Hens' teeth or cabriolets?

angryjonny · 14 Jan 2020

So before I joined this forum I'd assumed that the ratio of 911 hardtops to cabriolets wasn't far off 50:50. Maybe 60:40. And then I come on here and there's almost no evidence that a 997 cab ever even existed.

Where are they all? Are they really that rare or is it more that 911uk members are a bit more hardcore and like the chassis-stiffness and trackday non-weird-lookingness of a hardtop? And us cab owners are posers who have never bothered with sport-mode? For me, hoofing down country lanes with the roof down is a joy that comes second only to doing similar on my motorbike.

Aaanyway, thoughts welcome. And cabriolet owners, come out of your shells and show me your chariots.

I'll go first.

icekay · 14 Jan 2020

Glad you're enjoying the Cab, wonderful example!

I'm gladly not a racing driver and think the 911 Cab is perfect for a blast, roof down in 2nd hovering around 4500rpm, that yowl to the next gear just behind... why is it still Tuesday?

I'm an enthusiast, saved 20 years to afford mine, added 25k miles in 3 years and am saving still to give it the maintenance it deserves! Those hardcore people you speak of are missing out

Counter Of Beans · 14 Jan 2020

I had a Merc SLK convertible for two years, and probably had the top down a handful of times in that entire time. It was either raining, or about to rain, or had rained (spray everywhere), or was too cold for my bald head, or was hay fever time, or was too hot!

In short, my preference for a coupe is nothing to do with race track handling - I drive like I type, slowly! It's just that, for me, the UK weather makes a convertible pointless most of the time. Other opinions are available.

Oh, and the first time I had the roof down in the SLK, a tipper truck driver pulled along side me at the traffic lights, called me a see you next Tuesday, and spat on the car. Lovely! Kinda put me off open top cars, although I had the SLK on a two year lease..........crap car by the way.

badbadtz · 14 Jan 2020

Guilty of hoofing down a country lane with the top down

The first thing the kids ask me when they get in the car is "can we have the roof down please?" Driven in -2° and it's lovely and warm with the heated seats and steering wheel 8)

Myasinax · 14 Jan 2020

I would agree that there is nothing like navigating B roads with the roof down in Sport mode and PSE on and contrary to the chap with the SLK, I have only ever received compliments from onlookers. This maybe partly as to what the SLK represents in the eyes of many (for a male to be driving anyways), but I think the car looks amazing without the roof and with the normal hardtop. Not so great with the cab roof up though, so always looking for that rare patch of sunshine to drop it down. 2018 when I first bought this cab was a very unusual year. We had sun from May through October, so not always grey and miserable over here!

Scholester · 14 Jan 2020

Counter Of Beans said:
I had a Merc SLK convertible for two years, and probably had the top down a handful of times in that entire time. It was either raining, or about to rain, or had rained (spray everywhere), or was too cold for my bald head, or was hay fever time, or was too hot!

In short, my preference for a coupe is nothing to do with race track handling - I drive like I type, slowly! It's just that, for me, the UK weather makes a convertible pointless most of the time. Other opinions are available.

Oh, and the first time I had the roof down in the SLK, a tipper truck driver pulled along side me at the traffic lights, called me a see you next Tuesday, and spat on the car. Lovely! Kinda put me off open top cars, although I had the SLK on a two year lease..........crap car by the way.

The jealous fecker deserves his tipper. Hope he enjoyed his blast back to the caravan.

Gray79 · 14 Jan 2020

I do love driving a convertible, having owned a fair few in my time, but I have been put off by the last three I owned all having expensive failures on the hood mechanisms. The last one I had was a BMW with a hard top convertible, that went spectacularly wrong and twisted the frame

.
Also in my opinion the 911 doesn't quite look right somehow in convertible form :dont know:

Millsy71 · 14 Jan 2020

Flippin love mine

PSE. And manual :wink:

angryjonny · 14 Jan 2020

Yeah I've never had any comments or signs of envy from other motorists, hood up or hood down. What I generally find is that about ten percent of other drivers are desperate to show me how fast their car is.

I agree that the 997 doesn't look great hood-up, especially straight on from the rear. But that's not what it's for. Hood down whenever possible. Looks, sounds and feels awesome.

Alex · 14 Jan 2020

Cabs Rock! :rocker:

Thefinn · 14 Jan 2020

I have various convertible cars for around 10 continuous years now and wont be without one as there is nothing like a good drive with the top down as you just get more connection with the surroundings and the sound of your car. For me it doesn't have to be red hot to drop the top, as a sunny crisp winters morning with the heaters on is just as fun, I also love a midnight blast with the top down on a hot summers night, infact I think the night time is my favourite to have the roof off.

Ok they might not look quite as good as the coupe with the roof up but the difference is not going to put me off as the more modern roofs are a much better shape than the older cars., infact with the hard top on from some angles it can look just as good imho. Plus I can drop my roof when I want and the car still looks fantastic with it down, driving with the wind in my hair and an all over tan, rather than just one arm.

Newbe · 14 Jan 2020

Love mine, just stripped out the whole interior and sprayed the backs and centre console.

Best car I've ever owned

kurlykris · 14 Jan 2020

I know my 996 is a coupe, but you just can`t beat a hoon in a cab, if I could only have one car it would definately be a drop top :grin:
I drop the roof at every given opportunity

resigner · 14 Jan 2020

Millsy71 said:
Flippin love mine

PSE. And manual :wink:

We have the same car. Sports Chrono?

PSE turned always on? thats the key thing to do

SSK? also essential

I've had cabrio's since 1999 and wouldnt have it any other way.

Lots of people still say "ohhh but it flops around like a fish with no roof", not realising the 997 was designed as a cabrio, so it doesnt......

Millsy71 · 14 Jan 2020

resigner said:
Millsy71 said:

Flippin love mine

PSE. And manual :wink:

Click to expand...

We have the same car. Sports Chrono?

PSE turned always on? thats the key thing to do

SSK? also essential

I've had cabrio's since 1999 and wouldnt have it any other way.

Lots of people still say "ohhh but it flops around like a fish with no roof", not realising the 997 was designed as a cabrio, so it doesnt......

Yes it's got Sports Chrono but I've not done the SSK

And I never drive it hard ......honestly :floor:

Hens' teeth or cabriolets?

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