The Rise and Fall of Retractable Hardtops

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Big Car

Big Car

3 жыл бұрын

In 2007 it seems every car company had a convertible with a fancy electric retractable hard top, but nowadays they seem to be abandoning them for soft tops. Why did they suddenly become popular, almost 100 years after they were invented, and why are they now disappearing, almost as quickly as they appeared?
Images of the Chrysler Thunderbolt opening are courtesy of Richard Truesdell.
904 WERKS David video about the Toyota Soarer Aerocabin: • 1989 Toyota Soarer AER...
Simon White video about the Honda Del Sol Transtop: • Honda Del Sol TransTop...
Intro music: In/Out by Public Memory from the KZfaq audio library.
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Sources:
www.leblogauto.com/2009/08/be...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Georges...
www.supercars.net/blog/1941-c...
www.hagerty.com/media/automot...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_Fa...
velocetoday.com/top-acrobatic...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Playboy...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Retract...
global.toyota/en/detail/7790394
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toyota_...
3000gtspyderregistry.com/
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/America...
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Пікірлер: 1 300
@BigCar2
@BigCar2 3 жыл бұрын
Erratum: Georges Paulin didn't of course world for the British Resistance, but the French Resistance (working with the British). My mouth got ahead of me!
@sanskarsingh3921
@sanskarsingh3921 3 жыл бұрын
can you make a video on tata?????
@comegeturboyclint
@comegeturboyclint 3 жыл бұрын
And no blooper on that 😂
@saurabhponkshe
@saurabhponkshe 2 жыл бұрын
Tata Motors next please
@alxa4739
@alxa4739 2 жыл бұрын
Sorry but on advantages you forgot to mention SNOW. A hardtop is basically a normal car in winter, a softop is definitely not. Also I think the del sol is the only design you showed that addresses the trunk space issue.
@MoAV15
@MoAV15 Жыл бұрын
In the convertible video, when you did the statistics of hardtop convertibles, you count how many hardtop convertibles were on sale (coming on and coming off sale) in the year (e.g. 2010), not by the end of every year (e.g. 12/2010)?
@Swat_Dennis
@Swat_Dennis 3 жыл бұрын
To be honest… I like how it looks, I hate softtops…
@discozula4469
@discozula4469 3 жыл бұрын
Ye but softtops are lighter
@TheKenjoje
@TheKenjoje 3 жыл бұрын
soft tops always look like aftermarket thought done in private garage and it is insane they put it in cars which are expensive....this is alright for cheeky inexpensive cars which are not taken too seriously and should look cute and mostly drive around a city....
@ecchioni
@ecchioni 3 жыл бұрын
@@discozula4469 Hard tops provide better aerodynamics.
@kyle_vr
@kyle_vr 3 жыл бұрын
Best of both worlds in my opinion. Looks nice when up (unlike most soft-tops) and can still be lowered - being a convertible!
@cra83
@cra83 3 жыл бұрын
@@discozula4469 and waaayy colder if it’s on your daily!
@kenxiong6830
@kenxiong6830 3 жыл бұрын
Idk about everyone else but I prefer a retractable hardtop over a soft top. I’ve had both and I can tell you it’s a whole helluva harder to keep the interior hot or cold with a cloth top. Plus criminals can’t cut a hardtop as opposed to a soft top. Oh and did I mention better roller over protection?!!! Don’t forget wind noise too
@banjopete
@banjopete 3 жыл бұрын
When either top is down rollover is the same surely? If worried buy a coupe.
@PaulN504
@PaulN504 3 жыл бұрын
I agree with your other reasons but it doesn't really add much rollover protection since it's usually very light and not structural. I used to drive a VW Eos and it had spring loaded roll bars in the rear headrests that would be deployed in a rollover that along with the reinforced windshield frame could hold the car. The roof was considered expendable in a rollover. I believe many newer convertibles have similar systems.
@kenxiong6830
@kenxiong6830 3 жыл бұрын
@@banjopete yes when the top is down there is no difference but when you’re in weather they requires the top to be up, a hardtop provides better insulation
@kenxiong6830
@kenxiong6830 3 жыл бұрын
@@PaulN504 that may be the case with a VW but I’m talking from the perspective of a SL. The hardtop in my car is pretty stiff. I’m not saying it will protect you in all situations but is better than a soft top
@LasVegar
@LasVegar 3 жыл бұрын
Just have a car that ass a solid roof, its a loot more practical
@ekolekol4389
@ekolekol4389 3 жыл бұрын
Bloody crossovers, soon there will be no estates (wagons), no hatchbacks, no roadsters, no convertibles, no coupes. Choice will be reduced to a black, silver or white crossover\suv. You'd get more choice buying a fridge.
@thecianinator
@thecianinator 3 жыл бұрын
I've got a secret for you, crossovers are station wagons. They just changed the name because nobody wants station wagons.
@jonbrown6352
@jonbrown6352 3 жыл бұрын
@@thecianinator Crossovers are just tall hatchbacks. People buy them either because they are boring and just want something that's easier to get in and out of, or because they are dumb and think a tall Nissan Qashqai has the same off-road ability of a Land Rover.
@MICHGO1
@MICHGO1 3 жыл бұрын
AS LONG AS YOU LIKE A STAINLESS STEEL FRIDGE. GOOD LUCK FINDING A WHITE ONE.
@PhilbyFavourites
@PhilbyFavourites 3 жыл бұрын
Guys there’s a reason….. I have a GLA45… For the last 22 years I had wagons, or estate cars as we call them in the UK. Wagons allowed you to carry the detritus of life, boat shit, bike shit, house shit and for some (but not me) kids’ shit. Wagons have gotten bigger and bigger and in UK if you have a Range Rover or Discovery that puts you into a world of using two car parking spaces and being hated by everybody. Somewhere in the world there is a single journalist who is responsible for the torrent of hate poured onto SUVs and to be honest some can be termed stylish, some are blocky and boxy. But not every one just wants two or four seats and no carrying ability. Mine isn’t even a “high/command” driving position but it’s wonderful to drive and (don’t snigger too much now) it’s better than a Golf R and it’s a million times less nickable as it isn’t desirous to the n’er do well with needs but no money… So before a raft of hate ours onto me, you tell me what your actual ideal car would that you would buy with your own money?
@ramadhanisme7
@ramadhanisme7 3 жыл бұрын
@@jonbrown6352 yeah a tall hatchback with much higher ground clearence which is very essential in a third world country like mine where the road has a humongous speed bump and will definitely destroy your hatchback undercarriage 🤣🤣🤣 i don't like suv that much but since i need that high ground clearence leaving me no choice
@petersimpson5859
@petersimpson5859 3 жыл бұрын
As a former owner of a Triumph Spitfire with a bolt-on hard top, I concur that they are way quieter and make for a more refined and rigid drive. Let's hope in a few years you make a video on the embarrassing craze that was the SUV.
