Convertibles and top-downs look great for summer day driving, but perhaps only in movies. Most car reviews still pick large trucks and jeeps as the go-to designs for long road trips, steering clear from rattling windows, poorly designed interiors, not-so-aerodynamic convertible roofs and lack of security.
Nevertheless, there’s something about topless cars that reel people in to give it a shot on the road, whether it’s just a rented for a day. There’s a sudden rush of excitement even with just the first few minutes of driving a convertible, smoothing the pavement and feeling the wind and sun against the skin.
In lieu of traditional sunroofs, the market is now looking into giant sliding-glass-panel roofs that keep the interiors safe and dry during a downpour, while still remaining classy and aerodynamic, whether the roof is up or down. There is a strong inclination towards retractable hardtops, shoving foldable fabric tops to the corner. Buyers seem to prefer semi-fixed roofs that add structural strength, not lessen it. Other features that buyers look for in convertibles include, quieter interiors, resistance to vandalism, modern design, and aerodynamic roofline.
Manufacturers just can’t ignore the clamor for topless cars, despite the increasing call for greater safety, which is what fixed-roof cars traditionally offer over top-downs. Present developments in materials and engineering allow make newer and better convertible designs possible.
As structural engineering and design of topless cars progresses, the gap between closed-roof and open-roof cars shrinks in terms of cost, safety, maneuverability, comfort and power. Plus, topless cars now provide plenty of legroom and storage, better fuel efficiency, and all-wheel-drive systems. In short, modern convertibles are getting better and better.
Like many say, a car with a roof is safer but a car without one is sexy. And so motorists continue to look for topless cars that satisfy their thirst for that sexy, summer joy rides. The wait maybe over as newer designs promise to have fewer drawbacks compared with closed roofs yet provide the charming advantages of open-topped motoring. 2015 may be the year when convertibles rule the roads again. Perhaps one day all cars would be topless like they always did way back late 1800s, when all cars had no roofs.
