I was on a fun run a few weeks ago with bunch of p-cars and a few of them were cabriolets.

I have never driven a cab and was wondering for the people who do--why do you enjoy the top off driving experience? The people with cabs were obviously having fun and I am wondering if I'm missing some fun by not having one?

WHY DO YOU DRIVE A CABRIOLET?

 

The open top experience is just fantastic.

Wife and I had a wedding in Riverhead Long Island which is basically two exits from England. To avoid holiday traffic we drove out Saturday night and left early this morning... both times with the top down and loving every minute.

I can sum it up as:

Fall days and summer nights, wow.

Rob

 

I enjoy the cab becuase in Southern Cali, there is very little time for performance/sport driving in town. Unless you want to drive in the middle of the night, or 2 hours away, I figure I might as well enjoy some sunshine while I drive.

I don't know the official numbers, but I think we got 4" of rain in 2007 so far. Nice weather for having the top down.

If you like your sunroof open, then you will like cabrio. I think you know right away whether or not it is for you if you take a drive in one.

 

What Rob said (except for the wedding part!)

 

Hey, I resemble that remark.. Grew up in Hampton Bays - if Riverhead is 2 exits from England, HB was one.

To add to what Rob said: To me, putting the top down just adds to the overall experience.

I think it all depends upon how much you drive and where.. if the vast majority of your driving is on 4 lane highways at 65 mph+, the ragtop may not add much to your experience, and in fact, may hinder it since they're noiser.

If the vast majority of your driving is around town and on smaller backcountry roads, being able to drive "al fresco" is what it's all about. Nothing finer than cruising on a twisty mountain 2 lane
with the top down, or driving around town on a nice summer's evening with the breeze drifting in.

- Nick

P.S. Rob - Carvel studio's - any relation to the ice cream guys or did you just like the name? We used to have a Carvel in Hampton Bays.. for a treat my Dad would walk us up there for a cone. On special occasions we'd get sprinkles. On your birthday, a Sunday

 

It's easier for the ladies to throw their undies in the car.

 

pro

-you can hear the engine/exhaust better
-you can be seen easier

cons

-it doesn't look nearly as good as the coupe
-it's heavier and chassis is weaker

 

I drive a 996 cabriolet because it is 3 cars in one!

It's a great open car:


and I live in one of the best open car places in the world.

It is an outstanding car with a soft-top:



Sometimes the women don't want their hair mussed!

And if the weather gets nasty or I need a high-speed comfortable and quiet touring car, it is a great hard top coupe:



What more could anyone want in a car? I think the question would be more properly phrased as "why would you NOT drive a cabriolet?"

After all driving a Porsche is all about enjoyment, and a cabriolet is the ultimate in versatile enjoyment.

 

Yes, the ladies love a cab.

 

Or out of the car, as the case may be

While I can't claim to ever have that particular experience, the social aspects of having a cab are not to be dismissed. I've struck up more than a few conversations with pedestrians and / or fellow cab owners, waiting for a light to change..

- Nick

 

Thanks for the responses guys. I need to go test drive one and decide if it's for me or not.

 

that's actually a con in my book. but cabs are perfect for a nice warm spring/summer night in Cali.

 

For me, it's about 40% of the motorcycle experience. Nothing like hanging it all out in the wind, but alot of times I'm too lazy to suit up properly or I need to carry more than 2 grocery bags worth of stuff. The smell of the air (when not in traffic) and the sounds of nature mixed with the burble of exhaust can be very intoxicating.

Andrew

 

My next one will be a cab for sure.

Been driving a few for testing, and I simply enjoy driving way more.

Also a pro in my book is, that with the roof down you feel you go faster than you really are. Which is great for quenching my lust for speeding :-D

 

I like my cab because it gives me that visceral sensation of being in direct contact with everything around me. I can feel, hear, and smell the engine, the tires, the, road, the trees, the sun, the moon, the sky, the rain. It's a heightened sensation you can't get through a window. For kicks sometimes I cruise through the woods in the pitch black night with the top down and the headlights off and it never fails to make the hairs on the back of my neck stand up.

You really can't get the full open top experience on a test drive. If you can't beg, borrow or steal one, rent a convertible for a few days. Drive it everywhere through the day and night. Then you will know if you are a cab guy.

BTW, if you think you will want to track or race your car, keep in mind you will need to get a roll bar for a cab.