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Convertibles Reviews
Updated May 2007
Many car owners keep convertibles as second vehicles, ready to pull them out of the garage and put the top down in the summer months, inevitably putting their drop-tops away for the winter season. Unfortunately, instead of being placed in a special category, many convertibles are simply plugged into other classes based on engine size, mileage, etc. Due to this, reviews that focus specifically on convertibles rank higher on our All Reviews chart. We also appreciate reviews that make it easy to find the convertibles on their page with pictures, linking, etc. The best review that we found for convertibles comes from Edmunds.com, where editors test most cars on the market, including convertibles. Reviews at Edmunds.com don't go over the top, and are pleasantly devoid of the kind of flowery elation found in some other car reviews. Instead, editorial reviews are balanced and practical. Edmunds has a specific category for convertibles, another plus. Car and Driver magazine also publishes well-researched reviews, choosing cars for its annual top-ten list. One dedicated convertible makes the list, along with two coupes that are also available as convertibles. Further reading reveals that Car and Driver performs exhaustive testing on each of the vehicles considered, making their choices some of the best and most accurate in the market today. We found some helpful reviews at Consumer Reports, but at the time of our visit, editors had not yet tested some of the newest 2007 convertibles like the Volkswagen Eos and Saturn Sky convertibles. Cars.com and InsideLine.com each review two convertibles head to head, helpful if you're stuck between two cars. We found good information on estimated long-term costs and resale value at IntelliChoice.com. Some articles at ForbesAutos.com and eGMCarTech.com are not as helpful, since their lists of top convertibles are not very critical and include too many cars, failing to help readers narrow the field very well. For 2007, the trend in convertibles seems to be the hardtop.
The majority of reports centered on convertibles note this phenomenon. Experts
say that hardtops have a reputation for being safer (though this isn't always
true), but they can also insulate the cabin a bit better for a quieter ride
and better cold-weather comfort, letting drivers in cooler climates consider
a convertible for year-round use. Finally, with the decreasing cost of technology,
it is much less expensive to add a hardtop to a vehicle than it has been in
previous years. The two-seat
Pontiac Solstice
(*est. $21,515 to $26,515)
, was a 2006 newcomer, along with the redesigned
two-seat
Mazda MX-5 Miata
(*est. $20,585 to $26,520)
. Both cars remain competitive
for 2007, but reviews still say the Solstice trails the Mazda MX-5. The Pontiac's
handling is sharp, predictable and confident, while
the Mazda has a looser, more aggressive feel (some reviews call it harsher).
New this year is a high-performance version of the Solstice, the
Solstice GXP
(*est. $26,515)
, which might help the Solstice gain a foothold on the
Mazda MX-5, but we've seen few reviews that specifically cover the GXP version
of the Pontiac convertible. The base-engine Pontiac
Solstice scores points in reviews for road feel and a quiet interior (though
wind noise is an issue in some reviews), especially on the highway, even though
it's a beat or two behind the Mazda in terms of acceleration. One difference
is in the two cars' soft drop-top. Reviews say the Mazda's manually folding
soft top is easy to operate and one of the best-designed manual soft tops
on the market. The new, optional powered hardtop makes the Miata the least
expensive hardtop convertible on the market. Meanwhile, experts say the Pontiac's
soft top is more complicated to operate, and requires drivers to get out of
the car. While the Mazda's soft top folds on itself, the Solstice's drop-top
folds into the trunk, reducing trunk space to practically
nothing. All reviews say the Pontiac Solstice is an appealing car at a low
sticker price; it's just that most reviews say the Mazda MX-5 is better handling,
better looking and roomier.
... Continued
Our Consensus Report shows how many times products are top-ranked by reviewers included in our
Ranking convertibles is tough since there are so many classes, from budget two-seater roadsters like the Mazda MX-5 Miata to the BMW 3 Series on up to luxury convertibles costing upwards of $100,000. Convertibles costing less than $50,000 get the most reviews, and that's where most buyers are shopping. The Mazda MX-5 outclasses most other entry-level convertibles. The new Volkswagen Eos is a contender when it comes to budget four-seat hardtops. The Porsche Boxster and Ford Mustang have unique personalities to set them apart, and the Volvo C70 is more of a family car/convertible with a hardtop for four-season use. We included representative highly rated convertibles in various price classes for ConsumerSearch Fast Answers. Advertisement
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, a part of The New York Times Company. All Rights Reserved.
ConsumerSearch and ConsumerSearch.com are registered trademarks of ConsumerSearch, Inc. Other trademarks or service marks on this site are the property of their respective owners. ConsumerSearch is not sponsored by any source reviewed, and we accept no consideration or payment for including, excluding, or ranking any reviews, products or services in our reports.
* Pricing information is approximate as of the time this report was written and is based on observed market selling prices and/or list prices. Actual selling prices may differ.
