To Covertible or Not to Convertible - That is the Question?
 

Hi Everyone - I am driving for a couple of days down the coast in July - SF to Carmel, Carmel to Cambria, Cambria to Santa Barbara. Would you recommend getting a convertible for this drive? My fiance will be doing most of the driving and we have never really driven a convertible for a long distance - not sure if the wind blowing through our hair will be annoying, or our directions will be flying around all over :-)...Does it add a lot to the experience?? Would you recommend it?? Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks!! - Laura

That is one route where a convertible would be a blast. I've tried rentals in Florida including a week in the Keys where it was just too darn hot.

As far as the hair/map question, bring something to pull your hair back with if your hair is long, you won't need to navigate with a map very much, and roll the front windows up a bit if the wind gets too much. Have a blast! :-)

Absolutely get the convertible.

When we did the trip a few years ago, I reserved an Altima over the web, to be picked up at LAX. As I was going in to pick it up, I passed a red Camaro convertible. The rest is history. You can see some pictures at http://community.webshots.com/user/bookhall .

That trip was among the experiences that caused us to buy a Sebring convertible last fall. You do have to keep track of loose lightweight stuff. And if you get anything other than a Sebring, you might be trunk-challenged. But it's a small price to pay for that trip with the top down. Most of it will be driven at slower-than-usual highway speeds, anyway.

Thanks for the feedback!! Good advice...I forgot a couple of the biggest points which the first poster raised - will it be too hot for this in July?? How about sunburn?? If we can get over these 2 things, it sounds like a convertible will be a lot of fun...

We wore hats. I think you'll find the weather quite comfortable, but a hat can keep the sun out of your eyes, and prevent sunburn on your neck. I'm not normally a hat wearer (nor is my wife,) but we almost always wear one when the top's down.

A convertible is great if you are on the move but in city it`s not so good. Did it once and got sunburnt legs and neck. Give me a hardtop and air con anytime!

Love the convertible experience, but the wind can be a problem. Some cars have wind deflectors behind the headrests that really make a difference. We recently bought one for our car and found even highway driving much more enjoyable. Still, take a hat or headscarf in case you need it.

Too hot? definitely not. Too cold? Very possibly.

Especially if you are driving before noon/1 p.m., you can usually expect cold/foggy/overcast conditions along the coast.

But get the ragtop anyway - because if the sun does come out it will be glorious.

LOTS of sunscreen . . . . .

Convertibles were <i>designed</i> for the SF to LA drive. Enjoy!

I agree with Gekko about the coast being made for convertifibles. We rented one for a Carmel to San Luis Obispo week and it was a lot of fun. Another time we drove our aunt's from Redondo Beach to Santa Barbara. Have looked into it for other trips, but the price was almost double.

Definitely get the convertible. This is THE trip for a convertible. As others have said, wear sun block and a hat. And bring a windbreaker and long pants for foggy times - but then layers are important whether you have a convertible or not. As for directions, you don't really need them except going through towns and finding your hotel.

I HATE riding in a convertible--the wind in my hair makes me feel like someone's constantly hitting me on the head.

My husband has a wonderful convertible that he drives from May to October; I'm thrilled that he has it and that I don't have to ride in it.

Of course, I don't even like riding in a car with the windows open.

I'd <b>KILL</b> to have the wind blowing thru my hair again!:-&lt;

We loved driving our old convertible down to SF or up/downthe coast....
Especially on the &quot;Play Misty for Me&quot; mornings down around SC, Monterey etc.

But the Valley heat makes it a bit difficult at times to drive it around Sacto, Stockton, Motown, Fresburg and B'field but it looks like you'll be avoiding these areas.

We are also planning to get a convertible when we go to New Mexico in August. We wanted to have it while we are in Santa Fe and driving to Taos and around the Echanted Circle. However, since it is so expensive, my husband suggested getting the convertible for the first few days and then exchanging it for a midsize when we go back to Albuquerque and Las Cruces since we will be doing more highway driving then. It is easy enough to take it back to the airport when we get to ABQ since we are going to Santa Fe and taos on the first part of the trip. I checked prices that way and we would save about $85. So we may go with that plan.

At ABQ, if memory serves, the rental companies are all off airport property.

That settles it! I am definitely going to get the convertible. Will bring a hat and some sunscreen and just kick back and enjoy the ride. Thanks everyone!!