Considering a convertible? Now is the time to buy
April 22, 2019
This paid piece is sponsored by Luxury Auto Mall.
It’s time to take the convertible out of the garage and get ready for a season of driving with the top down.
And if you find yourself a little envious of those carefree travelers, consider this: It’s the best time of year to treat yourself to a convertible.
“This is the time of year when we have great availability with new models in stock and a plethora of used ones,” said Mike Chaplin, general manager of Luxury Auto Mall.
“Within the building, we’ve got the four-seat convertibles, rear-wheel-drive convertibles, all-wheel-drive convertibles, soft top, hardtop. We’ve got space for your golf bag, and we’ve got convertibles that will accommodate luggage if you take it out of town.”
Actually, we should have taken these for test drives.
But we did get a fun look at rides for drivers of all budgets and lifestyles.
The latest and greatest
If you’re one who loves the latest models, check out the BMW Z4.
“It’s brand new, a complete body restyle,” Chaplin said. “Everything about it has changed.”
BMW has given the new Z4 a wider stance, near-perfect 50/50 weight distribution and efficient aerodynamics.
“It’s a fun car to drive,” Chaplin said. “If you’ve driven one before, you’ll find this is a completely different vehicle.”
The fastest and sportiest
If you want to take full advantage of the accelerator in your convertible, the Mercedes-Benz SL Roadster is for you.
“It’s for the ones who want the fastest, sportiest and raciest convertible,” Chaplin said.
With a retractable hardtop, it’s positioned between a sleek coupe and a classic open roadster. Plus there are plenty of high-tech touches, including its season-extended AIRSCARF system, which is a unique system that channels warm air onto your neck, and an innovative sun-reflecting leather carefully fitted to each seat by hand.
“This generation of SL is also 300 pounds lighter than the previous one,” Chaplin said. “And because of the way it’s crafted with aluminum, it offers greater safety, comfort and performance.”
The year-round ride
Want a convertible that easily stays on the road all year? Consider the BMW 4 series, which even includes all wheel drive.
“It’s a hardtop, so it goes from a coupe to a convertible in 20 seconds – even at speeds up to 11 miles per hour,” Chaplin said.
The wide track and low center of gravity make the BMW 4 series convertible surprisingly agile. Add the optional Adaptive M Suspension, and you’re looking at one of the sportiest open-top cars on the road.
Optional neck warmers feature three settings, allowing the driver and front passenger to stay comfortable even when the temperatures drop.
Reasons to browse
Whether you’re a regular Luxury Auto Mall customer who buys a convertible every few years, a snowbird who rents one but has decided to buy or a local looking to add a fun addition for the summer, there’s a big selection of pre-owned options.
“We just traded in a 2008 Porsche convertible. We have older Z4 convertibles, a BMW 6 series, a Volkswagen convertible, so it’s a nice offering with different price points from the teens on up,” Chaplin said.
“We just sold an Audi convertible for $11,000. You can drive it for fun and not break the bank.”
Sound good? Just make sure you stop in soon.
“I would get in early because there’s only so much time during the year here to drive these,” Chaplin said. “For us, convertible season starts winding down around July 4, so come in now to make sure you can enjoy one every day the weather allows.”
