Anyone haul their gear in a convertible?

kesslari · #1 10-10-2010, 12:42 AM

I love ragtops, but have resigned myself to not driving one because I need to haul bass gear.
Then I thought to myself "self, there may be ways to do this - ask TB!"

Key features of a car for me:
Good gas mileage;
Good seats;
Fun to drive;
AWD a plus.
Convertible top a plus.
35K is about the top of my price range.

I loved my WRX - great on almost all counts. Just not a ragtop.
And sunroofs don't count - totally different animal.

Anyone figure this puzzle out already?

WyrdoBass · #2 10-10-2010, 12:47 AM

Interested in how this turns out... (finally) getting my first car soon- '86 Toyota Celica convertible.

I expect I'll be going micro.

elgecko · #3 10-10-2010, 01:05 AM

I used to drive a Suzuki Samurai. Take the rear seat out and you can haul plenty of gear. SUPER fun to drive and for $35k, you can get one for every day of the month!

XigXag · #4 10-10-2010, 01:05 AM

Depends on what you want to haul really-

Yes. All the time.
80w practice amp in the pax seat, and the guitar in the trunk(gig bag, no hardshell).

PJSShearer · #5 10-10-2010, 08:57 AM

I have a Renault Coupe Cabriolet - not 4 wheel drive but ticks all the other boxes.

Chowowbus · #6 10-10-2010, 11:30 AM

I have a jeep wrangler convertible. I only use the hardtop anymore...
You can forget gas mileage with the jeep...its horrible..but most important..fun!
My twin bro keeps trying to get me to trade for his 05 WRX!

BillyIVbass · #7 10-10-2010, 11:43 AM

No convertible, but once I drove a drunk friend's truck home from an open mic he was hosting.

He didn't close his tailgate, not knowing this, but knowing my friend was drunk I peeled out of the lot littering his gear all across the highway. I successfully recouped 1 Martin acoustic, 2 PA speakers and a box of cables.

Anyway. I suggest going with a smaller rig. Plenty of options.

BTW I apologized to my friend and he said, "Hey man it's cool, it's not the first time that's happened" haha another one for "don't drink and gig"

krafty · #8 10-10-2010, 11:47 AM

I've hauled stuff in an MGB before, but I would caution you to NEVER leave any valuables in a convertible, even if you lock the doors. A pocket knife is all that anyone would need to get into the car (trust me, I've seen it happen on more than one occasion.) Heck, I had a friend lock some stuff in the trunk of his car once, someone cut through the top and popped the fold-down back seat to get to it.

kesslari · #9 10-10-2010, 12:45 PM

Thanks for the input thus far. The new crop of hardtop convertibles would be safer, but they make the trunk space pretty much nil.

MNAirHead · #10 10-10-2010, 01:01 PM

I do all the time..

I never leave gear unattended.. Just in case I cargo net it in the back seat.. remove the front if I need more space (seats are on removable tracks).

Tim

elgecko · #11 10-10-2010, 01:01 PM

Have you considered owning two vehicles? I'm planning on eventually getting a Toyota MR Spyder for commuting and keeping my Tacoma for hauling gear, work, etc.

XigXag · #12 10-10-2010, 04:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kesslari

Thanks for the input thus far. The new crop of hardtop convertibles would be safer, but they make the trunk space pretty much nil.

Au Contraire
You never said if four seats were necessary,and I dont know if its to your liking, but the miata hardtop has at least as much space as the NB Miata I drive, in fact I think its trunk is bigger.The retractable hardtop folds verticly behind the seats, eats no trunk at all.
Again, Ive no idea how much equipment you're talking about, But if a bass, and an smaller amp will suffice... You're taking no-one else w you, but...
It can be done.