Soft top roof concerns
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Junior Member
Joined: Apr 2019
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Mazda
Soft top roof concerns
Calling all soft top convertible owners, I am curious as to whether you are worried parking the car or not, for fear of the top being slashed etc. I have accepted the fact that coupes look better, etc etc. But if I am following my heart then convertibles are too much fun to miss out on.
The common arguments are:
-"if a thief wants to break in, they will" Sure, they will, but cutting the top is FAR more silent than breaking the window
-"leave nothing of value inside the car" well, my concern is not so much people stealing my belonging - it is idiots who simply want to harm the car/roof and not steal anything.
-"adds weight etc etc etc" well not everyone cares about sportiness first and foremost. Not everyone. Many just want to relax and cruise along...in which handling and performance is not THAT important.....many like me value comfort and luxury over performance etc.
My only concern is parking it somewhere and having it slashed. Is this problem that common? To my knowledge, no? I park my car in a garage so its fine but im more concerned about when I am going out shopping/parking in places etc.
Please dont say 'dont lock the car'. I dont understand why I should sacrifice my WHOLE CAR for the roof....Yes I am concerned about the soft top, but leaving my car unlocked is just unthinkable.
I ask also because we are seeing far less hard top convertibles. SLC going away, SL new gen most likely to be soft top. We have only what, MX5 RF(which is not even a real, FULL convertible), ferrari portofino, mclaren 720s spider. That is pretty much it. Next gen 4 series is 100% soft top too. I seriously do not understand. Literally every review I have read on,, say, MX5, they all agree the RF is far better looking than the soft top.
So, soft top convertible owners, answer this simple and direct question – are you worried, or used to be worried and not anymore, about whether your top will be slashed by someone? or am I just overthinking this, I should just enjoy it. If it happens, it happens, but wont let this stop me from buying a convertible?
EDIT: Another thing I want to ask: If the roof is cut, will the car alarm go off? I assume yes, just like trying to open a locked door again and again?
The common arguments are:
-"if a thief wants to break in, they will" Sure, they will, but cutting the top is FAR more silent than breaking the window
-"leave nothing of value inside the car" well, my concern is not so much people stealing my belonging - it is idiots who simply want to harm the car/roof and not steal anything.
-"adds weight etc etc etc" well not everyone cares about sportiness first and foremost. Not everyone. Many just want to relax and cruise along...in which handling and performance is not THAT important.....many like me value comfort and luxury over performance etc.
My only concern is parking it somewhere and having it slashed. Is this problem that common? To my knowledge, no? I park my car in a garage so its fine but im more concerned about when I am going out shopping/parking in places etc.
Please dont say 'dont lock the car'. I dont understand why I should sacrifice my WHOLE CAR for the roof....Yes I am concerned about the soft top, but leaving my car unlocked is just unthinkable.
I ask also because we are seeing far less hard top convertibles. SLC going away, SL new gen most likely to be soft top. We have only what, MX5 RF(which is not even a real, FULL convertible), ferrari portofino, mclaren 720s spider. That is pretty much it. Next gen 4 series is 100% soft top too. I seriously do not understand. Literally every review I have read on,, say, MX5, they all agree the RF is far better looking than the soft top.
So, soft top convertible owners, answer this simple and direct question – are you worried, or used to be worried and not anymore, about whether your top will be slashed by someone? or am I just overthinking this, I should just enjoy it. If it happens, it happens, but wont let this stop me from buying a convertible?
EDIT: Another thing I want to ask: If the roof is cut, will the car alarm go off? I assume yes, just like trying to open a locked door again and again?
Last edited by adityaw; Apr 2, 2019 at 07:21 AM.
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Joined: May 2018
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From: Virginia
2019 E450 Cabriolet, 2020 GLS450
So, soft top convertible owners, answer this simple and direct question – are you worried, or used to be worried and not anymore, about whether your top will be slashed by someone? or am I just overthinking this, I should just enjoy it. If it happens, it happens, but wont let this stop me from buying a convertible?
Could it happen? Sure. Honestly I’m far more paranoid about someone dinging my car with their door than anything else. I also have issues leaving the top down with me not in the car. Im more worried some a-hole is going to pour something in the car or something else (you know... “I’ll show this ‘rich’ *******!”). Only time I leave the top down is if I can constantly see the car. Of course my beautiful car is covered in pollen now—don’t really want to have to get that out of the inside.
The other day at Costco I parked next to a latter-year SL550 with the top down. I was stunned the person left the top down while in the store shopping. And it wasn’t a quick in and out either. The SL was still next to mine when I came out — and we all know there isn’t a quick trip to Costco.
Last edited by sackboydad; Apr 2, 2019 at 07:25 AM.
