Why so few convertibles?

[Strokerswild]

Verts are great, but just not for everyone.

My '07 GT500 was a vert, my first and probably last, and convinced me that I'm really not a vert guy. Most of the problem is where I live, often in the summer it's too unbearable between heat and humidity to really enjoy top-down motoring. Sort of defeats the purpose if the top is up and the AC is on half the time.....

That said, I looooooove my motorcycles. ;)

Totally different thing, IMO.

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[Rogues Gambit]

To me convertibles are like motorcycles. They are awesome in May and October. The rest of the year their just less attractive Mustangs!

Except as you know being from Dirty Jerzey as well, there are those El Nino-ish days in the off months where you can have the top down

Besides, I wanna travel down south, whats better than a sun dog?

 

[MarkH]

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%.

Add to that, how many were GT's, add PP and probably not too many

 

[WindveilNJ]

Add to that, how many were GT's, add PP and probably not too many

Looking at the numbers in that other string on 2016 ordered Mustangs it is the Non-premium package GT vert that is worst selling of all (like 1/3 of a percent). So the most and least popular verts are both GTs. Interesting.

 

[Azzurro]

Because they are gay :bolt:

LMMFAO.. I think snot came out of my nose from laughing :clap2::clap2:

 

[White Stallion 11]

Wow! We are definitely a passionate bunch of people.

I'm an old guy and have owned sports car convertibles ever since I've been 18. As a matter of fact, my current baby is the fifth Mustang convertible I've owned (not to mention two MG-B's, a TR-6, and a TR-7, as well as '64 and '68 Ford Galaxy 500 XL convertibles).

As far as I'm concerned, open air cars are where it's at--and I've lived up North, in the deep South, and on both coasts--God have has given us great heat and air conditioning systems in convertibles to mitigate the less than desirable times to have the top down.

Bottom line is: you buy the Mustang that you enjoy driving, and I'll buy the Mustang that I enjoy driving. In my mind, there is no better driving experience on the face of this earth than driving with sunshine and blue skies, or starlight and the full moon overhead at any given time and place.

For the fastback folks, we love you, too.

RJ

 

[Redcruzer]

Looking at the numbers in that other string on 2016 ordered Mustangs it is the Non-premium package GT vert that is worst selling of all (like 1/3 of a percent). So the most and least popular verts are both GTs. Interesting.

I would bet most folks looking for a vert are not buying one as a daily driver. More as a second car or toy and have a few extra bucks to spend and spring for the loaded version which around here will push 50k out the door.

 

[Azzurro]

Wow! We are definitely a passionate bunch of people.

I'm an old guy and have owned sports car convertibles ever since I've been 18. As a matter of fact, my current baby is the fifth Mustang convertible I've owned (not to mention two MG-B's, a TR-6, and a TR-7, as well as '64 and '68 Ford Galaxy 500 XL convertibles).

As far as I'm concerned, open air cars are where it's at--and I've lived up North, in the deep South, and on both coasts--God have has given us great heat and air conditioning systems in convertibles to mitigate the less than desirable times to have the top down.

Bottom line is: you buy the Mustang that you enjoy driving, and I'll buy the Mustang that I enjoy driving. In my mind, there is no better driving experience on the face of this earth than driving with sunshine and blue skies, or starlight and the full moon overhead at any given time and place.

For the fastback folks, we love you, too.

RJ

White Stallion... Stang owners are for sure opinionated. LOL. I can totally relate why people like verts, they are just not for me. We all get why you like it.

In the end, who gives a crap if people don't like what you like or what I like. Enjoy your car and forget about it. If you enjoy it that's all that matters.

 

[EJS2016]

I think every one should own a convertible once in their lifetime.
They certainly have their positives and negatives.
I love my '08 'vert and '16 FB.
However, it is very highly unlikely that I would ever buy another convertible.
To all the convertible lovers out there...enjoy your ragtops and keeping buying them!!!
I am extremely fortunate to have a choice.

 

[Rich of So Cal]

i will never NOT have a convertible in my life for the rest of my life, if i can help it. Nothing quite like it.

I agree. This is my 5th vert in a row, and the best, safety and operation wise.

