Car News:  Oversteer

What Color Should Convertible Tops Be?

RELATED READING
See all Porsche Boxster articles
RESEARCH BY MAKE
Toyota cars, trucks and SUVs Ford cars, trucks and SUVs Honda cars, trucks and SUVs Chevrolet cars, trucks and SUVs Jeep cars, trucks and SUVs Mercedes-Benz cars, trucks and SUVs Nissan cars, trucks and SUVs BMW cars, trucks and SUVs Porsche cars, trucks and SUVs
Acura cars, trucks and SUVs Alfa Romeo cars, trucks and SUVs AMC cars, trucks and SUVs Aston Martin cars, trucks and SUVs Audi cars, trucks and SUVs Bentley cars, trucks and SUVs BMW cars, trucks and SUVs Bugatti cars, trucks and SUVs Buick cars, trucks and SUVs Cadillac cars, trucks and SUVs Chevrolet cars, trucks and SUVs Chrysler cars, trucks and SUVs Daewoo cars, trucks and SUVs Datsun cars, trucks and SUVs DeLorean cars, trucks and SUVs Dodge cars, trucks and SUVs Eagle cars, trucks and SUVs Ferrari cars, trucks and SUVs FIAT cars, trucks and SUVs Fisker cars, trucks and SUVs Ford cars, trucks and SUVs Freightliner cars, trucks and SUVs Genesis cars, trucks and SUVs Geo cars, trucks and SUVs GMC cars, trucks and SUVs Honda cars, trucks and SUVs HUMMER cars, trucks and SUVs Hyundai cars, trucks and SUVs INFINITI cars, trucks and SUVs Isuzu cars, trucks and SUVs Jaguar cars, trucks and SUVs Jeep cars, trucks and SUVs Kia cars, trucks and SUVs Lamborghini cars, trucks and SUVs Land Rover cars, trucks and SUVs Lexus cars, trucks and SUVs Lincoln cars, trucks and SUVs Lotus cars, trucks and SUVs Maserati cars, trucks and SUVs Maybach cars, trucks and SUVs MAZDA cars, trucks and SUVs McLaren cars, trucks and SUVs Mercedes-Benz cars, trucks and SUVs Mercury cars, trucks and SUVs MINI cars, trucks and SUVs Mitsubishi cars, trucks and SUVs Nissan cars, trucks and SUVs Oldsmobile cars, trucks and SUVs Plymouth cars, trucks and SUVs Pontiac cars, trucks and SUVs Porsche cars, trucks and SUVs RAM cars, trucks and SUVs Rolls-Royce cars, trucks and SUVs Saab cars, trucks and SUVs Saturn cars, trucks and SUVs Scion cars, trucks and SUVs smart cars, trucks and SUVs SRT cars, trucks and SUVs Subaru cars, trucks and SUVs Suzuki cars, trucks and SUVs Tesla cars, trucks and SUVs Toyota cars, trucks and SUVs Volkswagen cars, trucks and SUVs Volvo cars, trucks and SUVs Yugo cars, trucks and SUVs
RESEARCH BY STYLE
AWD/4WD
Commercial
Convertible
Coupe
Hatchback
Hybrid/Electric
Luxury
Sedan
SUV/Crossover
Truck
Van/Minivan
Wagon
ADDITIONAL MODEL INFORMATION
author photo by Doug DeMuro August 2017
What Color Should Convertible Tops Be? featured image large thumb0

I was recently discussing convertible soft-top colors with some friends, and we all came to the following conclusion: the convertible top color you choose can absolutely ruin your car. If you get a certain exterior color, and a certain top color, it can look truly awful -- even if those colors look nice separately.

Allow to me explain what I mean. One of the people involved in this discussion noted that he believes all convertible soft-tops should be black -- regardless of the car's color. This is certainly the safe bet, as a black convertible top virtually always looks good; even on a dark blue car. So, if your answer to this question is "black," that's definitely understandable, reasonable and acceptable.

But ...

Deviating from a black convertible top is a risk -- there's no question about it. Black always looks good. But some cars look really, really, really good with convertible tops in colors other than black. For example: I will always love the "launch color" of the 2013 Porsche Boxster, pictured above, which was a gorgeous silver with a red top and a red interior -- a color combination that truly looked perfect together. Others will suggest a gray top is best with a dark blue car, or a tan top looks good with white -- and that may be true. It really just depends on the car. So, my personal opinion on this topic is: go with black, usually. But sometimes, it's good to deviate.

But here's something else I think: a tan top just doesn't belong on a sports car. A tan top looks nice on a four-seater Jaguar convertible, a Toyota Solara or a Chrysler Sebring. But there should be no Porsche 911 Turbo or Mercedes SLS Roadster made with a tan top. A tan top belongs on a car someone would take to the golf course, not the race track -- and, in my opinion, regardless of what your car's exterior color is, you shouldn't be going with a tan top if you have a high-performance sports car.

What say you, on this controversial issue of top color?

Doug DeMuro is an automotive journalist who has written for many online and magazine publications. He once owned a Nissan Cube and a Ferrari 360 Modena. At the same time.

MORE FROM OVERSTEER:
Here's What It Was Like to Drive a Ferrari F40 on the Street
It's Amazing How Small the Original Mazda Miata Is Now
IT'S ALIVE!!! LS-Swapping a Porsche 911: Part 3

ChangeCancel
This image is a stock photo and is not an exact representation of any vehicle offered for sale. Advertised vehicles of this model may have styling, trim levels, colors and optional equipment that differ from the stock photo.
What Color Should Convertible Tops Be? - Autotrader