Audi Cabriolet
If you live in the UK you’ll be aware that summer is coming, especially bearing in mind the fact that we had (in 2012) some fantastic weather in March. With this good weather many people’s minds turn to the possibility of buying a soft top ‘cabriolet’, just so they can soak up the sun and feel the wind in their hair.
But, if you feel this way (as I do), how do you go about choosing the right soft top car? The choice is larger than you think, except if you must have a ‘hard’ soft top, as the options here are somewhat reduced. So perhaps the first thing to consider is what sort of ‘top’ you want..
The Types of Roofs for Cabriolets
Basically you have three choices here; the true ‘soft top’ with it’s fabric roof, the ‘hard top’ with its metal folding roof, and finally the cars that have a detachable roof (normally hard). I have put these into a third group as to me they are really just open top sports cars which have the ability to have a roof added.
Which Roof Type to Choose?
So what are the advantages of the different types of roof?
The classic soft top (also known as the ‘rag top’) has the benefits of being light, but on the other hand can be easily damaged by vandals, is not as quiet and the fabric needs to be well looked after.
The folding metal roof has the disadvantage of heavy weight, both the roof and the motors that move it into place being far heavier than with a soft top. However, they are quieter and offer better protection in the event of an accident too. For some, they have the added benefit of making the car look like a normal coupe or saloon when the roof is up.
The detachable roof is of course ok if you can decide what you want before you set off, but in the Uk, the weather can change so quickly and being caught in a downpour with no roof cannot be a pleasant experience..
What Type of Engine / Transmission?
As with any car, there is the choice of petrol and diesel (electric soon no doubt) and automatic and manual gearboxes. For some the choice of transmission is easy, for others not so simple, some automatic gearboxes, like the ones fitted the VW’s being very nice indeed, offering an almost manual experience when wanted.
On the matter of engine type, it is said that convertible owners tend to shy away from diesel cars, they being thought to be too noisy when the top is down. Whilst this may be the case for older cars, modern diesels can be very quiet.
Other Matters to Consider
Once you have chosen the type of roof and engine, there is the small matter of the seat covers. This is indeed only a minor consideration, but making the wrong choice may prove uncomfortable, as having leather seats in high summer could turn the nice trip in the sun to a quite painful experience if you are not careful.
Whatever, once you have chosen the type of convertible you want, you then have to find one. The good news here is the advent of the car supermarket is making is easy for the buyers to view many cars at the same time.
Best of luck in your search for your perfect ‘topless’ car..
