MB is of questionable taste, and that's 100% stock. No doubt in a front plate state but not using one, too, as I am sure the law is enforced via socio-economic boundaries.
I think it depends on where you live. The increased visibility over a soft-top is great for the 8 months of top-up weather that we have. And, no trunk issues for those months either, obviously.
In a rainy place, a hardtop convertible makes sense - occasional adjustments or repairs of the mechanism are probably easier to live with than cloth top issues in damp weather. I would also prefer it for a DD - I doubt many haul family car-amounts of luggage anyway.
Fin, Be careful cruising around right now. I hope you took my advice and bought that pair of oversized aviator sunglasses before Corolla boy finds you or you are discovered on YouTube and become a star
In a rainy place, a hardtop convertible makes sense - occasional adjustments or repairs of the mechanism are probably easier to live with than cloth top issues in damp weather. I would also prefer it for a DD - I doubt many haul family car-amounts of luggage anyway.
I think "repairs" are more in the frightening category, if/when they occur. Remember when detachable hardtops were the rage, and NOBODY ever used them? So the hardtop convertible was a compromise. But you have a point--this is more of a toy car than a family car.
Yep, convertibles are toys. They won't see the same miles and hard use as a family car.
I suppose the most worrisome ones would be MB R230 SL, R171 SLK, VW Eos, BMW F30, maybe final run Chrysler Sebring, etc. I know top issues are not unknown on early R230, but aren't universal. I don't know about the rest. I think for detachable hardtops, many just stay on the car. Most R107 SL I see always have the top on, and E36 so-equipped always seem to have it, too.
I think "repairs" are more in the frightening category, if/when they occur. Remember when detachable hardtops were the rage, and NOBODY ever used them? So the hardtop convertible was a compromise. But you have a point--this is more of a toy car than a family car.
Spotted a 90's era Camaro joining the ACLA group for a very spirited Highway 33 jaunt. Unfortunately for them, at less than mile marker 10 on the mountain, they ended up about 10' below the road, and about 10' adjacent to the road, and oh yeah, upside down (shiny side down)!
Fortunately for the old man driver (you'd think old men would have more common-sense!), he landed on a bunch of bushes and bushy trees with a bed of soft sand. That soft cushioned landing saved his hide. He was shorter stature, and thin, so he was able to just barely get out of the car though the side window with some help from other drivers.
Lucky only to have some scratches from the broken glass sliding out of the car.
Higher up on the mountain might have been a longer fall than just 10' off the side of the road rolling over. Typical over-correction over-steer issues of that kind of vehicle based on the skid marks. Someone mentioned a Bilstein suspension, but I suspect there's only so much you can do with that chassis that doesn't make it a good selection for canyon carving.
The M3's, 4's, 2's, TTRS, TTS, S4's & S5's, and modern Corvette, and Mustang GT all made it to the end of the day without incident.
'18 Porsche Macan Turbo, '16 Audi TTS, Wife's '19 VW Tiguan SEL 4-Motion
Fortunately for the old man driver (you'd think old men would have more common-sense!) The M3's, 4's, 2's, TTRS, TTS, S4's & S5's, and modern Corvette, and Mustang GT all made it to the end of the day without incident.
Fortunately for the old man driver (you'd think old men would have more common-sense!) The M3's, 4's, 2's, TTRS, TTS, S4's & S5's, and modern Corvette, and Mustang GT all made it to the end of the day without incident.
Isn't there an old saying about being "old & wise?"
Maybe he was reliving his youth.
Being that there is no reception for cellphones on that mountain, it was a long time before we realized we had "lost" a third of the group. They were nice enough to stay behind until help arrived.
'18 Porsche Macan Turbo, '16 Audi TTS, Wife's '19 VW Tiguan SEL 4-Motion
Saw a non-rental Camry too, and a Buick Envision - not new, but quite rare, I see more Lamborghinis on the road. I don't know if I can envision myself in a Chinese-made GM CUV
i think it is more of an illusion. It is only a foot longer than the XC60 and V60, and, interestingly enough, about an inch shorter than a Caddy CTS and only 2 inches longer than a 2018 Accord.
'11 GMC Sierra 1500; '98 Alfa 156 2.0TS; '08 Maser QP; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '11 Mini Cooper S
Saw a Kia Optima dawdle along holding up traffic until at least 5 cars trailed them on the scenic way home. It wasn't me. I was one of the 5. Idiotic they didn't let people pass.
'18 Porsche Macan Turbo, '16 Audi TTS, Wife's '19 VW Tiguan SEL 4-Motion
Laws are only meaningful if the powers that be have the desire to enforce them. They love speeding, and don't care about many others.
Saw another new non-rental Camry, they seem to be selling here. Spectacularly unpretty, but I notice the glass seems to be tall, which is a good trend. Of course, still thick pillars and poor rearward visibility.
Saw a Kia Optima dawdle along holding up traffic until at least 5 cars trailed them on the scenic way home. It wasn't me. I was one of the 5. Idiotic they didn't let people pass.
Laws are only meaningful if the powers that be have the desire to enforce them. They love speeding, and don't care about many others.
