Ds (our only) graduates and launches in June. Dh just retired and we have relocated and downsized significantly to our condo in Florida. I am shopping for a new car. Most of the last 20 years (except the two we lived abroad in the UK), I have had an SUV. I am shopping to replace my 9-year old Acura MDX. I have narrowed it down to choosing between the Mazda CX-5 SUV or the MX-5 RF. Yes, I realize these are vastly different! I am only interested in a retractable hard top, and I’m not spending as much as a “fancy” (Mercedes, BMW, Audi) one would cost. So, please don’t suggest cars with ragtops.
I don’t think I am having a mid-life crisis???, but I have driven a “mom car” for so long, that it feels very irresponsible to get a two-seater roadster. Almost all my friends are suggesting that I “got for it,” “get the convertible,” “have some fun.”
i will go back and drive it again. It was fun, although low to the ground, of course. Very different from what I am accustomed to. I just don’t want to make a mistake! Maybe I’m just not fun.
Anyone have buyer’s remorse after buying a convertible?
I agree with your friends - go for it! Especially living in FL where you can drive it year round. You only live once. You’ve done the mom years and educated your son. Treat yourself!
@mom60 - we are not ones to lease cars. We typically pay cash and drive our vehicles a long time. Your suggestion is a good one, but I don’t think I can bring myself to lease a car. It’s just not in my DNA. We are completely debt-free, and pay our credit cards off monthly.
I had a convertible when I turned 40. I counted number of times I had the top down. It was either too cold, hot, windy or raining. The temperature had to be between 70-80 for me to have the top down. With a retractable top, the car was noisier than a regular car. If I was having more than one car I would have a convertible, otherwise I was just get a car with more acceleration. My favorite car is still a BMW. It handles better and it also maintenance free.
My dad got an RX-7 when he was middle-aged. Totally impractical for someone with two teenagers still at home, but he loved it! I didn’t mind driving it, either! I say go for it.
If you are considering a hard top convertible, definitely read up on reviews of the model. Several hard top convertibles have had reliability problems in all the complex mechanisms for the retractable top. These make for very costly repairs. I am someone who has always had a convertible, so I definitely am in favor of the go for it mentality. One thing that is really nice with a convertible top—heated seats. Of course, I am in SoCal, not Florida, so we don’t have the humidity. Sometimes it’s still cool at 70, but the heated seat makes it comfortable.
Well…you live in FL so that means you probably have more nicer days than we have here in the NE anyway.
I never even use my sunroof…so a convertible has no appeal to me at all. But a sporty little car? Well…that does!
Do you have another car in you family? If so, I say…ditch the SUV. Have fun.
Another thought…any chance you could,rent one for a week or so and see if you really like that kind of car? My DH used to travel on business…and found he could rent just about anything for a week…so he tried a LOT of different cars.
I have a 2-seater Lotus roadster, with a removable hard top. When I first got the car, it changed my life. For the first time, I truly enjoyed driving for pleasure, rather than just thinking of driving as a way of getting from point A to point B. I’d take it everywhere, even places where it didn’t belong, such as the supermarket, on flat dirt roads, and on trips with my dog. I usually kept the hard top on, but on the right day and time, the weather and driving situation would be great for the top down (need the right temperature, right amount of sun, right amount of traffic, right driving speed… ). I became interested in shows about cars, such as Top Gear, and got more in to learning about cars and making related modifications in general. If the car was totaled, I would have immediately bought the same model as a replacement, likely in the same color. However, today I don’t enjoy it as much. It’s still a pleasure to drive in the right environment, but I’ll usually just take out my more typical sedan because it’s more simple with automatic transmission, more storage capacity, better heating/cooling system, etc. I don’t regret the purchase, but if it broke down beyond simple repair, I’d get something else as a replacement.
This has little to do with whether it is the right car for your situation. It depends on your personality and your needs. If that is going to be your only car, you’ll likely want one that has more than 2 seats, more storage, can be driven in more varied terrain, etc. If it does meet your needs, then consider whether the pleasure you get from driving it is worth the cost to you. This cost includes more than just the up front cost. Consider the cost of operation and typical repairs. You might try visiting a forum specific to the car model and seeing what owners typically say about it.
About 10 years ago, I also considered buying a small 2-seater convertible. I took a few test drives, and I am very glad I did, as I realized it’s not for me. Similar to @oldfort, I would only feel comfortable to have the top down at ~70-80 weather. I also did not like road noise, dust and constant smell of exhaust and gasoline, as well as people staring at me and making comments - it felt like always being on display. I did not like being so low to the ground due to very poor visibility, and I felt very unsecure. I also realized that, with so little cargo space, I would need a second car for most routine tasks: buying groceries, driving a dog or a bicycle (which easily fits into a small sedan with the second row seats folded down). I was upgraded to a convertible rental car in FL several years ago, and drove it for a week, which only reaffirmed my first impression. So, I would advice to rent it for at least a week or two, and see how you feel - 1-2 test drives may not be enough.
I am in the rent for a week and see what you think camp. S rented a nice Volvo S40 and was about to buy it when he smelled a musty, moldy smell coming from the A/C vents. He ended up not buying (and was gifted a gently used Mercedes coupe from a loved one instead). It was important for him to drive it around or he’d never had noticed the musty, moldy smell that would have meant some time and $$$ with the mechanic to get repaired.
We do try to rent cars we are considering buying when we rent. It gives us a better idea of what we do and don’t like in the car and what features we will actually use. Renting for a week is much cheaper than buying, disliking the vehicle and having to re-sell.
@Hoggirl I totally get it. We are the same. I suggested it because I have two friends who did just that. One loved it and bought the car after the lease was up. The other enjoyed it for 3 years but went back to a small SUV.
I never open my sun roof so I’m not a candidate for a convertible but like @oldfort I love a car with good acceleration. After years of minivans I thought I want a BMW sedan. I loved the drive but didn’t like being so low to,the ground. I bought instead a BMW X3. I loved that car and while I’m not a speedster I like a car that accelerates fast when I get on the freeway. I now have a Mercedes which is a great car but I miss my BMW.
I can count on both hands the number of times I open my sunroof in Florida because of the humidity. I find the noise intrusive, and loss of sound quality on the entertainment system. My friend traded in her miata after a year. The first couple of months were fun, but she had to travel over the skyway bridge everyday and she said it was terrifying with the traffic and in windy weather. She is single and does not have a larger car, so she found the lack of trunk space a detriment.
Our Mazda convertible just sat in the garage for years. Finally sold it in mint condition for less than half of what we paid for it. Although the car handles well, I hated riding in it.
We live in HI, where it’s warm, sunny and humid. Many years, we have had cars with sun roofs and moon roofs. We have probably used those features maybe a dozen times in many decades put together, so for US, it wouldn’t be a good purchase. I have ridden in the back “seat” of an MG once—never again have I had ANY interest in a convertible. H also has ridden in a convertible once or twice and has no interest.
The big issue is if OP and whomever she normally has in her car would make use if the vehicle and live it so that it’s worthwhile for her.
I’ve had convertibles and loved them, but wouldn’t feel comfortable with the Mazda because it’s too low to the ground and hard for other cars to see you. I agree with the others advocating for you to rent for a week first. Another suggestion, buy used. This is exactly the kind of car that people have for several years then their lives and needs change and they change cars.
