Nice weather and convertibles are nearly synonymous. There's not much else as liberating as having the top down, sunglasses on and hair blowing freely in the wind on a beautiful sunny summer day. While there are nearly endless opportunities to live out your dream car fantasies across the nation, you may wonder if Florida is a good place to buy a convertible--and the answer is both yes and no. I had always wanted a convertible ever since I was in high school, but it wasn't until I moved to Florida that I even considered purchasing one. After years of patiently waiting, holding on to my 4x4 that got me through many snowy winters up north, it was time for a change. One shiny Ford Mustang convertible later and I like to believe I have a pretty solid idea of what it's like to own this kind of sporty car in such a hot, humid state. While it's obvious that not all convertible cars are the same, here's my pros and cons list comprehensive to what I've encountered while owning and operating a convertible sports car in Florida. Pros:
Now for the downsides... Cons:
Besides that convertibles are desirable, sporty, and fun, they do certainly have their downsides too. Anyone who owns a convertible knows they're not cheap to buy, own, and upkeep. From the insurance to the car itself, it can be a costly choice in the long run. The more moving parts you have the more chance there is to break, and perhaps unsurprisingly, the tops can be very expensive to replace. But that is, of course, not totally specific to Florida. What is, however, is our weather. While we do have year-round summer, we can't overlook the state's rainy season that lasts for nearly half of the year. Leaks in convertible roofs are very common, especially in hard rain. I wouldn't recommend having a convertible in Florida, or anywhere for that matter, without having a garage to store it in since the soft-tops are extra susceptible to wear and tear from the weather and sea salt. Because Florida has no mandatory state inspection on vehicles (yay for saving money-right?), it's hard to catch such problems before its too late, plus, think of all the other people driving uninspected vehicles just waiting to fall apart on the road in front of you. Additionally, one thing you probably don't consider when driving in nice weather with the top down is that even in the car you can get sunburned, really, really bad and you have to pull over (or stop the car) to put the top back up. This can certainly be a problem when you're going 60 down the highway and your face is literally burning-or you're getting pelted in the face with hungry mosquitos. All things considered, though my convertible may not be the most practical car ever, it's a fun accessary to the beach life. I love to use it when I'm going to watch the sunset at the causeway or for a leisurely ride through the city during the warm summer evenings. So yes, I do think Florida is a good place for convertibles and if you want to test it out for yourself, there are plenty of car rental places around the state to choose from.
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