Coupe or Convertible

I've always wanted a 360 coupe from the start and that's what I got. Spiders are nice but I don't care for the soft top (one less problem to have in the future).

 

I thought long and hard about this question a year ago. And flipped back and forth a few times. In the end I decided to go with a coupe because I decided the top would often be up and I didn't like the look of the convertible with the top up. Plus I have a bad prior experience with convertible tops that have plastic rear windows. The visibility can be bad.

But I live in northern CA and its quite a bit less nice for a convertible here. In places like southern CA you might drive around most of the time with the top down. If you think that's you, I'd say go for it. My friend lives in SoCal and has a convertible Maserati and he rarely puts the top up, year around.

Thinking about the time down vs. up is the best test. Think hard and realistically about it. We have a 12 month driving season in CA, which is great. How much day vs. night, with girl who doesn't want her hair to get windblown, how much on freeway vs. not, etc. If its 75% down, averaged over the whole year, get the convertible and don't look back.

If its 50/50 I'd say that's a tough call but I'd probably go with the coupe.

In my case I concluded I'd really only have the top down 25% of the time because its usually either too cold or too hot and sunny in northern CA where I live.

Sometimes I regret my decision, but only on those perfect days when I wish I could take the top down.

 

Coupe
Looks better

 

After been driving in the northen of europe where the weather is not so warm during most of the year, I bought a 430 Spider when we moved to Spain. It is top down every day we drive. I think it is the feeling of the wind, freedom and nice looking with the top down. This is something you just can experience in a cab. Buy with your heart!
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I bought a coupe after a year replaced with a convertible no regrets , best of both it is coupe when top is up .You can drive with top down at speed hold conversation without any buffeting.
A dark cold night with heating on and top down is a great drive .

 

Can't go wrong with the Vert....It offers the best of both worlds, the coupe doesn't.

 

Convert. I would never go back. Top up or down, looks better than coup. Adds an additional flavor of sportiness

 

All my cars used to be coupe's. Once I tried convertibles there was no going back...

Put the top up and its a coupe. Nice sunny days put the top down and entire world opens up to you as you drive enjoying the beautiful weather and outdoors.

My vote is a Spider.

Dan
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I am not a convertible type, but I am glad I bought my spider over a coupe, the few times I do lower the top..the car looks so good, looks lower...its like having 2 cars in one..

 

Spider all day long.... I live in Tampa, FL so we have our share of hot/muggy top up days... ALL my cars are convertible (R8, 360, Q60, Wrangler).

My only complaint about the spider is the plastic window....

 

A spider with the top up is not a coupe. It has no sexy sloping roof line.
Coupe looks way better. Real sports cars are coupes.

 

It's a small matter of "stiffness"

Coupes will always drive better than convertibles, don't leak (generally) and are lighter too so a touch quicker and lighter on their feet.

Just an opinion.

 

so I guess a 458 spider is not a sportscar either?

 

This is my first Vert that I've owned. I love it. The main reason was the noise effect in the cabin with the top down. Simply amazing.

 

Spider. So what if the roof is up for some of your drives? When it's folded down and away, it's an experience out of this world (the sound and other sensations are awe inspiring).

Sure, the top will probably need a little more TLC, but IMO it's worth it.

 

Go for coupe, less problems to deal with like hydraulic pumps, fading rear window, and possible leaking issues or do like I did 360 coupe and a 308 GTSi both of both worlds.

cheers

 

Nothing beats the look of a 360/430 with the top down... Nothing beats the experience of driving one with the top down, the sound and feel is out of this world.

I like the coupe, but prefer a spider for the reasons stated above.

 

The ONLY way I'm getting a convertible is with a hard top convertible like the 458 spider. After my boxster, I'm done with soft top convertibles.

coupe all the way. IMHO

 

...BUT...
With this particular model, you lose the glass window over the engine compartment. Which kinda sucks, no???

 

I've had two coupes (360 and 430) and now have a Spider (16M) and I like the spider way better. I'll agree the coupe's lines are more flowing, but nothing compares to dropping the top and blasting through the hills.

 

I've gone the other way. I used to have many convertibles. Had a 430 spider. It was a great car BUT- the roads where I live are not that smooth and I've discovered Ferrari's V8 spiders (even the 458) exhibit quite a bit of cowel shake. I didn't realize how much this bothered me until one day I drove a 430 coupe. From that moment on I've prized the rigidity of the coupes. So this really will depend on you. Since you live in SoCal, you probably won't have the bumpy road type issues we have here.

 

Must admit that I love the hard top convertibles. Loved the SL55, wife loves her Q60... Unfortunately not an option for the beautiful 360... I guess I will just learn to live with a soft top with a plastic window...

 

True. It becomes more 355-like. A trait that I'm not personally fond of.

I might do it if I had an extra spot(s) in my garage that I could only use it as a fair weather car. ONLY on sunny days with 0% chance of rain..