How do you turn a smart used car purchase
into an awesome driving experience?
Take off the roof, of course.
Today we've got four convertibles
that can transform themselves and transform your day.
So if you want to have some fun on the road,
you've come to the right place.
Hi, I'm Ryan from Edmunds.
Each year, we painstakingly test and review hundreds of cars,
while CarMax experts buy, sell, and appraise
thousands and thousands.
We're combining our car-testing knowledge
with their experience to help you make the right choice
on your next car.
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Convertibles hearken back to the thing
that made me fall in love with cars in the first place.
They're fun.
They come in different shapes, different sizes,
but they share the common ability
to get you where you're going with a smile on your face.
First up is an American icon, the Ford Mustang.
You want to cruise around in style with bundles of power
under your right foot, right?
Well, here you go.
This generation of the Ford Mustang first debuted in 2015.
But Edmunds, we recommend looking for a 2018 or newer.
That's when the Mustang got a lot of upgrades
that we rate very highly.
You also have your choice of two different engines.
Pro-tip, go with the V8.
It's so choice.
This is a muscle car that delicately
balances old-school retro design with hints
of modern taste and comfort.
Oh, and it has a crap-ton of power.
We are going to have fun today.
Inside, the Mustang presents itself really nicely.
Sure, there's some hard plastic and some of these metal pieces
maybe aren't quite as authentic as they appear.
But it's all put together really nicely.
One note on equipment.
Base versions of the Mustang are pretty sparse.
From 2018 and on, those versions only came with a 4.2-inch
center screen, no Apple CarPlay, no Android Auto.
Now if you want to get the larger 8-inch screen like we
have here, with Ford's really nice SYNC 3 infotainment system
and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto,
look for the EcoBoost Premium or GT Premium.
Don't forget that word, premium.
This one's even got cooled seats.
The top takes about 10 seconds.
Is it the easiest system ever?
Well, you do have to use some elbow grease.
I give it three out of five sons wearing sunglasses.
The Mustang GT is one wild ride.
That V8 engine is a blast of power
that doesn't really let up.
We also like the 10-speed automatic transmission.
But to truly feel in control, we still
recommend the six-speed manual.
We also really like the ride comfort.
And in terms of breaking, the Mustang
didn't perform as well as some competitors
in our Edmunds testing.
But it does feel composed.
Pros for the Mustang include strong engines
that you can choose from as well as
a comfortable ride and good practicality for a muscle car.
On the con side, the Mustang has big doors and not
a lot of backseat space.
Base versions are also pretty sparse when
it comes to features.
Is it my birthday or something?
Because today's cars have been straight out of the desire
part of my brain.
And that does not stop now.
This Miata debuted in 2016 in this soft-top version,
or the RF folding hard-top.
And it's a smile with wheels.
The great thing about the Miata is
that it's laser-focused on being a driver's car.
The more you push it, the better it gets.
And why am I not driving it yet?
Oh.
I am a big fan of the Miata's minimalist interior design.
That makes all the controls really easy to find and reach
when you need them.
But be warned, the Miata is simply not a comfortable place
for people six feet or taller.
I'm six feet tall and I'm basically
at the edge of my limits here.
Speaking of limits, cubby space and trunk space is laughable.
Seriously, you'll laugh.
All Miatas come with a 7-inch center screen.
And you can control it using this small dial.
Look for a Club trim like this one
to get extra features like heated seats, an upgraded
stereo, and blind-spot monitoring.
Now, if you want more driver-assistance features,
look for the iACTIVSENSE package.
But in 2020 and newer models, that package is standard.
Ready to lose the roof?
There's no power button this time.
We are going manual.
And that makes it a little harder than the others,
two out of five suns playing volleyball.
You want to buckle up nice and tight because the Miata is
an exhilarating ride.
Look for 2019 and newer models because they
got a bump in power.
In our Edmunds testing, the Miata hit 0-60 in six seconds
flat.
And in something this small, that is fast.
If you're just cruising, the truth
is you can expect a pretty comfortable ride.
The seats are nicely shaped for excellent support.
And it's comfortable over rough roads.
It can get noisy inside but don't let that be the reason
you back away.
Pros for the Miata include quick acceleration and, obviously,
remarkable handling.
This is basically the template for affordable fun.
The cons are an almost total lack of storage space,
pretty poor headroom, and a noisy ride.
This generation of the Cooper debuted in 2016.
It's a convertible for people who follow their inner kid.
Fun over comfort, speed over space, style over everything.
The mini is tiny in all of its forms,
which makes everything you do in it feel exaggerated.
