A Convertible for Any Occasion

There's nothing more fun than topless motoring. Keep your shirt on, please. We are talking about peeling back the roof on a convertible, not stripping down to your birthday suit and streaking through the quad like you did in college.

Just the thought of driving down the road, sans top, can spread a smile on the most jaded face. The sensation of speed is enhanced as the sky and landscape whiz by, while buffeting breezes flow through your hair — or what's left of it. You hear the tires hissing on the pavement, feel the air part around the car, and even smell the world about you. Like a butterfly, you have emerged from the insulated cocoon that is the modern motorcar and can suddenly fly. (Rather poetic, no?)

There is no better time to buy a convertible; it's summer for goodness sake. A quick scan of the new-car listings on MSN Autos reveals no fewer than 58 different 2009 and 2010 models with retractable tops, in just about every price range and style, from the massive $1.38 million Maybach Landaulet to the diminutive $16,990 smart fortwo passion cabriolet city car. The question to ask is not which is best, but which is best for your driving situation. We've picked five top-down fun machines that are the best fit for five different driving lifestyles.

Best Convertible for the Beach

Volkswagen New Beetle
The New Beetle looks perfect with its top down and two surfboards sticking out of the back seat. Its retro style is all about fun and nostalgia for an era when the Beach Boys were still in regular rotation on AM radio. That same styling limits the utility of the New Beetle somewhat — space in the back seat is a bit cramped, and cargo room is tight. But you can still cram towels, a cooler and a beach bag in the trunk. And the synthetic V-Tex "leatherette" seating surfaces resist sunscreen smears and saltwater stains from wet swimsuits. The New Beetle convertible has not changed much since it was introduced in 2003, but it remains fun to drive, powered by a torquey, 150-horsepower 2.5-liter 5-cylinder engine that delivers an estimated average fuel-economy rating of 23 mpg. The 10-speaker stereo has an MP3 input jack and Sirius satellite reception, so you can probably find a way to listen to "Surfin' USA" nonstop, just to get in the mood. Starts at $25,990.

Compare the 2009 Volkswagen New Beetle and the 2009 MINI Cooper

Best Convertible for the City

smart fortwo passion cabriolet
If you're spending summer in the city, the smart fortwo passion cabriolet offers the nimble handling required to dodge potholes, zoom around construction sites and squeeze down back alleys. It's also the least expensive and most fuel-efficient convertible you can buy. Its diminutive size — really not much larger than a golf cart — means you can park it almost anywhere, even on a sidewalk, if you dare. Inside, the fortwo offers surprising room for two tall adults and 12 cubic feet of cargo space behind the seats. Offered only with the more upscale passion and Brabus trim, the cabriolet includes a power canvas top that can be opened at any speed like a big sunroof. For the full convertible effect, you'll need to remove the roof rails from over the doors and stow them in a dedicated compartment in the tailgate, then unlatch the rear portion of the top to fold it all the way down. The cabriolet option, which adds $3,000 to the price of the passion coupe, also includes an upgraded stereo with 6-CD changer and MP3 input. The rear-mounted 1.0-liter engine makes 71 horsepower, enough to zoom away from a stoplight, though its automated manual transmission offers jerky shifting. Fuel economy in the city is about 33 mpg, and an 8.7-gallon fuel tank is adequate for zipping uptown, downtown and all around the town. Starts at $16,990.

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