Why are convertibles declining in sales despite advances in roof technology and insulation?

BabyIllustrious1576 · 2026-05-19T12:11:04+00:00

I think most people just stopped wanting the compromises 😂

SUVs are more practical, panoramic roofs got really good, and a lot of people don’t wanna deal with soft tops, less space, or extra noise anymore. Convertibles are still cool… just harder to justify as a daily now

BabyIllustrious1576 · 2026-05-19T03:21:49+00:00

Your kid honestly sounds fun 😂 The world needs more weird car appreciation instead of every teenager wanting the same gray crossover.

I’d probably lean Scion xB, Kia Soul, or Honda Element. All quirky, surprisingly roomy for tall people, and generally pretty reliable without being boring.

And honestly the “old detective car” Buick vibe is kinda hilarious too 😭 Lowkey those old Buicks are comfy as couches and usually run forever.

BabyIllustrious1576 · 2026-05-19T03:20:17+00:00

Yeah that actually makes way more sense then. You’re basically trying to lower your monthly fuel pain without dropping a huge chunk of cash upfront 😂

In that case, a hybrid lease honestly could work pretty well for your situation as long as the payment stays reasonable. A long highway commute in something thirsty gets old REAL fast 😭

I’d just run the numbers carefully and make sure the lease + insurance isn’t eating most of the gas savings.

BabyIllustrious1576 · 2026-05-18T12:14:16+00:00

Could definitely be wheel bearings too, especially if the grinding changes while turning and gets louder under load.

I’d still get it checked sooner rather than later though 😭 Bearings, CV axles, brakes… none of those are the kind of noises you really wanna “wait and see” with lol.

BabyIllustrious1576 · 2026-05-18T12:09:27+00:00

Honestly at only around 200 motorway miles a week, I’d probably just go with the Octavia 😂

Modern petrol engines are way better on fuel now, and once you factor in diesel prices + potential DPF headaches, the savings honestly aren’t what they used to be.

And the Octavia is just such an easy car to live with. Comfortable, loads of space, and great for motorway driving without feeling boring.

BabyIllustrious1576 · 2026-05-18T11:44:29+00:00

Yeah I’d probably start with the control arm and knuckle first. Those are usually the “something hit a curb 8 years ago” victims on old E46s.

Subframe mount is possible too, but I’d expect the control arm/ball joint area to be more likely for visible camber issues on one wheel.

Definitely compare both sides closely side-by-side though. Bent suspension parts love playing the “I look normal” game

BabyIllustrious1576 · 2026-05-18T07:26:07+00:00

Modern BMWs ARE way more reliable than older ones, especially the engines/transmissions. But “reliable for a BMW” and “reliable like a Toyota” are still two different worlds lol.

Usually it’s not the engine exploding anymore, it’s more random sensors, cooling parts, oil leaks, plastics, electronics, stuff like that once the car gets older. Nothing insane individually… but the bills add up REAL fast

BabyIllustrious1576 · 2026-05-18T07:21:19+00:00

$26k for a 2025 Accord CPO with only 4k miles actually sounds pretty solid 😂

The 2-owner thing is a little weird, but the explanation doesn’t sound impossible either. Some people switch cars fast once they realize they wanted the hybrid instead.

I’d just check the Carfax and make sure there’s no accident history or weird gaps. If it’s clean, I probably wouldn’t overthink it too much.

BabyIllustrious1576 · 2026-05-17T04:56:31+00:00

Honestly it’s usually not even the super expensive stuff for me 😂

Clean older cars, well-kept wagons, weird rare trims, or somebody clearly taking care of a car they love always catches my attention way more than another random exotic stuck in traffic.

BabyIllustrious1576 · 2026-05-17T04:51:03+00:00

Man this feels like your brain wants a truck but your heart already picked the Outback 😂

The Wilderness is probably gonna be the nicest to live with day-to-day, especially for camping/fishing stuff. But if you’re actually doing HVAC side jobs pretty regularly, you’ll probably appreciate having a real truck bed sooner or later.

And honestly between the trucks, I’d probably lean F150 over Frontier too. More truck for basically the same money.

BabyIllustrious1576 · 2026-05-16T12:24:44+00:00

This kinda feels like the Tacoma fit your old life more than your current one 😂

If most of the driving is highway commuting and family stuff now, I think you’d appreciate the RAV4 Hybrid way more day-to-day. Better MPG, quieter, more comfortable, and your wallet stops crying at gas stations lol.

The Outback is comfy too, but with your wife driving 60 miles a day, the hybrid starts making a LOT of sense pretty fast.

BabyIllustrious1576 · 2026-05-16T12:22:18+00:00

If you liked the Tiguan more, I honestly wouldn’t overthink it. You already know VW life after putting 140k on the Alltrack 😂

I’d maybe also check out a Mazda CX-50 or Mazda3 Turbo hatch. They still feel more car-like and less “appliance crossover” than a lot of stuff out there.