@BigCar2
@BigCar2 3 жыл бұрын
Amen!
@ashleyphotog
@ashleyphotog 3 жыл бұрын
@@BigCar2 I'm quite certain you could do that now, no need to wait.
@pistonburner6448
@pistonburner6448 Жыл бұрын
As a former owner of a 60's convertible Triumph as well, and also several German and Italian modern convertibles I can tell you that your information on convertible tops is obsolete and for today's convertibles it is incorrect. Back in the days of Spitfire convertible soft tops were absolutely horrible: thin, horrible mechanism, dismal sealing, horrible aerodynamics, plastic windows, etc. etc. etc. A bolt-on hard top is also very different to a convertible hard top. Nowadays soft tops have multi-layer construction and many have composite panels inside too, they have excellent mechanisms, glass windows, and their aerodynamics and sealing is great. It's impossible to make precise blanket statements as anyone with nefarious motives could pick a bad pairing as an example (eg. Lexus hard top vs. Fiat soft top, or the other way: Rolls-Royce soft top vs. Renault hard top), but overall nowadays hard tops are not "way quieter" as both solutions are adequately quiet (depending only on the manufacturer's desire to increase the cost and put in weight). What can in fact be said very certainly is that soft tops make a more refined and rigid drive. Soft tops allow the car's structure to be strengthened more without having the added huge weight and compromises in structural design (hard tops need the body shape to be designed to minimise roof size and be compromised massively to enable a space big enough to store it). Soft tops are lighter so they create less inertial movement within the roof structure compared to the rest of the body and they also have less inertia to create movement in the whole car. In short: soft tops allow the cars to be better.
@bighosre10
@bighosre10 Жыл бұрын
Lol. SUV are here to stay boomer.
@ianmuir3640
@ianmuir3640 Жыл бұрын
That’s utter rubbish have you ever been in a Mercedes convertible with a metal roof
@Dr.TJ_Eckleburg
@Dr.TJ_Eckleburg 3 жыл бұрын
I got one of the first SLKs brand new in late 1998 (as a 99 model). I remember putting the top down in public... crowds would gather. It was really a spectacle that nobody had ever seen before.
@prabeeshsidhu
@prabeeshsidhu 3 жыл бұрын
Thanks for sharing ! Must’ve been a cool moment. What was your color combo!?
@Dr.TJ_Eckleburg
@Dr.TJ_Eckleburg 3 жыл бұрын
@@prabeeshsidhu Black with oyster interior.
@pistonburner6448
@pistonburner6448 Жыл бұрын
I hope the horrible rest of the ownership experience was worth that moment of attention.
@Dr.TJ_Eckleburg
@Dr.TJ_Eckleburg Жыл бұрын
@@pistonburner6448 It was a great car. Never gave me any trouble and a lot of fun to drive. I put almost 100k on it from new and outside of regular maintenance the only issues it ever had was a motor mount needed replacing at like 60k and a parking brake interlock at like 45k.
@pistonburner6448
@pistonburner6448 Жыл бұрын
@@Dr.TJ_Eckleburg Same can be said about a Dacia Sandero. Sorry to be blunt, but the SLK was a particularly abysmal example of a car compared to any relevant benchmarks.
@Omphaloskopie
@Omphaloskopie 3 жыл бұрын
here is my hot take: with a soft top everybody sees you have a cabriolet, even when its up.
@LRM12o8
@LRM12o8 3 жыл бұрын
It's easy to identify a coupe cabriolet with top up as well. Can't hide the seams between the retractable roof elements!
@xantor_
@xantor_ 3 жыл бұрын
@@LRM12o8 yeah but there are people that have no clue. if they see the fabric its a 100% give a way. Many people couldnt believe my BMW e93 was a convertible either until I dropped the top
@HarmonicaMustang
@HarmonicaMustang 2 жыл бұрын
@@xantor_ When I was looking to buy a Peugeot 207 CC from my neighbour, it was only when I got home to do some research on it that I found out it was a convertible. I was sold on the car before knowing it was a convertible, but discovering that was a very pleasant surprise. I still have it and love it very much.
@xantor_
@xantor_ 2 жыл бұрын
@@HarmonicaMustang I had a 1:16 model of a 206cc back when I was a kid. Fell in love with hardtops ever since
@kyledavis4890
@kyledavis4890 Жыл бұрын
You may have explained the popularity of the "tonneau" vinyl top most American sedans and coupes had in the late 70s and early 80s.
@tonycatman
@tonycatman 3 жыл бұрын
My boss bought an SLK when he sold the company. It was pretty impressive. Merc got lots of things right that others got wrong. - The remote control would operate the roof, and it was smooth and looked cool. - Open tops need to have a different wind-flow pattern, otherwise you get dirt and wind in your ear when driving at speed, or a whirlwind behind your head. - The chassis needs to be much stiffer. - The interior needs to be different - more waterproof and easier to clean. - The dashboard needs to be different, or you can't see the dials when the sun shines on them.
@paulvicks1336
@paulvicks1336 3 жыл бұрын
It's just an SLK. You want stiffer chassis, buy an AMG variant
@ReleaseYourHandbrake
@ReleaseYourHandbrake 3 жыл бұрын
Well said!
@MICHGO1
@MICHGO1 2 жыл бұрын
TOO BAD THE NEXT SLK WILL BE A SOFT TOP... AND LOOK LIKE TOO MANY OTHER MERCEDES. THE END OF AN ERA.
@chiefdenis
@chiefdenis Жыл бұрын
@@MICHGO1 the soft top turned out really well imo
@pistonburner6448
@pistonburner6448 Жыл бұрын
Heh, SLKs are famously pretty horrible things.
@sapienproductions
@sapienproductions 3 жыл бұрын
I'm hoping in about 10 years you will have a video on the SUV fad that needs to disappear ASAP.
@danr1920
@danr1920 3 жыл бұрын
Agreed, but it won't. Perhaps in 50 years.
@baronvonjo1929
@baronvonjo1929 3 жыл бұрын
Why would they? So much better than a sedan. If I want a good handling car I'll get a coupe. A sedan and all cars just cant compete for what I want and many others cause they are just too impractical and too low to the ground. Just walk around a parking lot and see all the cars with curb rash on the rims and scraps and dents on the bumpers. No thank you.
@lazycalm41
@lazycalm41 3 жыл бұрын
Amen to that! No more mums on the school run in Nissan Quashimodo's who can't drive anything larger than a Toyota Yaris!
@petersimpson5859
@petersimpson5859 3 жыл бұрын
SUVs are for people with little driving ability and a big ego, unaware of how silly they look. The empereror's new clothes on wheels.
@lazycalm41
@lazycalm41 3 жыл бұрын
@@petersimpson5859 I totally agree with you. ive lost count of the number of times I have seen a mum on the school run in an SUV covered in scraps and with scuffed wheels, usually driving with the door mirrors still folded inwards!
