Hello
I dont own a mustang, but I am considering buying one. I am looking at a 98 convertable. I am sure it will be nice in the summer, but what about winter? I assume all tops "go bad" sometime and start leaking. What is the typical age a Mustang will need its top replaced?

Thanks for any information.

 

I drove one through 3 winters and you will lose a lot of heat through the top, you will notice you have to turn the heat on alot more frequently than with a coupe. I dont know hoe long of a lifespan they have but i know when i bought my 96 about three years ago the top was trashed and i replaced it. It wasnt easy but it was better than handing someone $1500 to do.

 

I have experiance in both a "Northern" Climate, and in the "Florida" Climate. Don't know where you live, so here goes.

In Florida, my Convetible was great, IN WINTER. I could have the top down often. If it was a little chilly, all I had to do was to put the heater on. If it was cold, all I had to do was to put the windows up and heater on. It was great. IN SUMMER, a Convertible is worthless in Florida. You can't have the top down because it is too dam hot and humid. If you stop at a light, you roast until you get moving again, and even then, you are uncomfortable. Forget about using the A/C with top down as it just does not do the job. If the top is wet, you are advised to not put top down. Must wait until it dries. I was happy when I bought it and happier when I sold it. BTW, this is why there are so many unsold Mustang Convertibles sitting in Ford Dealer lots at the moment.

In "Northern" Climates - I had a Convertible both in Western New York and in the State of Maine.
Great in the Summer. Had no problems. Yes it is cold in the Winter, but had no problems with heat staying in car. Had no problems with the snow building up on the top. One May, when I lived in Maine, I could not wait to put the top down, and I remember when the temperature got up to "40F", I put on a heavy jacket, TOP DOWN, and the heater on full blast. IT WAS GREAT.

 

ctrcbob pretty much summed it up.

It really depends on where you live.

I live in South Texas, and it gets HUMID. Tops tend to leak and/or you begin to see small cracks in dry heat. Luckily, becuase of the humidity, the tops don't really dry up and crack. Down here, the best top down weather is Fall/Winter. The winters here are like northern summers - really pleasant, with a light chill.

There isn't really a set amount of time or rule of thumb about tops. It all boils down to how well you maintain it. For example, if you apply a treatment or wax occasionally and leave the car in a garage, it'll last a lot longer than one that isn't maintained and left out for the elements.

Currently, mine has a small drip by the rear windshield when we get hurricanes, but whenever there's a heavy thunderstorm on its way, i make sure to park it in my garage and it's a problem solved.

Good luck!

 

I live in Ontario Canada & we get serious winters here. Don't know what the other guys are talking about but,... yea I guess the soft top leaks warmth out of the interior faster than a coupe but, nothing the factory Ford heater couldn't keep on top of.. I've never been cold in my Stang vert in winter after the engine has warmed up.

Lifespan of the top? I'm still on my original one & it looks perfect. A friend of mine has an older Stang & she's been driving hers for about 12 years now,,, all 4 seasons and never in a garage. Just now she's gonna be replacing the top because it has gotten too ratty & is leaking a bit. Fortunately she has friends at an upholstry shop & willl get a good price on a replacement top,.

Maybe I'm biased but, there really aren't any downsides to owning a vert. Yea some days it's just too damn hot/humid to drop the top, but that's OK. Sooner or later a beautiful day comes along and, being able to go topless then is flat out awesome

 

more chassis flex on a vert than a coupefrom a performance standpoint.

 

only complaint i have is wind noise when the top is up , but it does shut the wife up ! ! ! ! !

 

The worst thing about convertibles is women don't like the wind in their hair.