Should I Buy a Convertible or a Coupe?

You’re not a fan of crossovers or SUVs. Definitely not a fan of minivans. You’re in the market for a new car and you know exactly what you want to buy: a sports car. More specifically, a performance car that makes you feel downright amazing. And hey, we don’t blame you! There’s science to back up the emotional and psychological power of performance cars. In fact, Ford released a study in early 2018 that found driving a sports car ranks high on the list of things that make people happy. It’s even more enjoyable than kissing and “could be a valuable part of your daily wellbeing routine,” says psychologist Dr. Harry Witchel. But you already knew how spectacular it feels to drive a sports car. You’re ready to buy one! But which type? Will you go with a convertible or a coupe? We’ll help you weigh the pros and cons of convertibles and coupes to find your best ride. Then we’ll help you compare your best auto financing rates! Convertible or Coupe? Buying a Convertible A convertible sports car has a retractable roof. The roof can be folded down or removed either partially or entirely.

PROS

You feel it all. Enjoy the sun on your face and the wind in your hair. There’s no fixed roof or door frames to limit your visibility or your fun. Put the top down, your sunglasses on, and hit the road feeling free and open. (Just watch out for the bugs.)

You’re more connected to the personality of the car. Ross McCammon of GQ wasn’t a fan of convertibles, until he drove the Mercedes-Benz C 63 S Cabriolet. Putting the top down meant removing a physical barrier between him and the car’s personality. For the first time he could fully experience “the growl of the start-up and turbo-whine acceleration and the rumbly idling.”

“A convertible doesn’t just make the experience louder and windier,” writes McCammon, “it makes a great car less anesthetized, more awake.” Convertibles offer the ultimate driving experience.

Convertibles are versatile! Most convertibles easily transition back into a sedan with the push of a button.That means you can enjoy the wind in your hair one day and a roof over your head the next when nasty weather hits.

CONS

Convertible roofs can be complex. Convertibles come with complex machinery to bring the top down and back up. If any of these pieces or parts break, you could be in for a big repair bill. Just think–what if your convertible top got stuck in the down position during a rainy week? Do you stop driving?

Convertibles can fall prey to “chassis shudder.” A car’s fixed roof plays a major role in its structural support system. Without a fixed roof, a car can succumb to a condition called “chassis shudder” or “scuttle shake.” This condition makes any uneven road feel even bumpier. Your smooth ride becomes shaky.

Convertibles can be expensive. If affordability is important to you, you might want to think twice about buying a convertible. They tend to be $5,000 to $9,000 more expensive, on average, than comparable sedans or coupes, writes Nationwide.

Buying a Coupe

Coupes have sleek, sloping rooflines, two doors, and two functional seats up front, plus two tiny seats in the back. They have a full-on metal roof rather than a large hole behind the top of the windshield where a convertible soft-top goes.

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PROS

Amazing handling. The fixed roof and extra rigidity of a coupe leads to better handling than a convertible. Coupes are also lighter than convertibles since they aren’t carrying all the mechanisms that bring the top up and down.

Coupes are the epitome of style. Let’s be honest. Some convertibles look less than sleek with the top up. “The coupe has style, not just because of how it looks,” writes CarsGuide, “but because of that devil-may-care absence of drudgery and practicality.”

Coupes are lithe, sleek, and muscular. “With the exception of very few convertibles, no other car will look as good as a coupe,” continues CarsGuide.

Coupes are fun to drive, rain or shine. No need to put an end to a great drive because of a little rain. Since a coupe has a fixed roof, there’s no need to pull over and raise the top when the weather takes a turn for the worse.

They’re cheaper than convertibles. For the most part, couples are cheaper than their convertible counterparts. Plus, there’s no need to worry about any complex roof mechanisms breaking after a few years.

CONS

Space is hard to come by. Don’t expect to enjoy a lot of space…anywhere in the car. In the front, sloping rooflines make coupes especially tough for tall drivers to enjoy. Rear-seat passengers have even less space. A coupe’s rear seats may work for younger children, but these seats are usually little more than a shelf with seatbelts. And cargo space? Don’t even think about packing the trunk for an extended vacation. You’ll be lucky to manage a few bags of groceries.

The top doesn’t come off. A fixed roof means the only way you’ll be feeling the sun on your cheeks and the wind in your hair is if you roll the windows down.

Take the first step in buying a sports car

Which sports car will you buy? Convertible or coupe? We’re all about comparison shopping, which is why we provide you with up to four new car loan options to review at your leisure. Whichever performance vehicle you choose to drive, help make sure you get a great deal on financing by comparing your loan options first. myAutoloan can help you get in the driver’s seat of the sports car you want. Apply for a new car loan and compare your offers today!