Who can resist cruising down the road with the wind in your hair and the sun on your skin? There is something absolutely liberating about convertibles that appeals to every age group and manufacturers across all model segments are rolling out convertibles in hopes of big sales in 2016.
Big sales of convertibles would be quite a switch. Soft tops took a major hit when the global economy went south. Never a huge segment in the auto industry, sales of convertibles plummeted by 50 % as did other “frivolous” big ticket items.
But the times they are a changing and people are feeling better about spending some of that discretionary income on fun rather than being conservative and the car builders are hoping that converts in a rush for ragtops.
Here’s a list of some of 2016’s best:
What’s not to like about this little package of pure driving fun? This is the two seat convertible that you always wanted as your second car but could never quite justify because only half the family could fit in it. Forget that thinking; you already have a family hauler. What you need is a sporty little ragtop with a six speed manual transmission whose 2.0L four banger cranks out 155 hp and goes 0-60 in 5.8 seconds. You were born to carve curves and look cool and that’s what the MX-5 delivers. Impressive handling, a surprising array of standard features and a base price of a little over $25,000 make the Mazda MX-5 one of the best convertible picks for 2016.
Can you think of a better way to get a tan than driving this pony to the track, dropping the roof, unleashing the 435 hp, dual overhead cam, 5.0L V8 engine and soaking up rays while going 0 – 60 in 4.2 seconds? Admittedly you are likely to get more windburn than sunburn but it will be worth it just to hear the engine rumble and roar and the power you feel snicking through the six speed manual transmission. Of course you could just take this muscular looking ride to the beach, park in the lot and see who comes by to say hi…and somebody definitely will say hi. Attention getting looks comes with a price and in this case it’s about $47,000.
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If James Bond didn’t drive an Aston Martin he would probably drive Jaguar’s most popular sports car, the F-Type S. Exceptional handling, sleek, sophisticated design, an interior that reeks of luxury and packing 380 horsepower under the hood in a supercharged 3.0 liter V6 engine, the F-Type S is the convertible for the discerning auto enthusiast that has $65,400 to spend on his or her ride.
Have you always wanted to pilot an F-16 but your fear of heights kept you grounded? Well now your fantasy can be fulfilled with the earthbound joy ride that is the 2016 Corvette Z06 convertible. Strap yourself in, drop the top, select launch mode, stomp on the gas pedal and you’ll be doing 60 in 3.0 seconds thanks to an outrageous 650 hp blasting out of a 6.2L V8. You won’t be able to barrel roll this baby but you will be able to slice and dice hairpin turns thanks to a suspension tuned to keep the rubber on the road regardless of the Gs. A mere $86,425+ puts this monster in your driveway.
If you like your top down ride to be sporty but your principal concern is comfort, convenience and the nicer things in life then BMW’s 2016 435i may be right for you. It is first and foremost a BMW 4 Series and it happens to have a retractable hardtop making it a topless ride when the mood and occasion are appropriate. This ride has a number of un-convertible like features. For starters it’s a hardtop that folds down and still leaves room for beach chairs in the trunk. It is without one of the quietest convertibles available letting the driver take full advantage of the Harman Kardon sound system. It has a neck heater. People can actually sit in the back seat without using a block and tackle to get in and out. This ‘all season’ Beamer can be yours for about $50,000.
If you are a dedicated family guy and you want the whole tribe to enjoy the great outdoors topless, then the Wrangler Sport is the vehicles to get the job done. Known mostly as the “4×4 of the decade,” the Wrangler with its removable doors and top bring a whole new dimension to the idea of convertible. This is getting back to the wild (or the beach) in surprisingly comfortable style. You can still hose down the floor to clean it out but the dash and seats look like they might belong in one of the other cars we’ve listed here. The Wrangler is powered by a 3.6L, 285 hp V6 connected to a six speed manual transmission. The Wrangler is also one of the more affordable convertibles for 2016 coming in at a bit over $27,000.
OK if you are into luxury, you want to be coddled but you still want the benefit of superior engineering, advanced technology and an engine that will kick butt when you press down on the pedal then the E Class Cabriolet is your only choice. Seriously. No other mid-size luxury car comes in a convertible. The standard 3.0L biturbo V6 kicks out 329 hp but the optional 4.7L turbocharged V8 changes the personality of the car generating 402 hp and 443 lb.-ft. of torque. It’s pure luxury with the top down or the top up and you can grab one starting at $62,250.
There really is something for every taste and budget available so grab the sun block, get your shades on and go shopping for a soft top of your own.
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