| Convertibles give annoyances like road noise, and | | | | away from traditional convertibles found the new |
| leaky roof. To counter these and other annoyances, | | | | Sebring alluring. He said that the participants perceive |
| the auto industry thinks it has found the solution: the | | | | it as "more of a 365-day-a-year car that was both |
| retractable hardtop. | | | | practical and fun to drive." |
| There were two mass-production retractable cars on | | | | With the introduction of the costly Mercedes SLK, |
| the market and both were built by Mercedes-Benz. | | | | the recent run of hardtops started in the late 1990s. |
| And now, 10 models are being sold under nine | | | | As years pass by, they have become more |
| nameplates, and for sure, more could be on the way. | | | | affordable. The Pontiac G6, Volkswagen Eos and |
| After decades as a bit more than a footnote in auto | | | | Mazda Miata MX-5 including some Mazda accessories |
| history, the retractable hardtop became hot. | | | | all start below $30,000, and the Sebring has a base |
| It is intended for people who want to blend the sun | | | | sticker price under $32,000. |
| and fun of a convertible with the amenity and | | | | Marna Wood bought a copper-red MX-5 in January. |
| security of a coupe. And the roof-retracting system | | | | The 52-year old Highland, Calif. resident and her |
| — just one punch of a button and the top slides | | | | husband have owned several Miatas, which are sold |
| into the trunk — attracts something that each | | | | only in drop-top versions. Even though it cost about |
| automaker craves: attention. | | | | $2,000 more than a comparably equipped soft top, |
| Lonnie Miller, the Director of Industry Analysis for | | | | the MX-5's retractable roof was something new and |
| Industry Researcher R.L. Polk & Co., said that the | | | | appealing. |
| retractable hardtops are showroom vehicles that | | | | Wood said she liked the hardtop from the |
| really catch the public’s attention as the go | | | | perspective that it is nice and easy to put up and |
| ‘ohh and ahh’. | | | | down, and one just need to push a button. She |
| Before, convertibles were coifed in cloth or vinyl. | | | | continued that the top up is more quite than the soft |
| They were cool to drive but not practical. This was | | | | top. |
| for the reason that they were basically part-time | | | | Moreover, she also appreciates that like other |
| vehicles, sometimes even in sunny conditions. Owners | | | | hardtop manufacturers, Mazda has designed the car |
| routinely left their cars unlocked rather than face the | | | | so that the retracting top does not eat up the entire |
| cost of repairing sliced roofs. | | | | available trunk space, which is a common problem |
| Security still remained an issue despite the fact that | | | | with older models. Mazda boasts that even with the |
| engineering and insulation reduced some problems. | | | | top down, the trunk can hold a big textile bag, two |
| Only the extremely well-muscled hardtops had to be | | | | sets of golf clubs or a couple cases of wine. |
| removed manually. | | | | The ability to provide a reasonably sized trunk is |
| If you enter a retractable, push a button. Observe | | | | another reason why retractable hardtops are |
| that what appears to be a solid sheet of auto-grade | | | | suddenly popular. |
| steel rears up and back, folds neatly into three or | | | | Despite the rebirth of convertibles, the style is not |
| more sections and disappears into the trunk. | | | | expected to win back the broad popularity it enjoyed |
| Historically, according to Rick Deneau of Chrysler | | | | during the '50s and '60s, when automakers offered |
| Group, convertibles have been thought of almost as | | | | drop-top versions of most of their lineup. |
| luxury cars because they are not supposed to be | | | | The more than 30 convertible models that are now |
| practical. But he adheres to the thinking that it is not | | | | being sold only account for about 2 percent of total |
| the case anymore today. | | | | U.S. new vehicle sales. |
| He continued that Focus group participants who shied | | | | |