When you stop to think about it, where's the sense? Back in the mists of time, the first cars had no roofs – or, at best, a flimsy canvas top – so when auto makers developed fully enclosed bodywork, it was a giant leap forward. Privacy, security, protection from the elements – what's not to like?
And there are so many drawbacks to cars without a fixed roof. A parked rag-top with the roof up is easy prey for any passing scumbag with larceny in his heart and a knife in his hand. Most convertibles are less rigid than their tin-top counterparts, so handling suffers; added weight and aerodynamic drag take a toll on performance and fuel economy. Not to mention the potential for leaks and rattles, increased wind noise, and compromised visibility when the roof is up.
And yet, don't we all have a secret bucket-list "dream drive" that involves a convertible?
Every year, thousands of Canadians make that dream a reality – at a price. Low production volumes boost the prices of cars designed as convertibles from the outset. And, in the case of convertibles based on existing coupes, expect to pay at least $5,000 extra for the drop-top version.
While convertibles will never become mainstream, Andrew Tai, of auto-buying website unhaggle.com, says manufacturers won't stop making them, either. They're enjoying a mini boom, he says, driven by new models like the redesigned Ford Mustang and Mazda MX-5, and the re-incarnated Fiat 124 Spider.
Ben Spataphora, of CarCostCanada.com, says that the popularity of convertibles has been supported by the advent of retractable hardtops, which offer four-season use-ability in cars like the four-seater VW Eos, or the BMW Z4 roadster. That said, hide-away hardtops haven't become the new normal: even the new mega-bucks Mercedes S-Class Cabrio retains a fabric top, as do most of its high-end rivals.
Another aspect of four-seasonality, however, is definitely gaining traction. All-wheel drive is increasingly standard on many drop-tops sold in Canada, including the coming-soon Mercedes C300 Cabrio. Other convertibles offering AWD include the Audi TT, A3 and A5; all BMWs except the Z4; Range Rover Evoque and Jaguar F-Type; and Porsche 911 Carrera.
Nonetheless, convertible sales still follow predictable seasonal norms. RoB's sales analysis of a half-dozen convertibles showed that, in 2014, their combined monthly sales were more than three times higher in May and June than in November and December. (Spring is the high season for sales of all vehicles, but market share of the convertibles in May/June was still more than double that of November/December).
Mazda Canada's Sandra Lemaitre reports that more than half (55-60 per cent) of annual MX-5 sales occur in the four months, April to July. Convertible Mustangs represent 40 per cent of all Mustang sales in spring, but only 15-20 per cent in the fall and winter.
That being so, is late fall or winter the time to get the best deal on a convertible? Apparently so. Unhaggle.com analyzed manufacturer incentives on all convertibles for RoB and found that average incentives were 2.5 to three times higher last November ($3,414 for cash) than this May ($1,312).
That said, other factors may trump the seasonal effect. For example, Mercedes is offering a $5,000 incentive on 2016 SLKs to clear out for the new 2017 model; and BMW is offering a similar deal on its SLK rival, the Z4.
For Mazda, Lemaitre says that since the MX-5 is such a low-volume vehicle, manufacturer incentives don't change through the model year. "But that's not to say a dealer with an MX-5 sitting on their lot in mid-winter might not be more inclined to give a discount."
Five cool cars
2016 Mini Convertible
Base price: $27,990
The third-generation 2016 Mini drop-top has grown in size and maturity but remains one of the smallest convertibles available with rear seats. The fabric top powers open or closed in 18 seconds and you can do it while moving at up to 30 km/h. An unusual feature lets you slide back just the front portion of the top, above your head, for a sunroof effect. Powertrains: 1.5-litre 134-hp three-cylinder, or 2.0 litre four-cylinder in 189 or 228-hp versions.
2017 FIAT 124 Spider
Base price: TBD
One of the auto industry’s more unlikely hook-ups – between Mazda and FCA – produced this born-again roadster that channels the heritage and the look of the original 1966-1985 124 Spider. The 2017 remake shares its underpinnings, and Japan production plant, with the Mazda MX-5. But the look is all its own, and under the hood is a 1.4-litre turbocharged Fiat engine worth 160 hp and 184 lb-ft – respectively 5 hp and 36 lb-ft more than the Mazda’s 2.0-litre non-turbo mill.
2016 Chevrolet Camaro Convertible
Base price: $37,000
There have been soft-top Camaros since the birth of the nameplate, and the new-generation version is here in time to celebrate Camaro’s 50th birthday in September. Notable features include fully automatic operation (including the latches and a hard tonneau), and top operation capability at up to 48 km/h. Engine choices range from a 2.0-litre turbo four through a 3.6-litre V-6 to a 6.2-litre V-8. The Anniversary Edition will go on sale this summer as a 2017 model.
2017 Mercedes-Benz C-Class Cabrio
Base price: TBD
If you can’t stretch to an S-Class Cabrio, the first C-Class soft-top will provide a more affordable alternative when it arrives in September. Based on the just-arrived C Coupe, it will include monstrously fast C63 AMG versions while AWD will be standard on the base C300 and mid-level C43 AMG. Like on the S-Class, AIRSCARF neck-level heating plus AIRCAP draught-reducing technology aim to extend the top-down driving season.
2017 Range Rover Evoque Convertible
Base price: $64,990
A convertible SUV isn’t really as novel as it first seems: the first Land Rover was a rag-top, and the base Jeep Wrangler still is. But the new Evoque drop-top is unique among premium compact CUVs. It goes on sale late summer in high-end HSE Dynamic trim for $64,990 – $5,000 more than the equivalent five-door – powered by a 2.0-litre 240-hp engine. The top can be actuated on the move at up to 50 km/h and goes down without stealing trunk space.
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