@FroyourHistory
@FroyourHistory 3 жыл бұрын
I like Hard Tops; they look great as I never liked the mismatched materials of a soft top. With me being young I never even thought they were a trend. I just thought they were as prevalent as soft tops. It's a shame to see them go.
@danmccarthy4700
@danmccarthy4700 3 жыл бұрын
I bought my SLK 230 in July 2013. Even now, 8 years later I love looking at the car parked next to me in a parking lot so I can watch the top work in the reflection. :)
@seanmettam-fox526
@seanmettam-fox526 3 жыл бұрын
The VW Eos roof is an engineering masterclass, as it also has an opening tilt and slide glass sunroof!
@Elmantukas
@Elmantukas 3 жыл бұрын
Indeed! So complex yet so unreliable! In my case that is 😃
@AR-zq9hq
@AR-zq9hq 3 жыл бұрын
@@Elmantukas Brian Cooley rebadged it, by replacing E with a P
@markb3756
@markb3756 3 жыл бұрын
I think the Eos is the only production car that had a operational sunroof as well as a PRHT. I absolutely love mine! With the top up you would never know you were even in a convertible.
@AR-zq9hq
@AR-zq9hq 3 жыл бұрын
@@markb3756 I think it was done so the owner doesn't feel too bad when the top gets stuck in the closed position.
@kaitlyn__L
@kaitlyn__L 3 жыл бұрын
@@Elmantukas the “yet” made the resulting sentence give me the giggles :)
@juanordonezgalban2278
@juanordonezgalban2278 3 жыл бұрын
The ferrari Portofino is gorgeous. Hard tops can look incredible when done well
@antraxxslingshots
@antraxxslingshots 3 жыл бұрын
On top of that some cars are easily totaled when they get a rearimpact with the hardtop in the boot.
@davidrobinson4400
@davidrobinson4400 3 жыл бұрын
That happened with a work colleague's car. He had a Volvo C70 and, while picking his kids up from school, someone ran into the back of his car. The impact was sufficient to put the roof mechanism out of true. Uneconomical repair, according to the insurance company, so was classed as a write-off.
@teem5642
@teem5642 3 жыл бұрын
@@davidrobinson4400 still love the c70 though
@tshortvideo8365
@tshortvideo8365 2 жыл бұрын
Not related to the roof, but I had rear-ended another car in my 2001 SLK320. :( After repairing the front end (they had to take the engine out), they discovered the crankshaft had been hit, so the engine was also needed to be replaced. The insurance company had paid for the bodywork, so it covered the engine rather than total the vehicle. Ended up being a $28K repair. I loved that car, and it was hard to give it up.
@antwonefernandez7554
@antwonefernandez7554 3 жыл бұрын
One thing I thought I would hear is panoramic sunroof options, they are now huge and whilst not the same as a folding soft/hardtop it gives a huge amount of air and light, I always spec a car with this when I can, best option (IMO). Great video as ever! 👍🏼👍🏼
@cashbonanza963
@cashbonanza963 11 ай бұрын
unfortunately most manufacturers, especially EV ones, these days offer closed glass roofs, like Tesla, Nio.... Probably for weight saving/range increase
@josephlynn9500
@josephlynn9500 Жыл бұрын
As the owner of a soft top I do envy the improved refinement on the motorway hardtops offer. And it would be nice to feel as safe parking anywhere as you do with a hardtop.
@killseacocks
@killseacocks Жыл бұрын
I agree with you. I had soft tops that were destroyed by idiots who want to steal my car.That's why I am driving a hard top convertible now.
@pistonburner6448
@pistonburner6448 Жыл бұрын
What improved refinement on the motorway? Another commenter with totally outdated misconceptions.
@juliet4093
@juliet4093 9 ай бұрын
@@pistonburner6448looks better and feels more ridged
@pistonburner6448
@pistonburner6448 9 ай бұрын
@@juliet4093 For her pleasure?
@votekyle3000
@votekyle3000 3 жыл бұрын
My 2011 Volvo C70 thanks you for this overview. I don’t think I’ll ever get rid of it, it’s irreplaceable
@CheapskateMotorsports
@CheapskateMotorsports 2 жыл бұрын
The value is only going up from here, especially if you have a 5cyl engine. Might aswell hang on to it.
@glitterishhh
@glitterishhh Жыл бұрын
came here to mention my own 2011 C70 💜
@pistonburner6448
@pistonburner6448 Жыл бұрын
I'm so sorry it's irreplaceable, that's a really unfortunate situation. Have courage, maybe some day you'll be able to save up enough money to buy a new car to replace it even if you can't get any money from selling that old C70.
@michaelheim376
@michaelheim376 Жыл бұрын
Luv my 2009 C70 can’t imagine life without it, and it’s Summertime!
@stephenliggat
@stephenliggat 3 жыл бұрын
Working in a garage there’s always a sense of dread when they come in with the roof mid cycle or not working.
@mipmipmipmipmip
@mipmipmipmipmip 3 жыл бұрын
I rented one via car sharing and it got stuck midway. While waiting for the truck to come and pick it up I realized trying to fix this must be like working on a huge limb cutting machine. btw they never returned the car to their pool of cars after that, probably a write-off
@notmenotme614
@notmenotme614 3 жыл бұрын
Must be fiddly to rig all the microswitches on a folding roof. I imagine everything has to be set up to close tolerances.
@electthelambda
@electthelambda 3 жыл бұрын
Had a guy shatter the rear windshield on a Camaro top because he didn't install the replacement support brackets correctly 🙃 That's a $1200 mistake
@kyledavis4890
@kyledavis4890 Жыл бұрын
Not going to name models that you have seen like this? Enquiring minds want to know...
@nadeemchaudhry6585
@nadeemchaudhry6585 3 жыл бұрын
Another brilliant and well researched video!! This morning I was wandering when the next video will be up, 5 hours later, here it is!! Coincidence or great customer service......
@BigCar2
@BigCar2 3 жыл бұрын
At the moment I release new videos every other Friday, so here it is!
@TheKenjoje
@TheKenjoje 3 жыл бұрын
@@BigCar2 sorry, bmw 4 soft top is only 10 kg lighter than older hard top, I compared 420i models....
@TeddyCavachon
@TeddyCavachon 3 жыл бұрын
I have a 2009 MX5 PRHT. The roof folds down vertically in 12 seconds into a space between the seats and the trunk which still has enough room for a set of golf clubs. The biggest advantage vs. a soft top is less chance of vandalism and theft via a slashed roof.
@Jabber-ig3iw
@Jabber-ig3iw 3 жыл бұрын
Just put some concrete in the boot and be done with it, manual roof folds down in about 2 seconds and is far lighter, live in a better area of town if you don’t want your roof slashed.