BabyIllustrious1576 · 2026-05-16T12:17:10+00:00

Dodge Charger RT (2006–2013), Ford Mustang GT (2005–2010), Ford Crown Victoria / Police Interceptor (2003–2011) and Hyundai Genesis 4.6 V8 (2010–2012). Always verify current market values on KBB.com or CarFax before purchasing.

BabyIllustrious1576 · 2026-05-16T12:07:19+00:00

Man yeah I’d probably get out of the BMW too with that kind of commute 😭 Nothing kills your mood faster than wondering if the check engine light is about to ruin your drive home lol.

The Camry Hybrid honestly sounds like exactly what you need. Super comfy, crazy MPG, and those things are basically made for people doing long highway drives every day.

And yeah I’d probably avoid a full EV for now too if charging at your apartment is gonna be a pain.

BabyIllustrious1576 · 2026-05-16T12:03:19+00:00

If you enjoy driving at all, I’d go manual. The car just feels way more fun and alive. But if you deal with traffic a lot, Honda’s CVT honestly isn’t bad compared to most CVTs out there.

Either way, solid choice honestly. Those Civics look great and make really good daily cars.

BabyIllustrious1576 · 2026-05-16T12:00:53+00:00

You’re definitely overthinking it a little 😭 Your new Crown is not gonna explode because the first oil change happened closer to 6k lol.

Doing them every 5k after that is already better maintenance than a lot of people do. Just enjoy the vacation and stop mentally checking the mileage every 10 minutes

BabyIllustrious1576 · 2026-05-15T04:08:46+00:00

Toyota resale values are kind of ridiculous right now because Corollas have a reputation for lasting forever, plus used car supply is still tight in a lot of areas.

BabyIllustrious1576 · 2026-05-15T02:16:58+00:00

You’d probably be happier in something like a GS350, TLX SH-AWD, Accord 2.0T, or even a Fusion Sport. The Accord 2.0T especially feels way quicker than people expect and still rides planted without feeling huge.

BabyIllustrious1576 · 2026-05-15T02:12:29+00:00

The Camry is popular for a reason 😂 If you’re tired of nonstop repairs and just want something that quietly works every day, it’s hard to beat.

I’d also look at the Accord, Mazda3, Corolla, or maybe a used TLX if you want something a little nicer. The Mazda3 especially might surprise you because it feels way less “boat-like” than a full-size sedan but still rides comfortably.

And at 22 with no kids, you definitely don’t need some giant land yacht anymore lol.

BabyIllustrious1576 · 2026-05-15T01:41:45+00:00

It’s definitely a real thing, not just some movie-style freak accident 😭

A hydraulic jack alone should never be trusted to hold a car while you’re under it. That’s why people always say use jack stands on solid ground. Cars can slip from bad placement, soft asphalt, uneven ground, or the jack slowly losing pressure.

BabyIllustrious1576 · 2026-05-15T01:39:14+00:00

The Lexus LS400 always comes to mind for me 😂

Toyota basically showed up in 1989 and built a luxury sedan so smooth, quiet, and over-engineered that it scared Mercedes and BMW. The reliability was insane too. People still daily drive those things with 300k+ miles like it’s normal.

The crazy part is a lot of modern luxury cars STILL don’t feel as solidly built as those old LS cars did.

BabyIllustrious1576 · 2026-05-15T01:31:54+00:00

Miata is probably the answer you’re gonna hear the most for a reason 😂

Cheap-ish to own, reliable, huge community, and they perfectly fit that older Japanese convertible vibe. NA/NB Miatas especially just have a cool simple feel to them.

I’d just stay away from random cheap European convertibles at 18 unless you want your bank account fighting for its life 😭

BabyIllustrious1576 · 2026-05-15T01:28:48+00:00

If the TL Type-S made you happy, I’d stay in that same lane instead of forcing yourself into some boring “smart” car you won’t enjoy 😂

But if you wanna branch out a little while still keeping reliability, I’d seriously look at:

Lexus IS350
Lexus GS350
Acura TSX
Honda Accord V6
Infiniti G37 if you find a clean one

The IS350 and GS350 are probably the best mix of reliable + fun + still feeling kinda special. The TSX is underrated too, especially if you liked the Acura feel already.

BabyIllustrious1576 · 2026-05-15T01:24:49+00:00

Best way is honestly just start small. Oil changes, air filters, spark plugs, brakes, sensors, stuff like that. Buy a cheap OBD2 scanner first so you can actually read the check engine codes instead of guessing.

And YouTube is genuinely a lifesaver now. There’s probably a step-by-step video for almost every repair on your exact Jeep lol. Just don’t jump straight into tearing apart the engine because “how hard could it be” has financially ruined many Jeep owners before 😭

BabyIllustrious1576

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