Drive Time
Return of the Ragtops
They're fun, they're stylish, they're topless. A new group of convertibles are headed to car showrooms just in time for summer.
By Mark Solheim, Senior Editor, Kiplinger's Personal Finance
April 22, 2004
Lots of trends were in evidence at the recent auto show in New York City -- more fuel-efficient gas-electric hybrids and diesels, more gas-guzzling SUVs, more rear-wheel-drive and all-wheel-drive powertrains, and more souped up cars designed to appeal to the Gen Y tuner set. But the best news from the show was that more convertibles are on the way.
These four ragtops will soon join the 40 or so models already out there.
Mini Cooper
Mini's introduction of its new convertible was probably the highlight of the New York show's press events. For this dog-and-pony show, journalists trooped outside the Javitz convention center -- which is just across the Hudson River from Hoboken -- sat on bleachers in the warm April sun, and watched as first one and then a second Mini Cooper droptop sped into the arena, braked and did a 180.
The effect that BMW, which produces the Mini, is striving for is go-kart handling and fun. In fact, the press materials point out, "The Mini convertible offers a low center of gravity, a wide stance, multi-link suspension and very direct steering -- all of the attributes of a go-kart." I dunno. The car is already perceived as cute and small. Why diminish it further by marketing it as a toy?
Fortunately, the Cooper convertible, although a lightweight, is as safety conscious as its hardtop sibling (which Kiplinger's rated as one of the top five vehicles for safety).
The doorsills have been strengthened to help reduce damage from side impact crashes, the A pillars (the ones that hold the windshield) incorporate ultra-strong tubular steel, and double roll bars in the rear are made of high-strength aluminum. Side head/torso airbags are standard. Traction control and stability control, which use the brakes to reduce slipping and skids, are optional.
The Mini convertible will be available in late summer as a 2005 model, and waiting lists are likely to be long. It will be available with a 1.6-liter, four-cylinder engine, either normally aspirated or supercharged. Prices aren't set yet, but expect to pay around $22,000 for the base model -- about $5,000 more than for the hardtop.
Chrysler PT Cruiser
The once-hot PT Cruiser, which sparked a trend toward compact wagons and out-of-the-box designs, has been cooling its heels on dealers' lots lately. The new droptop should help boost sales. Sure it looks awkward, especially topless, but its retro design is kind of cool.
The Cruiser is a good choice if you want a bit more heft (curb weight is 800 to 900 pounds more than the Mini's) and cargo space (one of the seat configurations creates enough room to store two golf bags). The company says that it has almost ten inches more rear legroom than competitors in its class.
Sticker price (including destination charges) starts at $19,995 for the standard 150-horsepower 2.4-liter engine with manual transmission. The Touring model ($23,490) has the same size engine, but it's turbocharged, producing 180 hp. The GT model ($28,155) has a 220-hp high-output engine. Side airbags are optional ($390) on the Touring model, standard on the GT.
Note to car enthusiasts: Chrysler lays claim to the first automatic convertible top -- from Plymouth in 1939 -- and the first convertible following the lull in the no-nonsense '70s, the 1982 Le Baron.
Chrysler Crossfire
The Crossfire two-seater is also going topless. The new roadster model will start arriving in showrooms in May.
When we reviewed the hardtop last summer, we found that the 3.2-liter, 215-horsepower V6, rear-wheel-drive Crossfire wasn't super quick -- it does zero to 60 in just under seven seconds -- but it handled and felt like a sports car. The interior layout is simple and, generally, elegant. The car is built in Germany, based on the platform of the since-redesigned Mercedes SLK Roadster.
The long hood, steeply raked backside and broad shoulders give the hardtop an athletic stance. The convertible changes the lines - and some might say, the soul -- of the car. You lose the sleek, fastback slope and get something more akin to a traditional roadster profile. Also, if you're a six-footer or taller, take a nice long test drive before you commit. This car is not nearly Sebring-sized.
Base price is about $35,000. Side airbags, electronic stability control and traction control are standard.
Lotus Elise
If you really want a go-kart that you can take on the highway, consider the Elise. This is the first car introduced in the U.S. by British sports car maker Lotus since 1991.
Sit inside the two-seater base-model Elise, which costs $39,985, and with all the bare metal showing, you'd think they forgot to finish the interior. The company does offer a $1,350 Touring Pack with electric windows, stereo, additional sound deadening and -- oh, yeah -- carpeting.
But you wouldn't buy an Elise to pick up your mother-in-law or go to the Home Depot on Saturday. The 190-hp, 1.8-liter, four-cylinder-engine, which comes from Toyota, takes the car from zero to 60 in under five seconds and up to 150 mph. The roadster weighs less than 2,000 pounds, comes up to about your hip with the top down, and looks very sporty.
The Lotus Elise will be available from 38 Lotus dealers in 29 markets across the U.S. by June.