@Corbiel
@Corbiel 3 жыл бұрын
Mazda's PRHT is fucken bullet proof, been daily driving my 2010 in Snowy Manitoba for 10 years, it has 260,000 the top has been up and down at least 300 times per year. One Time, I had to red locktite some adjument nubs.
@kisong1960
@kisong1960 3 жыл бұрын
If someone is willing to cut through a soft top, what's stopping them from throwing a rock through the window?
@KaneDesign
@KaneDesign 3 жыл бұрын
Have an 07 prht, great car. I love the heard top version as opposed to the soft top as the car feel more solid when the roof is up when compared to the soft top. Have driven both but the prht was much nicer.
@tim3172
@tim3172 3 жыл бұрын
@@kisong1960 Um... most cars have sound sensors for the alarm and immobilizer. Rocks and glass smashing make noise. Glass gets everywhere and leaves evidence behind. A knife through a soft top is almost inaudible, doesn't trigger the alarm, and leaves behind no evidence.
@angowT
@angowT 3 жыл бұрын
My Z4 retractable hard top is great, it doesn't go green like my previous Z's soft top. However when a hydraulic line split it cost me £1300 to fix. At least with a manual you can pull it up in 10 seconds, even when driving.
@The-Rectifier
@The-Rectifier 3 жыл бұрын
The Nissan Micra CC was indeed a odd car...but even a Mitsubishi Colt CZC, could never win a beauty contest🤣
@GenaF
@GenaF 3 жыл бұрын
The Micra CC is a lovely little first car.
@Petelmrg
@Petelmrg 3 жыл бұрын
Micra, Colt and Tigra are total affronts to aesthetics.
@JK061996
@JK061996 3 жыл бұрын
Fun fact, the Colt CZC was based on a rejected Mk2 Fiat Punto hard-top concept (known as the Fiat Wish)
@Emppu_T.
@Emppu_T. 3 жыл бұрын
Check out the mazda 131 convertible
@maus3454
@maus3454 3 жыл бұрын
Same for the Ford Focus Coupe Cabrio from Bertone. The dimensions weren't right.
@marcusnolte7476
@marcusnolte7476 2 жыл бұрын
I drove and loved the last generation Volvo C 70, in my view one of the most beautiful 4 seater convertibles, as it looked like a coupé closed with all the right proportions (no oversized boot) and just beautiful open.
@cmartin_ok
@cmartin_ok Жыл бұрын
Indeed. Its a great shame Volvo killed off the C70 and traditional estate cars in pursuit of the trend for SUV's
@Quinnter1
@Quinnter1 9 ай бұрын
Ditto, and still have my 2011 C70. Nothing to replace it. The other benefit of Hard Top is Canadian winters. They deal better with snow although I did, once, to shut off an alarm have to retract and raise the roof when is was -30 C.
@TravMenace
@TravMenace 3 жыл бұрын
loved the look of the original SLK ever since I saw it in gran turismo 3. probably the only convertible I'd ever buy really
@thecianinator
@thecianinator 3 жыл бұрын
I just bought a used retractable hardtop and it's awesome. Although the reason I bought it wasn't mentioned in this video. It's because I like convertibles but I don't have a garage. Around where I live I've watched street parked soft top convertibles just rot away over the years, and I didn't want that.
@Chewie260
@Chewie260 Жыл бұрын
Car people tend to forget not everyone has a garage, I always get hit with that ;S
@robstone4537
@robstone4537 3 жыл бұрын
I have had a VW Eos for about 6 years as a weekend car and I love it. The roof looks just as good down as up and the large sunroof makes the low headspace feel much more open when the roof is up. Maybe if you are mechanical moron it may not be the car for you, but a little bit of regular maintenance to lubricate the seals and pulleys and clean the roof drain holes and channels is all that is required to keep it working perfectly with no leaks. I really cannot see myself getting rid of it for many years as there is simply nothing to replace it with. It’s small size, hard top, 2 litre turbo motor and six speed manual transmission makes it great fun.
@Applepie409
@Applepie409 Жыл бұрын
I didn’t buy an eos because the reliability of the retractable roof was poor and required specialist repairers. The Nissan convertible with the glass roof was fine but the engine was not reliable. The BMW 420i convertible is great so far touch wood but it is 8 years old now so I am a little worried about all those plastic parts under the bonnet. Hard tops much easier to clean with bird problems.
@alfaromeo4898
@alfaromeo4898 7 ай бұрын
I have owned an EOS from new for 17 years and it looks as good as new. The boot space is fairly generous even with the roof down but if you need to use all of it, not to worry, you have a glass sunroof at your disposal too. It was my daily runner for over a decade and has proven to be quite reliable. I am slightly disappointed it was not mentioned in the video.
@nigellamaccini6091
@nigellamaccini6091 3 жыл бұрын
I love these videos they cover so many obscure but important car stuff that most others never get into - cracking research
@bjoernaltmann
@bjoernaltmann 3 жыл бұрын
Even now the first Mercedes SLK looks really good where others look like a wedge
@robinburn4974
@robinburn4974 3 жыл бұрын
I agree if you want a reasonably priced, secondhand or new, classy, fast, well made sports car, get an SLK
@neiloxley7229
@neiloxley7229 3 жыл бұрын
The Mk2 (pointy nose) was the best. Had two. Drive reasonably well above 30mph (feel a bit vague and disinterested below that) and sounded great with the V6 engines. Not too much buffeting with the hood down.
@krollpeter
@krollpeter 3 жыл бұрын
One of the few cars ever made that always look good, from every angle, through any time.
@frankfarago2825
@frankfarago2825 3 жыл бұрын
Germanic midget car, fitting only for 2 people who are definitely on the small stature size. I am 6 foot 4 inches, years ago the MB salesman was laughing himself silly how I could not even sit into one of their SLKs, let alone test drive one. He even states that the car was for Europeans who are smaller.
@krollpeter
@krollpeter 3 жыл бұрын
@@frankfarago2825 ha ha ha Get a F150. Oh, you have already one?
@Tangent360
@Tangent360 3 жыл бұрын
A couple of more advantages to retractable hardtops that are a huge part of the reason why I'm not interested in trading my Z4 for the newer softtop version: 1) Much smaller c pillars. This not only greatly improves the looks when the top is up, but on a smaller model makes a huge difference in the size of the side window space. A small softtop car often has downright lousy side visibility with the top up. 2) Durability. The hardtop will last just as long as any other part of the bodywork while softtops will fade, crease, and wear out no matter what you do to take care of them.
@BigCar2
@BigCar2 3 жыл бұрын
The section from 2:08 to 2:18 has been blurred because these images are copyright. The copyright holder has just informed me. Update - this has been resolved amicably.
@zacstarkey1369
@zacstarkey1369 3 жыл бұрын
How do they notify and find it that quick?
@BigCar2
@BigCar2 3 жыл бұрын
They watch my videos.
