Buying a Convertible Car: Should You Worry About the Roof?

Convertible Quick Facts

• Hardtop and soft-top are the two convertible types.
• Visibility is often an issue with convertibles.
• A hardtop tends to add more weight to a convertible than a soft-top.             

Imagine cruising in a convertible on the open road on a beautiful, sunny day with nothing but blue sky above and the sun on your face. Such thoughts might turn your attention to convertibles if you’re thinking about buying a car. They’re sleek, fun, and exciting. Oh, and they’re also cool. Here’s the good news: According to a 2021 Insurance Institute for Highway Safety report, modern convertibles are surprisingly safe.

So, why wouldn’t you want a convertible? Actually, we can think of a reason or two; consequently, we’re listing the pros and cons to provide the information you need before signing the papers on a new or used drop-top.

Convertible Roof Types

Convertibles have either a hardtop or a soft-top roof. Each has advantages and disadvantages. Let’s look at a few.

Hardtop Roof

Advantages

• Security: One of the biggest advantages of choosing a convertible hardtop roof is the secure protection for your car against elements and vandalism. Simply put, a metal roof will provide insulation and toughness that a fabric roof can’t.
• Aesthetics: At least to some, a hardtop roof has more curb appeal. It looks much more seamless and is often not easily detected as a convertible. Soft-tops are usually easy to spot because of their shape, contrast in color, and texture.
• Quiet: Hardtops reduce the wind and road noise persistently prevalent with soft-top convertibles. The quieter ride is worth the higher price tag that generally accompanies hardtops compared with soft ones.

Disadvantages

• Cost: Hardtops, because of the components and mechanical systems involved in their construction, almost always cost more than soft-tops. Moreover, because of those mechanical systems, repairs can be costly if something malfunctions.
• Weight: Hardtops simply weigh more than soft-tops, contributing to slightly lower fuel efficiency, a higher center of gravity, and less nimbleness in performance driving. You can’t whip around twisty roads as deftly in a heavier car as you can in a lighter ride.
• Space: A hardtop must go somewhere when retracted, and that somewhere is typically inside the trunk. And don’t forget, the mechanism for retracting the top also occupies space. That translates into less trunk space for luggage, groceries, or any other cargo you plan to tote.

Soft-Top Roof

Advantages

• Cost: A soft-top is simply cheaper than a hardtop. For one thing, fabric is cheaper than metal. Additionally, a hardtop requires more sophisticated mechanicals for raising and lowering it than even a powered soft-top. Less complex mechanisms are also less expensive to repair.
• Space: A lowered soft-top doesn’t absorb as much trunk space as a hardtop.
• Weight: Soft-tops are lighter than hardtops, minimizing the negative impact on fuel economy.

Disadvantages

• Security: A soft-top can be an invitation to someone with ill intent. Even though soft-top fabric is highly durable, if someone were to cut it with a sharp object, they could cause significant damage while gaining access to any valuables stored inside your vehicle.
• Noise: Even an exceedingly well-insulated soft-top is more susceptible to wind and road noise than a hardtop.
• Visibility: Although convertibles tend to interfere with visibility when their tops are raised, we think soft-tops have a bigger issue in this regard.
• Insulation: Even with the roof raised, soft-top convertibles are more affected by extreme temperatures than hardtops, allowing the interior to get colder or hotter quicker when parked.

Used Convertibles: Other Things to Consider

• Leaks: Because a convertible has more seals around the windows and windshield header, there is a greater opportunity for water intrusion, which is a major hassle. We suggest that before you buy a used convertible, inspect the interior for water damage, mold, and mildew. You should also hose it down with the top raised and then inspect the interior for dripping water.
• Top operation: Whether it’s a soft-top or hardtop, power or manual, you need to ensure that the top lowers and raises properly. Anything mechanical with moving parts will deteriorate over time, even with normal wear and tear. Therefore, check out the lower-and-raise function repeatedly to see if it operates smoothly.

Pro Tip: Visibility can be such a challenge that we think you should try parallel parking with the top up before you buy any convertible to determine whether you can live with the reduced visibility.

Our Take on Taking the Leap

For many people, owning a convertible is a lifelong dream. However, researching a convertible’s make and model, knowing the issues that can arise, and thoroughly testing the specific car you’re thinking of buying is necessary to reveal most convertible-related problems. It might make the difference between years of enjoyment or misery. When you find that ideal convertible, drop the top and cruise on.

Editor’s Note: This article has been updated since its initial publication. Rob Douthit contributed to the report.