Convertibles are amazing, and some of the best cars of all time. Everyone loves to put the top down on a beautiful day. Well, except Daniel.
Daniel Golson – 1991 Mercedes-Benz 300SL
This is my 1991 Mercedes-Benz 300SL, which I bought back in the spring of 2021 about a year after moving to Los Angeles. I didn’t care about getting something especially sporty – if I want to hit the canyons, I’ll take whatever press car I’ve got – instead going for a car that is perfectly suited to a drive along the Malibu coastline or getting groceries in the city. Paramount to my decision-making was that my car had to be flashy and unique, which my SL certainly is thanks to its two-tone teal paint, gold pinstripes, chrome wheels and gold badges. (The (heart)MYSLMB plate came with the car, too.)
After many thousands of dollars put into the car, some of which was to fix ridiculous maintenance mistakes done by previous owners like an epoxy-covered headgasket, my SL is finally running exceptionally well. There are still a handful of old-German-car problems, like a broken odometer, busted power headrests and some loose trim pieces, but I’ve got no qualms about taking my wonderful roadster on a long road trip.
Oh, and I’ve never taken the hard top off. I don’t really like convertibles – I rarely even drive with the windows down – and I’m terrified of the hydraulically operated soft top failing and costing me additional thousands to fix. So my 300SL is strictly a coupe. It looks better that way anyway. – DG
Bradley Brownell – 1991 Cadillac Allanté
Sometimes you just have terrible luck buying a car. I flew to North Carolina to buy this car and drive it home. A quarter mile from my driveway it decided it didn’t want to run right anymore, and I’ve been chasing the problem for almost two years. I had big plans for this thing, but these days it mostly just sits in storage and pisses me off. – BB
Rob Emslie – 2001 Porsche Boxster
My 2001 Porsche 986 Boxster in triple black. This was my “pandemic project car” that I bought back in 2020, but that has always been a runner, needing only some cosmetic and minor maintenance work to keep it happy. It’s not the quickest of my cars, but out of the three convertibles I have, it’s the only one with a power top (and the only one currently running). One of the best aspects of owning a Porsche—even a lowly 986—is being a member of the Porsche Club of America. The PCA is one of the biggest and most active car clubs around, so there’s always plenty of shenanigans to be had. -RE
Andy Kalmowitz – 2007 BMW Z4 3.0si
I love this stupid car so much. Despite the amount of money I’ve spent keeping it going over my three-and-a-bit years of ownership, every single time I drive it I get reminded how wonderful it is.
Ever since I was a little kid, I’ve been infatuated with the E85 Z4… for better or worse. I always considered it my attainable dream car, and while it always hasn’t been a dream to own, I always find it to be a dream to drive. I know that 7-year-old me looking at pictures of a 2003 Z4 in an auto magazine would be incredibly proud of the fact I was able to get one.
Unfortunately, I just do not get to drive it nearly as much as I would like. You see, I bought this car in September of 2020. I was fresh-ish out of college and living at home. Within two months I was living in Manhattan and obviously no longer needed a car. I’ve constantly considered selling it. Even with the work I’ve done, it’s appreciated a decent amount since I first bought it. But, every single time I drive it I say “forget it” and fall back in love.
If you’ve ever got the chance to buy your childhood dream car, do it. Nothing will make you happier. – AK