Why so few convertibles?

[Badboss]

The reason is clear... like the sky

The percentage of convertibles sold is in direct relationship to the % of the US population that lives in sucky weather. I think if more people could enjoy their convertible with the top down 50% of the year or more you would see a higher percentage of convertibles sold. The strategy that worked best for me was buy the Fastback for my self (Boss 302) and the 2015 Vert (for the wife). I have owned multiple mustangs and I must say the Vert is awesome! Will probably never sell it.We rented one in Hawaii and the wife and I were hooked. There is nothing like driving around Lake Tahoe, Yosemite, California Coast, Golden Gate Bridge, cruising Palm Springs in the open air! Long live the Mustang and long live the convertible!

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[WindveilNJ]

(responding to the OP's question at the beginning of the thread):

At least in the case of the Ecoboost:

Weight.

Curb weight-Ecoboost coupe-3,532 Lbs.

Curb weight-Ecoboost vert-3,742 lbs (Car and driver, and it was a premium package car too!).

Not such a big deal when you have a V8 mill, but I've read more than one car mag. review that says the Ecoboost vert is a pig ;) Not to mention that the car magazine guys tend to test the loaded out models...

Wow, I was beginning to forget the original point. Thanks for reading it all! I think a lot of them are saying it is a performance car so it is tested on a track. The weight does slow it down, but, it is really more of a cruiser (a darn fast one that can be made faster). But if you really want a car for track work, convertibles create some problems that are more important than weight.

Many tracks will not let you run with a convertible unless you have at least a roll bar (light bar will not count). NJ motorsport park, will not. Pocono will. Watkins Glen - no. And some clubs will not let you run in a vert in things like autocross - which makes no sense, but there you have it.

Once you get serious about a track, you would likely not fun either of these cars (coupe or vert) as they are both on the heavy side - most of the people I know that really get into the hobby get an older Porsche, Miata, the new BRZ, etc. and strip out the interior and anything else they can that adds weight. They are lower to the ground, more maneuverable, and the weight to horsepower ratio is better.

But yes, if you are going to do track-like stuff casually, a coupe would be better.

Most of us don't do this level of car activity.

 

[WindveilNJ]

The percentage of convertibles sold is in direct relationship to the % of the US population that lives in sucky weather. I think if more people could enjoy their convertible with the top down 50% of the year or more you would see a higher percentage of convertibles sold. The strategy that worked best for me was buy the Fastback for my self (Boss 302) and the 2015 Vert (for the wife). I have owned multiple mustangs and I must say the Vert is awesome! Will probably never sell it.We rented one in Hawaii and the wife and I were hooked. There is nothing like driving around Lake Tahoe, Yosemite, California Coast, Golden Gate Bridge, cruising Palm Springs in the open air! Long live the Mustang and long live the convertible!

Funny, I say the same thing about driving around our local sites with the top down ...Newark, Trenton, Camden, Arthur Kill... .:frusty:

 

[TheDivaDanielle]

you can tease me about me having a girl's car of a Mustang convertible, but chances are with my GTPP, i might be whooping your ass at the stoplight. or just stalling my manual, lol..

 

[WindveilNJ]

you can tease me about me having a girl's car of a Mustang convertible, but chances are with my GTPP, i might be whooping your ass at the stoplight. or just stalling my manual, lol..

Of that I have no doubt! I never thought that Mustang convertibles were a girls' car - indeed, as I noted before, I have been trying very hard to keep my girls from taking it!

 

[HappySquirrel]

This may have already been mentioned (I couldn't make it through all 10 pages of this thread), but I don't think the % of convertibles posted on 6g represents the general population at all. Here in Vegas I see tons of vert mustangs, especially headed out to Hoover Dam. As the Mustang is one of only a few mass-produced convertibles currently available, I think many of the verts are purchased by:

A) Rental car companies
B) People who just want a fun, relatively cheap drop-top (that is, not the type of person who visits forums like this)

 

[Norm Peterson]

And some clubs will not let you run in a vert in things like autocross - which makes no sense, but there you have it.

When you've seen a car go shiny side down at an autocross, as I have, it starts making a lot more sense to require rollover protection in convertibles. At the very least if the car is running on R-compound tires or race slicks, and it's still a really good idea with Rivals, RE71R's, and even top-shelf true street tires.


Norm

 

[WindveilNJ]

Happy squirrel,
The global numbers for 2015 ran about 20% convertible as well.

Norm ( flashes of Cheers).
I have never seen anything like a car flipping in Autocross that would have to be one in a million. The North Jersey Porsche club has been doing it at MetLife (Giant) stadium for years without incident.

My point was, however, there are lots of reasons other than weight to get a coupe if you are really serious about the racing thing. But if that is really your thing, a Mustang may not be the choice at all.

 

[ElAviator72]

Well, yeah, I wasn't really talking about track performance, but street performance. The extra weight of the vert slows down the ecoboost big time. If I'm buying a Mustang convertible, I expect it to accelerate and brake at least as good as the coupe. Once again, though, not nearly as noticeable in the GT.

 

[White Stallion 11]

Sticks are great but kids these days are really spoiled. No more parallel parking on driver's test, back up cameras, back up sensors, auto braking. Unfortunately, we are the last generation of drivers. Most kids I know look at driving as a chore - for me, the drives in the woods or by the ocean are spiritual events and a way to enjoy the seat of the pants, connection to the world. Okay, tons of 80's Metal playing - "Nobody Rides for Free!"

Amen!

RJ

 

[mikef523]

The percentage of convertibles sold is in direct relationship to the % of the US population that lives in sucky weather. I think if more people could enjoy their convertible with the top down 50% of the year or more you would see a higher percentage of convertibles sold. The strategy that worked best for me was buy the Fastback for my self (Boss 302) and the 2015 Vert (for the wife). I have owned multiple mustangs and I must say the Vert is awesome! Will probably never sell it.We rented one in Hawaii and the wife and I were hooked. There is nothing like driving around Lake Tahoe, Yosemite, California Coast, Golden Gate Bridge, cruising Palm Springs in the open air! Long live the Mustang and long live the convertible!

Wife and I rented 3 Mustange verts in Hawaii. We visited 4 islands while there in 2014. We rented one red, one white, and one blue. that hooked us also. We got our 15 triple yellow eco Mustang in march of 15. Although, here in Houston, the best time for the vert is late fall, and February to May. After that, it gets much too hot and humid most of the time.
Love the convertible Mustang. very happy with our decision to get one.

P.S. Badboss. I see that was your first post here. Welcome to the forum.

 

[Norm Peterson]

Norm ( flashes of Cheers).
I have never seen anything like a car flipping in Autocross that would have to be one in a million. The North Jersey Porsche club has been doing it at MetLife (Giant) stadium for years without incident.

If I hadn't watched it happen with my own eyes I'd be skeptical as well. But it doesn't take very many such incidents for an event insurer to get antsy, hence the rollover protection requirement with some organizations.

Pull up a stool and tell Sam to put your first one on my tab ;)


Norm

 

[Rob00GT]

Again in response to the original post, there are two kinds of people in the world. Convertible people and not.

 

[ElAviator72]

Again in response to the original post, there are two kinds of people in the world. Convertible people and not.

That, too. Convertibles don't do well in many climates without a nice warm garage to live in and plenty of pampering, like covered parking spaces at work if you're driving it to work every day ;)

If you're parking it in the full weather/sun all the time, expect to be replacing the top in about 5 years...

 

[TheDivaDanielle]

See i think the "convertibles are no good in the cold" is a damn lie.

mine have been year-round DDs and there is no issue with driving one when it's only 10 degrees outside.

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