@TenOfZero1
@TenOfZero1 3 жыл бұрын
@@BigCar2 Sorry to hear this happened. Still a great video without that clip. :-)
@deusexaethera
@deusexaethera 3 жыл бұрын
And they actually think you're depriving them of income? Whatever.
@ShanerTheGrey
@ShanerTheGrey 3 жыл бұрын
All of the images are copyrighted. It’s called fair use
@ImmortanDan
@ImmortanDan 3 жыл бұрын
I think Top Gear really called it when they did their Cool Wall segment with the 206 CC: The auto-hardtops had always been a fashion accessory, so their appeal dropped off as soon as they became common. The companies that introduced them got rich off the temporary fashion and publicity, but you can’t be in fashion forever - and from an actual performance and practicality standpoint, hardtops are an objective handicap. The humble and simple MR2S manual softtop, with 2 latches for when it’s up and just one for when it’s down, remains as the perfect convertible implement.
@beetooex
@beetooex 3 жыл бұрын
I love how the older ones look with the clip on hard top. Reminds me of vintage lotus design.
@paulm3033
@paulm3033 4 ай бұрын
I've got an Mx5 RF and I love it, from the elegant way it goes up and down electronically, the look,whether it's up or down and the reduced road noise and enhanced security it provides .
@vlenhoff
@vlenhoff 3 жыл бұрын
The MX-5 NC has a super simple power retractable hard top, and it wont take any boot space. The car looks amazing with the roof up or down.
@petermerchant4439
@petermerchant4439 Жыл бұрын
I have the ND RF and it doesn't take up any boot space either. It sits in a space just behind the passenger compartment. That said, as noted, the ND RF is more of a "Targa Top" than a full convertible. So there's less "roof" to hide away.
@vlenhoff
@vlenhoff Жыл бұрын
@@petermerchant4439 I do love the looks of the ND RF too. I know hard tops are bit heavier than the soft tops, but for those of us who daily their roadsters, the added security is necessary IMO. I did get light wheels, flywheel, suspension and exhaust to compensate for the added weight. It's been a slow process, but it's totally worth it IMO.
@dlwatib
@dlwatib 3 жыл бұрын
As an open top lover, I'll take whatever I can get, sunroof, moonroof, targatop, softtop or retractable hardtop. The problem is that the market is just too small. Most people don't want to spend extra for an open top of any kind. They've got A/C and that's all they need. I want both. I insist on A/C, but I'll pay extra for an open top if I can get it.
@glurak888
@glurak888 3 жыл бұрын
I want a convertible wagon!
@be5952
@be5952 2 жыл бұрын
I totally respect your liking for open tops of whatever form. I just wish I understood it. For me, I find there seem to be almost zero times I can even enjoy a sunroof open (or even the shade covering the glass) let alone having a convertible top down. Either the sun is angling down into my eyes (behind my sunglasses), or it's either too hot or too cold out. Any of the above 3 scenarios makes me want everything above my head shut / closed.
@kyledavis4890
@kyledavis4890 Жыл бұрын
​@@be5952the droptop mafia is going to chime in here... if you're too hot, you're not going fast enough!
@kyledavis4890
@kyledavis4890 Жыл бұрын
​@@glurak888Dodge made a convertible pickup truck
@TheKnightsShield
@TheKnightsShield 3 жыл бұрын
I always liked the 3rd gen version of the MX5 convertible with the PRHT. Another one I've always liked, is the Volvo C70, also with PRHT.
@printedprops8730
@printedprops8730 3 жыл бұрын
Yeah ive got a mx5 nc2 PRHT, takes only 11 seconds to go up or down
@Jabber-ig3iw
@Jabber-ig3iw 3 жыл бұрын
Big thumbs down for the NC mx5, terrible car. Especially with that silly heavy roof.
@Jabber-ig3iw
@Jabber-ig3iw 3 жыл бұрын
@@printedprops8730 so about 4 times as long as the manual roof on the NB then.
@KaneDesign
@KaneDesign 3 жыл бұрын
@@Jabber-ig3iw yeah but you get a hard top and not a piece of cloth over your head. The prht is great because it lets you drive around with your hard top without the need of going home and putting your hard top on as you would need to do with the NA, NB and the normal NC model.
@C.I...
@C.I... 2 жыл бұрын
I think they were both designed by Webasto. They designed a lot of these, actually, including the Eos, 3 Series & Z4, Ford Focus, Ferrari California, Daihatsu Copen, and the MX5 RF.
@camilogomezkeep2324
@camilogomezkeep2324 Жыл бұрын
The R230 SL Class is to me one of the most beautiful cars out there ever. It looked so good both with the top up as down.
@Chris391971
@Chris391971 3 жыл бұрын
Love my 2013 MX5 with retractable hardtop.
@ArndBrugman
@ArndBrugman 3 жыл бұрын
Very nice, I myself like the Volvo C70 which looks great both ways too.
@stephenjcuk7562
@stephenjcuk7562 3 жыл бұрын
I wish we would buy what we wanted and not what the marketing men tell us to. I love my now ageing Volvo C70, it's safe, secure and in a British winter, warm and windproof. Only a hard metal roof can do that. I really am gutted that there is nothing affordable to replace it with.
@andrewstyles2547
@andrewstyles2547 3 жыл бұрын
Yeah, I love my C70! :D
@EddieBlueHalen
@EddieBlueHalen 3 жыл бұрын
The second generation retractable hard top C70 is a gem. A joint venture with Pininfarina.
@Neoptolemus
@Neoptolemus 3 жыл бұрын
Volvos are great
@businessashusual
@businessashusual 3 жыл бұрын
Pity the plastics on them suck.
@Will_E_Wonty
@Will_E_Wonty 3 жыл бұрын
My C70 D5 is 15 years old and has 150k miles. It looks a feels like a car half its age. I love it but I am, also, disappointed about the lack of choice nowadays.
@tommenzel3591
@tommenzel3591 2 жыл бұрын
Once again Thank You ... made me & many others smile here as I read hundreds of comments seeking any mention of the 2003 -2006 Chevy V-8 SSR power retractable 2 door hardtop pick-ups. Bought my purple 2004 off show room floor . Went cross country in winter ...only put top up in rain or to sleep . With top up or down , still has same length lockable pick-up bed . Again , thank You for all Your efforts !
@kyle_vr
@kyle_vr 3 жыл бұрын
Best of both worlds in my opinion. Looks nice when up (unlike most soft-tops) and can still be lowered - being a convertible!
@philbiker3
@philbiker3 3 жыл бұрын
I love the retractable hard top on my 2014 SLK. It's brilliant!
@johna.4334
@johna.4334 2 жыл бұрын
Great show as always -looking forward to your next. Keep 'em coming please.