Agreed. We've never needed (and still do not need) the 'no cell phones/texting while driving' laws as there have been distracted driving laws on the books for decades. What was always lacking was enforcement.
Enforcement and IMO citations with teeth. Some of the fines out there don't seem low enough to be a deterrent.
I suspect if the enforcement community would go after phone users and non-signalers like they chase violators of often arbitrary speed limits, they could erase the national debt. I know of local intersections where I swear half the cars are either not using a signal or the driver is holding a phone.
Agreed. We've never needed (and still do not need) the 'no cell phones/texting while driving' laws as there have been distracted driving laws on the books for decades. What was always lacking was enforcement.
Enforcement and IMO citations with teeth. Some of the fines out there don't seem low enough to be a deterrent.
I suspect if the enforcement community would go after phone users and non-signalers like they chase violators of often arbitrary speed limits, they could erase the national debt. I know of local intersections where I swear half the cars are either not using a signal or the driver is holding a phone.
Agreed. We've never needed (and still do not need) the 'no cell phones/texting while driving' laws as there have been distracted driving laws on the books for decades. What was always lacking was enforcement.
Easy solution, make the 1st cell phone/distracted driving offense equal to what they charge for a red-light camera violation ($500+). They love camera fines being high, why not make the important violations equally high? None of this $100-$200 BS for the first offense.
I've heard there might be legislation approved in CA making the right turn on red without a complete stop a reduced fine as compared to actually running the red light. I suppose I should thank the camera industry for this one as no one liked getting fined $550 for a 1-2 MPH (or even less) discrepancy in stopping.
'18 Porsche Macan Turbo, '16 Audi TTS, Wife's '19 VW Tiguan SEL 4-Motion
Also extra fines for yappers in cars with bluetooth, and then make the fines progressive. I love seeing a late model Range Rover/Tesla/senior MB-BMW etc where the "driver" has a phone to their ear. If these people are supposed to be smarter and more logical and harder working than most everyone else, they sure have a funny way of showing it. Or maybe they know they are virtually untouchable in what is becoming an oligocracy.
Easy solution, make the 1st cell phone/distracted driving offense equal to what they charge for a red-light camera violation ($500+). They love camera fines being high, why not make the important violations equally high? None of this $100-$200 BS for the first offense.
I've heard there might be legislation approved in CA making the right turn on red without a complete stop a reduced fine as compared to actually running the red light. I suppose I should thank the camera industry for this one as no one liked getting fined $550 for a 1-2 MPH (or even less) discrepancy in stopping.
Comments
If it's a daily driver, I could see it.
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I suppose the most worrisome ones would be MB R230 SL, R171 SLK, VW Eos, BMW F30, maybe final run Chrysler Sebring, etc. I know top issues are not unknown on early R230, but aren't universal. I don't know about the rest. I think for detachable hardtops, many just stay on the car. Most R107 SL I see always have the top on, and E36 so-equipped always seem to have it, too.
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
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Saw a Titan diesel on the road, not many of those around.
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
Fortunately for the old man driver (you'd think old men would have more common-sense!), he landed on a bunch of bushes and bushy trees with a bed of soft sand. That soft cushioned landing saved his hide. He was shorter stature, and thin, so he was able to just barely get out of the car though the side window with some help from other drivers.
Lucky only to have some scratches from the broken glass sliding out of the car.
Higher up on the mountain might have been a longer fall than just 10' off the side of the road rolling over. Typical over-correction over-steer issues of that kind of vehicle based on the skid marks. Someone mentioned a Bilstein suspension, but I suspect there's only so much you can do with that chassis that doesn't make it a good selection for canyon carving.
The M3's, 4's, 2's, TTRS, TTS, S4's & S5's, and modern Corvette, and Mustang GT all made it to the end of the day without incident.
Saw another new Camry, this one a higher spec, non-rental.
Maybe he was reliving his youth.
Being that there is no reception for cellphones on that mountain, it was a long time before we realized we had "lost" a third of the group. They were nice enough to stay behind until help arrived.
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
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2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
Good looking vehicle other than those wheels. Seemed to be sagging in the back.
'11 GMC Sierra 1500; '98 Alfa 156 2.0TS; '08 Maser QP; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '11 Mini Cooper S
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
'11 GMC Sierra 1500; '98 Alfa 156 2.0TS; '08 Maser QP; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '11 Mini Cooper S
Saw another new non-rental Camry, they seem to be selling here. Spectacularly unpretty, but I notice the glass seems to be tall, which is a good trend. Of course, still thick pillars and poor rearward visibility.
I suspect if the enforcement community would go after phone users and non-signalers like they chase violators of often arbitrary speed limits, they could erase the national debt. I know of local intersections where I swear half the cars are either not using a signal or the driver is holding a phone.
I've heard there might be legislation approved in CA making the right turn on red without a complete stop a reduced fine as compared to actually running the red light. I suppose I should thank the camera industry for this one as no one liked getting fined $550 for a 1-2 MPH (or even less) discrepancy in stopping.
I was at one last Saturday - the Velar we looked at was north of $60K
Folks in the leasing thread have quoted sticker prices of $70K and higher, depending on engine, trim level and options.
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2015 Subaru Outback 3.6R / 2024 Kia Sportage Hybrid SX Prestige