Now imagine all that, but with the top down.
It's a recipe for pint-sized fun.
Mini does not skimp on the inside.
This cabin is highlighted by authentic metal switches
and soft leathers and plastics that feel nice to touch.
This is a compact car so everything is easily
within reach.
But unlike the Miata, taller drivers
can get more comfortable in the front seats
because the seats have more adjustment
and so does the steering wheel.
Some downsides, the infotainment controller is pretty awkward
to reach and the back seats are basically
non-existent for adults.
Oh, yeah, and the trunk is especially small.
If you put the top down, you can maybe get some shoe boxes
in there, maybe.
Tech-wise, every Mini Cooper from this year comes with
a 6.5-inch center screen with Bluetooth capability.
You also get rear parking sensors,
which is helpful because you can't really see out
all that well without them.
For an upgrade, look for the iconic trim.
That has an 8.8-inch screen with Apple CarPlay beginning
in 2019.
But you won't find Android Auto anywhere.
It's top-down time.
You just hold this switch.
First, it opens the sunroof, so wait for that.
Hold it again and the whole surrounding structure
comes down.
Easy, right?
But you can also use the key to do it outside the car which
is a nice bonus.
I give it four out of five sons on a surfboard.
On the road, the mini puts all of its parts
together very nicely.
The real star is the chassis that
seems to actively love being handled with aggression.
The car just feels right.
That doesn't mean it's always comfortable.
You will feel cracks in the road.
It's just a sporty stiff car.
Bumps are part of the game.
Pros for the Mini include thrilling
engine options plus tight handling
and an upscale cabin for passengers.
Its cons, however, are a stiff ride,
pretty pricey trim levels, and limited space inside.
When you think convertibles, you might not think Jeep Wrangler.
But the Wrangler is just as much a convertible
as any of the others here.
Heck, you can even take the doors off.
This generation of the Jeep Wrangler came out in 2018.
And that's exactly what we have here today,
a 2018 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon.
That sticker means this SUV comes
with all of the off-road equipment you could ever
want and probably a bunch that you didn't even
know you wanted.
This generation of the Wrangler took a big leap forward
in terms of interior quality.
I mean, just look at these plush seats, leather dash,
and a stitch steering wheel in a Wrangler.
Pretty wild.
We also like that these controls are really
close and easy to find.
They've got a grippy outside, bright colors, big letters,
really easy to find even if you're
covered in dust or something.
And when I'm driving this thing, I am often covered in dust.
We would also recommend that you look for this 8.4-inch touch
screen with Jeep's excellent Uconnect system.
This screen has a really nice picture.
It's crisp.
It's quick.
It's clear.
And it comes with navigation.
So if you're off-the-grid somewhere
and you can't get cell reception to find a map on your phone,
it's always right there.
There's a soft top, a hardtop, or a combination
called the Sky One-Touch Power Top, which is easy to peel back
like a giant sunroof.
Are any of these perfect to use?
No.
They're actually a bit of a beast.
But it is a lot of fun.
One out of five suns in a sailboat.
On the road is not necessarily where
you want to be in a Wrangler.
The steering, brakes, and suspension
are all prepped for off-roading.
Around town, that makes for a sometimes bumpy and messy
driving experience.
We definitely recommend getting a Wrangler with the hard top
to reduce the road and wind noise.
As a bonus, your passengers won't have to yell for you
to hear them.
Beach, mountains, river crossings, big old rocks,
the Wrangler is ready to do it all.
Especially in this Rubicon trim.
If you want to drop the top and really
experience the outdoors in a new way,
there is little else like it.
The pros for the Wrangler are that its off-road prowess
is unmatched.
And it's also got really snappy tech, surprisingly.
Oh, the cons.
For the Wrangler, they include a rough ride and simply
loose steering.
Once you get up to speed, there's
no getting around the noise inside the cabin.
Are you not seeing what you need here?
Of course, the BMW 4 Series is always a distinguished way
to enjoy the weather.
And the Chevrolet Corvette and its bulging front end
will never get lost in a crowd.
We learned a lot here today.
Namely, that you're about to have
a lot of fun in your next car.
But what kind of fun do you want to have?
The kind where you drive fast, maybe
don't have a lot of trunk space, and your hair gets all messy?
Or the kind where you drive slower,
you have a rough-and-tumble ride,
and your hair gets all messy.
Thank you for joining us today.
Leave us a comment below and let us
know if your favorite used drop-top did not make the list.
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to see more videos just like this one.
If you'd like to read a full, in-depth article about each
of these vehicles, click the link in the description below.