Demise of the convertible?

[Mr Tidy]

This article appeared on the BBC News homepage today and I thought it might go some way to explain the demise of the G29 - and probably the Z4.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cx212yy4er0o

 

[Pondy]

I hope so as I don't like convertibles. I feel extremely 'vulnerable' and self-conscious driving a car with the roof down.
I have only owned 'verts' for the past 4 years. Never had one in the previous 36 years of driving.

I don't like driving my Z3 'thing' with the roof down, but like it looks shite with the roof up (and is claustrophobic). So I put up with it; the wind, the cold air blowing your head off, the sun always at the wrong angle and in your eyes. You don't get any of that shite with a roof.

Yes I know. I don't know why I'm here, either.

 

[LeeZ4MR]

I've got 2 convertibles, and an SUV, so you can be exciting and boring at the same time I reckon!

 

[firebobby]

Me along with most others on here, own a roadster.
The Zed range of cars was designed as an open top roadster, they're not F*"!ing convertibles.

Then they allowed the hatchback

 

[pvr]

I've got 2 convertibles, and an SUV, so you can be exciting and boring at the same time I reckon!

Same as me, so yes, we are stylish

 

[NS66]

demise of the car really - whether it will return at some point (doubt it ). cars used to have character, soul, passion. it was how they made you feel, what they said about you, tinker and customise etc. Now they all look the same, clinical white goods that just get you from a>b.

 

[MikeyH]

demise of the car really - whether it will return at some point (doubt it ). cars used to have character, soul, passion. it was how they made you feel, what they said about you, tinker and customise etc. Now they all look the same, clinical white goods that just get you from a>b.

Getting from a to b is all that most people want unfortunately

 

[Dadzilla]

I'm a newbie to this forum and to Z4 ownership but I sometimes wonder whether we get lulled into a false sense of security by having that metal roof overhead and that more forgiving ride and the inherent quiet, surrounded in a cocoon of perceived safety, can tempt us to go a little faster than we should. Strangely, driving with the top down, the wind blowing over my head, has led me to enjoy driving just that little bit slower, not dawdling along but simply relaxing, doing 50-55 instead of pushing 60 (or more), and then maybe 40-45 on the narrower country roads of Yorkshire. Pure pleasure and sense of freedom. Long live the Z4!

 

[tiglon]

Didn't sales of convertibles drop to almost zero in the 1980s as well, when everyone bought hot hatches instead?

Things go in cycles, no reason why they won't be back.

 

[CliveN]

Convertibles have routinely been second cars. It’s just that now there doesn’t appear to be a desire for them. People love big SUVs. The article thinks that SUVs have the cachet of a convertible. Really? When everyone has one? Even Rangies are everywhere. I am
In Spain at the mo and all the Bentaygas and Uruses look incredibly stupid, but perhaps not as much as the people driving them. Why do people need to show off a perception of wealth? Answers on a postcard please…

 

[tiglon]

Convertibles have routinely been second cars. It’s just that now there doesn’t appear to be a desire for them. People love big SUVs. The article thinks that SUVs have the cachet of a convertible. Really? When everyone has one? Even Rangies are everywhere. I am
In Spain at the mo and all the Bentaygas and Uruses look incredibly stupid, but perhaps not as much as the people driving them. Why do people need to show off a perception of wealth? Answers on a postcard please…

Has always been the same. It's just now people show off wealth with a massive car whereas in certain previous decades it would have been with a sports car (or a really fancy carriage behind many horses, if you go back far enough). There will come a point where people in massive cars will be widely perceived as bell ends and show offs, just as drivers of sports cars were, and the trend will change again. I reckon convertibles will be popular again by the 2040's.

Nothing new in terms of how people think or act, it's just changing trends in consumer items.

 

[sars]

Same as me, so yes, we are stylish

When I'm driving the Volvo, it is a journey, when I'm in the zed, it's an adventure

 

[MikeyH]

Convertibles have routinely been second cars. It’s just that now there doesn’t appear to be a desire for them. People love big SUVs. The article thinks that SUVs have the cachet of a convertible. Really? When everyone has one? Even Rangies are everywhere. I am
In Spain at the mo and all the Bentaygas and Uruses look incredibly stupid, but perhaps not as much as the people driving them. Why do people need to show off a perception of wealth? Answers on a postcard please…

It's all on credit anyway.

