Coupe vs. Cabrio

Suze · 08-25-2008, 10:23 PM

What's your favorite smart?

I have a coupe and my reserved cab is due in a few weeks. I'm undecided if I should take the convertible or stick with the coupe.

Here are some if the problems I worry about with the cab:

Road Noise
Road Dirt
WIND!
Missing the panorama roof on overcast days
Decreased view from Rear view mirror
Possible vandalism (rag top)

On the other hand a person pretty much should have a convertible at least once in her life, right?

**Dunerunner** · 08-25-2008, 10:27 PM

Tough call Suze...I'm very happy with my coupe. I don't think that I would like the increased road noise, the care factor of the fabric roof, or the dinky rear window. Although I have owned two convertables in my life, both in Hawaii.

sk8ndad · 08-25-2008, 10:30 PM

I'm picking the coupe. I spend a lot of time in the downtown of a major city. With a rag top, I figure I might as well leave the doors unlocked. At least then I wouldn't have to replace the top when they cut through it to help themselves to what's inside.

Trena · 08-25-2008, 10:38 PM

Haven't owned either (yet), but reserved a cabrio, for the same reason as you stated in your last sentence. This is an opportunity to get a cabrio for cheap, and of course cute and fun.

*Dirt will clean.
*With top down, who pays attention to the road noise?
*And wind? ...isn't that why you get a convertible, for the wind in your hair? (and maybe it'll blow out that dirt. LOL)
*I think I'll use cabrio top down anytime it's not freezing or pouring rain--overcast/smovercast!!
*I plan to get a back up camera, for even though peeps mention side mirrors are good enough, I have children in my neighborhood and worry about backing up...
*Vandalism not too much of a concern for my area, but of course that's what they make insurance and alarm systems for.

My test drive was in a cabrio, and I kept the top down for the entire 20 min ride--loved every minute of it! Had windows up still, and not too windy at all.

I decided against the coupe in large part because I was afraid: 1) that the panorama would make the car too hot, 2) the plastic panorama in the rain would be annoyingly noisy. Who puts a 'sun roof' in a car that doesn't open??? ;)

smart fortimo · 08-25-2008, 10:58 PM

I have the cabrio and love it.

Of course I go totally anal the first day or so after shining it up. No driving through sprinklers on the road, dirt or gravel, and I hope I only get a couple bugz splatter. But is is just a car. Like Trena says, it will clean up.

The noise it not a problem for me when the top is up-- with the top down wind-in-your-hair, who cares?

Cheers,
Timo

Smart Enuf · 08-25-2008, 11:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by notsobadyathink

Missing the panorama roof on overcast days

Exactly how would you miss a panorama roof on an overcast day when you have a cab that can lower its roof on those overcast days? I'm not following you.

buellwinkle · 08-25-2008, 11:29 PM

With the amount of rain you get in Portland, maybe a coupe is best for you as you can watch the rain fall on the roof, something you won't likely do with the Cabrio.

We love the cabrio, it's like having a giant sunroof when we want to open it at highway speeds (not too many convertibles let you do this) but still opens all he way like other convertibles. I can tell you that with the top up, the cabrio is just as quiet as a coupe which is not that bad. Also, with the front part of the top open in "sunroof" mode, there's no buffeting at all and it's actually quieter than my MB C230 with the sunroof open. With the back half of the top up, the glass window, while not quite as large as the coupe's is still pretty good for visibility. With the back half down it does block your view in half but you can also raise the back half when parking for example. Also you can lift the rear part of the top from the bottom to allow loading of larger packages and I use this a lot.

As for theft, it's a double thick top with steel ribs, it would not be that easy to cut into it and get in, it would be way easier to just pop the glass side window to get in. I've owned ragtops for the past 30 years and never had someone break in my car by ripping the top open not have I heard of this happening to a friend, co-worker or neighbor.

Also, for us in the sunny part of the country, having a glass roof in a coupe has it's drawbacks, especially for us folical challenged heads. MB has had a panorama roof option since 2002 and many people that get it don't like it. It was one of the main considerations for not getting a coupe and guess what, Smart listened and now they offer the 2009 Passion coupe with a solid roof like the Pure.

rwjrn · 08-26-2008, 02:22 AM

I have a cabrio and am going to get a coupe when my reservation comes up. I know they say this is a city car, but I enjoy commuting with it. At freeway speeds with a bit of wind the top is noisy. I live in a very hot area, so I can't always put the top down. I do like driving home at night with it open though. I think the cab is great for driving around town, but I just get annoyed with the wind flapping top at 65mph. Vision out the back isn't great, but I put a back up camera on and can even use it while I'm driving. The vandalism part always makes me nervous. I don't leave anything in my car I can't live without, but you never know when some punk is going to slit the top just because they can. My roomates Jeep has had the top or vinyl windows slit 6 times.(We work in the hood) Even though that's what insurance is for, it's still a pain in the arse to deal with and an alarm is only going to tell you someone has already done damage. As far as dirt, I don't notice this car getting particularly more dirty than any other car.

mdfortwoguy · 08-26-2008, 04:08 AM

I bought a coupe. I made a concession as I won't own a car without a sunroof (mine is open in the VUE as long as it is not absurdly hot or raining... and usually gets used all year round as long as there is not snow or ice piled on it).

This is going to be my primary car, but is also a bit of a toy for me. I'm keeping the VUE for those days when I want a fully open air ride.

What sold me on the coupe over the cabrio was:

The opening to the cargo area is much more usable on the coupe
With the top down on the cabrio, it is hard to hear the engine over the road. Mechanical symphony > road noise to my ears.
Not having to worry about having my top cut if someone wants something in my car.
Continuous tridion. I know the cab is reinforced, but I'd still rather have the whole cage.
The rearward visibility on the coupe is great if you turn around and look between the seats. On the cab, not so much.

That being said, if smart were to bring the Pure cabriolet to the states, I'd have my reservation in yesterday... for me it is not as practical, but it would be a nice summer runabout runt.

**JPaul** · 08-26-2008, 05:06 AM

All of the above.
The validation list for me to get the passion instead of the cabrio has all of the above.
Plus the seasons: only two moments of the year to fully enjoy an open roof, Spring and Fall. With the AC in Summer... With the heat in Winter... self-defeating.
But those were only excuses to justify the fact that I didn't have the extra cash for the cabrio.