Going to Kauai and Maui in March and plan on doing alot of driving and seeing all that I can - Which car is best on:

Kauai - 4Wheeel Drive or Convertible?

Maui - 4Wheeel Drive or Convertible?

Thanks for any advice!

We went to Kauai in Sept and got a convertible. We had a great time driving around with the top down. Not really a need for us to go 4 wheeling. We have 4 wheel drive at home so it was a nice change of pace for us. Wish we had one when we went to Maui a few years ago.

When it got warm we just turned on the air conditioning and left the top down.

convertible, convertible

This thread reminds me of our first trip to Maui when the travel agent suggested we might want to get a convertible. At first it sounded great until we realized there were four of us, each of us had a big suitcase and one carryon and two had hardside golf cases. No way to get us and our luggage in a Mustang or Chevy convertible. Had to get a Lincoln Towncar for us and all our luggage and then it was a tight fit!

Since then, we have several times rented a jeep and had one person drive the jeep to the hotel and the others took either cab or shuttle with the luggage.

We did not see any need for a 4-wheel drive vehicle on Kauai as the roads were very good.

If you really want to go 4 wheeling, there are some good opportunities on Kauai in the Waimea Canyon area and on the west side beaches. I'd recommend a convertible for Maui.

How about a 4 wheel drive convertible, like a Jeep Wrangler with a rag top?

I'd go with the Jeep Wrangler. You get both the convertible and the 4wd in one vehicle. Plus its small size makes driving on the small roads, like the road to Hana, much easier. Especially when parking in the busier areas.

Danny,
You don't need a 4WD for either of those Islands. If you were going to the BI I would suggest a Jeep (for Saddle Brook Road). Keep in mind the convertibles are generally Firebirds or Mustangs. If you don't mind driving those types of cars, big front engines, then you should be fine.

I have read that there are alot of dirt roads on Kauai. Are the dirt roads do-able in a regular car?

We had no problem with dirt roads in Kauai..but most of the roads you wil be used will be paved.

Keep in mind, many rental car companies (in the fine print) say that if you take an SUV off-road, you will be in violation of thier contract and liable for any damages.

Rent a convertible both places - the air is wonderful. The only slight downside is unpredictable rain but as long as the top goes up easily, it's no problem. We rented convertibles on our 3rd and 4th visits and loved it.