Turn heads, drive a drophead

The sun on your face. Green and pleasant vistas. The wind mussing up your hair. We won't talk about Auckland's endless rain and the teenagers who enjoy putting knives through soft-tops.

Convertibles have long been associated with sophistication and an American style of glamour, right back to the days of Elvis Presley, Clark Gable, Rita Hayworth, and Gary Cooper, all of whom drove convertibles. Thelma and Louise drove a 1966 T-bird convertible in the movie, and The Great [Jay] Gatsby got around in a convertible Rolls-Royce.

Given that they are fair-weather friends, roofless cars have always exuded the aura of leisure and good times; the top-end ones also indicate lots of money. Soon to arrive in the showroom of Lamborghini Auckland is the Murcielago Roadster.

According to general manager Mike Adams, it will carry a $560,000 price tag, making it the most expensive convertible in the country.

But convertibles are not so rare - around 14,908 of them are registered with Land Transport New Zealand. And a thriving second-hand car market means you can pick up a convertible for a less wince-inducing price than the Murcielago. A scan of a recent advertisements shows you can buy a 1991 Mazda MX5 Roadster for $5999. 

Jaya Saunders, 52, an Auckland lifestyle consultant, drives a 1993 Saab 900S.

It was a case of "follow that car!" when Jaya Saunders first set eyes on her beloved convertible. It was driving down her Western Springs street, a "for sale" sign in its back window, as Ms Saunders and partner Amanda Fleming were leaving their house in her rusty 1979 Toyota Corolla.

"I said, 'follow that car, honey!' I had it in mind to buy one and had looked at everything, but hadn't found the right one."

Luckily, the chase was short - the Saab and its owner lived nearby. In May, Ms Saunders paid $11,500 for it.

This one is an automatic, 16-valve turbo engine, its previous two women owners evidently careful with it. The roof is electric; there's even a compass on the console.

Ms Saunders said her desire to own a convertible was born when visiting her brother in her native England. On a fine but cold winter's day they did a four-hour drive from London to Devon in his with the roof down. She loved the experience: "The sense of freedom, the air in your hair. Being able to see everything in the big wide world, you feel a part of it, not encased in a tin can."

But she felt "a bit embarrassed, a bit shy" when she first started driving with the top down. That passed after she asked: Do I deserve to have this feeling of freedom and leisure?" The answer was a resounding yes. 

Account manager Brendon Kersey, 28, drives a 1996, 1.8-litre MGF convertible.

"It's always good to have choice, and a convertible allows you to have options - I've had three convertibles in the last four years. I always feel that the best open-top motoring is out on the open road rather than driving in the central city.

"It's a great feeling driving in the sun, listening to one of your favourite CDs and driving in a beautiful part of New Zealand.

"The feeling behind the wheel is great - it almost feels like you are driving a go-cart.

"The MG is not as rigid as a car with a fixed roof, so it is a little rattly and hard-riding around Auckland's pot-holed streets. However, I do have a hard top for the winter months, which helps stiffen the ride slightly.

"The not-so-good news is that soft tops can leak - not a lot, but it can be annoying. They are also a lot nosier. They can also be expensive to repair if the roof is power-operated. My Saab convertible cost more than $2500 to repair when one screw came loose! The MGF has a manual roof.

"I think the snobbery associated with convertible drivers should be over in New Zealand. Years ago only the rich could afford them, but this is no longer the case.
"I paid $15,000 to $20,000 for the MGF. But a convertible can be bought for as little as $5000 and still reward the driver with all those feelings of freedom - well, possibly not all - that come with a convertible 20 times its price." 

Jerrin Arawattigi, 36, of Wellington, is in love with his 1966 V8 Cadillac.

"I always wanted a Cadillac. My dad was into cars - he had a Chevy, a Dodge, a Plymouth ... but there are not many in India. And when I came to New Zealand in 1996 it was a good chance to buy.

"I bought the Caddy in August 1999; she was pretty run-down. I've spent around $20,000 so far panelbeating - there was heaps of rust - and on paint and a new fabric roof. She's insured for $50,000 now.

"I spend a lot of time on her. She is my baby. I belong to a really nice club, Western Bays Street Rodders, and the people are really friendly. We discuss cars.

"The best thing I've ever done with my Cadillac? My friend, when she first came to Wellington, knew I had a Cadillac, but didn't really know what a Cadillac was, because she's an Indian girl. When I went to pick her up at Wellington airport she was 'Oh my god!' It was the best thing for me to do to surprise her. The roof was down and it was a gorgeous day.

"Cadillacs are real cars - long, wide, big. I feel very proud when I'm driving my Cadillac. It's real freedom, but it's cosy and really relaxing. I drive in town or on the motorways ... take the roof down and cruise. It feels like you're sitting in a boat- the Caddy flows on the road. There are no bumps or jerks.

"People just love that car. They say: 'She's beautiful'; 'nice wheels'; 'keep it up'. She's a real head-turner and I love the attention. Oh, for the car, eh. When I'm in the Caddy, everybody waves. When I drive my Ford Laser nobody looks at me."