@nicholasalonzo7824
@nicholasalonzo7824 3 жыл бұрын
Great video my friend. I saw that you had the Peugeot 206, convertible and it brought back memories of my nephew. That was his dream car, especially the convertible roof. He finally saved up to buy it second hand from a lady. He had it for only two months, when he crashed and passed away in it, driving home one night on August 31st 2014 from working late at his job. Sergio Montano was his name. He was just 20 years old. Sorry for laying it on thick, the picture you showed is his favorite colour too, silver..... Thanks again for your great video. Uncle nick. Trinidad and Tobago
@DavidHall-ge6nn
@DavidHall-ge6nn 3 жыл бұрын
The deeper you love the longer you grieve. Sorry for your loss.
@scootergeorge9576
@scootergeorge9576 3 жыл бұрын
The '57 Ford Skyliner was the first electric driven, mass produced retractable hardtop.
@kyledavis4890
@kyledavis4890 Жыл бұрын
It's interesting that they never did it with the t bird or the lincolns or mercurys of that era.
@ericBcreator
@ericBcreator 3 жыл бұрын
I owned a Volvo C70 before and now a BMW 330 with a retractable hardtop. I think it is a great concept: you can switch from a coupe to a convertible within 20 seconds. They are aimed to be fun cars, not practical, although 4 adults will fit but trunk space is limited. You know that before buying and if you can live with it, they are great cars to drive and perform well with top up or down.
@celliott16
@celliott16 3 жыл бұрын
Great video! I've had a few hard top and soft top convertibles. The hard top ones more often than not look 'odd' side on, the smaller cars looks hideous and even the mx5 NC folding hardtop just looks wrong side on..... I think the most beautiful folding hard top is the e89 BMW Z4, it looks wonderful roof up or down from every angle and the mechanism is a work of art (used by Ferrari too!).
@jhors7777
@jhors7777 Жыл бұрын
Well researched and presented, thank-you.
@alsanpi
@alsanpi 3 жыл бұрын
I love my 4 series cabrio with its hard top. It has so many checks from a practicality point of view that I think it is one the best coupes ever made. Nice looking car, with fair enough space for four adults and more than 300 hp.
@notmenotme614
@notmenotme614 3 жыл бұрын
The retractable hardtop on the Mazda MX-5 NC was great. The only slight issue was you had to stop the car and it took 12 seconds. A manual soft top instantly goes up or down and you can almost do it on the move or at a junction. Some "soft tops" these days are a hybrid. Soft fabric on the outside with a hard headliner.
@Paul_Halicki
@Paul_Halicki 4 ай бұрын
I worked for ASC in the 1990s, including on the Mitsubishi 3000 Spyder, mostly on the latches. The concept was sold to Mitsubishi by the marketing department with little regard to the complications introduced by trying to fit hard, load-bearing panels held together by latches and hinges. Early prototype testing resulted in lots of failed latches and hinges. This was eventually resolved by putting interlocking features in the panels themselves to better transfer the loads. There was also an issue with crash testing. The original boot cover was very rigid and would push right through the rear seat area; under those conditions it was very dangerous to rears seat passengers when the top was down. It was almost like a horizontal guillotine! This was fixed with retention hooks at the front and crumple zones designed into the otherwise very stiff composite boot cover. There were also issues with electromagnetic interference with the relays and solenoids inducing voltages into the switch and sensor wires, "confusing" the control electronics into to simply stopping in the middle of retraction. A very expensive electromagnetic environmental effects consultant had to be brought in to fix those glitches. ASC had done a lot of soft tops but the company had no idea what it was getting into the the Spyder hard top. Ironically the Eclipse soft top was one of the very best made by the company.
@Nickoboss29
@Nickoboss29 Жыл бұрын
Speaking about the roof mechanism on the SLK, the 1st gen Daihatsu Copen Kei Car improved the roof mechanism by a lot since it was designed by the original SLK roof designers and Webasto
@augustinf
@augustinf 3 жыл бұрын
I ve had a vw eos for over 10 years and i really love it. It s way more practícal than it seems
@austinpetemo
@austinpetemo 3 жыл бұрын
I love my 2012 mx5 retractable hard top. It takes up the same amount of space as the softtop would, doesnt take up any truck space when retracted, and looks so much better.
@ellahorses5436
@ellahorses5436 3 жыл бұрын
Such a great video - thanks - and I LOVE the Soarer's buzzers and warning chimes !!
@realmobileincome9527
@realmobileincome9527 3 жыл бұрын
Great video bro.. The research you do is amazing thanks 👍
@mattgreen9507
@mattgreen9507 3 жыл бұрын
I hadn't realised how long ago retractable hard tops were invented, thanks for educating me :-) I wonder if another advantage of retractable hard tops is rigidity. I could feel the difference when I fitted the hard top to my cabriolet over winter, not night and day but there was a difference.
@MrReese
@MrReese 3 жыл бұрын
10:10 You forgot the biggest reason why hardtops are better: the car actually looks good with it on. I have not seen a single softtop car that looks good when the top is up, they are usually ugly and look disfigured. Some are okay, but with a hardtop they would look great.
@brien1254
@brien1254 3 жыл бұрын
911 Targa lol
@Commentator541
@Commentator541 3 жыл бұрын
Targa is a hardtop. :D
@Commentator541
@Commentator541 3 жыл бұрын
Corvette is a hardtop.
@Commentator541
@Commentator541 3 жыл бұрын
Aventador is a hardtop.
@MrReese
@MrReese 3 жыл бұрын
@@brien1254 A Targa is not a converible to begin with, it's a TARGA.
@hulkhatepunybanner
@hulkhatepunybanner Жыл бұрын
*Some points about hard tops and convertibles in general:* Sales numbers isn't just about consumers not wanting such body styles - the economy and marketing are big factors. The small storage spaces doesn't make a car less usable. It's just less practical, in the eyes of people who skew this way. The increase in family trucksters (SUV) isn't consumer demand but increased marketing towards a car that's priced higher than it costs to produce when compared to other car body styles.
@MP_pov
@MP_pov 3 жыл бұрын
Good video with lots of examples of quirky cars I’ve never seen. Thank you. To add to why more companies are moving away from hardtops - complexity and reliability / cost of repairs. Being an owner of an out of warranty Bmw 3 series convertible hardtop, I know a bit about it. Still, I wouldn’t buy a soft top (had one of those as well) unless I had a garage / covered paring space.
@jamesnewman4351
@jamesnewman4351 3 жыл бұрын
"A Rover P6 pretending to be a Batmobile"... Love It 😁
@eat_a_dick_trudeau
@eat_a_dick_trudeau 3 жыл бұрын
_That_ is not what I expected a car made by a company named _Playboy_ to look like. More like _Playtoy._
@EdwindePaula
@EdwindePaula 3 жыл бұрын
I'm merely two minutes into this video but I've already had the urge to come here and say what a great video this is!
@xantor_
@xantor_ 3 жыл бұрын
I own a 2012 BMW E93 Hardtop convertible and its one of the best things to ever exist. Looks like a coupe with its roof closed and top down driving through mountain roads hearing the engine is the best feeling ever.
