Luckily, if you prefer the look of top-up but you don't want all of the downsides of a fabric top, there's a third option!
Photograph Courtesy Mazda
Sure, convertibles offer the thrill of the wind in your hair, but what about when it comes to the looks department?
Is down always better, or do you prefer to show off the cloth–or folding roof–with pride?
Luckily, if you prefer the look of top-up but you don't want all of the downsides of a fabric top, there's a third option!
Generally speaking I think they look better with the top down. Some folding hard tops look slick with the top up, BMWs from a decade back come to mind.
I'm not sure this 'vert looks better either way....
Maybe the worst "top down" look is an old VW bug convertible.
when down it sits so high you cannot see behind you !
early models even had a rear view mirror that swiveled up so you could see behind you a little better ,
Best look is C, hard top!
Depends on the car. I used to have a 1961 Bonneville convertible; even though I rarely put the top up I think it looked better that way.
stuart in mn said:Depends on the car. I used to have a 1961 Bonneville convertible; even though I rarely put the top up I think it looked better that way.
Yes.
I think "Fox body" Mustang convertibles look better with the top up. Wouldn't mind a hard top option, see Mercedes, for one.
No so sure about this one either.......
californiamilleghia said:Maybe the worst "top down" look is an old VW bug convertible.
when down it sits so high you cannot see behind you !
early models even had a rear view mirror that swiveled up so you could see behind you a little better ,
A new contender in this category is the Jeep Gladiator. You can only put the top back, but not down onto the bed, so it looks like its got a man bun.
In reply to Puddy46 :
The original Beetle Cabriolet was a victim of the "Almost down" top company as well.
Pre-war German cars were bad for this too. American cars had single layer tops that disappeared into bodywork or at least folded nicely.
German cars had a convertible top with padding and a headliner which often results in a piled-up mess on the back of the car.
If it looks better with the top up, it never should have been a convertible.
Or: If it looks better with the top down, it's a roadster. Otherwise, it's a convertible and you should have gotten the hard top.
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