5 Top Convertibles to Consider

Plus/Minus
Plus: Corvette Convertible is a top down, tour de force: 400 hp of rumbly V-8, riding in a supple chassis. The best bang-for-the-buck high-performance car, top down division.


Minus: Though there are plenty of electronics on board to keep you sticky side down, the rear drive Corvette is a fair-weather friend in northern climes. Corvettes, like Miatas, usually hibernate, when the flakes fly in snowbelt states.

Volkswagen EOS

Eos replaces the Cabrio in the VW model lineup. While Cabrio's buyer base skewed largely female, Eos' more angular looks should appeal to both guys and gals. The latest Veedub is one of the new breed of convertibles, topped by a hard hat. The retractable roof is also fitted with a wide, sunroof, giving the Eos driver a third, distinct choice, beyond top up/top down. Beneath the skin rolls a front-wheel-drive chassis with a choice of two fine engines—the torquey, 250-hp, 3.2-liter V-6, or the smooth, 200-hp, 2.0-liter turbo four. The interior is nicely finished and, with a little negotiation between rows, there's room for four inside. With an MSRP of $27,990, Eos scores points for being both sporty to drive and sensible enough for daily use.

Plus/Minus
Plus: Pick the 2.0T Eos and you have a nimble feeling two door that runs from 0-60 in about 7.5 seconds, gets an EPA estimated 32 mpg on the highway, has four season practical front wheel drive and two usable rows of seating.


Minus: Suffers from the usual convertible bugaboos. Fat c-pillars and rear seat headrests limit the driver's top up rear view. Trunk space measures a pack-light 6.6 cubic feet with top down, and remember to load it before the top is dropped. Otherwise, the trunk has a mighty small mouth.