 

[GiddyUp15]

My 2015 GT vert is my second Mustang. I still have my first one that I got when I was 18 in 2002 (94 GT coupe). I bought a convertible this time for several reasons. First, I am from a Mustang family, mostly from my mom. She's had two convertible GTs and still has the 2006 she bought new. Her and my dad (before he passed) had some great road trips and memories in that car. It was mostly used as a "good weather" DD since my parents used to work at the same place, and now my mom has an Escape to drive in the winter. Anyway, every time I borrowed her car for a trip or a date or whatever I just fell in love with the drop-top life. We've had a Flowmaster exhaust on her car since it was about a month old and it is just awesome to hear that with the top down. Even at 10 years old her car is still turning heads too!

I don't care if others see it as "gay", whatever. Yellow is my favorite color too, so I am used to the teasing! My 94 is yellow as well, and since I still have that car, I figured I'd trick that car out for auto-cross, so that'll be my "track toy" while the 2015 will be my "weekend cruiser."

I used to ride motorcycles and had one for a while. I always loved it but was afraid for my life, more so because of the other idiot drivers out there. Where I live now, the drivers are so bad, and even back in Indiana I've noticed they've gotten worse too. Distracted driving, etc I guess. I just hear on the news constantly (mostly in the summer) about a motorcycle accident with either a fatality or serious injuries. I've noticed a lot of those accidents would be just a regular old fender bender if it were in a car. I actually witnessed one on I-25 in Denver one day last year where a motorcycle ran into a semi during stop and go traffic. Bike was barely damaged but guy was getting attended to on the ground. I saw on the news later that day that he died from his injuries. Probably wasn't wearing a helmet but still...scary out there. I'm not usually afraid of anything, but I saw buying a convertible car as a trade off to getting a motorcycle. Yeah it cost a lot more, but I can fit more people, and don't have to worry as much about the weather, all while being safer. Of course not quite as safe as a coupe, but knock-on-wood I've never even been in a serious accident let alone a rollover! I'll gladly take that risk to get close to the similar open air feeling as you get in a motorcycle but with significantly more metal and airbags protecting me! People are surprised when I say I got a convertible living in Colorado....but we get pretty awesome weather year-round here. 300+ days of sunshine, and with the drier air I can do top down on a 50 degree sunny day no problem (sock hat on though!) Big blizzards come through every now and then but the sun melts it in a week usually, then back to top-down weather. Been really glad I bought a vert in the year and a half I've had it!

To answer the OP, I agree with a lot of the guys and gals here. You have to REALLY want a convertible, or just be the convertible type. It is significantly higher priced, and sure you could run into more problems with top issues later in life (if you're like me and plan to keep the car forever), but that's just part of the drop-top life! My mom's 10-year old GT vert hasn't had a single issue related to the top, and in fact she's had very little issues at all with that car. Even still has original brakes on it with 70k on the clock! The 2006 is hydraulic too, which is a painfully slow and loud top to put up and down, but no issues so far. I love the electric top on the new one. Sooooo much faster and super quiet! Space saving too. My trunk is surprisingly large, especially compared to the 2006.

 

[cbrookre]

I would bet most folks looking for a vert are not buying one as a daily driver. More as a second car or toy and have a few extra bucks to spend and spring for the loaded version which around here will push 50k out the door.

Mine is a DD, 16k miles in 1 year...

 

[WindveilNJ]

Thanks everyone

Thanks for the great comments everyone. I did not use my 2006GT vert as a DD - the shoes it had on were summer only. It had just 16,000 miles on it when I sold it. My 911 already has 19,000 in four years. But since I don't intend to as heavily modify this pony, it will likely be my DD unless it snows - we will have to see how it holds up - I am every optimistic.

As for all of your comments on why so few convertibles, I think many of your comments provided a good explaination. (Aside from questioning my car's sexuality:cheers.

The weekend driver explaination is the best I can come up with for why so many GT premiums and so few other vert engine and trim combinations. Still, it is interesting that some of the lowest sales numbers for all models included all of the other vert combinations but the GT PP which was 3D overall among our members who took the poll.

Anyway. Thanks all!

 

[Grande1124]

More expensive impractical and they look terrible with the top up, which in most areas is most of the time. The only way I would buy a convertible is if it was a second car which i hope to have one day. For a convertible i would not choose a mustang though, I would do a 2 seat roadster like a Boxster or BMW Z.

 

[Armen]

I'm happy with the lines on mine, top up...

...or down

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