So it’s goodbye to the G29 (allegedly)

[Nanu]

Convertables only attract 50% of the potential market for them by either having soft tops or hard tops.

Personally I like the look of the G29 but would never buy one because it has a soft top. Likewise there are equally as many who wouldn't buy an E89 for the opposite reason.

As I have posted many times before, BMW missed a trick by not making the G29 a hybrid. If it was possible to design it with an optional hard top version, so much the better. I would have been first in the queue

 

[Silverstar]

I have seen the future for the motoring world and it's looking very grim! :thumbsdown:

 

[john-e89]

Personally I think the G29 is a much underrated car because of the boxster and MX-5, which is unfair, and you'll always get silly negatives from those that haven't driven or owned one, par the course unfortunately, but it really is a cracking roadster. It'll be a sad day when they finish it, if it's possible I'll have another before it's cannned for sure.

 

[Ian J]

The prospect of convertibles being discontinued has been touted for a while now and it's always made me wonder why they don't do as well as they used to? What is it about people nowadays that makes top down driving less appealing? Is it less disposable income? There are certainly enough warm countries in the world for it not to be the weather?

We go to Lanzarote every year and one of the major car hire companies hires out Fiat 124 Spiders and you see quite a few buzzing around. We've never hired one as there are three of us but I'm not sure that I would anyway as the sun is too hot for roof down motoring as surely it would boil your bonce.

I think that cooler countries like UK are more ideal for convertibles and wonder if the lack of sales is due to the convertible nature of the car or the fact that most of them are two seaters which are less convenient

 

[tiglon]

Most of us in the UK probably imagine that having a convertible in a hot country must be wonderful, but it just isn't. I was very excited to drive my first e89 on a 2 week trip to Venice and back in August 2018. Top down the whole way, I thought. In reality it was 30-40 degrees the whole time and it was far more pleasant having the roof up and the air con on...

Why are convertibles not wanted any more? Sports cars in general, I think. Motor racing is not popular any more, certainly not any versions of it where the cars have any relation to anything you can drive on the road. These days, big cars signify prosperity, not sports cars - that's why every drive way within 2 miles of me has a pair of whatever premium-ish SUVs that household can just about afford to lease until they run out of overdraft. The guy that used to have a McLaren now has a Tesla and a B Class.

Drive a 2 seater, people think you're a bell end. Drive something on stilts with a dreary 4 cylinder diesel engine (or even better electric), less space inside than a medium hatchback and a fancy badge, people think you're a winner.

 

[ori]

The prospect of convertibles being discontinued has been touted for a while now and it's always made me wonder why they don't do as well as they used to? What is it about people nowadays that makes top down driving less appealing? Is it less disposable income? There are certainly enough warm countries in the world for it not to be the weather? I loved my Z4, then my S5 convertible... I have a kid-wagon at the moment, but when he grows up I'd love to own another convertible.... but why have the massed abandoned them?

This puzzles me too. I love convertibles. Always have!
Funny thing is that everyone I meet wants to ride in a convertible, but I guess don’t want to own one themselves.

The Audi TT looked dated and needed major updates in my opinion.
The merc the same although I though the s class convertible was stunning.

 

[sp3ctre]

The merc the same although I though the s class convertible was stunning.

I think the problem with the premium convertibles is (certainly in the UK) people don’t want them as their daily driver, so the family convertible ends up being “the wife’s car”, and the MX-5 serves that market. Also, if you have a primary and secondary car you’ll always spend more cash on the main one, leaving less for the secondary.

 

[tiglon]

if you have a primary and secondary car you’ll always spend more cash on the main one, leaving less for the secondary.

My secondary car cost more than 4 times as much as my primary

 

[sp3ctre]

My secondary car cost more than 4 times as much as my primary

Haha, I’m sure the members of this forum, with the greatest respect, are not necessarily representative of “the general public” lol

 

[LeeZ4MR]

I think that with them only having 2 seats makes them less appealing for the majority. I love 2 seaters, but because I have my missus and 2 kids I also need something with 4 seats as well.

 

[Ian J]

I think that with them only having 2 seats makes them less appealing for the majority. I love 2 seaters, but because I have my missus and 2 kids I also need something with 4 seats as well.

But it has always been the case that two seaters have been unsuitable for families so that doesn't account for the reduction in demand.

A previous thread showed that a large number of Z4 owners are of the older generation (me included) so perhaps it's the memory of Spitfire pilots hooning around in their MGs that brought us t two seater ownership.

On reflection that can't be right otherwise we would all be smoking pipes too

 

[Silverstar]

I think a lot of what is being said here about 2 seaters not being practical etc. has always been the case, since forever. The only reason that their popluarity has diminished is that everyone wants to join the herd and have an SUV, it's a fashion statement, a fad maybe. Explains why car brands like Porsche Maserati Alfa Romeo etc end up selling way more SUVs compared to their traditional line up. It's a very sad state of affairs and people these days are lacking imagination all copying one another! :thumbsdown:

 

[ori]

I justified my 2 seater on the grounds that my “main car” is electric and I can put through the company and enjoy cheap motoring in london. Weekend and pleasure is my lovely blue beast!

However, my friends with more money go for a 911 as they can use the backseats to take the kids if they need to.

Difficult to justify a 2 seater unless it’s mega money and you go do Lamborghini or Ferrari.

 

[B21]

2 seaters fall into ‘weekend toys’ and ‘personal transport’…doesn’t seem to stop the sale of very expensive motor cycles…..don’t see many of them with 4 seats / 4 doors :tumbleweed: :rofl:

 

[Scubaregs]

For all but two of the last twenty three years I’ve owned two seaters.

And a bike of course.

 

[LeeZ4MR]

I think a lot of what is being said here about 2 seaters not being practical etc. has always been the case, since forever. The only reason that their popluarity has diminished is that everyone wants to join the herd and have an SUV, it's a fashion statement, a fad maybe. Explains why car brands like Porsche Maserati Alfa Romeo etc end up selling way more SUVs compared to their traditional line up. It's a very sad state of affairs and people these days are lacking imagination all copying one another! :thumbsdown:

I've got a SUV and a 2 seater Roadster though!

 

[LeeZ4MR]

I think that with them only having 2 seats makes them less appealing for the majority. I love 2 seaters, but because I have my missus and 2 kids I also need something with 4 seats as well.

But it has always been the case that two seaters have been unsuitable for families so that doesn't account for the reduction in demand.

A previous thread showed that a large number of Z4 owners are of the older generation (me included) so perhaps it's the memory of Spitfire pilots hooning around in their MGs that brought us t two seater ownership.

On reflection that can't be right otherwise we would all be smoking pipes too

The older school nature of my 370Z Roadster was what attracted me to it as well.

I didn't really gel with my Z4MR(the ride/suspension/gearbox frustrated me), but that car certainly made me want another 2 seater though for sure.

 

[Nanu]

Two seaters are the best reason for not having kids

As for not being practical every day drivers, top down you can transport just about anything as long as its not raining.

 

[Scubaregs]

Two seaters are the best reason for not having kids

As for not being practical every day drivers, top down you can transport just about anything as long as its not raining.

So you need four seats to transport raining?

 

[Roberltd2]

.....and the 2 seaters warm up quicker in the winter