Why so few convertibles?

[WindveilNJ]

I looked at the s5 as well, very nice car but ended up with the Mustang for pretty much the same reasons. I have learned that the quality in the Mustang build was the biggest trade off.

From the picture, we could have the same cat (well, when mine finally shows up in early June. Is that Magnetic with the black accent package?

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[SterlingStangMan]

I think the original intent of the thread was not to bash verts but to ask why there are so few of us. I have always been a ragtop man, first with a '67 Firebird and 3 Mustangs to todays '15 Ecoboost. The shortcoming enumerated by others just don't hold true like they did in years past (remember "Rustang" and Ford stands for "Found On Road Dead"). The quality of these cars, hardtop or ragtop is lightyears ahead of the originals we all still love. The decline in numbers, it is all a matter of demand, partially driven by the myth of inferiority or lack of adequate safety. The fact is the demand is still healthy and accounts for a significant percentage of sales. Most of those bad mouthing convertibles here have never owned one. They are not for everyone but, look the the near future when the only cars out there, on automated roads, will look like shoe boxes and you will not even have a steering wheel (how much fun will that be!?! Convertibles speak to my need to feel connected to the world, wind in my hair (what is left of it LOL!) Don't bash a vert just because you personally would not own one - that is your freedom to choose, just like it is my freedom to drop the top and enjoy a drive by the ocean or a twisty country road! Face it, we are living in the twilight of the Golden Age of the Automobile! Enjoy it while it lasts - I will!!!

 

[cbrookre]

My first 'Vert, and I am loving it even in the rainy NW. Very quiet with the top up, open air with the top down. Plus I don't race, so not worried about the extra weight or the supposed performance that gets sapped due to it.

 

[altjx]

hope than soon changes from 2-3 to 3-4....

Haha

 

[SterlingStangMan]

I had open heart surgery about a year ago. I had already made up my mind to buy a '15 Mustang. My loving wife knew how much I loved the '11 Mustang but, was concerned about me getting skin cancer as a coworker's spouse had recently died of it. She offered me to keep the "11 Mustang vert (for weekends) and buy a '15 Fastback as a daily driver. After driving the fastback, I felt claustrophic, just not for me. Then drove the '15 vert. While essentially the same car, I just could not see myself in a fastback. My agreement with my wife is to drive with the top up on very hot sunny days and limit my exposure with hats and sunblock. I don't mind driving with the top up because the top liner feels like a hardtop, has more headroom than the fastback, and best of all, with a push of a button, the top folds up in just 6 short seconds! Life is GOOD!

 

[Fordever]

I had open heart surgery about a year ago. I had already made up my mind to buy a '15 Mustang. My loving wife knew how much I loved the '11 Mustang but, was concerned about me getting skin cancer as a coworker's spouse had recently died of it. She offered me to keep the "11 Mustang vert (for weekends) and buy a '15 Fastback as a daily driver. After driving the fastback, I felt claustrophic, just not for me. Then drove the '15 vert. While essentially the same car, I just could not see myself in a fastback. My agreement with my wife is to drive with the top up on very hot sunny days and limit my exposure with hats and sunblock. I don't mind driving with the top up because the top liner feels like a hardtop, has more headroom than the fastback, and best of all, with a push of a button, the top folds up in just 6 short seconds! Life is GOOD!

Best sunroof in the world Bud!!!

 

[MrBoogie]

I looked at the s5 as well, very nice car but ended up with the Mustang for pretty much the same reasons. I have learned that the quality in the Mustang build was the biggest trade off.

My best friend has a '16 S5 Coupe. It's a fantastic car, but at 6'5", it's a bit cramped for me. The 3.0 TFSI is fairly easy to get respectable power from too. 400 whp is common from just a pulley swap and tune.

 

[WindveilNJ]

The '67 Firebird was a great car. To your point, today's cars are so much better. I remember going down the shore and seeing dozens of overheated cars on the side of the road - almost never see that now. Great looking car you have, and the next poster from the NW. I was so torn between Gaurd, DI Blue and Ruby Red.

To return to topic, I still find the percentage low and I find the split between GT premium and all other rag tops also interesting. I wonder how representative the split on this site versus the real numbers? Does anyone know know where we can get real totals?

 

[WindveilNJ]

I had open heart surgery about a year ago.
Glad you made it through! As a fellow cardiac case, anything that ratchets down the daily stress and puts a smile on is worth it weight in gold. I get a big grin whenever the top of my '06 went down. I am looking forward to doing the SA,e in my new '16!

 

[Schu]

All the convertables are here in vegas on the strip... they use them for rentals.

I regularly see handfuls at a time whenever I am in that area of vegas... all eco's

 

[SterlingStangMan]

Almost back to 100%, a few pains from nerve damage in the chest but, somethings you just have to live with. I drive the 101 almost every evening - love the beaches and beach citys! Ragtops Forever!

 

[SterlingStangMan]

Historically vert sales for Mustangs has been in the mid 20% of sales. Yes, rental car companies buy a lot of the V6 and I4 verts in tourist trap areas. The 1 in 5 is no surprise for GTs but probably more like 1 in 4 for the non GTs.

 

[WindveilNJ]

according to a FMC press release, it looks like last year, round numbers globally - 30,000 rag tops out of 142,000.
That's about 21%.

 

[Rogues Gambit]

got mine for the warm weather and love it!

Never had a Coupe and kinda wonder how my car would be if it were at times, but on those warm days and/or nights when you can just cruise, it's worth it

 

[thePill]

http://www.goodcarbadcar.net/2011/01/mazda-mx-5-miata-sales-figures.html?m=1

Above are the current sales of the World Best Selling Convertible since 2002. I believe Ford stated they sold about 30,000 convertibles during the Global Sales announcement.

So, if what Ford says is true, the 2015 Mustang has become the World Best Selling Convertible for the year with 30,000. This would shatter the best Miata year by a decent margin.


In fact, I'm not sure if Ford can even support more very sales.

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