. That’s the season convertibles are associated with in the popular imagination. I’d pined for a 1966 Mercury Comet convertible in July. In the same way, however, that savvy travellers prefer the off-season, clued-in drivers recognize that the fall and spring can bring ideal conditions to put the top down. On some summer days the heat and sunlight can be too intense. Driving in the “off-season” eliminates that pitfall. As my editor, a lifelong convertible aficionado, told me, “If you get the right day, the right weather, fall is the perfect time for a convertible.”
The first rule to journalism is never argue with your editor (or at least in “The Editor’s Rules of Journalism”). Which is why I said “Yes” when he offered me the chance to test this theory by spending a week driving a 2026 Inspiration Series Lexus LC 500 Convertible, one of only 29 available in Canada. I picked up the car (which costs $144,617.30) on Oct. 27. It was sunny and 9 degrees. The LC 500 Convertible’s exterior came in a “new-to-LC” colour called “Wind” which I would describe as looking like “clouds with attitude.” It was paired with Saddle Tan and White semi-aniline leather seats. It gave me a 1993 vibe.
If it's not raining, driving top down is the best way to go in the fall. Just blast the heat and turn on the seat and steering wheel warmers.Andrew Clark/The Globe and Mail
The LC 500 Convertible has a naturally aspirated five-litre V8 engine, which means the engine breathes air at normal atmospheric pressure. Rated to produce 471 horsepower at 7,100 rpm and 398 lb-ft of torque at 4,800 rpm, it boasts a Direct-Shift 10-speed automatic transmission and has a 0-100 km/h time of five seconds. Its top track speed is electronically limited to 270 km/h, which was good to know, even though I had no plans on going anywhere near that and the average speed of Toronto traffic is 18 km/h.
The roof can be opened or closed at speeds up to 50 km/h. The first time I took the top down it sent a quiver of excitement up my spine. The press material claims that “the movement of the folding mechanism is inspired by the three-step movement of Japanese calligraphy: ink brush to paper; movement to the right; the stopping of the ink brush.” For once, the media release was not exaggerating. That’s exactly what it felt like.
I cruised Scarborough’s suburban streets and then drove Kingston Road into Leslieville. Prior to Highway 401’s construction, Kingston Road was the main route from the east to Toronto. I glided along as the interior of the LC 500 filled with fresh air and sunshine. The LC 500 is “equipped with Lexus Interface, giving drivers the opportunity to access a wide range of enhanced connectivity and convenience features, including Over-the-Air (OTA) updates.” All of these I ignored. I did not “pair my phone” or use navigation. There are rules to properly driving a convertible. In a convertible you should either a) Know where you are going or b) Not care where you are going. When you are driving a convertible, you should not want – or more importantly need – to communicate with anyone.
The key to successfully driving a convertible when it’s nine degrees is to have the windows up and the heat on high. The LC 500’s Lexus Climate Concierge automatically manages the air conditioner, seat heaters, neck heaters and steering-wheel heater. I chose to manually tweak the settings. I had gorgeous fall sunshine and total comfort in the front seat. The LC 500 Convertible has a back seat but I’m not sure why you’d want to put anyone in it. In a convertible, two’s company. Everyone else can walk.
The 2026 Inspiration Series Lexus LC 500 Convertible glistens in the sun of a fall day with the roof up in Toronto.Andrew Clark/The Globe and Mail
The LC 500 is rare. Only 350 will be available in North America. This was a nice perk. On my first day it was photographed by strangers, and I got a shout-out from a guy in a Hummer who, while passing in front of me while making a left turn, yelled, “Hey brother, you got yourself an upgrade!”
I spent most of my driving years in a Dodge Grand Caravan minivan. No one photographs it and no one would call it an upgrade. Driving a minivan screams, “I’m easily aroused but fail to think things through.” So, it was nice to get complimented on my ride, even if it was only mine for a week. It was the same sort of attention I experienced while driving a 2019 BMW Alpina B7 Exclusive Edition.
The week sped by. The weather was mostly rainy and wet but when the sky was clear the roof was down. My spirits were high. My convertible dreams, a reality.