@Eden-NoEye
@Eden-NoEye 3 жыл бұрын
I thought the 4series comparison was a bit off since the MX-5 comes as a hard and soft top in the same generation I thought that it would be a better comparison. The video is really informational and I enjoyed watching it keep it up!
@michaelb.42112
@michaelb.42112 3 жыл бұрын
That Del Sol "retractible" / removable top is nice ! I'd MUCH rather own a retractible hard top than a soft top. It's just nicer, to me, but I'd think purists dislike them ? EDIT : I didn't know there were motorized soft tops, and that the material is stronger now. The motorized part is what I like... If I were to own a convertible.
@mpower4790
@mpower4790 3 жыл бұрын
The Best Channel for any car enthusiast
@franktaymans1802
@franktaymans1802 3 жыл бұрын
I really like your channel..and a great narrating voice unlike other channels
@BigCar2
@BigCar2 3 жыл бұрын
Thanks Frank!
@lukerinderknecht2982
@lukerinderknecht2982 3 жыл бұрын
Love my MX-5 with a soft top. Light, and quick to put up or down in two seconds with one hand. Wouldn't want it any other way 👍
@petermerchant4439
@petermerchant4439 3 жыл бұрын
My favorite manual soft-top story comes from a friend of mine... She bought an old Chrysler Lebaron convertible. One day there was a sudden rainstorm and she pulled over to the side to put up her top. A BMW Z-3 pulled over as well. The guy reached back, grabbed the soft-top to pull it forward and...it got stuck. He pushed it back, pulled it forward, it got stuck. He started swearing as he frantically tried to get his top up. Meanwhile, my friend pressed the button and the top smoothly went up. She thought, "...and you paid how much for that car?" Yeah yeah, I know. All manual convertible tops are easy to put up. Until the rain starts pouring down and you want to get out of the rain and you don't necessarily provide an "even pull" because water is pouring down on you and something jams which makes you even more frantic. Granted, I have a shoulder issue that makes it hard/painful for me to reach back and pull the top up. But even when I didn't, I still went with electric tops.
@Clissoldkid
@Clissoldkid 3 жыл бұрын
I've had 5 SLK's, starting with a 230 in 1998 up to my current 350. They've been fantastic cars, perfect for what I want, and I've never had to think what car do I want next, as I just waited for the upgrade model. I'm therefore really sad that they've discontinued it, and it's going to be hard choosing my next car. I'm dangerously tempted to buy a used Ferrari California, which I think are brilliant, but I've been scared off by the maintenance costs!
@michaelgoldman4021
@michaelgoldman4021 Жыл бұрын
I’ve had 2 SLKs and currently have a 2017 SLC. All three have been great cars. I’m planning on keeping my SLC until I’m too old to climb in and out of it!
@qlus
@qlus Жыл бұрын
SL it is then
@jeremywhite4185
@jeremywhite4185 3 жыл бұрын
Excellent and informative vid. Our Tigra took a bit of attention, but now works fine. Nobody has mentioned this, but I think the fact that our children loved Transformers was a bit of a factor in our, much later, purchase! In many ways it's a terrible car, tiny cabin and huge blind spots, but we love it!
@KJohansson
@KJohansson 3 жыл бұрын
Almost 40 cars later, I yet have to own a cab. Great video!
@bragadeeshbalakrishnan
@bragadeeshbalakrishnan 3 жыл бұрын
Respect to you for the subtitles sir.
@BigCar2
@BigCar2 3 жыл бұрын
I write a script, so it's only a little extra effort. Glad it helped!
@lakrids-pibe
@lakrids-pibe 3 жыл бұрын
@@BigCar2 It's very helpfull when it's the name of a very obscure car designer like Ben P. Ellerbeck.
@bragadeeshbalakrishnan
@bragadeeshbalakrishnan 3 жыл бұрын
@@BigCar2 Thank you anyways. Not many KZfaqrs do this you see. Makes watching at night much easier.
@bragadeeshbalakrishnan
@bragadeeshbalakrishnan 3 жыл бұрын
@@lakrids-pibe True.
@BigCar2
@BigCar2 3 жыл бұрын
@@bragadeeshbalakrishnan It helps not only those who are deaf, but also people who don't speak English, as the auto translated subtitles are more accurate.
@FionnMccrow
@FionnMccrow 3 жыл бұрын
5:30 amazing idea though
@paulkeaney1609
@paulkeaney1609 3 жыл бұрын
High quality content - thanks.
@davegoldspink5354
@davegoldspink5354 3 жыл бұрын
Great job on the video. As much as I’m a fan of convertibles I’m more into rag tops which are a lot lighter, simpler and takes up far much less space.
@laserjet2000
@laserjet2000 3 жыл бұрын
I am a happy owner of a 308cc and, since I live in Brazil, that security factor of the vandalism was a very important matter for my decision! I seriously LOVED this video! I already liked your storytelling skills (and praised them previously! xD)! God bless you and your family! Keep up this excelent work! Cheers!
@v.e.7236
@v.e.7236 3 жыл бұрын
The reason I bought my Chevy SSR - that really cool retractible roof. OK, part of the reason, the other part was looks and performance, w/ the 6L engine and a great suspension for road handling. I've been tempted to sell it a few times, but haven't seen another vehicle I like as much. Owned it since 2004 and the only change I've made is color - it came banana yellow and I changed that to an aqua marine, w/ a little pearl in the clear-cote. I've only had to replace one of the actuator motors, in the 17 years I've owned it.
@jamesengland7461
@jamesengland7461 3 жыл бұрын
Great vehicle! Keep it forever!
@scottdawson6851
@scottdawson6851 3 жыл бұрын
The chevy ssr looks like a ball of puke with headlights it's ugly
@jamesengland7461
@jamesengland7461 3 жыл бұрын
@@scottdawson6851 nobody asked your opinion
@ChaseWD
@ChaseWD 3 жыл бұрын
The SSR is one of my favorite cars ever, I hope to own one eventually
@petermerchant4439
@petermerchant4439 3 жыл бұрын
I gotta admit, the only truck I've ever considered was a Chevy SSR. I've pretty much always had convertibles my whole life and the idea of a convertible truck was just an awesome idea.
@jimihendrix1575
@jimihendrix1575 Жыл бұрын
I own a 2007 SLK55 AMG (when they still put large, normally aspirated V8's in their cars), and it is a MONSTER. I love dropping the top at the touch of a button. This car STILL gets 'thumbs up' and headlights flashed when I take it out for a spin. I will never, EVER part with this car.
@MegaCharger100
@MegaCharger100 3 жыл бұрын
Having currently got major issues with a 4 series retractable hard top - i'm glad they're going material again..
