So I've been thinking of trading my '07 GT coupe in for an '08. No major mechanical reason, but I could possibly lower my monthly payment and at the same time get a brand new 'Stang. So I've been exploring the idea.

Problem is, I can't decide if I want another coupe, or a convertible.

I like the looks of the coupe, and have had my eyes on some louvers and a glassback for a while. From a practical, it's cold here 6months out of the year (plus insurance is lower on a coupe...for some reason...).

I'm also attracted to the idea of being able to open the top (I've always got the windows down), and I love how the verts look with a lightbar (Cervini or CDC).

Unfortunately, I can't have both.

Any thoughts?

 

Buy one of each...

I loved the classic roofline and quarter windows so much that I chose it over the convertible. The memories of my Cobra II also factor in because it was a white coupe. If I really wanted the convertible bad enough I would have held out for one. Every now and then I get a little convertible envy when I see someone driving top down during a really nice warm sunny day.

I had two convertibles before... A 1989 Z28 Convertible and a 1994 Mustang Convertible... I enjoyed them very much.

I came very close to buying a used white 2006 Mustang Convertible. The deal wasn't good so I moved on...

Trying to keep my payments low, it worked out better to buy a new Mustang with all the good rebates.

 

I wrestled with this decision about two years ago, the vert won. I do like the classic style of the coupe, that's what attracted me to the S197 in the first place. It's been 25 years since I sold my '65 and not too many Mustangs from then until the S197 intrigued me.

I test drove a vert and a coupe on the same day and walked away ordering mine with a cloth top. I also see a style bar in the near future but it will have to wait as my next purchase is a CAI and tune.

BB
Semper Fi

 

Arrow, have you ever owned a convertible? If you've always kinda wanted a convertible but never had one, you oughta have one once in your life. One thing you can do is rent one if you're on vacation or just rent one at home and drive the hell out of it for a week and see how you like it.

We love our Mustang GT vert. But we have the good weather for it here in California.

 

Vert!!!

 

Vert!! I only get about 6 months here cuz it gets too freakin hot.But I wouldn't have it any other way

 

Turn the A/C on with the top down, that's what I do. I must admit that my temps run about 4 to 5 degrees cooler over here on the east coast.

BB
Semper Fi

 

We have one of each - 2007 GT coupe and 2007 GT vert, both 5 speeds. Truthfully, I'd be happy with either, for different reasons.

As others have said, the coupe has the classic fastback styling and looks TOUGH. The vert is fun because you can drop the top and it looks smokin' with a painted-to-match tonneau and styling bar.

Will you put the top down enough to be worth the extra cabin noise and lessened security? Do you have a garage?

 

I live in NJ, and have a vert, there's nothing like open air motoring.

 

I would go for the 'vert.
I am on my third Mustang convertible, so you can tell how much I like top-down motoring.

Though I am in So-Cal, so the weather is always nice.

 

On a day like we had today, I almost wish I had gotten the vert. BUT.... then again I love the classic line of the coupe. Ya can't have it both ways...unless of course you have 2. Hmmmmm.

 

I live in minnesota and bought a Vert. Top down day's are great.

 

The wife and I each got one. Hers is the vert and mine's the coupe. Typical + / - for each. Vert is less rigid as a platform so we pretty much left that one alone. The Vert is also auto, so it's a fun, no worries, summer car. The coupe is a great car to mod, and it is truly the "tougher" option, but if I could only have one, it would be the Vert.

 

VERT!!!

 

Since this is my second Mustang GT 'vert, you know my recommendation. It may depend a bit on where you live, but as you can see there are folks in the snowbelt who have 'verts as well. They are much better than they were years ago. My '96 was tight, leakproof, quiet, warm in the winter, and cool in the summer, no rattles. The '05 is even better. Top goes down quicker and when it's down, not as much wind blows back at you because of the design of the front end of the top. We have about 300 days of sunshine out here in the eastern Washington desert, so a 'vert is well worth it.

 

'Vert!!!!

Nothing like driving around topless!

 

Vert! Vert! Vert!

 

Vert. Why? If I have to explain, then coupe.

 

Here are some things to ponder. The vert is heavier due to a stiffer frame and added bracing. There are two heavy electric motors sitting over the rear axle giving the vert a better front to rear weight ratio. With the top down you've moved additional weight over the rear axle (not a bad thing). Though the added weight of the vert cuts into straight line acceleration, the reasons for the added weight make the vert the better handling car in the twisties thanks to the stiffer frame. Ford engineers did their homework on removing the dreaded convertible body flex from the S197s. On the convertibles the center of gravity is lower than the coupe.

Here is one little tidbit of information that I found to justify to my wife on the safety of the convertible. When looking up statistics on traffic fatalities for the year 2004, (the latest year at that time) only 8 fatalities were directly attributed to convertible rollovers.

There are some down sides like eventually having to replace a worn out top. You can't hide behind tinted windows with the top down, and as in my case you eventually get to work and have to put the top up.

One last note, concerning insurance. When we were deciding which to buy my wife was concerned that the vert would be more expensive. As it turned out the vert was $100 cheaper a year than the coupe. It was explained to me that these figures reflected the demographics and the driving habits of the people buying Mustang convertibles.

BB
Semper Fi

 

Vert all the way. I never considered anything else.