The car that never was

[Flyingfifer]

You’re right my example is awful
FE4CC605-A4FF-4BCF-A4E7-5CC7E29DCD09.jpeg

Stick a roof back on it, take out the extra chassis stiffening and you will have a better, lighter car

Much better

 

[Dark Diggler]

I agree, much better

 

[sars]

Having had quite a few four seater convertibles, they were purchased because I needed a car with more than two seats and I wanted to be able to have the top down when I could. Yes I could have had two cars, but the day you wanted to have the wind in your hair is the day you’re in the other car

 

[Nanu]

Controversial - Anything with more than 2 seats should not be a convertible. Yet to see a one I like or more to the point, I would buy.

Very controversial - A convertible should not have a canvass roof. Yet to see one with the roof up that I like or would buy.

 

[z4pilot]

A mate of mine used to say that the last person to look good in a four seat convertible was Hitler.... :roll:

 

[mmm-five]

A mate of mine used to say that the last person to look good in a four seat convertible was Hitler.... :roll:

What about JFK?

 

[mmm-five]

Controversial - Anything with more than 2 seats should not be a convertible. Yet to see a one I like or more to the point, I would buy.

Very controversial - A convertible should not have a canvass roof. Yet to see one with the roof up that I like or would buy.

I’d happily drive a Bentley S1 Drophead...

 

[rdgreen]

More to the point. I'm surprised that, with your weather, you can actually use a convertible with the top down.....whether it be a 2 or 4 seater. :evil:

 

[mmm-five]

More to the point. I'm surprised that, with your weather, you can actually use a convertible with the top down.....whether it be a 2 or 4 seater. :evil:

Of course we can, we just get wet or cold as well as sun-burnt

(p.s. I'm a coupe owner)

 

[Argyll Andy]

More to the point. I'm surprised that, with your weather, you can actually use a convertible with the top down.....whether it be a 2 or 4 seater. :evil:

That’s why there’s so much advice for getting heated seats and trickle chargers rather than caps and sunscreen on this forum

 

[Flyingfifer]

A mate of mine used to say that the last person to look good in a four seat convertible was Hitler.... :roll:

 

[brillomaster]

in general, i dont think cars with the roof lopped off to create a convertible look good.

Good convertibles are designed from the outset as convertibles.
BMW E85, mazda mx5, honda S2000, all look better as convertibles, and putting on a hardtop looks weird.
cars initially designed as coupes (ie nissan 350z, BMW e92, porsche 911s, most astons) all look better as coupes, and lopping the roof off looks weird.

strangely, the BMW E85/E86 seem to straddle this rule, since both seem to be standalone designs, and both the E85 roadster and E86 coupe look good.

back to 4 seater convertibles - i don't think any modern 4 seater convertible has been designed like that from the offset, so none look good. older 4 seater convertibles actually look ok, probably because they were designed like that from the start.

 

[Flyingfifer]

in general, i dont think cars with the roof lopped off to create a convertible look good.

Good convertibles are designed from the outset as convertibles.
BMW E85, mazda mx5, honda S2000, all look better as convertibles, and putting on a hardtop looks weird.
cars initially designed as coupes (ie nissan 350z, BMW e92, porsche 911s, most astons) all look better as coupes, and lopping the roof off looks weird.

strangely, the BMW E85/E86 seem to straddle this rule, since both seem to be standalone designs, and both the E85 roadster and E86 coupe look good.

back to 4 seater convertibles - i don't think any modern 4 seater convertible has been designed like that from the offset, so none look good. older 4 seater convertibles actually look ok, probably because they were designed like that from the start.

100%, this is the best explanation I think

 

[sars]

in general, i dont think cars with the roof lopped off to create a convertible look good.

Good convertibles are designed from the outset as convertibles.Portifino
BMW E85, mazda mx5, honda S2000, all look better as convertibles, and putting on a hardtop looks weird.
cars initially designed as coupes (ie nissan 350z, BMW e92, porsche 911s, most astons) all look better as coupes, and lopping the roof off looks weird.

strangely, the BMW E85/E86 seem to straddle this rule, since both seem to be standalone designs, and both the E85 roadster and E86 coupe look good.

back to 4 seater convertibles - i don't think any modern 4 seater convertible has been designed like that from the offset, so none look good. older 4 seater convertibles actually look ok, probably because they were designed like that from the start.