@midnightc0mmander
@midnightc0mmander 3 жыл бұрын
3:25 no, the Peugeot 402 Eclipse is the first electric one :)
@pedrosaresarces8381
@pedrosaresarces8381 3 жыл бұрын
When my dad brought home a Z8 in '02 I thought it was lame that it didn't have an automatic hardtop convertible roof, now I appreciate that it doesn't. Would've ruined the car.
@Peter_2jz
@Peter_2jz 3 жыл бұрын
Thank you for the video!
@BigCar2
@BigCar2 3 жыл бұрын
You’re welcome Piter
@gzk6nk
@gzk6nk 3 жыл бұрын
Um, I had a Mk3 MX5 retractable hard top and it had exactly the same sized boot as the soft top. Only the badly designed clunky ones take up boot space compared to a soft top. My new MX5 I bought last month is a soft top as the new MX5 retractable hardtop is, as you said, just a retractable targa top, not a true open car. Plus, the Mk4 MX5 soft top is a dream - one handed open / close in about 2 seconds while sitting in the car. A massive improvement on my first MX5. a Mk2. And don't even think about the Triumph Spitfires I had as a lad. Those soft tops were horrid plastic things like pitching a very stiff tent, and they leaked! But back in1972 a Spit was s great fun car for a young lad! It's all relative.
@Teddingtin
@Teddingtin 3 жыл бұрын
If I ever got a convertible it would be a hardtop, I absolutely despise the way most soft-tops look.
@NoName-md5zb
@NoName-md5zb 3 жыл бұрын
What about new bmws 3-4 series. Superb ugly hardtop.
@umamifan
@umamifan 3 жыл бұрын
@@NoName-md5zb exception than the rule
@des1gno
@des1gno 3 жыл бұрын
Another thing which is good about hardtops is the visibility. The 2014-2019 BMW 4 series cabriolet (hardtop) has more window area ( rear window and rear side windows) and thereby making the general driving in city more convenient. I do still prefer the hardtop design because of its design, not looking like it is covered by a sheet of fabric but instead being a cabriolet in disguise. Thanks for the informative video 👍🏽
@richardrouse358
@richardrouse358 2 жыл бұрын
That is a significant difference. If you look at the roof-up over-the-shoulder and rear visibility in the SLK vs. soft-top contemporaries such as the TT or the Boxster, the Merc is far superior.
@glenwest1911
@glenwest1911 3 жыл бұрын
Fantastic video and topic!!
@BigCar2
@BigCar2 3 жыл бұрын
Glad you enjoyed it Glen!
@ComboBreakerHD
@ComboBreakerHD 11 ай бұрын
My first car was a 1996 Mitsubishi Eclipse spyder.. Got it in 1999 when I turned 16. From a salvage yard in Charleston, the only thing wrong with it was a slice in the top. Imported it to Canada, got it safety-cert, put it on the road, and lived a good few years with it. 100% would buy again.
@NLBassist
@NLBassist 3 жыл бұрын
Great vid. I hate the looks of almost all those cars, cos the proportions are wrong with a too big rear end. I do love the new Porsche Targa.
@MolotovAustralia
@MolotovAustralia 3 жыл бұрын
Copen. :) Smallest car in the world with a retractable hardtop. I love it. 🚘
@JD-nt2sc
@JD-nt2sc 3 жыл бұрын
Love my little Copen. The closed top squeaks & rattles; open it takes almost all the boot. Basically a 1 person road trip car. Kinda wish it had a soft top so I could bring a 2nd person on road trips / more than 13L boot space. The top is always down when I drive it. On rainy days I drive my estate with a big glass roof. Plan to keep my Copen for many more years, decades.
@Tommaso_Squarzoni
@Tommaso_Squarzoni Жыл бұрын
Great Content
@vozq5566
@vozq5566 Жыл бұрын
Hard top convertibles look so much nicer than normal convertibles.
@vincenzo-zocca
@vincenzo-zocca 3 жыл бұрын
In the past I may have been in the market for a soft top with a manual hardtop option for longer trips but I didn't find a model I liked. When driving open you experience the world around you much more intensely. Great fun. Perhaps driving open is generally associated with posh/extravagance and that therefore the market is relatively small. Also most people will not have experienced the joy. Great video as per usual.
@billolsen4360
@billolsen4360 3 жыл бұрын
If only they sold the BMW 4 with a good looking front end!
@MICHGO1
@MICHGO1 3 жыл бұрын
BMW HAS LOST IT'S WAY.
@LRM12o8
@LRM12o8 3 жыл бұрын
BMW is dead to me! When I see one of their new models on the road, I get an instant reflex to close my eyes. They're so hideous that it's actually dangerous!
@paulhall170
@paulhall170 3 жыл бұрын
My NC series MX-5 is a PRHT model, 2008 model, I've never had a peep of trouble with it, 12 seconds transition time, and I love people's eyes popping when I use it! I haven't noticed any of the disadvantages you pose, the hardtop goes behind the seats, the boot is exactly the same capacity as the rag-top, and a real, lined steel roof cannot be beaten in rainy or cold weather. And my six-speaker BOSE sound system doesn't have to turned up two notches, either...
@joecostner1246
@joecostner1246 3 жыл бұрын
nothing beats the beauty & low gravity of a soft top
@minecrafter023
@minecrafter023 3 жыл бұрын
Wait, this is the first time that I see how the Honda Del Sol roof works. They just put a forklift in the boot, what the hell? 😂
@nathanjoseph4284
@nathanjoseph4284 3 жыл бұрын
I would love to see a story on Apple Carplay and Android Auto, possibly as a "Little Car" video. I think it would be interesting to look into their history, their development, and how they became one of the features we take for granted in today's cars. Think about it! :)
@BigCar2
@BigCar2 3 жыл бұрын
😀 I'd like to do that, but I didn't think there would be much interest. My background is in In Car Entertainment software design (I hit up my Microsoft friends to do the Ford SYNC video). That would be a very fun one to do!
@ethanjack4298
@ethanjack4298 3 жыл бұрын
@@BigCar2 I'd be interested to see it too.
@kyledavis4890
@kyledavis4890 Жыл бұрын
​@@BigCar2if you do do this, be sure and call out google for abandoning phone only mode for android auto... it's like they want us classic car drivers, bicyclists, and motorbike enthusiasts to just get a brand new car...
@jamesengland7461
@jamesengland7461 3 жыл бұрын
I do love both soft and hardtop convertibles! The Corvette targa top, standard now for decades, is a great alternative.
@danhummel84
@danhummel84 3 жыл бұрын
My biggest issue is that people with convertibles never put the top down.
@danmccarthy4700
@danmccarthy4700 3 жыл бұрын
I HATE that! If it's warmer than 40 F and cooler than 90 F I'll always have the top down as long as it's not raining.
@kyledavis4890
@kyledavis4890 Жыл бұрын
Agreed. I usually get temptrd to shout WUS! at then while tooling around in my son's convertible with its top down.
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