 

[tiglon]

It's all on credit anyway.

Makes sense to put stuff on credit when you can get more interest from investments than you have to pay on a loan.

Both my cars are on credit in one way or another, so is my house. Could pay them all off quicker, but it makes more sense to put extra money into pension and ISA.

Some people will no doubt be spending more than they can afford, but that's also a story as old as money.

 

[CuppaTea]

demise of the car really - whether it will return at some point (doubt it ). cars used to have character, soul, passion. it was how they made you feel, what they said about you, tinker and customise etc. Now they all look the same, clinical white goods that just get you from a>b.

It'll go the same way as horses. Cars will be a toy for the rich.

It'll be electric bikes for the plebs (which is most of us)

 

[NS66]

It'll go the same way as horses. Cars will be a toy for the rich.

It'll be electric bikes for the plebs (which is most of us)

yes I think your right - maybe self driving community based cars as well just to squeeze more fun out of life!!

 

[Pondy]

Both my cars are on credit in one way or another, so is my house. Could pay them all off quicker, but it makes more sense to put extra money into pension and ISA.

I hear that a lot, but it is risky. Pensions can "go down as well as up". And they do!
Personal or car loans are around 10% APR average at present. You will struggle to get that on any pension.
And if you owe your mortgage company £1, they can still take your house off you.

In the past 5 years my (inaccessible) pension has grown by around 6%. My savings (accessible) have grown by not a lot less in the same period.

Also pensions are only any good to you when you get old. I keep being told by a (knobhead) IFA that if I do as he says I will be a millionaire when I'm 85.
I would rather be poor when (or big IF) I'm 85 and have money now thanks.

 

[NS66]

I hear that a lot, but it is risky. Pensions can "go down as well as up". And they do!
Personal or car loans are around 10% APR average at present. You will struggle to get that on any pension.
And if you owe your mortgage company £1, they can still take your house off you.

In the past 5 years my (inaccessible) pension has grown by around 6%. My savings (accessible) have grown by not a lot less in the same period.

Also pensions are only any good to you when you get old. I keep being told by a (knobhead) IFA that if I do as he says I will be a millionaire when I'm 85.
I would rather be poor when (or big IF) I'm 85 and have money now thanks.

depends what you call old!! pensions and ISA's are indeed one of the best investments - to be fair your IFA sounds like someone you should listen too - but hey none of know whats around the corner.

 

[tiglon]

I hear that a lot, but it is risky. Pensions can "go down as well as up". And they do!
Personal or car loans are around 10% APR average at present. You will struggle to get that on any pension.
And if you owe your mortgage company £1, they can still take your house off you.

In the past 5 years my (inaccessible) pension has grown by around 6%. My savings (accessible) have grown by not a lot less in the same period.

Also pensions are only any good to you when you get old. I keep being told by a (knobhead) IFA that if I do as he says I will be a millionaire when I'm 85.
I would rather be poor when (or big IF) I'm 85 and have money now thanks.

You can get 0% credit cards though, with a circa 4% charge every 2-3 years when you have to transfer to a new one. You might not be able to use them to make the purchase, but you can move the balance on to them within a few months depending on your spending levels.

You can get much higher returns on S&S ISAs and pensions if you choose riskier funds.

For some people there are very good PAYE reasons for putting more into pensions.

Different people, different situations, different choices. I'm happy with a bit of calculated risk, we've each got to make our own choices I suppose, and I'll be happy to accept personal responsibility if it goes wrong!

 

[RMB]

I hear that a lot, but it is risky. Pensions can "go down as well as up". And they do!
Personal or car loans are around 10% APR average at present. You will struggle to get that on any pension.
And if you owe your mortgage company £1, they can still take your house off you.

In the past 5 years my (inaccessible) pension has grown by around 6%. My savings (accessible) have grown by not a lot less in the same period.

Also pensions are only any good to you when you get old. I keep being told by a (knobhead) IFA that if I do as he says I will be a millionaire when I'm 85.
I would rather be poor when (or big IF) I'm 85 and have money now thanks.

Sounds like you need a new ifa @Pondy
I hope that is 6% pa and not total! Even that would be poor though. You should have got better depending on risk level etc. remember the value of the upfront tax relief at your marginal rate.
You can take your pension from 55 currently.