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Joined: Apr 2019
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Mazda
not really. A long while ago (mid-1990’s) I owned a rag top and nothing ever happened.
Could it happen? Sure. Honestly I’m far more paranoid about someone dinging my car with their door than anything else. I also have issues leaving the top down with me not in the car. Im more worried some a-hole is going to pour something in the car or something else (you know... “I’ll show this ‘rich’ *******!”). Only time I leave the top down is if I can constantly see the car. Of course my beautiful car is covered in pollen now—don’t really want to have to get that out of the inside.
The other day at Costco I parked next to a latter-year SL550 with the top down. I was stunned the person left the top down while in the store shopping. And it wasn’t a quick in and out either. The SL was still next to mine when I came out — and we all know there isn’t a quick trip to Costco.
Could it happen? Sure. Honestly I’m far more paranoid about someone dinging my car with their door than anything else. I also have issues leaving the top down with me not in the car. Im more worried some a-hole is going to pour something in the car or something else (you know... “I’ll show this ‘rich’ *******!”). Only time I leave the top down is if I can constantly see the car. Of course my beautiful car is covered in pollen now—don’t really want to have to get that out of the inside.
The other day at Costco I parked next to a latter-year SL550 with the top down. I was stunned the person left the top down while in the store shopping. And it wasn’t a quick in and out either. The SL was still next to mine when I came out — and we all know there isn’t a quick trip to Costco.
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From: UK
E250 AMG Sport Convertible
Firstly, the Coupe looks better than the convertible? Don't think so, they couldn't even fit proper rear side windows in the Coupe.
I can't remember the last time I read or heard of anyone having the roof slashed as part of a break in. Far easier to smash the window or just open the door if keyless go is fitted. As a convertible owner, its not something I think about. Not parking in places where the car may be broken into yes, but not from a roof perspective.
On the comment about parking it with the roof down. I will sometimes do this, no problem. There is nothing in the car that is accessible and worth stealing even if someone did go through the interior. Usually would only do it in a an area where there are people milling about.
I can't remember the last time I read or heard of anyone having the roof slashed as part of a break in. Far easier to smash the window or just open the door if keyless go is fitted. As a convertible owner, its not something I think about. Not parking in places where the car may be broken into yes, but not from a roof perspective.
On the comment about parking it with the roof down. I will sometimes do this, no problem. There is nothing in the car that is accessible and worth stealing even if someone did go through the interior. Usually would only do it in a an area where there are people milling about.
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From: UK
E250 AMG Sport Convertible
The doors etc will still be alarmed with the roof down but the volumetric alarm won't.
If the roof is up then the volumetric alarm will be on. Cutting the roof won't set it off, but any access through the resultant hole would do.
If the roof is up then the volumetric alarm will be on. Cutting the roof won't set it off, but any access through the resultant hole would do.
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From: Virginia
2019 E450 Cabriolet, 2020 GLS450
ok color me stupid but what is a volumetric alarm? 😬
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I have many a soft top over the years, and never once (knock on wood) have they ever been messed with. I'm more concern with keying and dings from doors than anything else.
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From: Melbourne, Australia
W213 Night Edition 220d. (ML250 SLK350AMG)
ive never had a problem with my soft top
the only time ive ever seen them being slashed in "No Mans Land" the 80s movie with Charlie Sheen :-)
the only time ive ever seen them being slashed in "No Mans Land" the 80s movie with Charlie Sheen :-)
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From: Springville, UT
2015 S550 ordered
I’ve driven 4 soft top convertibles, including BMW, Audi and my current E53 and never had a problem or worried about it. But then I don’t do douchebag things like take two parking spaces or things like that. But like Rustybear I worry more about the idiot parked next to me dinging my car.
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2024 E350
Interesting question. It immediately reminded me of a YouTube video I saw about the C-class convertible. Click the link below and fast forward to about the 2:12 mark when he starts to talk about the top. This Mercedes Benz salesman said the top is made of a similar material to bulletproof vests and specifically says, "There's no knife that could puncture this material." I find it hard to believe, but there you go.
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2015 E400
..fast forward to about the 2:12 mark when he starts to talk about the top. This Mercedes Benz salesman said the top is made of a similar material to bulletproof vests and specifically says, "There's no knife that could puncture this material." I find it hard to believe, but there you go.
Curious if the OP ever got over his fears. I never really thought about those issues much. My rule of thumb, convertible or not, never leave anything in plain site. I think neighborhood also makes a big difference as well as secured and covered parking. That said, my neighborhood is near a bunch of townhouses without any covered parking, but there are plenty of convertibles. Funny thing is, we've had a history of vandalism and theft from parked cars, but never any soft top damage to my knowledge.
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