Drop tops...??

[Skid1769]

Now its been a beautiful weekend and although we have had rain over the last two nights, I have pondering upgrading or making a sideways move from my 3200 GTA asseto Corsa to a 4200 spider...now my question is this, the spider is a beautiful machine but is it just a bit of a hairdressers car, albeit a very expensive one, or do I go down the route of changing Marque altoghether , getting the hairy chest out and get a soft top such as a TVR or Marcos..?

Your thoughts please would be most welcome....??

Cheers

Skid

 

[alfatwo]

I think you have to be a "look at me type" to own a open top modern car....serious drivers though always prefer cars with fixed tops....

Dave

 

[safrane]

This is the first summer in almost thirty years of driving I have not had a soft top of one sort or another...from MK1 Golfs to modern BMW and Volvo.

They are not perfect and most are cruising transport rather than racers...but modern ones have real flexibility and nothing beats a drive with the wind in your hair be it day or night.

Hairdressers and estate agents have Minis and Fiat 500s...go for it.

The only issue I ever had is the sun burn...even in early spring and late autumn so no good in very hot climates.

 

[Tilum]

I think you have to be a "look at me type" to own a open top modern car....serious drivers though always prefer cars with fixed tops....

Dave

I'm the opposite Dave. Personally I'd rather not be seen (nor be in any photos if I can help it!), but I love the different elements that driving with the roof down brings. And that's made all the better if it is just me (and a partner or friend), in a car that I love to drive, on an open road, with no-one else around.

T

 

[JonnyCJ]

Don't forget the noise with a Spyder !

 

[Skid1769]

I drive a Maserati, I think I am definitely a 'Look at me' type....lol

 

[alfatwo]

I drive a Maserati, I think I am definitely a 'Look at me' type....lol

With that coloured 3200 Skid you cant do a lot else!

Dave

 

[dem maser]

I like convertibles, i think in this country we buy more of them than any other.....we have 1 month of sun a year....buy it but live with it in the winter also

 

[zagatoes30]

I never understood powerful convertibles, you get as much fun driving open top cars around at sensible speeds and therefore don't need the power.

Then I bought a 4200 Spyder and realised what I had been missing. All the joys of open top motoring with the additional sound of a stunning V8 and a Maserati badge. It is truly a superb car, even the scuttle shake on bad roads doesn't detract from the overall experience. One of the best moves I made, no regrets.

 

[Chrisbassett]

Never had any comments about Doris being a hairdressers car - exactly the opposite mostly, and nothing but admiring looks for her (sadly more than for me...)

And I second everything Andy says, the best car ever. Tearing through the mountains in Spain with the noise booming off the rock face and the brakes smoking, down into a coastal town and cruise along the seafront as cool as can be then being asked if I want to park in front of the hotel instead of in the car park. All in the same car in the same day - doesn't get much better. Oh, but don't forget the SPF50!

 

[CatmanV2]

I think you have to be a "look at me type" to own a open top modern car....serious drivers though always prefer cars with fixed tops....

Dave

I have never quite understood the point of convertible cars. Noisy, cold and windy.
Each to their own, though

C

 

[Andyk]

Maserati Spyder is one of the convertibles you can buy that has not got the hairdressers image I would say......Get out and drive one and see what you think as it's a very different drive to your AC....Taking the twin turbo out and fitting the Ferrari lump certainly changes the dynamics on the car.

 

[alfi boy]

I must look like one ugly hairdresser in mine, bald chubby and wearing a silly grin!

 

[Needamaser]

Have had convertibles for 15 years. Conclusion is you are either a convertible person or not.
Talk of not being able to use it apart from 2 weeks in the year is tosh.
I live in the north of Scotland and unless the roof is wet when I get in the car the top comes down. That is ALL year round. -10C and above.
I have never understood people buying a convertible and the top is up any day when it is dry.
And this talk of scuttle shake and poor handling...more tosh. Yes there is scuttle shake in varying degrees but I have still on the road to find a situation where I wasn't driving quicker than any tin top or at least keeping up.
Accept the issues and drive around them. Simples!
If you don't relate to the above accept you are not a convertible person and buy a coupe.
Benny IS a convertible person!

 

[zagatoes30]

Have had convertibles for 15 years. Conclusion is you are either a convertible person or not.
Talk of not being able to use it apart from 2 weeks in the year is tosh.
I live in the north of Scotland and unless the roof is wet when I get in the car the top comes down. That is ALL year round. -10C and above.
I have never understood people buying a convertible and the top is up any day when it is dry.
And this talk of scuttle shake and poor handling...more tosh. Yes there is scuttle shake in varying degrees but I have still on the road to find a situation where I wasn't driving quicker than any tin top or at least keeping up.
Accept the issues and drive around them. Simples!
If you don't relate to the above accept you are not a convertible person and buy a coupe.
Benny IS a convertible person!

Can't argue with any of the above, although if that means I am in any way similar to Benny I am concerned

 

[Chrisbassett]

Benny is a legend in his own floppy hat wearing lifetime, how could anyone not want to be like him?

Bet I can have much more fun in my soft top

 

[Grinzzz]

I'm most definitely not a convert to convertibles. Having been owned by several of the **** thing I'm sworn off for life. Well at least until next time the wifelet cons me into it.

 

[Felonious Crud]

My last car was a soft top and I didn't use it much because frankly I felt a bit of a tit. A Merc E-class convertiable just completely fails to be cool, interesting or much fun to drive. Bad choice. May have been tempted by a Grancab but the boot was rubbish. A Maserati Spyder is a different kettle of fish, I reckon. I'd feel far less of a tool tooling round in one of them than in the bloody Merc.

 

[Grinzzz]

No one ever looks good in a four seat German rag top. Especially if they sit in the back

 

[Grinzzz]

One of my old clients had a secretary known as miss whiplash. I'd have loved to slide into the back of her




audi ragtop