To Drop a Top or Not

Convertibles have even more potential pitfalls, such as vulnerability to a thief's knife, decreased crashworthiness, the need for annual servicing of the fabric with top conditioner (assuming you're a careful car owner), bad-hair days and the discomfort of sitting in the sun in either a commuter traffic jam or during diesel-fumed interstate travel.

The Porsche Boxster is one of the few convertibles that can drop its top while in motion. + enlarge image  |  view gallery >

Think carefully about whether a drop-top fits into your driving needs. Consider renting a Mustang convertible for the weekend to try some driving al fresco. We've all seen Boxsters and SLKs with the top and windows up on a beautiful summer day, because the buyer didn't realize that he or she prefers air-conditioning and listening to a sound system without battling wind noise.

One key criterion to consider when buying a convertible is cycle time for a power-operated top. If you plan to use a sports car as an occasional weekend cruiser, it doesn't much matter whether it takes 12 or 24 seconds to lower or raise the top. But if you plan to use it daily to run errands, pop over to the health club or go to the mall, the latter can seem interminable when waiting out the process three times a day. Some sports cars, notably the Porsche Boxster and 911 Cabriolet, have power tops that can be operated when traveling at speeds of up to 30 mph, which can spare sitting and waiting while you count one-potato, two-potato….

Don't be fooled by back seats in sports cars like the Aston Martin DB9. They don't fit adults. + enlarge image  |  view gallery >

Practically speaking, sports cars are two-seaters. Forget the fact that Aston Martin, Jaguar, Lexus, Porsche and others claim that their cars have 2+2 "backseats." These are useful only as padded parcel shelves or hugely awkward spots for strap-in child seats. The sole exception is the excellent Mazda RX8, the only true sports car that has not only usable backseats but also small rear-entry doors.

Some sports cars have adequate trunk space (Porsche Boxster); others are cramped (Aston Martin DB9); and a few have no trunk at all (Toyota MR2). Consider carefully whether you'll need the car as an occasional grocery-getter, a golf-bag transporter or a road-tripper with a week's worth of space for a couple's duffles.

Ultimately, it may turn out that a sports car is simply too seating- and space-limited, but don't despair. There are plenty of sports sedans and coupes that offer sports car handling and performance, though without the panache of a sleek two-seater. BMW's M3 and M5, the Audi S4, any of Mercedes' AMG-tuned vehicles, the surprisingly fast Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution, the Subaru WRX STi and a variety of other high-performance cars all offer driving excitement.