Older convertibles had soft plastic rear windows that scratch and crack after a few years, or tiny glass rear windows that severely limit rear and side visibility when the top is up.\par
A few decades ago, even the best convertibles came equipped with thin, uninsulated tops and poor seals that leaked rain in thunderstorms and cold air – even snow – in winter. Many still do.\par
And then there is the security issue. A fabric top parked on the street in a rough section of town just seems like an invitation to any low life with a knife. In fact, many convertible owners buy cheap stereos and just leave their car unlocked, since a couple hundred dollar stereo is easier to replace than a couple thousand dollar fabric top.\par
But that all changed for many owners of retractable Hardtop Convertibles like the Pontiac G6 and Volvo C70. Towing a new retractable Hardtop Convertible with the roof stuck halfway up is not for the faint of heart. The car must be hauled on a flatbed with the nose to the rear so the wind doesn’t tear the metal top off and sail it into the SUV behind the tow truck. The most it should do is collapse it into the passenger compartment.
