Convertibles are inherently whimsical cars that provide their owners with the option to drop the top when the mood strikes; all things I love, and yet some convertibles just didn’t strike the chord with buyers that manufacturers hoped for. Chopping the roof off of a vehicle might invigorate the buyer, but it also significantly reduces that vehicle’s structural rigidity which can lead to lots of jiggles while driving and squeaky, rattley interior pieces.
When a convertible has enough space to comfortably bring a few friends along for the cruise, the challenge of adequately strengthening the platform to keep it sturdy increases. Achieving a sturdy and comfortable convertible is possible, though. My first car was a 2005 Saab 9-3 cabriolet which was actually pretty solid; I could squeeze a few friends into the car and chuck the top down and it made for a great cruiser. But not all convertibles are created equally.
Some convertible conversions required automakers to include a giant unsightly roll bar that detracted from the open top feeling, and some fitted their convertibles with giant bulky folding metal roofs that ate up virtually all of the car’s storage space. Maybe you think a car’s graceful styling was ruined by the transition to toplessness, or you think a convertible crossover defeats the purpose of a convertible. Whatever convertible sin you believe is unforgivable, let us know which convertible is the worst.
I am going to say that the worst convertible ever made was the 1989 Chrysler TC By Maserati. The Chrysler TC By Maserati was a modified K-Car platform whose production had to be delayed because early prototypes had issues with severe chassis flex. Despite the production delay to address this chassis flex, Motorweek said that the TC was not as stiff as Chrysler’s own top selling convertible, the Le Baron. While it wasn’t marketed as a sports car, it still had the Maserati trident on the hood that has a rich racing history, so driving the TC was underwhelming. Its styling wasn’t particularly compelling either, so it lands squarely as my answer as the worst convertible ever made. But what do you think?