joesorce

Gail, your rate is about double the norm. Have you checked to see if rates have gone down since you booked? Are you picking up at a downtown SF location or the airport?

kodi, the car companies usually won't GUARANTEE you a convertible. Friends of ours were just given a gas-guzzling caddie instead. What happens is, you find a good rate and book it for like $40 a day, and then someone walks up to the counter that morning offering to pay the non-discounted rate of $70 a day. So, of course they give the convertible to the first guy and you get screwed.

kodi

Well now, that awould really cheese me off. IT looks like our flight will arrive early ( I haven't booked yet), so that might give us a better thance than arriving late in the evening.

The prices I'm seeing are about double, but I haven't really got into the nitty gritty of finding a rental. I'll do lots more homework.

Bill44

Stick with Hertz. No surprises and good service. An extra dollar or three a day is small price for no surprises.

iamq

kodi,
Take a look at renting through Costco. We've gotten some great deals from Alamo and Budget on convertibles.

Wm

My DW & I are in our early 60's. We have a '72 MGB ragtop. We have driven down the coast from San Francisco to LA & on to San Diego on a couple of occasions. I agree with other owners of convertibles: Never had bug, debris problems inside the car. It is lovely driving around in the evening in San Luis Obispo when it's warm.

An aside: I would skip Death Valley in September--it's just too hot to be enjoyable.

mlgb

If you're in the front seat it is okay. If you were forced into the back seat of a convertible with two other children on a week-long trip from San Francisco to Washington, it was torture! We spent most of the trip with our faces buried in our laps. Not exactly the reason for hiring a convertible.

You'll need a scarf if you have long hair.

kodi

Wm, no chance of skipping Death Valley. It's number one on my friend's wish list. We'll just have to turn the A/C up really high.

WE are in our 60's , with short hair, but I'm thinking of buying a couple of cheap blond wigs to pull out of the suitcase when we get there. My friend will laugh... and we'll laugh the whole trip..we always do. (no chance of her reading this post!)

NeoPatrick

There are two types of people in the world -- convertible lovers and convertble haters.

We used to laugh. Whenever my partner would go pick up his mother for something, the first thing she'd say is "you've got to put the top up. I just had my hair done". When I'd pick up my mother for something, the first thing she'd say is, "wait a minute. I'd better get my sunglasses. The top's down isn't it?"

janisj

"convertible lovers and convertble haters."

Otherwise known as "fun loving" and "fuddy-duddy's"

NeoPatrick

Please note, everyone. Janisj said that -- NOT me.

janisj

But we knew what you really meant >-

november_moon

We rented a convertible in Louisiana last summer - there were PLENTY of bugs around and not one of them hit us when we were driving around in that car. In California, our flying bug population is much lower, so you shouldn't have any troubles.

I've rented a PT Cruiser convertible and a Chrysler Sebring convertible - both had decent trunk space - not huge, but roomy enough.

dmlove

We used to own a Mustang convertible (now we have a Nissan 350Z convertible that we love). I doubt the Mustang would have fit any actual suitcase - a bunch of daypacks maybe. The Z on the other hand even though it's a 2-seater will fit a set of gof clubs or a suitcase or all my weekly groceries - so it just depends what car you get.

Boxer

My husband and I (62 and 53 respectively) seem to take a California coast "road trip" just about every year. We love it. We're going again this year on June 6 ... can't wait.

However, we don't rent a car we drive in my husband's non-convertible Corvette Z06 (for two years in the 2002 and last year in the 2007 .. American muscle all the way NeoPatrick!!).

Can't count how many times we both said "jeez, I wish this was a convertible".

I especially recall wishing for a convertible in Zion, Bryce, etc. I couldn't see out properly without squinching down in the seat and trying to put my head on the dashboard to see out the front window properly ... or sticking my head out the side window (now ... there's wind in your face).

The California coast road is so beautiful that sometimes it can almost bring a tear ... (especially if your head is out the window!!).

We are staying for two nights in Pacific Grove this road trip ... never stayed there before ... really looking forward to it.

I say GO FOR IT .. get the convertible!

kodi

Oh, these stories are great!! Love them!

We are definately in the 'love convertibles' group. My best friend has now requested we get a red one. I told her I'd see what I can do.

We will have 3 full days going from SF to approximately San Simeon, before turning inland to head for Death Valley. I'll be posting later asking how best to plan those 3 days... and where to stop for the nights.

Watch out, here comes Thelma and Louise!!!

Corina

Oh go ahead, splurge and rent the convertible!!!

Another Bay Area Californian here. We've always had convertibles and drive with the top down all seasons. We've never put the hard-top on the car yet. We go up or down beautiful Hwy 1 almost every weekend. You'll love it.

There are bugs in California?

TaxFreeTravel

I say go for it and be singin' "California Dreaming" at the top of your lungs all the way! You can be conservative when you get home!

monik

Go ahead and splurge for a Ferrari to remember your trip. Then email a photo to your friends to show them it's priceless!