Summer is around the corner and throughout the US many fun-and-sun loving motorists are looking forward to tooling around town with the top down in their ragtop. Angelenos, however, can even enjoy a top down experience of the best kind on our not infrequent balmy winter days. In view of the peak convertible season in the U.S., Popular Mechanics(PM) magazine has prepared their pick of the best new convertibles. The bad news is that most are well beyond the reach of the average Joe or Jane.
2013 VW Beetle Turbo Convertible: At a price of around $30,000 fully loaded, here is one that is within the means of the average Joe or Jane. However, the tradeoff is that you won’t be behind the wheel of a super-powered mean machine. That being said, the ragtop bug has a 200 HP turbocharged power plant under the hood; thus, it can go zero to sixty in less than 7 seconds with a six-speed manual. PM notes that the new Beetle convertible packs more visual appeal than the old one. It’s both muscled and finely tailored at the same time—the VW feels like it costs more than it actually does. Its fabric top is quiet and can raise or lower quickly while the vehicle is traveling at speeds up to 31 MPH. The ride is smooth and pleasantly muffles out the worst road grit.
2014 Audi RS5 Cabriolet: PM notes that the new Audi RS5 Cabrio is one of the quickest ways you can whisk away four people and all their stuff for a weekend of fun. In many cars, the loss of a hard roof means there is a little less rigidity and capability in the corners; however, Audi has beefed up the structure to minimize those compromises. When you lower the top (which takes 15 seconds), Audi’s high-revving 444 HP V-8 sounds super-cool as it nears 8500 rpm. It’s a speedy little beast, too, with a zero to 60 around 4.5 seconds, aided by the quick-shifting seven-speed dual-clutch transmission. PM notes that, lLike all Audis, this $80,000 super convertible has an elegantly trimmed cabin. The magazine also notes that even in exotic-car-crazy cities like Los Angeles, this Audi will be one of the rarest autos on the road.
2013 Bentley Continental GT Speed Convertible: {riced a tad—well, more than a tad—above the VW convertible is the $238,000 is the GT Speed. Bentley’s Continental Convertible has always been an exceptional long-distance cruise machine. You can luxuriously tool from L.A. to San Francisco in an easy day, my dear. PM notes that the top is so quiet and the interior so comfortable that you could double that mileage and never complain. The new GT Speed has a 6.0-liter 12-cylinder engine with a horsepower boost from 567 to an awesome 616, and it is mated to a new eight-speed automatic. The result is a nearly 3-ton droptop that will run to 60 mph in less than 4 seconds. PM notes that the vehicle comes packing plenty of luxury, but be careful checking those option boxes. Goodies like the $7,300 Naim audio system, $13,875 carbon-ceramic brakes, or the $4,395 for nonstandard paint could bring the price near the $300,000 threshold.
2013 Ford Shelby GT500 Convertible: If the Bentley is beyond your means, consider the 662 HP GT500, which can be had for a mere $59,995. PM notes that this Mustang will hold a very special place in Ford history as the last GT500 that was developed before Carroll Shelby’s passing. Wrap your hands around that suede-trimmed steering wheel, grab that vintage white cue-ball shifter (only a six-speed manual is available), and get ready to storm the quarter-mile in just about 12 seconds flat.
2014 BMW Z4 sDrive35is: PM notes that this ragtop is one rewarding machine with a folding hardtop. The Z4 gets a handful of minor upgrades for 2014; however, the sweet twin-turbocharged 335 HP inline six remains in place, paired to a dual-clutch transmission. That means 60 MPH will fly by in less than 5 seconds. Enthusiasts who demand a stick shift will have to look elsewhere, but no further than the less powerful Beemer sDrive35i or 28i.
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