I'm trying to decide between the coupe and the roadster. I've always wanted a convertible but I'm edgy about getting one because I always hear horror stories from convertible owners about issues they have with the top coming loose, not closing properly and generally being a pain in the a$$.

Also, is there any difference in performance? In price?

I'm looking at the 2005 Touring model BTW and I live in Miami so the convertible would be really ideal given the climate here

 

Performance will definitely be less. Convertibles are never as stiff as the coupes do to the lack of a roof. Price will always be higher than a similarly equipped coupe as well. I live in Florida as well and 2 windows down with the stereo blasting is the way I roll. Don't need a convertible top.

 

Coupe for 350Z, Convertible I'd pick the s2000.

 

I vote for coupe Z....ZRoadster would offer no protection
against "stereo blasting" from other cars, or any other street
noise, smell etc. ZRoadsters are for cool mountain roads IMHP.

Also, in my case, I am not one of the "beautiful people"...so
I can hide in my cozy coupe Z, and not have my "physical
deficiencies" exposed to the urban world...

 

Coupe

 

definitly coupe no offense to convertable owners but i just dont like the z convertable looks out of place the back end is to flat and long.

 

Coupe. Convertible isn't worth the 10k price gouge, crappy looks when top is up, and heavier body.

 

The convertible looks really awkward from the rear with the top down IMHO. Coupe all the way on this car...

 

I'm a coupe person because if, by some chance I would ever flip it over, I want to have that metal above my head. Plus, the coupe is more rigid and lighter and cheaper.

 

Neither. I really like the old 300ZX with the T tops. I would have settled for a 350Z with at least a sun roof. The G35 is not even an option in my book. Somebody once posted a beautiful photoChop of a "Targa" style roof on a 350Z (think the roof off of a del Sol or a Viper). A car with no sunroof is like a dark room for me.

Since I can't get what I want, the next closest thing is to have no roof at all.

Make no doubt about it, the Roadster costs more and is less capable than a coupe. If you even have doubts which you like, then the coupe is for you. The roadster is a "love at first site" or it isn't for you. There is no gray.

-LamaZ

 

Don't get the POS roadster, it's UGLY!!!

 

I got the coupe over the convertible for a few reasons...

1. Price: While I thought the price for the coupe was great, I wasn't sure if the price of the convertible was worth it, compared to other convertibles, and I hadn't really driven the Z before and wasn't sure I was going to like it. I wanted to get a new car and thought that I'd stick in the $30K range (just because I didn't want to spend more than that on any car and I just arbitrarily chose that number). It is the least of my concerns though, and #2 & 3 is what really swayed me.

2. Security: Where I work is somewhat shady. The first day I had it, someone stole the antenna. I could see someone cutting into the roof, it being stolen, broken into, etc., more easily than the coupe (which I'm still concerned about).

3. Looks: I tend to like the looks of coupes better, and the Z is no exeption. I didn't like the front of the Z and knew I could change that, but Nissan's design of the convertible's rear end didn't thrill me. That doesn't mean it is horrible, just that I didn't care for how they did it, and side by side, I liked the coupe better.

That said, even the worst looking convertible (of any make) is great. Convertibles are wonderful. Everyone should own one once in their life (or at least rent one on vacation for a good two weeks). It is another dirving experience IMHO. There's a sweet spot, weather temp. wise, when it's almost magical.

 

I was also thinking of the coupe or the roadster so I wrote down some points.

1. I love the lines of the coupe at top oppossed to the roadster with the top up. (No disrespect, it's just in my opinion that the roadster top doesn't look that good)

2. I was willing to paying the extra 10K but if I am going up to that level, I might as well buy a used porsche boxster.

3. For a month, I counted the days I would actually have the top down instead of having it up for rain or heat, I counted 5 days in my City. (I love my AC, and it's very humid here. Isn't miami humid too? I heard from another forum member that it rains every 2 or 3 days there it seems.)

4. I love the slick look of the coupe, for some reason, the coupe gets more attention in my City. It looks exotic. When I test drove the roadster, there was not that many attention. I think people just thought it was a new generation miata or something. It was silver so it could have blended into traffic (I have a lemans Sunset so I get tons of attention)

After I bought the coupe, everytime I see a roadster beside me, I compliment them for a nice ride, but something about them just doesn't stand out. It's wierd how a roof changes the whole look of a car. At least for me.

 

Stiffer, less expensive, better looking and much more durable (unless you can garage it 365. I bought a coupe and would again without a doubt.

 

Roadster, i feel kinda claustrophobic with the top up nowadays. Hey you live in Miami, you can drive it 365 days a year, why the hell go with a hardtop when you can get a suntan on your way to work? I live in a nordic country and I got a convertible because i can use it part of the year and to me it's worth it. Would love to live in FLA just to be able to drive it 365 days.

Heavier? Maybe a bit but it doesn't affect performance that much, raced a hardtop and couldn't tell the difference. Not as stiff? It's almost as stiff, the 350Z was designed with a roadster in mind, the car is very well made.

Burnt orange seats on silverstone. No coupe can get that kinda punch.
With the top down i like the roadster better, looks more exotic, with the top up the coupe, love the hatch, but nothing will make you feel as free coming on the highway than with the top down. It's magic.

 

this is a personal call, but for me it was a roadster. I love the open air feeling, the sound of the car is just great, and I have the leather/mesh seats which are always cool and comfortable.

 

It's obviously a matter of personal taste, but you can't beat a roadster with the top down on a beautiful morning drive down the coast, or at night cruising your town's hot spot. I agree that the roadster with the top closed looks weird, but that can be fixed by keeping the top open as much as possible. I think that when open, the roadster looks much better than the coupe. And yes, performance-wise, the roadster may not be as good as the coupe, but unless you go on a race track, who cares?

 

Coupe, the Roadster destroys the amazing figure of the rear

 

This poor guy is gonna be more confused than before he asked...lol

 

Hi Guys, its the roadster for me also, despite the Roadster weighing 110lb more than the coupe - 80lb from the extra strengthening, 20lb due to the roof and its six motors, and 10lb from the powered passenger seat that moves forward when you lower the roof so the occupant doesn't get decapitated - the performance has hardly been affected. So, at 6.4secs to 60mph, it's just half a second slower, while the electronically limited 150mph maximum speed is identical.
I live in the deep south, so weather is not really a factor, with the top down I love to hear that sound. As for security, lets face it, the car manufacurers have not yet come up with a car that cannot be broken into and driven within a couple of minutes, if they want it they'll take it.
The coupe is a beautiful ride and classy looks, maybe I should get another!!!!