100%, this is the best explanation I think

Fortunately we are all different with different likes and tastes, so there is a market for both two and four seater convertibles for which I am undeniably grateful. There are some lovely looking four seater convertibles out there (and yes the new 4 series isn't one of them) the C, E & S class Mercedes, Bentley GT, Maserati Gran Turismo and Ferrari Portofino to mention but a few. To say that a modern four seater was never designed to be a convertible, just highlights that the poster of that statement has no understanding of the car industry and the engineering decisions required at project conception that have to be incorporated into the design to aid structural rigidity. To think that some executive three years down the development tree suddenly decides, I know let's make it into a convertible, is extremely naïve.

 

[Huzee4]

This 320d cabriolet is our other car, superb to drive fully loaded but the rear 2 seats are tiny with no leg room, rear seat passengers freeze even in summer, great car though I have to say

 

[brillomaster]

in general, i dont think cars with the roof lopped off to create a convertible look good.

Good convertibles are designed from the outset as convertibles.Portifino
BMW E85, mazda mx5, honda S2000, all look better as convertibles, and putting on a hardtop looks weird.
cars initially designed as coupes (ie nissan 350z, BMW e92, porsche 911s, most astons) all look better as coupes, and lopping the roof off looks weird.

strangely, the BMW E85/E86 seem to straddle this rule, since both seem to be standalone designs, and both the E85 roadster and E86 coupe look good.

back to 4 seater convertibles - i don't think any modern 4 seater convertible has been designed like that from the offset, so none look good. older 4 seater convertibles actually look ok, probably because they were designed like that from the start.

100%, this is the best explanation I think

Fortunately we are all different with different likes and tastes, so there is a market for both two and four seater convertibles for which I am undeniably grateful. There are some lovely looking four seater convertibles out there (and yes the new 4 series isn't one of them) the C, E & S class Mercedes, Bentley GT, Maserati Gran Turismo and Ferrari Portofino to mention but a few. To say that a modern four seater was never designed to be a convertible, just highlights that the poster of that statement has no understanding of the car industry and the engineering decisions required at project conception that have to be incorporated into the design to aid structural rigidity. To think that some executive three years down the development tree suddenly decides, I know let's make it into a convertible, is extremely naïve.

Bit harsh, i just said i dont think they look good!

I also don't think estates look as good as saloons. And dont get me started on red cars. All of those look terrible! :lol:

 

[Nanu]

Controversial - Anything with more than 2 seats should not be a convertible. Yet to see a one I like or more to the point, I would buy.

Very controversial - A convertible should not have a canvass roof. Yet to see one with the roof up that I like or would buy.

I’d happily drive a Bentley S1 Drophead...

1956-Bentley-S1-Continental-Drophead-Coupe-by-Park-Ward-01.jpg

Pics with the hood up???

 

[mmm-five]

1956-Bentley-S1-Continental-Drophead-Coupe-by-Park-Ward

Not of that exact car/colour.

Here's the drophead with hood up:


Here's the coupe:


Here's the fastback:

 

[Nanu]

Exactly my point! Coupe stylish, convertible AAAARRRGGGHHH!

 

[sars]

100%, this is the best explanation I think

Fortunately we are all different with different likes and tastes, so there is a market for both two and four seater convertibles for which I am undeniably grateful. There are some lovely looking four seater convertibles out there (and yes the new 4 series isn't one of them) the C, E & S class Mercedes, Bentley GT, Maserati Gran Turismo and Ferrari Portofino to mention but a few. To say that a modern four seater was never designed to be a convertible, just highlights that the poster of that statement has no understanding of the car industry and the engineering decisions required at project conception that have to be incorporated into the design to aid structural rigidity. To think that some executive three years down the development tree suddenly decides, I know let's make it into a convertible, is extremely naïve.

Bit harsh, i just said i dont think they look good!

Yes perhaps it was, though you clearly made a statement to fit your narrative that was entirely ill informed.