[keithwand]

Now that we ordered our 2013 Yamaha EFI do we keep the convertible?

What a dilemma. Guess time will tell.

The convertible is our second car and only has 3,100 miles on it since new in 2005 so spends most of the time in the garage hooked up to a battery tender.

When we get back I am planning on checking out the convertible club but if we don't start driving it more it kinda seems crazy to hang on to it.
I don't see a Thunderbird Club listed in TV.

If only it had been Red and not the rare 1 of 82 Inca Gold color available in 2005 I might have driven it more and been less worried about keeping it pristine.

Anyone else go through this when moving to TV?

[Yorio]

Yes, you do. Definitely join the Convertible Club. This is a great club with lots of nice people. We go out once a month somewhere driving back roads whenever possible. We sometimes go out on over night trips. We also eat out once a month. We have meeting once a month and we even have our convertible polo shirt. Join the group and mingle for a while and if it is not to your liking, you can always sell. Outside of the club, I enjoy driving around in The Villages and I would say I use it more with top down than up north. I do use my golf cart too. Probably between the two, I would use both 50/50.

[justjim]

Thought about driving our convertible down from our summer place in Illinois. We use it when we fly back----not so much anymore----and we cruise around in the summer. I think we could maybe get more use out of it in TV. My wife won't part with it----her baby red 1995 mustang convertible with very low miles---around 50,000 I think. On the minus side, however, we found little use for two cars in TV. We have two golf carts.

[JSR22]

We drove both of our convertibles to TV from NJ this week. Keeping both and buying 1 Yamaha gas cart tomorrow.

[Jim 9922]

When it becomes cold and/or rainy, its much nicer to take a car than a cart. And, the comfort level increases twice as fast as the distance needed to be traveled. Also, as your activities interests expand and your travel distances expand from one end of TV to the other you will sometimes find it is a lot quicker and easier to take a car on direct roads, rather than the winding and slower cart paths. As time passes you will also find that you and your spouse's schedules and interests differ and the need for two cars at the same time rises.
Yes we have 2 cars and 2 carts, but that second car is very nice to have, especially in the cold and wet weather and now that the Villages has expanded to an area of 15 miles long X 8 miles wide!

[jgbama]

Originally Posted by keithwand

Now that we ordered our 2013 Yamaha EFI do we keep the convertible?

What a dilemma. Guess time will tell.

The convertible is our second car and only has 3,100 miles on it since new in 2005 so spends most of the time in the garage hooked up to a battery tender.

When we get back I am planning on checking out the convertible club but if we don't start driving it more it kinda seems crazy to hang on to it.
I don't see a Thunderbird Club listed in TV.

If only it had been Red and not the rare 1 of 82 Inca Gold color available in 2005 I might have driven it more and been less worried about keeping it pristine.

Anyone else go through this when moving to TV?

DW has a Sebring convertible and our plans were to keep it and sell my Pacifica, since the golf cart was to be "my" car. However, her mother is coming with us and since she can't get in and out of the Sebring we will sell the Sebring here. Down the road we will trade the Pacifica for another convertible and that will be our only car. My guess is you won't be the only Thunderbird down there, and if a club doesn't exist, you could easily form one.

My vote would be "KEEP THE CONVERTIBLE"! You will have more months for convertible enjoyment and might be sorry you got rid of it before moving. You can always sell down there if it turns out otherwise.

Good luck with your dilemma. I feel your pain!

[rabonkmontage@msn.com]

Keep the convertible. Its more fun to drive. I have a convertible, I wanted to bring down but it is a standard and my wife cant drive it. Its ten years old and only has 10k miles. Always in the garage covered up north.

[justanormalgirl]

We also have a convertible (1999 Jaguar XK8 with 21,000 miles) and I have wondered about keeping it when we head south.

Here are my thoughts...we've been caught in some pretty darned heavy, catch you by surprise, downpours while cruising around Florida and with a convertible you have to pull over to put the top up...which is not always an option if you're in traffic.

We just sold our Lincoln Aviator (it was AWD and we won't need that) and it had a wonderful moon roof...which is real easy to close if you see the downpour heading your way! So, we're thinking about selling the Jaguar when the time comes and buying something with a moonroof again.

[Happinow]

We had two new vehicles before we moved here. Neither was a convertible. (Although we used to own a Mazda Miata convertible) We got rid of one of the cars because we felt we didn't need two cars with a golf cart. We haven't regretted it yet. Plus you have to look at paying more insurance with another car. But, your car is a really neat car and I would probably keep it just to make sure you don't need it. You can always sell later.

[asianthree]

keep it you spent too much time keeping it perfect

[Penguin]

Never and I mean NEVER get rid of your convertible. Your car is very cool and somewhat of a collectible. I've driven and ridden everything from VW beetles to Harley-Davidsons and nothing measures up to the thrill of riding in a car with the top down. Can you tell I like drop tops

[jimbo2012]

Originally Posted by Penguin

Never and I mean NEVER get rid of your convertible.

I bet U just say that because you drive a Miata

To say I like convertibles.....'08 Miata about 120,000, so I use it.

Any convertible takes 10 years off your DOB.

[rjn5656]

Keep it. We have 2 besides 2 golf carts. One is a driver, and the other is the one I take out in perfect conditions. Although I have thought about selling one, just can't get myself too do it. I enjoy them both.

[jebartle]

Do what gives you a "warm-fuzzy"....Had a T-bird and traded for 500SL, not the smartest move but life is short....If we ever have to make a long trip we will rent a car and keep low mileage on SL....You should keep your T-bird until after this recession so you can get what you deserve!

[buzzy]

We've been in SE Florida for 19 yrs, and have had two convertibles and an SUV for the last ten. Have not had much trouble getting caught in the rain, but we don't leave the tops down while in the stores when there is rain in the forecast. Some summer days it's just too hot to go topless. But if you love the car and enjoy the free feeling of top-down cruising, then you should keep it until you are sure that you won't get any use out of it. We will be keeping the 350Z roadster.