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When thinking of the best places to drive a convertible, most people conjure up images of the sunniest states they can think of. Hawaii. Florida. California. But Utah is also a great place to drive a convertible. Yes, it has four seasons — and there are times you may experience all four of them in the same week! But it also has spectacular scenery which isn’t visible through a car’s roof. Utah’s mountains look grander, its red-rock towers statelier when viewed without interruption.
Convertibles allow you to see your surroundings and enjoy wind-in-your-hair freedom without worrying about an unexpected shower ruining your ride. And unlike vehicles with cumbersome, removable hardtops, you can switch from top-down to top-up as quickly as Utah weather changes. Here are ten of our faves for your consideration.
Mazda MX-5 Miata
This was born a fun two-seater convertible and has stayed that way. All models dating back to the 1989 debut keep it simple, and Mazda announced they will be offering more than 1,100 replacement parts for the older models. We took one on a short campout once just to prove it could be done. We’ve never squished a tent so hard closing the trunk.
View listings here.
Honda S2000
The Honda S2000 is similar to the Mazda Miata but a little faster and a bit bigger. It boasts 240 horsepower and vents that put warm air on your upper body for chilly top-down days. Sales hit 66,000 during its run from 1999 to 2009, making it rarer than a Miata. This is not in your favor as a used shopper.
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Volkswagen New Beetle Convertible
In 2019, VW stopped production on the iconic Beetle for the second time (the first was 1979). The new convertible was out there for two decades, so you could get one now and see if it becomes a collectible in another 20 years or so. The back seat is pretty cramped if you have legs, but at least you have the four-person option.
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Old Boats
Offerings from the tailfin era like this 1965 Chrysler 300 that have aged their way into uniqueness fall into the "Old Boat" category. These cars usually have some mechanical issues, but float along with soft rides turning heads as they go. They have plenty of trunk space and are super comfortable unless you crash — there are no airbags or crumple zones.
Mercedes SLK
This small two-seater debuted in 1996 and went through three generations before Mercedes changed its name to SLC and stopped production in 2020. Benz sold upwards of 700,000 of the series. The SLK has a retractable metal top for bad weather or trips to the airport. It folds into the trunk, so you’ll be packing light when taking top-down trips.
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Chrysler LeBaron
In 1982 Chrysler made a convertible version of its K-Car (the cheap, boxy cars that saved the company). Between 1983 and 1986 they made one with fake wood called the Town and Country. In 1993 it got a sleeker look. We allow that old, cheap, boxy Chryslers have yet to make the cool list; but these are ragtops, and just about anything without a roof is cool and fun. There’s a 1986 LeBaron on KSL Cars right now, priced higher than the newer models, so there’s a seller who agrees with us.
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Chrysler Sebring
The LeBaron gave way to the Sebring, which went through three generations between 1996 and 2000, then a few more as the Chrysler 200. Most reviews aren’t glowing; Chrysler’s own press release for the 2014 model calls it a "pleasant driving experience and an amazing value," which isn’t much of a brag. It makes the list because of its practical size — it seats four adults comfortably — and its liveable trunk. It’s also one of the cheapest ways to get a tan while driving.
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Ford Mustang
You can find a Ford Mustang convertible in any year from 1965 to the present. Even the bad years (1974–1978) had chop-top versions. You can get fast ones, big ones, old ones, new ones, you name it. They all have back seats and trunks. Scrolling through the Mustang convertible listings on KSL Cars, they all look fun. Prices for road-worthy models start at $2,000, but depending on your engine choice it could be expensive to insure.
View listings here.
Chevrolet Camaro
Like the Mustang, the Camaro was originally released in the 1960s with convertible models available most years. The Camaro is missing more soft-top years, however, like all of the 1970s. The back seats are nothing to ride home about, but the power can be something to write home about.
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Porsche Boxster
Don’t buy a Boxster because it’s one of the cheaper Porsches around; buy it because you sit right in front of its mid-engine and it’s a blast to drive. It has a simple power top. Scrimp up a little more than $7,000 and you can start shopping, but don’t ruin your emotional purchase by asking about the daily cost of owning one.
View listings here.
Didn’t find what you wanted on this list? Shop more than 1,200 convertibles on KSL Cars today.
