I think you are going to find that a convertible won't work. The roof takes up a good portion of the rear of the car, leaving a smaller trunk. how many suitcases are you planning on?

The Sebring has the biggest trunk of the convertibles that are usually available as rental cars. You can check the trunk specs online to see if it would work for you, but you'll have to pack very light. With 2 people, packing reasonably light, it would work, with 4, I am not hopeful.

I agree that there might be an issue with trunk space for the luggage, depending on how much you have.

The typical convertible rentals here in Hawaii (my only frame of reference based on experience) are the Ford Mustang, Chrysler Sebring and Jeep Wrangler. I've ridden in all 3 and I believe the Sebring is the biggest.

It is not an uncommon sight to see tourists here on their way to the airport in a convertible with luggage piled up in the back seat or with the trunk ajar and tied down because it wouldn't close.

Convertibles aren't going to work. They are only fun for about 20 minutes or until someone gets too windblown or too cold, it rains, or someone gets sunburned

Not enough room in the trunk for luggage.

The coast of California is not typically sunny in summer. June Gloom accurately describes the morning fog situation.

Okay... chiming in from Hawaii. We arrived into HNL and got to Hertz. I waited outside and my husband and 14 year old went inside...came out with keys to a convertible mustang. I groaned as I knew that for a week it would not work with our two daughters - it lasted about 48 hours and husband returned it to the Hertz desk for a regular midsize. EVEN if it worked with your luggage your two children would be highly uncomfortable in the backseat with the top down - the wind is high in the back and not pleasant.

We used to have a Mustang Convertible. One set of golf clubs, or possibly two very very small carryon bags is all that would fit in the trunk. Even if the Sebring's trunk is larger, it might fit two normal-size carryon bags. Not only that, but the back seat had no leg room. Sorry, but I don't think this will work for 4 people plus luggage unless the kids have very short legs and don't mind sitting in the back with the luggage in their laps

We tried a convertible for our family of four... no way...

took it back the next day... back seats are tiny and totally uncomfortable... no room for luggage...

SUV or Mini van... you won't regret it...

Our Sebring would hold luggage for 4 if you flew carry on or at least without lots of large bags, the newer ones may not be quite as large as ours. We also rented one when we went from LA to Yosemite, over to Point Reyes then down the coast and had the top down about a third of the time, mostly when we were not on interstates. It was lots of fun to be able to look all around at the beautiful scenery.

If that sounds like fun, go for it!!

emalloy - did you have passengers in the backseat? Our convertible would have been fun for my husband and myself - it was highly uncomfortable with the top down for our daughters in the backseat - and it was squished in the backseat for them regardless of the top up or down.

Honda CRV - if you want decent mileage, great parallel parking, sits high enough, reasonable windows, and luggage in the back. I've run the highschool carpool with this.

Personally, I want to rent a Mini Cooper, without the kids!

We have often had passengers in the back and if they are kids they love it, adults not so much. The wind does blow in the "wrong" direction there and there is not a lot of leg room. The OP said there were 2 kids.

My personal objection to the back seat is getting out with the top up as there is only one door on each side, my grandkids can scoot in and out with no problem.

This is from a post on TripAdvisor asking a similar question:

"Hertz.com states the following capacities for the Sebring convertible:
2 adults, 2 children, 1 large suitcase, 2 small suitcases

Note: that's just TWO adults. The back seat is so small. They are only recommending children sit there."

I've owned several convertibles -- mostly roadsters/small sports cars but have driven ragtops of every size and type.

I love LOVE LOVE road trips w/ the top down. But not for a family and NOT w/ anything but minimal luggage. Plus there are times along the coast when a convertible is wonderful -- but more often it is bloody COLD.

When is your trip? If during the summer -- don't even consider one. If it is in mid to late Sept - when the coastal weather is just about perfect, then maybe depending on the ages/sizes of the children.

Thanks for your thoughtful replies. I think I had better reconsider my plans!

Perhaps a larger car with a sun roof that opens.

I tink the age/size of the kids is key. If the kids are tweens or teens they are likly to be squised. If they are 10 or below - and not big for their ages they may be OK. BUT - you then have to deal with luggage.

I rented a Mustang convertible once in San Diego (didn;t want it - but by the time I got to the Hertz office near 11 om it was either that or a Ford Focal (?) which I though wasn;t big/powerful enough for highways.) It was OK in size for me - with my luggage in the back seat. After a meeting I had to take 3 colleagues to dinner - and even 2 petite adult women in the back were squashed - and had trouble getting in/out the door.

We have rented convertibles many times in Hawaii. We have had Mustangs in the past. I don't think that you can have 4 people and more than 2 medium suitcases in the trunk. This year we had a Sebring. It is a bit roomier in the car, but we had 3 people, and three large suitcases and 2 carry on sizes and we could barely fit them, including one large case in the back seat. ALSO, KEEP IN MIND THAT WHEN YOU PUT THE TOP DOWN, YOU CAN BARELY FIT A COUPLE OF GROCERY BAGS IN THE TRUNK. THE TOP TAKES UP ALL THE SPACE. No way you can put the top down with any luggage. Also, the passengers in the back seat really get wind blown, and cannot partake in any conversation with the wind. Also with the Sebring, it is a real fiasco watching the top go down. It takes quite a while. So if you make a quick stop, it is a real time consumer to put it up, but without it up, you have zero security.
In the future, from my experienc, I would not rent a convertible for more than 2 people. And with that being said, I prefer the Mustang. The top does not take up all the trunk.

You might have been able to get away with an older Sebring covnertible. If everybody packed light.

However, in 2008, Chrysler blew it. They reconfigured the convertible, offering both a hard- and soft-top. Both versions ate heavily into the trunk space when the top is lowered, cutting it by about a third.

I just had a new cloth top put on my 2004. The shop that did it (located in Manheim PA--they do a LOT of tops,) told me to stick with my 2004. They said they're making a lot of money off the 2008 and later Sebring convertibles.

And of course, any Sebring convertible you'd rent nowadays is going to be a late-model.

bookhall - They certainly did screw things up in 2008. The last Sebring that we rented was pre-2008, and the trunk space wasn't bad. Even with the top down, we had space for luggage for 2 in the trunk.